Maybe you've heard, maybe not since in the scope of world affairs it isn't important or shocking, but Abercrombie & Fitch is in the middle of a media firestorm.
Abercrombie & Fitch refuses to sell clothing larger than a size 10/L (as they have done forever) because CEO Mike Jeffries (who looks like a scarier Bruce Jenner - yes, scarier) only wants "good looking people" to wear his brand -- coming from a 2006 interview with Salon. You may be thinking what I was thinking when I heard this news - how is this anything new? They've been doing this for years! He said this years ago!
Well a Philadelphia-based writer recently penned a letter about how she was bullied in high school by kids who wore Abercrombie & Fitch - um, bitch please, weren't we all? Anyway, here's the abridged version:
A Note to Michael Jeffries, CEO, Abercrombie & Fitch.
Mike,
I write to you in response to the recent media outburst surrounding your unfortunate decision to further declare the exclusions that exist in your soft-core porn clothing store, Abercrombie & Fitch. I read your statements, your comments, your beliefs and I’ve let them sink in for a few weeks. In fact, I initially decided not to respond at all since I have always chosen to not shop at your store anyway. The fact that your store doesn’t make or sell clothing higher than a size 10 or a “L” is actually news to me. I think your store, quite literally, stinks.
Now, I worked at Guest Services inside of my local mall and I had to deal with the customers who complained about the abundance of musky stench that infects the sinuses of each passer-by, but I did not write you then. I heard that you were targeting girls as young as eight years old in your campaigns over the years, sending them your pornographic catalogs and full-knowingly attempting to engage them into becoming sexual, “cool” teens who would shop at your store, but I did not write you then. But when you specifically called out my plus size ass in your latest statements, Mike, I’m ready to write.
You see, I told you, I’m polite to the point where it makes me uncomfortable to just call you “Mike” (but I’m over it). I know I’m polite because I’ve met impolite people (this is you). I think back to high school, where I attended a “well-off” private, Catholic, college preparatory school. I think of the kids who, when they weren’t wearing a uniform, sported your clothing. I regret to inform you that “cool” doesn’t exactly come to mind, but “expulsion”, “bully”, “pretzel thrown at me at lunch”, and “harassment” actually do. They were ALL on the football team and I bet you, Mike, find them to be cool.
You see, it was the kids wearing your clothing who thought they were so unstoppably “cool” (because you told them they are) that they could therefore harass girls all throughout our class-- girls of all different shapes and sizes. They thought they could write derogatory comments across one girl’s driveway at home, and they were expelled. They thought that they could call the girls at home at night, plaguing them with hurtful words and hysterical laughter, and they were suspended.
I’m 27 years old, Mike, and I received a social media message from one of these bullies just last year, with a wink face… that’s it, just a wink face. It was a cruel reminder, a hurtful flashback.. a wink is all it takes to tell me, almost TEN YEARS after high-school graduation and the last time we saw each other, that he still is teasing me, he is still mean, he is still a bully, he is still SO COOL, and he wanted me to know.
When I re-visited your outrageous commentary today, I discovered the long list of rules that you require that your private jet flight attendants fulfill.
I can’t say I won’t buy your products because, as I’ve said, I never did and, secondly, you’ve excluded me from being able to do so anyway. I know there is currently a young all-American man who is clothing the homeless by donating his A&F clothes because your claims sicken him too, Mike. I know there are a bunch of moms, fully disregarding the former money spent on your clothing, rallying up mounds of their kids’ clothes that display your A&F tags, and ridding of them.
And I’ve got news for you, Mike… in the world, girls with huge hooters are INCREDIBLY cool, and they may require an “XL”.
Get with it,
Colleen Radano
Obviously this woman didn't write this letter so Mike could "get with it." She wrote it for attention because Mike will never "get with it." Why should he? People buy his clothing and he's rich enough to buy plastic surgery until his face falls off and then he's rich enough to buy a new face. (I'm picturing a skin mask a la Buffalo Bill but ... that's just me). In conclusion, he has no reason to "get with it."
Anyway, this woman needs to stop obsessing over high school bullies. I got bullied in high school - as a 6' tall woman, it was likely to happen. A lot of people got bullied in high school and are still getting bullied in high school. My children will probably meet a bully or two along their grade school career. That's life. I used to get pissed about it from time to time but realized (years ago) it's not worth it to obsess over the past.
Yes, I think it's stupid a company can profit off alienating customers but Mike Jeffries has been doing this for years and it seems to be working! Perhaps many of the customers simply like the clothing, perhaps not and it's more of a label thing. He's found the niche - the popular, thin, rich people who are obsessed with image. Too bad it's not against the law and probably won't end.
Yes, I couldn't wear Abercrombie & Fitch. First off, it's expensive. Second off, the only clothing of theirs I fit into was a mens Medium. A generous family member bought me a couple items when I was young (in mens sizes) so I could wear the label but that's about where my relationship with A&F starts and ends. I wear a size 12 shoe and a lot of well-known companies don't carry that size. Maybe they don't want Big Foot (aka me) wearing their shoes, maybe not. I don't care. I shop at the stores that carry my size.
Yes, the canine cologne stench coming out of Hollister and A&F nauseates me but I don't go to the mall enough to fall victim to this absurdness because the mall sucks. Too many people, too much hassle.
Yes, their clothing targets young girls and urges them to sexualize themselves, which is disgusting. Pornographic? Possibly, although I think this chick's idea of porn and mine are quite different. Parents need to have honest and open conversations about this type of thing when it's brought up because it's going to happen whether A&F sells slutty clothing or not.
Yes, I'm not what Mike would define as one of his "good looking people" to wear his brand. I'm too old and I'm too curvy. Cest la vie.
Abercrombie & Fitch only wants the beautiful people but think about this ... when have you seen a clothing ad with an ugly model? Maybe they all aren't supermodels but they're attractive and thin. Interesting ...
The real issue with this whole drama is teaching our children to be happy with who they are on the INSIDE. Promoting self-esteem and self-confidence. Promoting the idea you don't need an Abercrombie & Fitch wardrobe and if someone thinks you do to be cool then that someone isn't worth your time. Promote healthy choices, from nutrition to exercise to peer pressure and sexuality. Don't be who someone expects you to be, whether it's this bitter chick or Michael Jeffries, be who you want to be because that's what makes YOU happy.
Frankly, if you aren't happy with a company, then boycott them. I think it's bizarre that Chic-fi-la spends money to promote anti-abortion and anti-homosexuality causes so I don't buy their food (it's not that good anyway). That's my decision.
I can't wear A&F - the age and size factors. There's a lot of things I can't do. What can I do? Be happy with who I am and live my life. Mike Jeffries is a dickhead but face it, he's always been a dickhead and will always be a dickhead. How pathetic.
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