FAB -- you're internet combing skills just made my day! The AA ad that usually runs to the left of this comment box terrifies me now and again. When it isn't terrifying me, it makes me feel good because I think the dress even makes the skinny, voluptuous model girl look awkward. So comforting.

I'll summarize the point of that video: If you're too fat or too skinny, tight clothes don't really look good on you. WHAT A SCOOP!

I think pretty much everything to do with American Apparel is over-the-top hipster lame. But, really, singling them out because of this is kind of silly. If you have "a body that deviates from the ideal," you're not going to look good in crazy shiny spandex thongs no matter who manufactures them.

My sentiments exactly The Grim. Too many Americans don't dress like they know what their body looks like ... which is especially disturbing with the criss-cross unitard staring at me from above the comments.

I think American Apparel is hilarious! I don't personally shop there, (it's so expensive!) but my friends and I stop in every once and a while on the Ave and laugh at the incredible clothes there, and we plan music videos. Sparkly gold spandex! Borat-style one-pieces! It's a delight.

Nevermind the porn all over the walls :]

These ads are plastered all over alt/indie music websites, but I don't think I've ever seen anyone wearing these slinky American Apparel clothes at concerts. Every other kind of hipster garb, but not AA. And I'd probably notice, since it tends to make young women either look really hot, or... not.

So who wears this stuff, anyway?

Maybe it's a regional thing?

Has anyone read up on Dov Charney, the CEO and founder of AA? This is from the NY Times, reporting on allegations of sexual harrassment against him in 2005 (and all of a sudden I'm going to quote the NYT and make TIG NSFW):

Among the allegations: using crude language and gestures, conducting job interviews in his underwear, ordering the hiring of women in whom he had a sexual interest and giving one of the plaintiffs a vibrator.

And in an article in Jane magazine last summer, Mr. Charney was described as engaging in oral sex with a female employee and masturbating in front of the writer several times with the writer's acquiescence.

I gues he also requires employees to sign waivers acknowledging that that is a highly sexual work environment so that it is harder for them to sue for sexual harrassment.

But, hey, no sweatshops.

First of all...

o0o0 the guy is CUTE

BUT ALSO

As much as their cloths don't fit EVERYONE, aren't we being the same by opressing the people that they do fit? It's like the big and tall stores for men... aren't they descriminating? Where are the cloths for the small and short? Just saying... if the cloths don't fit you.. go to another store...

and I myself.. well.. lets just say I don't pass on the cheesecake and brownies... but I know AA isn't for me..

But I love ya'll! :D

i agree that people should know their body type, and, uh, dress accordingly. but i mean, really, whose body type really calls for high-waisted electric blue lame tights? come on. as for the larger dov charney/aa controversy, there's a whole tizzy in new york about their ever-changing stupid billboard ad on e. houston on the lower east side and how it's basically soft-core porn and probably inappropriate, if not exploitative.

aren't the hipsters supposed to be, like, progressive or something?

also, i think the funny/objection has largely to do with the fact that in addition to not fitting or flattering "everyone," american apparel apparel nearly doesn't fit or flatter ANYONE. at all. seriously. and not just because we americans are total fat asses, which i'll fully cop to.

Well yeah I mean "hipsters are supposed to be progressive", but I think progressive about more important issues than a clothing ad.

Personally, besides the gross article Chris posted, I don't mind American Apperal. They cater to unique needs yes, but some people have a strong desire for lime green spandex suits, and dammit they deserve the right to own them!

And besides that, AA doesn't just sell the crazy clothing. They have really nice t-shirts that many bands use, and some cute sweaters, neither of which are particularly unflattering.

I was randomly offered a job there once while buying certain articles of clothing.

They even looked up my myspace profile IN the store.

talk about weird business practice.

As someone who's been actively trying to not buy Chinese/sweat shop/questionable overseas clothing for the past few years now (which equals me not shopping much, really), I really like AA's whole "made in the US" ideals...until, as everyone has pointed out, you look at their selection. God damn it, can't a decent (read: not tacky and made of actual materials, not just cheap cotton) line of American made clothing come out? Please, someone, point me in such a company's direction, my three year old clothing is wearing out!

so my name lies, it's been decided my the greater god that i am indeed too fat for american appararal and much too poor. cause seriously...who pays 42$ for tights? honestly.
but you know... the pornographic girls on the ads aren't fitting in the clothes either? :)