It feels counterintuitive for a man to front a woman’s fragrance, but that didn’t stop Chanel’s marketing team from signing Brad Pitt as the face of the iconic perfume in 2012. He starred in a series of widely-mocked broadcast ads that Bendeth calls “a very curious campaign.” Chanel signifies classic elegance, and Pitt’s rugged appeal felt like something of a disconnect for the storied house. However, Post notes, “If you look at Chanel both in fragrance and fashion, they do things that are unexpected and out of left field (see: hula hoop handbags). And that’s part of their strategy in creating a lot of buzz.” Love them or hate them, the television ads got people talking.