This post is part of our Ads Gone Bad series. Share your thoughts and memories of this ad in the comments, and be sure to check out our other posts on marketing gone wrong.

One could question whether there could be an ad so controversial as to harm the fortunes of haute couture shops. Certainly, noted fashion house Dolce & Gabbana has tested that hypothesis with an ongoing series of sex-charged ads, one of which caused an Italian minister to accuse it of inciting gang rape.

That particular shot, in which a nubile young lady is pinned down by her wrists by a virile male under the interested gaze of several other men, was singled out for its intimation of violence toward women. Other ads by B&G have heavily homoerotic content, and one, a tableau of soldiers posed around a particularly attractive male with a bullet hole in his forehead, has even been thought by some to play on the naughty joys of necrophilia.

This post is part of our Battle of the Brands feature. Let us know which brand you prefer, and watch out for more Battle of the Brands posts.

Financial Data

An examination of the financial data indicates that Saks Inc. (NYSE: SKS), with a market capitalization of $2.2 billion, is up about 15% to $20.50 so far in 2007. Meanwhile, Nordstrom Inc. (NYSE: JWN) has not fared as well: Nordstrom, with a market capitalization of $10.9 billion, is up about 3% to $50.80.

Products

In general, Nordstrom appears to carry a wider product line than Saks. One example would be women's apparel, where Nordstrom's line was more-extensive. Nordstrom also offered cocktail dresses in the $140 to $160 range, whereas Saks did not. That said, Saks appeared to do a better job at dress line selection: their line of black dresses was exceptional, with both contemporary and modern styles displaying eye-catching, striking/confident characteristics. Further, Saks appeared to be willing to reach slightly into Nordstrom's zone by offering black dresses as low as $180 to $200. Otherwise, Saks remained in its price zone, which was substantially higher, across apparel lines, than Nordstrom.

And that's perhaps another distinguishing characteristic between the two upscale retailers. While both Saks and Nordstrom serve the high-end consumer, Saks stays there, while Nordstrom carries many lines for the "mid-range" high-end consumer. One example here would be women's handbags: Nordstrom had several lines and styles (including leather bags) in the $200 to $300 range, whereas Saks for the most part remained in the stratosphere, with handbags above $800. Further, bag prices at Saks quickly moved above $1,200. That said, Saks, again, appeared to best Nordstrom in women's handbags; their Dolce & Gabbana and Bottega Veneta lines offered contemporary-yet-functional characteristics for that smart and sophisticated professional look.