|
Too Sexy for Silver Spring?
|
|
|
|
Posted by:
Alexandra
4/19/2006 18:39
|
 View Large Photo
When I started reading this article I got that angry clench in my gut reserved for
when people accuse us of using child porn to sell our clothes. They’re not
children, damnit, and nor do they look like children – they look like young
men and women (usually in their early twenties) - they’re just not done up
and lit to look older. That’s what twenty-year-olds look like! To boot, I’d
called this Meredith Hooker (I’m not calling her a hooker, that’s her name)
to do an interview about our ads and she didn’t call me back. Luckily
Miguel, one of our store project managers, did get a hold of her, and did a
killer job at explaining our image. As a side note, the images we have
in the windows of the Silver Spring store are not even racy, but I
digress... EDITOR'S UPDATE: If you have arrived here from the
Switched.com discussion about us, please go to our Daily Update HOME
PAGE to comment. Switched has linked you to a posting from April 2006!!! We actually are
a tad more current than that...and have created a posting just for you to comment on here. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Posted by: Weronika 4/20/2006
13:12
|
|
|
|
| Oh, I know what you mean about that clench in the gut feeling. Why is looking natural considered so shameful and inappropriate? And what is the solution to this if you happen to be past twenty and don't yet have wrinkles? Heavy make-up, cropped perm, and an obviously uncomfortable outfit accessorised with a copy of the Ladies Home Journal? |
| |
|
Posted by: Molly 4/21/2006
12:27
|
|
|
|
these people are crazy...none of those pictures are racy and the people in them dont look like children. Perhaps these accusers have been out of the hip, young, cool kid set to recognise how old these guys are. Im 17 and i dont look nearly as mature as the kids in the photos.
maybe these complainers are just jelous of the fountain of youth that is american apparel. |
| |
|
Posted by: Steven 4/23/2006
07:15
|
|
|
|
| What a freak. The only one "hypersexualizing" is him. I would love to have been the one to hand him the "Call Me" media card when he came in to complain. |
| |
|
Posted by: Josh 4/24/2006
16:54
|
|
|
|
| It's a little surprising. Not exactly what I was expect from Silver Spring, but perhaps we have an outsider in the neighborhood. |
| |
|
Posted by: lovelife 4/24/2006
19:50
|
|
|
|
I read this line that changed the way I looked at the world and it's too bad that it's a step in life that doesn't happen to everyone.
Life is a looking glass. |
| |
|
Posted by: Mia 4/25/2006
14:15
|
|
|
|
| i feel as though while the above comments are commendable and make a good case, i would like there to be room for an alternative opinion so as to inspire a bit of intriguing, yet friendly discourse. |
| |
|
Posted by: Kellis 4/25/2006
17:43
|
|
|
|
| Too bad every small newspaper doesn't start a faux controversy over our store windows. Did we write them back to say thanks for the free publicity? If only we could get the New York Times to reprint this, alas they have real news NYC. |
| |
|
Posted by: Weronika 4/25/2006
18:45
|
|
|
|
| Hey Mia, what can we do if no one is willing to put a damper on this American Apparel love forum that the Daily Update has become? I haven't deleted any comments... It's just that everyone who writes them loves us. So c'mon naysayers, tell us what you think. Bring it on! All fair comments will be posted. |
| |
|
Posted by: Sadie Dierwalk 4/26/2006
15:17
|
|
|
|
American Apparel, your ads are racy and oversexualized.
I am not convinced that your children are of age.
I also don't understand why you insisting on using what you call legal models who clearly don't look legal.
Who cares if they supposedly are legal. The point is that they don't look it. This is why people complain about your advertising. Stop pushing the law of "oh yeah, they're legal" on us, and explain why you insist on making 20 year olds look like they are 15. And then tell them to f**k each other in front of the camera.
I know that my early 20-something friends don't look like Lauren W on this page... http://www.americanapparel.net/gallery/photocollections/ |
| |
|
Posted by: mia 4/26/2006
15:52
|
|
|
|
Ms. Dierwalk, what would you consider to be satisfactory requirements that indicate a person is of age?
In other words, what is a "legal" person supposed to look like? |
| |
|
Posted by: Sadie 4/26/2006
17:03
|
|
|
|
I think we all have an idea of what pedophilia looks like. You can find a lot of it on American Apparel's site and store windows.
It doesn't matter if that's not what it is by the law. I don't think you can hold up an objective set of guidelines to determine what constitutes imagery that looks "too young".
I think you can look at an image and decide that it may be perceived as "too young". There are several more objective factors - such as body hair, the development of the body, signs of definition in physicals features, complexion, etc. But there are several subjective factors such as the way the model holds themselves. The combination of these factors can make a model look too young and mocks the idea that children shouldn't be exploited.
That's because they look like children. Like my neighbor next door, or my little sister. And when you combine this with some sleezy guy and clothing hanging off of this body, it starts to look like complete exploitation.
Looks can be deceiving, and I know you'll be the first to tell me that. But please understand that making me think of my little sister when I see a girl on your site, and then see her with most of her clothes off or her body obviously exposed, is not a way to win me over.
[Weronika: Sadie, please refrain from personal attacks in the future. In this case you are calling an actual person "sleazy," since we are talking about specific picture... He is one of our friends, a great guy, and I would rather not post stuff like that about him on our website. I'll let this one go, but please try to phrase your comments in such way that I won't have to edit them]
|
| |
|
Posted by: Weronika 4/26/2006
17:42
|
|
|
|
Sadie, you call our images instances of pedophilia.
That's a strong charge, and an inaccurate one.
Pedophilia is the paraphilia of being sexually attracted primarily or exclusively to pre-pubescent children.
An image of a child is not, in itself, pedophilia. It's just an image. It may be correct to use the word "pedophilia" to describe a situation in which an adult has a sexual fantasy about the represented child. The picture I currently have on my profile page -- seven-year-old me at my First Communion -- might provoke such instance of pedophilia (oh, that would be gross! I better take it down!). The pictures in the window of the new Silver Spring store might not.
There would be nothing out of the ordinary for someone to have sexual fantasies about these models; they represent people who are quite clearly NOT pre-pubescent.
|
| |
|
Posted by: TwoTone 4/29/2006
00:13
|
|
|
|
I never thought your models looked underage, but they oftentimes look like a naive person being taken advantage of by the neighborhood sleaze with a camera. There is absolutely an exploitive quality to them, they are very reminisent of the Calvin Klein underwear ads from a few years ago..they look like dumb young people who are being exploited.
[Weronika: funny how appearances can be deceiving. The models I've met -- Vanessa, Mia, Abigail -- are smart women.] |
| |
|
Posted by: Lindsay 5/01/2006
08:08
|
|
|
|
Sadie -
I assume you equally object the a majority of fashion ads you find in Vogue and Vanity Fair, or at Guess, or Abercrombie stores.
As fashion models go, ours are rather old. Most high end models are "discovered" around 14.
The women in Vogue don't look 14 to our media trained eyes, because they are done up to within an inch of their lives.
Whereas models who are 20 and 21 without makeup, we see them as children. Just goes to show you what a brainwashing job conventional media has done.
At 23, I am right in the age rage of most of the AA models, and I have don't look that different. Nor do my friends. You mention physical features that mark a persons age. Look a little closer at our ads, and you will see underarm razor stubble, stretch marks, and a few acne scars, the things that mark a young adult in their 20's, not a child.
As for your incendiary accusation of pedophilia, well, sadie, I would caution you to use your critical thinking skills a little more carefully before throwing words like that around.
TwoTone, my reading of the models has always been women being comfortable enough with themselves and their normal bodies to desplay an aspect of sexuality to the world. I generally find they look like they are having fun, and enjoying feeling sexy, but that's just my take. |
| |
|
Posted by: TwoTone 5/01/2006
13:12
|
|
|
|
"Weronika: funny how appearances can be deceiving. The models I've met -- Vanessa, Mia, Abigail -- are smart women."
This is what acting is all about. Creating an illusion.
You can have "smart" women posing as if they are dumb, exploited next door neighbor girls, the same with the men. There is no way you can convince me otherwise looking at some of the photos and the angles you choose and the expressions on the model's faces.
Remember..I am not saying the models themselves *are* naive, it is the way they are choosing to be portrayed in the photos.
[Weronika: Or it could be the way you chose to interpret the images. .. Or it could be that some of them play at looking politically incorrect and enjoy a bit of irreverent, transgressive fun.] |
| |
|
Posted by: tiffany 5/10/2006
03:46
|
|
|
|
| American Apparel's ads used to be interesting and artsy, now they're just trying too hard. |
| |
|
Posted by: Amber 5/12/2006
15:08
|
|
|
|
the thing that drew me to american apparel intitially is the adverstising.
the way you portray your models is beautiful and raw.
don't change a thing.
oh I live about 10 minutes away from this location, silver spring gets mad and forgets about things pretty easily. it'll blow over. |
| |
|
Posted by: Rachel 5/13/2006
02:22
|
|
|
|
I always tell my friends to look at the models in your ads. I love the photographs so much and think they are so natural and wonderful... Some of my friends look at me oddly and ask me if I'm sure they are models. To anyone who questions thier age, just think of what they would look like done up, these girls are allready beautiful, if they fit "american" beauty standards, they would allready be retired at thier lovely age of 23.
[Weronika: Thank you Rachel! I really love one of the images for the SWIM sale, with Sofia and Valeria side by side, both with soft little pot bellies hanging out of their bikinis. So much nicer than washboard "abs", I think. I am so bored of seeing those.] |
| |
|
Posted by: KMM 6/29/2006
22:12
|
|
|
|
Cleavage (and little else but) + spread legs (and little else but) = "racy." When I first ran into the "controversy," my eyes rolled -- it's overtly sexual, the models look extremely young (and perhaps they should, given the AA sizing -- no hip measurements?!?) -- yeah -- they're selling stuff -- anyway... But the _denial_ here is a bit hard to take. I'd initially thought "of course it's provocative; anybody not seeing that is sexually naive." (Again, perhaps, given the demographics.)
The knee-jerk rejection that it is what it is is absurd to the point of distressing, especially from a company so proud to trumpet its supposedly ethical business practices. Wow, $13/hr to work in downtown LA? Having lived there for a couple of years, I can confidently state that that's a mediocre wage in a lousy location. Better than a sweatshop, yes, but nothing to be _quite_ so happy about.
http://www.americanapparel.net/gallery/photocollections/models/index.html
Blowing a bubble-gum bubble, yet: not child-like?
Holding breasts, licking fingers, thrusting out bums, visible pubic hair (the one time it actually exists anywhere), holding crotch, in the process of undress, yet...
Enough. I hope Alexandra/American Apparel does not speak for the models; it's upsetting to think they might be too naive to realise what's what here. "Yes, young people are sexy too; however, all models are over 18" would be just fine; "This isn't sexy!!" is -- again -- upsetting. God help anybody sufficiently naive to buy into it.
For what it's worth, I was in an AA store for the first time today, and liked a shirt and a bodysuit. I'm no longer a likely customer after looking them up here and finding out the "shirt" is a "dress," and the transparent bodysuit is modelled by somebody looking far too ... slutty. And too young to be shown as "slutty." There's no way to be kind about it; the hypocrisy is too much.
(Pity! The dress and bodysuit would've looked hot.) |
| |
|
Posted by: Vaughn Stewart 8/18/2006
18:46
|
|
|
|
Anyone who really thinks that the models used in AA campaigns are "too young looking" is probably well over the age of 22, because as someone below that age, and in the target range of both most of AA's clothing, and the same rough age as many of the models, I can say that they are not at all "too young looking." Yes, there's sex in the modeling of many pieces of AA's clothing, and a lot of the cuts can be very revealing, but that doesn't mean people actually go around wearing them so they are revealing. The ads show what every ad shows: the dream world, the ideal image. Even though AA obviously tries hard to blur the line, personally I can still see that line as present.
I have over 7 pairs of AA's men's briefs, and I wear them as much as possible because I love the fit and the colors. Does that mean I go walking around my house and outside of my house in simply those briefs?
In fact, right now I'm wearing a LS AA Henley, one of my favorite pieces of clothing, and I've only got two buttons buttoned - and guess what?! My chest hair is showing! Guess I'm a pedophile, huh?
In a world where there's much worse things going on than the promotion of sexuality as a positive human trait, there seems to be a preoccupation with moral codes that went out with King George the Fifth. |
| |
|
Posted by: voyce 12/09/2006
00:51
|
|
|
|
| hey my name is voyce i would love to be one of your models because i love your clothes, you can check me out at www.myspace.com/voyceproduction |
| |
|
Posted by: zilfondel 4/30/2007
00:32
|
|
|
|
Being a young 20-year old (albeit male), I can see how many people - particularly those older - might mistake these models for being much younger. However, really - you need to get out more often; not everyone is trying to dress up like they are a MILF.
"There is absolutely an exploitive quality to them"
I would say they have a naivete, or honest, quality to them. Less corporate, more personal. The poses many of the female models hold remind me of what my girlfriend and I do when we play around, quite frankly. It's sweet, innocent, and sexy... and quite a comment on people who criticize them: how insecure are you about your own sexuality?
Furthermore, these ads look identical to the ones you see plastered all over bus and tram stations in Europe, except they again appear less corporate and more candid... with real-looking people. |
| |
|
Posted by: tim 5/07/2007
05:28
|
|
|
|
you've got to be kidding. i walk across campus all day and know what adult women look like. i opened up my schools newspaper and saw a full page add or what looked like a 12 year old staring at me wearing a sexy swimsuit. that's disgusting.
perception is reality. |
| |
|
Posted by: gregory 7/17/2007
11:22
|
|
|
|
| Total Bullocks.This is a great company and way ahead of the APATHETIC public in the U.S. and so called Media.These sleep walking people who complain should focus on real issues and take action.My God, we can't have a forward thinking company here can we.Go back to sleep Amerika. |
| |
|
Posted by: Randy 7/17/2007
11:48
|
|
|
|
| OK...I am 51 yrs old, and yes, I have certainly had my day, but I just will never see why a picture of a lady, be it young or old, with her legs apart, for any reason, is considered good for selling clothes! I am no prude...geez...I don't even like that word, but you ladies today are treated the way you are by guys because of things just like this! You are seen as an object, not a lady! I've been married 29 yrs and dated over 50 young ladies before that, and never made a grab for one of them on the first few times out. Can the majority of women today say the same thing? I have a 24 yr old daughter, so I already know! I'm so sorry ladies...It may not offend you , but it is just not necessary to sell clothes or any other product! |
| |
|
Posted by: Sarah Van Ness 7/17/2007
12:03
|
|
|
|
| You mean the girl in a tank top and boxer looking shorts? They're kidding right. I probably wouldn't want my twelve year walking around in them but that girl isn't twelve...she's an adult. She looks like most of my friends in their 20's. In any case...it's ludicrous. These ads are fine. Nice colors....off to the store finder now. |
| |
|
Posted by: Alfonso 7/17/2007
12:16
|
|
|
|
| The ad is great ! I don't know why everybody is up in arms about this. As a silver spring native I think that its great why are people so uptight in this town, we could have had a mall of america type of mall but people here always want to stay in this stupid little shell. We're going to have to come out someday! |
| |
|
Posted by: Ralph 7/17/2007
12:21
|
|
|
|
| It seems to me that the people that are offended or disturbed by these images are not the target market for this campaign. From what i can see American apparel is selling clothes to the "young and trendy". if you look at these images and see something perverse, there must be something wrong with you. maybe therapy might help. or maybe you should just look away because images of young attractive adults reminds you of pedophillia. i see these images and think "wow" i have really let myself go, or wow that is a very thin young lady, she should eat more. they do not make me think of my sisters or my sons girlfriend. that would be weird. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. So is pedophillia. |
| |
|
Posted by: Adri 7/17/2007
12:26
|
|
|
|
| My major was business/marketing and don't you get what the compnay is trying to do? Create sex appeal and shock value... by people buying into this/making a bigger deal than it is only creating more buzz for the company which gives them more publicity and hopefully will generate more sales, it all about the bottom line people! |
| |
|
Posted by: Keith 7/17/2007
12:36
|
|
|
|
Some people need to get a life... Aren't there poor people to feed, troops to bring home, Katrina survivors to house, politicians to convict???
|
| |
|
Posted by: Blasted 7/17/2007
12:45
|
|
|
|
Is everyone here serious? We all know that once you've seen a lot of photos like this, they become less noticeable. Anyone can see that, right? So keep that in mind.
The images are definitely "racy." I can see plenty breast shape and form and just a little bit more and we get the whole view. As for the girls with her legs spread, the shorts are tight enough for anyone to see what she looks like between her legs. The last time I saw a girl in that position, she wasn't about to take an innocent nap.
Think about it, people. There are two extremes here. Those who see pornography, and those who see nothing at all. The truth? They're kinda racy. And that offends people who have 17 year old daughters that go to the mall and want to look like that.
Quit acting like your rights are being violated. |
| |
|
Posted by: camel jockey 7/17/2007
13:03
|
|
|
|
| I love the camel toe shot! |
| |
|
Posted by: Lori 7/17/2007
13:04
|
|
|
|
| Keith's comment couldn't have summed it up better! Concentrate on the important issues this country really faces each day... |
| |
|
Posted by: Lauren 7/17/2007
13:17
|
|
|
|
I don't really think that they look underage, they just have the "youthful" look to them. However, I do believe that the slideshows of these models are a bit too revealing. It definitely crossed a couple of fine lines in the advertising industry. People will get upset, I for one am not really fond of seeing malnourished-looking girls in provocative positions...but I also am a little comforted (A LITTLE!) to see that you do have the guys with the same look.
*I don't doubt that your models are great people, in no way am I personally attacking THEM as people...but your approach in clothing advertising should be a little toned down...being a lot of people have been in trouble because your content has been titled as NSFW (Not suitable for work). Perhaps you should have a disclaimer...to let people know beforehand...maybe a separate slideshow page for more provocative-styled pictures. |
| |
|
Posted by: Mike 7/17/2007
13:49
|
|
|
|
| Is it about image, or the old adage of SEX SELLS. This seems to be what Madison Ave has been about lately. I am not a prude and enjoy the adds. However, I feel that this type of promiscuity does feed the minds of those interested in child, or other porn and is distrespectful to and even abusive of women. |
| |
|
Posted by: dapix 7/17/2007
13:53
|
|
|
|
| and now you know why there are so many perverts out there.. and this justs adds fuel. When advertisers such as AA put their wears out there the perverts will prevail only if the taste is aimed at bottom line or seductive treatments to the masses. |
| |
|
Posted by: Gregg 7/17/2007
13:53
|
|
|
|
| Some folks standards are so low that nothing is provacative |
| |
|
Posted by: leeza 7/17/2007
13:53
|
|
|
|
| Everyone is allowing the media the hype that they want to attract in order to get responses......what do you really feel about these ads? Someone had to have gotten permission from someone's parents if they are true teens in these ads, come on. |
| |
|
Posted by: Heather 7/17/2007
14:03
|
|
|
|
| I find your American Apparel ads to be overly sexual and offensive. You shouldn't call youselves American Apparel considering most of your models are foreigners. |
| |
|
Posted by: Amanda 7/17/2007
14:09
|
|
|
|
| I'm sorry I don't get it... what is so provocative about the ad? I think I'm missing it. Is it because one of the suites is skin colored???? Granted it may be a poor choice for a swimsuit but I'd hardly consider it inappropriate |
| |
|
Posted by: amy 7/17/2007
14:14
|
|
|
|
| wtf? im lost???????????????????????/// |
| |
|
Posted by: Dave 7/17/2007
14:17
|
|
|
|
America is a country of prudes and it only causes problems. In Europe, nudity is accepted and is even on regular television. And they have far less violence and far less rapes. This is because they are open about it and view it as a normal part of life. We here in America shun all nudity and look at our society in general. Rape and sexual assaults are staggering. I don't believe in child nudity or child exploitation. That's wrong. But if the American people would lighten up and view the human body as beautiful and view a naked person as a human being, we'd all be better off.
|
| |
|
Posted by: Tom 7/17/2007
14:21
|
|
|
|
| Not racy to me. But I'm only one voice in billions so think what you want. The human animal has a good looking body I don't see the harm in showing it and the clothing manufactures sure like it when one is willing to show their bodies in it so let it be and let us move on. |
| |
|
Posted by: Rob 7/17/2007
14:32
|
|
|
|
| All this hoopla reminds me of the "Adults Only" films of the 1950s -- we teenagers soon discovered that when a really bad film wa made, the advertisers stuck an "Adults Only" label on it, which guaranteed that all us horny kids would flock to the theater on Saturday night. |
| |
|
Posted by: Mike Shinn 7/17/2007
14:39
|
|
|
|
| Teen porn is good. |
| |
|
Posted by: Charlie 7/17/2007
14:44
|
|
|
|
This does not appear, to me, as pedophilia. It looks like an advertisement for American Apparel.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I suppose Pedophilia is, as well. |
| |
|
Posted by: caddy 7/17/2007
14:48
|
|
|
|
| sorry, the girl is practically spread eagle on a bed. That is the dictionary definition of the word racy. Not the image I'd want my three year old to see. As far as your models looking like children, you're pushing some boundaries on that issue as well, they look very young. |
| |
|
Posted by: Ann 7/17/2007
14:53
|
|
|
|
| I receive many apparel catalogs at work. None of the others are a "slutty" as the American Apparel Catalogs. They are not appropriate at work and they are not anything I could show my customers. I'm at 40ish biker woman and am not prudish at all. I go to rally's where anything goes and it's alright with me. There is a time and place for everything and the American Apparel Catalog does not have a place on my desk |
| |
|
Posted by: Mike 7/17/2007
14:55
|
|
|
|
| Get a grip, there is nothing wrong with these ads. I've seen some a thousand times worse. I don't get the "suggestive poses". What are they talking about? |
| |
|
Posted by: Ashley 7/17/2007
15:03
|
|
|
|
| yeah.. a little too much i think! |
| |
|
Posted by: Elia 7/17/2007
15:06
|
|
|
|
| I'm 13, and I think these adds are pretty damn racy, and yes, the models to look like 15 year olds. Get over it. Stop trying to make excuses, just hire models that look there age. It's pretty obvious you went for the barely legal looking look. And I'll be honest, those are not the best poses. The pictures you posted in the silver spring store are obviously way too suggestive. She barely even looks like she's 15, honestly. |
| |
|
Posted by: J.R. 7/17/2007
15:15
|
|
|
|
| I am not pointing fingers but this stuff is just wrong - not just your company but the general ad industry and fashion designers in general. I am a father of 2 teen aged girls and 1 preteen I am outraged by what I see being sold to/for my girls. Just so you know I am never going to drop a dime for a gift for my kids that make them look like 2 bit whores, nor will I ever okay a purchase like this, or allow any of my kids to walk out the door in any of this. It makes me sick when I see this stuff creeping into stores for Preteens as well - you guys need to get it in gear and start making clothing for Little girls so they can look good and feel good about themselves as preteens. you also need to stop thrusting sex on my teenage girls as well. Any of you who want to say I am stuffy can stuff it yourself, my kids are doing great and quite successful in their social and academic lives and have great self esteems. You ppl who want to say stuff about me... take a look at your own kids - real hard you will only be doing them a favor. |
| |
|
Posted by: Brian 7/17/2007
15:21
|
|
|
|
Im 37 years old and maybe that can be considered old fashioned but at first look they all look to be mid teen girls most with their legs spread wide apart and low neck lines.. You can't tell me that the models alone came up with those poses and the photographer just clicked the pics!! It is not surprising that the young are getting older all the time and loosing their innocence.
Being a single man I do hit on women or flirt but even I have been shocked to learn that some women that I might say look mid to late 20's turn out to be 15 to 18!! It blows me away and even has me afraid of how the misunderstanding might be taken as. |
| |
|
Posted by: emma 7/17/2007
15:24
|
|
|
|
| By no means an I saying that people should stop fighting for what they believe it, but where is this getting you? by you getting mad and frustrated about it is not fixing a thing. so stick to the rules, maybe some pictures in the windows these days should be a little more PG, you know? Lead by example. |
| |
|
Posted by: Joel 7/17/2007
15:28
|
|
|
|
| Man they do look like children. I guess they don't if your about 10-15. Then they look like peers. |
| |
|
Posted by: Mark 7/17/2007
15:30
|
|
|
|
| I..I...I...I. doesnt matter what the I's say. or think. Here is the guy they listening to... $...$...$...$ |
| |
|
Posted by: Jenn 7/17/2007
15:33
|
|
|
|
| I think it's great that to show a more natural side of a woman because I believe it can bring a positive image to woman who have low self-esteem. It can make them feel better of themselves. BUT the picture of the girl in the bed is to much for a window display. It will work for the online website. If the goal is to provoke talk about the company to boost sale and get free ad, then the job was well done. |
| |
|
Posted by: dev 7/17/2007
15:39
|
|
|
|
I think that American Apparel is doing a great job of hitting thier target market. The uproar over thier ads aren't hurting a bit either. The people who are concerned over the ads aren't the type of people who would visit the store. However, the comment in the story that American Apparel ads, "encourage them (teens) to wear skimpy clothing," and that, "they promote having sex at a young age," is just another example of people blaming society for parents' inability to raise thier children correctly.
Personally I prefer a bit more decorum in advertising to the public as a whole. What is seen in the general public could be different than what is seen by the target market, e.g. storefront advertising versus catalogs. Every company does have to work with public image, and if American Apparel is not worried about what the general public sees, then that is thier business decision. Yet somehow, given thier target market, I see a sound business decision on thier part, no matter my personal feelings.
I am more concerned about the fact that the 80's are back. I mean c'mon, leggings?! |
| |
|
Posted by: judy 7/17/2007
15:57
|
|
|
|
| Hmmm kids have been wearing skimpy clothes for quite a while long before these ads . Kids have been having sex for a long long time even in the 50' 60's up to now it just wasn't as well known as it is now. These pics are not porn and if a model looks young because they do not have her hair in a sexy do or makeup plastered all over her face too bad. I know lots of people in their 20's that I would throw out of a bar . If some pervert wants to think these are kid we cannot stop him. Better he look at the web than at our kids. These kids have more clothing on then in the JC penny or Sear ads. |
| |
|
Posted by: Wayne Bombard 7/17/2007
15:59
|
|
|
|
| Who made nudity a sin? |
| |
|
Posted by: aby 7/17/2007
16:13
|
|
|
|
| I just dont see anything wrong with these at all...... |
| |
|
Posted by: Andi 7/17/2007
16:17
|
|
|
|
the models LOOK young whether they are or not.
the poses are NOT innocent poses.
and i worry about the morals of the people who think these ads are okay. |
| |
|
Posted by: Frankny51 7/17/2007
16:22
|
|
|
|
| People aren,t happy unless they are complaining about something. There's nothing wrong with thewe ads. Women's underwear catologs show more then these ads do. Nobody forces you to look if you don't want to. |
| |
|
Posted by: Josh 7/17/2007
16:25
|
|
|
|
| I've looked at your photo ads and they are not pornographic in any way. Poorly posed so it neither does your product or your models any favors but pornographic, No. It's true people do get into some wierd positions but give yourselves a break. Your taking alot of heat because of the positions their bodies are in. Raise the bar and hire a photographer who can capture the exuberance of your models! |
| |
|
Posted by: yupouting 7/17/2007
16:44
|
|
|
|
| They are immitating Abercrombi & Fitch. They are not all that stupid, sex does sell. The'll make lots of money for the investors. At the same time they should sensitive to the audience and try to educate the teens rather than sell them bad behaviour |
| |
|
Posted by: margaret ann murphy 7/17/2007
17:10
|
|
|
|
| I love this store and all it's ads. Will there be one comming to Williamsburg Va. any time soon????? |
| |
|
Posted by: Gina 7/17/2007
17:14
|
|
|
|
| OK, well if it's not child porn, then it's just porn, because I saw about 10 items of clothing that exposed the model's breasts or privates. Seriously, this website is disgusting. If you're going to sell stripperish/pornish clothing in the first place, at least censor your ads. |
| |
|
Posted by: Victoriana 7/17/2007
17:15
|
|
|
|
How about instead of complaining about models looking too young or "sleazy" or accusing them of being naiive for posing for AA you instead focus on getting harder laws on child molesters, or even put some energy into Girls Gone wild or "barely legal" porn, both actually are pornography that focus on youth.
I do belive all of the models look of age and i highly doubt hey don't realize how they're posing. Many of you that are complaining are most likely just frightened of difference.
If you don't like it don't look. |
| |
|
Posted by: ming 7/17/2007
17:49
|
|
|
|
| Gina - I find it amusing that someone who if so deeply offended by the American Apparel website decides to investigate the products... carefully looking for exposed naughty bits. Could it be that you're more turned-on than you wish to admit? Nobody is forcing you to look. If you don't like it - don't go there. |
| |
|
Posted by: Trudy 7/17/2007
20:20
|
|
|
|
What the heck is wrong with Americans, always up tight about the wrong thing. There has always been the tactic of using SEX to sell since the first ad company was created. If these models are legal then no law has been broken, if you dont like the look then dont buy from the store. If you dont like the movie then don't buy a ticket.
I hope to God that there is a comment board somewhere on the internet that has at least 70 comments against the internet site that booked apointments to show children of all ages being raped live and in color. Now that is a CRIME worth of getting enraged about not some ads that are LEGAL even if you dont like them. IF you dont like them write the company and show your displeasure with your wallet and your credit card. Some people just have too much time on their hands and really needed to find something constructive to do like campaign to bring our troops back home and stamp out real child porn and kick all the crooked politician out. One of the problems with this country is some of us are still in the Puritian era and want to impose those rigid views on everyone else. A legal age body that is young, lively, lithe and beautiful is as clean or as dirty as you chose to interpert it. Find something important to complain about. |
| |
|
Posted by: Sheila 7/18/2007
11:00
|
|
|
|
| I will have to say that the woman in the picture does not look like a teenager and in fact she does look like she is in her twenties. BUT in the one picture of her sitting on bed sheets leaning backwards with her legs spread apart, she does look a little racy. Honestly to me she looks like she is saying come and get me, I'm horny. |
| |
|
Posted by: Freddie 7/18/2007
18:37
|
|
|
|
| VOTE WITH YOUR MONEY. dON'T BUY FROM THE PEOPLE WHO USE THIS ADVERTISING PLOY. |
| |
|
Posted by: Matt 7/18/2007
21:50
|
|
|
|
| too much. |
| |
|
Posted by: Jenny 7/18/2007
21:53
|
|
|
|
Sheila, she is saying, come get me, I'm horny.
don't you ever feel that way? i don't think there's anything wrong with that. |
| |
|
Posted by: Dennis 7/20/2007
03:33
|
|
|
|
| sadie-- what a loon, there is nothing wrong with those pictures |
| |
|
Posted by: Robert Lloyd 7/20/2007
10:48
|
|
|
|
| I don’t see this as kiddie porn. The problem is that society has allowed provocative materials to fill our stories that this is just one more thing. Has anyone looked at the magazines racks lately? Any child can walk up to a rack of magazines and pull down soft porn. This is the problem. I believe if we deal with this issue that adds like this by Kalvin Cline will cease. |
| |
|
Posted by: Kris H 7/21/2007
12:25
|
|
|
|
| I have never even heard of American Apparel, and I tend to shop a lot, for a guy. I have seen the photos and I think they do look like young niave kids being exploited. I am sure the models are of age, but made to look exploited. And if I were to buy, let's say underwear from AA (which I won't, only because they are just underwear, nothing special about them). I won't be laying on the floor spreading my legs, or standing on chair pressing myself towards the ceiling! If I buy and wear my clothes, I surely don't stick my butt out? And if I want to see the clothes, let's say in a catalogue, I would rather see them modeling the clothes, and not themselve's. |
| |
|
Posted by: sam 7/23/2007
15:04
|
|
|
|
| your ads lack tact. what a real turn OFF! absolute scum bag material. |
| |
|
Posted by: driver 7/23/2007
18:30
|
|
|
|
| But, guess who's ad you sill remember.................... |
| |
|
Posted by: Denise Day 7/23/2007
19:28
|
|
|
|
| Ok, you HAd to have known that these models looked very young and very provocative in these ads. I'm twenty something and I know they look "dirty". If I knew that then why didn't you?... I'll tell you why. Because you did but it's not sexy. I'm sickened by it. I'll tell you right now you're not getting any money out of me for those clothes with that advertising. It says to me, 'Buy American Apparel" it will make you look cheap! |
| |
|
Posted by: Dusty 7/24/2007
00:19
|
|
|
|
| I have to say, I had never heard of American Apparel before I stumbled over this site so I just took a detour into the American Apparel photo gallery to see what all the fuss was about yeah the photos are some what sexy and the models seem to be in their VERY early twenties but the fact that they are not all dolled up is great and to tell you the truth, I have unfourtunately seen much more sexual ads than those just on the family channels on network t.v. |
| |
|
Posted by: Banjo 7/24/2007
08:57
|
|
|
|
| Saide D, it seems to me that you are jealous because some individuals have it better than you do. |
| |
|
Posted by: Patti 7/30/2007
06:49
|
|
|
|
| When I look at these pictures I don't get the sense that this is any thing having to do with children. What these pictures put me in the mind of is pictures that are posted by young adults on websites all over the internet. Go on Yahoo and do a search for your ideal mate, you will find photographs just like these. I am 40 and I have to say, if this was my company I think instead of a mild shock factor or "provocative" factor, I would try for a little classier photo. All of these photos look like they were taken by an amateur. Not a good way to promote your business. People come to the site to look at the "racy" photos, they don't come to buy the clothing. |
| |
|
Posted by: Meg 10/31/2007
05:06
|
|
|
|
These windows catch people's attention because they have crossed the line. American Apparel knew there would be controversy; there was no way to ignore THAT window. It's no accident that wasn't a guy in that crotch shot. Let's face it, boobs and crotches are sexual organs. We tell kids they're their "privates" and teach them about inappropriate touching, but when they walk down the street all of a sudden they're "publics". What kind of message does this ad send?
My husband and I quit shopping at our local mall several years ago because of the racy window dressing. When we told the mall why, their response was that their goal was to appeal to a wide variety of people so naturally, some are going to be offended. Some stores stop just short of pornography to grab your eye, to make a sale.
Our culture is so saturated with sexual images that no one is supposed to be offended when a young woman is pictured with her legs spread open, larger than life size no less. HEY GIRLS... there's no need to show it all... leave a few things to the imagination. Girls dress in next to nothing while guys wear baggy clothes. Ever wonder why? You say it's your choice? The media has made your choices FOR you. Be original... make your OWN decisions!
The same argument applies to smoking in public places, and laws have been passed limiting it. When your smoke intrudes on everyone else's breathing, that's where your rights stop. When your "advertising" intrudes on others' sensibilities, the same principle applies. There are ways to get people's attention besides shocking them.
Kudos to American Apparel if you post this comment! |
| |
|
Posted by: Niel 10/31/2007
08:54
|
|
|
|
It's a shame to see these young people like this. This is more suited for lingerie than everyday clothing and underwear.
Fit: I believe that a person should wear clothes that fit. Many of these items look too big with breasts clearly visible beneath or too small with private parts showing through them.
Age, youth and beauty: I think that people complaining about the youth of these models are fighting a lost battle: the models are young and beautiful/handsome--There's nothing wrong with that. Congratulations to the models for being in good physical condition. Shame on the photographer shooting like a playboy subscribing pervert. Shame on the producers for pushing the envelope as far as they think they can.
Topless and mixed sex photos: These models certainly look like they are being taken advantage of. If not-then shame on you! Keep your clothes on. Just say No! Save naked modeling for your spouse.
Example: These photos are good examples of what not to do. My daughter is 12, and these photos are examples of what I will teach her NOT to do and how NOT to dress. Question for the models since you are old enough to have kids: Do you want your kids acting like that, dressing like that? It's contributing to the moral decay of our society. Want to help cure STDs and unwed pregnancy—then keep your clothes on…save it for marriage.
Congratulations to the young lady who can touch her feet to her head. They probably all can, they are fit, shapely humans. Congratulations. Please don't sell yourself--show us what the clothes look like on a body.
Cheers to the producer to include the gold Sherle Wagner bathtub hardware in the photos of the bathing suit model in the jetted tub. That was classy. |
| |
|
Posted by: Celena 10/31/2007
10:49
|
|
|
|
| I don´t see anything wrong............. |
| |
|
Posted by: jennjenn 11/01/2007
13:20
|
|
|
|
American Apparel thinks it's okay that, as long as the girl is wearing a shirt or some sort of top, it doesn't matter if it's transparent or not. They have photos of mesh bras and panties on the girls. They show more than Victoria's Secret would dare. I was looking at photos of scarves. The women in the pictures looked topless and the scarves weren't covering anything. Actually, they did have tops on, but very thin, transparent mesh.
They have men with tiny, tight shorts on, and the camera is focused directly toward their crotches while they are sitting with their legs apart. It just looks bad, whether or not you think it's racy.
I don't think these people look too young. Some people have young faces. I am a Sophomore in college, but I look as young as these women do when I have no makeup on. If anything at all, I am not opposed to how old or young their faces look. Natural is good, but racy is not. |
| |
|
Posted by: shiri 11/06/2007
15:10
|
|
|
|
Perhaps the models of American Apparel are of adult age, but they are not photographed to appear that way.
Sex sells and everyone knows "barely legal" sells the most.
It is a blantant act of American Apparel to market the barely legal image.
I can't tell you how many people, Men and Woman, who say it creeps them out to walk past the store windows and see ads in magazines that obviously sexualize children.
It's gross.
People who don't agree with this are probably the same people that you see letting their 10 year old daughter wear t-shirts that say "I'm a hottie" and "too sexy."
Shame on American Apparel for perpetuating the oversexualization of children. |
| |
|
Posted by: Chris 7/17/2008
10:29
|
|
|
|
Two things: (1) definitely a cool way to model clothes, very sparse like the clothing (2) Can't go on website at work to look up store locations because last time I did that there was a naked chick sitting on my screen staring at the company CEO.
Conclusions: (1) It is semi-pornographic. (2) Pornography is art, too. |
| |
|
Posted by: Meh 8/03/2008
23:20
|
|
|
|
| The ads aren't "child pornography", but they are stupid. Who's bright idea was it to juxtapose normal cotton clothing on a bunch of half naked women? I mean, I don't have anything against the latter, but when I buy a t-shirt I'm not exactly swayed by how it would look on some chick who's mooning me. I also laugh at how they feel the need to say as a side note that the slut in question attends some fancy college and is actually very successful, just to prove that they aren't belittling women :P |
| |
What We Do
United States
Canada
Québec
Argentina
Australia
Belgique
Brasil
中国
Deutschland
France
Great Britain
Ireland
Israel
Italia
日本国
한국
México
Nederland
Österreich
Schweiz
Sverige