Promoting Eating Disorders Since 1892

Here's a scenario for you. Let's say you're a nice, normal sized American woman - let's say you wear a size 12, for instance - a very common size still several inches away from a plus-size. Let's say you're interested in buying a new pair of pants, so you head to the mall to scope out your options. And let's say you walk into a store only to find they don't have a single pair of pants in your size. Probably not going to put you in a big-spending kinda mood, huh?

Or let's say you want to get a job, so you again head to the mall to find gainful employment - and you duck into a shop and fill out an application but you never hear back. Then you find out another of your friends did get a call for an interview - and she's three sizes smaller than you are.

Any guesses as to which store is irritating the crap out of me this week?

Ding ding ding!!!

To tell the truth, I don't think I ever bought more than a couple of items at A&F, even in my darkest years when I was desperately seeking validation. There are several reasons for this. One: my parents didn't buy that shit for me. They bought me clothes up through the end of high school, but after that I was on my own. And the clothes they bought were a bit more sensible. Two: since I had to pay for the stuff myself, and a tee shirt cost like $35, I really couldn't afford to shop there. Three: seeing as I wasn't ever a size 2, and more accurately during my college years I was more like a 12, and seeing as A&F only stocks up to about a size 10, I had trouble finding things that fit me. And let's face it - no one wants to feel like a fatass before even trying things on. Even though I'm back down to a size 6-8, I won't shop at that store. And four (probably the most important reason): everything in the store was designed for and catered to sluts. And I'm not a slut.

In addition to offering skanky clothes designed to make women feel bad about themselves at exorbitant prices, Abercrombie & Fitch has been plagued with legal and economic troubles (gee, I wonder why). Several friends and acquaintances have worked for Abercrombie or its sister store Hollister over the years, and I've heard quite a few tales of the discrimination and racism that go on in the store. Perhaps you, too, have heard of the Abercrombie & Fitch "Look Book" - a manual that's handed out to each employee with guidelines for appearances. Doesn't sound so bad, right? Abercrombie just wants employees to maintain a cleancut, all-American look! Well, if you don't think that sounds so bad, how about Riam Dean, an A&F employee who was banished to the storeroom when her managers discovered her prosthetic arm. Or Kristen Carmichael, also exiled to the storeroom after her managers rated her face. If you go digging around online, you can find other instances of individuals who claim to have been discriminated against by the company on issues of weight, race, etc. Way to keep it classy, Abercrombie & Fitch! I guess by "cleancut" and "American" they mean "anorexic" and "slutty."

I think by now most people I know have long since given up shopping at stores like Abercrombie & Fitch - and if you haven't, shame on you. We're not the target audience anymore. We're not 16. Well, maybe a few of my readers are, but all you Gen X and early Gen Y readers should know better than to be caught dead spending your hard-earned cash at A&F or any other similar store. And yes, I will admit that I still buy jeans and the occasional loungewear at American Eagle Outfitters, but no other jeans fit me as well, and I refuse to spend more money. So there. In their defense, AE offers women's jeans up to a size 18. The Gap goes to size 20. And let's face it - American Eagle never hired people to stand in their damn doorway posing as still-life models.

So join me in my universal ban of all things related to A&F or other like-minded clothiers! And I'll keep you posted when I open my own line of clothes, TwoSixy, wherein I shall employ a Look Book that demands my employees wear clothes that fit them and accessorize with a signature eyepatch.

Comments

[Jay]

Yeah. There was a time in my life I tried A&F. Their jersey-lined windpants are still a staple of mine in the fall.

But their whole brand... i'm talking everything including the in-store experience... awful. And makes kids hate themselves.

[J-ROK]

ROCK ON! I HATE that store! In college, the cool kids either wore A&F or MUC gear... I opted for not being cool (ok, I did have a lot of MUC clothing too). Walking in that store made me feel like such an ugly fat ass. Plus, they play their music too loud... I've always been old. It's absolutely RIDICULOUS what they charge for their not-so-great quality of clothing! So many of the students at my school (who I happen to know were on Free/Reduced Lunch- thank you government) wore A&F, Hollister, and North Face. Uh, HELLO parents! Can we teach a worse lesson on principles? To be fair, I do like brand name clothes in moderation (like any of the brands sold at REI), but I don't like to advertise for the company by wearing huge logos!

p.s. are you sure you aren't a slut, kinda ruins my admiration for you a little bit if you're not ;)

[Heather]

Pet Peeve #45765747 of Ms. Andrey - anyone over the age of 18 wearing A&F. Hey you - yeah, you 25 year old A&F wearing prick - you look like a tool.

Annoys the SHIT out of me. I hate everything about Abercrombie.

[Mimi]

When it was founded, A&F used to be a hardy outdoorsmen store- my grandfather used to purchase his fishing and hunting clothes there. And they've changed so much more in the last decade since I last bought a pair of khakis...How does a pitch-black store even sell clothes? Whose brilliant merchandising idea was that? And I wonder why the management even care what their associates look like when the store is almost completely dark anyway?!? :) Thanks for the throw-back Sarah - I think we're all emotionally better off for not shopping at A&F anymore!

[Ceylan Gul]

Ha! That second article you linked to happened at the mall I grew up going to! And its very hoity toity. I hate A&F with a passion.