Battle of the Super Model(quins)

From: Old Navy
Subject Line: Fall Forecast: New Fashions Starting at $15, Plus Save 20%
Date: September 13

From: Victoria's Secret
Subject Line: New! The Ruched Convertible Dress, 10+ Ways to Wear It. Plus $15 Off $100+.
Date: September 17

Amazingly, Old Navy's Super Modelquin campaign is still going strong. Is it just me or are those mannequins kinda creepy? Beyond my personal feelings for the campaign, what I don't get is who the target market is here? And more importantly, does that target market actually find the Super Modelquins inspiring? Do people see these emails or commercials and think, I have to have that outfit?

Even though the Victoria's Secret models are a bit intimidating with their flowing hair and knockout figures, they at least show me how the clothes move on a real person. Side by side, these emails are set up pretty much the same and structurally they're both sound, but IMHO the VS email is much more compelling.

That said, the VS email does fall short for me in one area: the 70+ character subject line. The preheader is great, but they tried to throw everything and the kitchen sink into the SL. On my iPhone, I only see the first 33 characters, so why the extra 40? A shorter SL plus the preheader would sell the story perfectly.