Anx said:

I totally agree. I don't club much, but when I'm out and see a guy in A&F, I refer to him as a Stepford Fag. A&F is just sooo plastic.

HereToRockYourWorld said:

Fuck ya got me I got a yuppie streak. Not to sound arrogant or anything...I just like nice things.

This is an interesting twist... Vicious rumors circulate all the time about design houses saying this sort of thing. I've heard this sort of stuff attributed to Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Bally, Gucci, etc., and they go out of their way to deny it, in respect to "down-market" clientele. Though I know how imoportant an air of exclusivity is to a high-end product line, I usually appreciate their at least feigned concern with appearing all-inviting. Now here comes this dude pretty much doing the exact opposite! Wow.

...Anyway, I have to say I've never felt uncomfortable when I've been in A&F, and I think the people who work there are generally average at best in appearance -- and way too green in personality. Perhaps it's a function of my own arrogance insulating me... or my oblivion to all things cool in my old age.

But the real question is: Woods cologne and sexy T-shirt cuts aside, what exactly is the draw of their product line? The girl's stuff is fair, but the guy's stuff looks like thrift store spoil some dead frat boy has worn, bleached, abused and not ironed for 10 years -- and it almost always is defaced with some obnoxious moose or logo sprawled all over it. What's the appeal?

...I go in there anymore only because I like the photos and store designs. I get decorating ideas.

Lammastide said:

Personally I like A&F. I don't love them. But I like some of thier stuff.

I have absolutely no issue with "pretty" people in these places. It's nice to go somewhere and look at sexy people in clothes. The way I look at it, some of us were born to be smart, or funny, or creative. And some people were born to look prettier than others.

I'm not intimidated by the pretty people in the very least. I think it's becuase I don't over value their looks. They're great to look at--but that doesn't mean I'm gonna kiss thier asses.

And seeing them helps me to strive to look my best.

Never heard of it. Is it like Gap?

notoriousj said:

You stole that line from Esquire.

Fauxie said:

sort of


It's like gap, but it doesn't even attempt to appeal to a broad spectrum of people.

Think of it as hip hop clothes but for pretty young white people.

Imago said:

Ok.

Now I think of it I remember hearing it in a song? Some summer track where the video is set outside with lots of guys and girls having fun.

Your description doesn't make me want to go there. I had a thing about Tommy Hilfiger stuff when I went to the US and was already buying jeans and shorts and polo shirts. I still wear some of it.

Also, who is Gary Busey? Is he mentioned in a song Adam Sandler sings in 50 First Dates or am I imagining it?

Imago said:

That's pretty accurate. Now go to American Eagle to buy the same lame dog tag necklace and ripped up jeans and save $30.

HereToRockYourWorld said:

I did...I just don't have to use it as often as he does...

Lammastide said:

College kids love the "I'm a bum with $" look I guess

Imago said:

I don't care that he wants to hire the supposedly beautiful folk in his store. The thing that gets me is their attitudes - like they're SO awesome b/c they work in a fucking store & you're shit for asking them a question Its a bizarre dynamic, reminds me too much of being a misguided teenager

Fauxie said:

Gary busy is a scary actor.

I think he once (I'm not lying) had an operation to make his scrotum a little smaller. Something about too much scrotom skin or something.

I own a kick ass Hillfigure shirt that I haven't worn but maybe 4 times. Hillfigure made some awful jeans--they don't compliment your ass at all,

Hollister makes some great jeans designed to make your ass look nice, but Hollister jeans are cheap--they fall apart in a season or so.

Imago said:

I have some Hilfiger jeans I've had for maybe 8 or 9 years that I still wear when we lounge around out the front having barbecues and stuff. They've got one of those weird handle type things that does nothing. It has a big ass logo on it. I have skinny legs so I always used to buy baggy jeans.

My best stuff came from a shop called Trapeze in Cheltenham. Very cool stuff. No idea what the brand I bought was, they just said 'trousers' or 'shirt' on the labels, but it's about the only pricey designer clothes I've bought that I still really like, apart from a nice leather jacket I bought shortly before moving to Thailand, which I've worn about 3 times. In truth I've not really bought any new clothes apart from one or two things since I've been permanently living here. I really need a wardrobe makeover.

Fauxie said:

You should always attempt to wear pretty form fitting clothes even if you're really skinny.
baggy clothes on skinny people make them look unhealthy. It's better to look like a skinny person in form fitting clothes, than sickly.

Likewise, baggy clothes on fat people make them look bigger. That's not to say poeple should be wearing clothes that look like saran wrap, but they shouldn't lie about their bodies--it alwasy shows.

Plus there's nothing wrong with either really--it's just how you carry yourself.

I haven't bought new clothes in a while. I'm trying to lose about 25-30 pounds this year so I'm avoiding new clothes. Plus I'm really not big into the "lastest" season's fashions or anything. Rather, I'm just concious about not looking dated--pretty much a good haircut can catch anybody up. Just slap on a faded pair of jeans and a wife beater shirt--and if you have the right haircut, it doesn't matter.


god this thread is getting gay.

Imago said:

Have you been watching these guys???

Imago said:

Both Mon and I need to get some new stuff. Mon can't wait for us to go shopping for her clothes for our UK trip at Xmas. I've lost weight the last 6 months though and she's put quite a bit on. No point buying new stuff if she'll lose weight so she's just trying to get back down before we go shopping. For now, we both look like a couple of tramps though, it's terrible.

Yeah, I don't buy really baggy jeans anymore, but I still like my jeans a bit loose. I'm not really sure why I've lost as much weight as I have, but I'm not too bothered as I'm still doing weights and feel quite good about that, and I'll eat so much pasta and rich food when I'm back in the UK at Xmas to stock up for next year here.

It's all really just bad fashion.

Lammastide said:

I hate that bitch.
The guy is pretty good, and he wears great clothes, but that mean ass bitch annoys the fuck out of me.

I don't mind giving advice to people about how to improve or update their look. But when you attack some people's favorite items--items that have sentimental value--that's just crass.

Imago said:

Do my elbows look big in this?

...
[Edited 5/27/06 21:23pm]

Fauxie said:

I'm sure they're very nice elbos, but I'm just not an elbow person.


And you know that ... Though I'm not going to bother explaining to other orgers why you know that.

Imago said:

Actually, if you don't like elbows in general you definitely won't like my angular, pointy things. Even I don't like my elbows and they help me perform many tasks on the daily.

Imago said:

Don't they BOTH attack people's favorite items???

I've seen him say just as many bitchy things as she has And neither of them is as good as Trinny & Susannah

CalhounSq said:

Aren't those the british ladies? They crack my shit up.

I'm big on people finding what works for them. But I like Hollister, A&F, American Eagle, Urban Outfitter's and the like--just becuase they're popular with young people doesn't mean they suck.

And I've never been given attitude at Ambercrombie stores--but I dont' venture in there often--pay 60 dollars for shorts with deliberate tatters just doesn't work for me. I'd rather pay the 30-40 bucks for them in Hollister.

Imago said:

I love them They way they just walk up & grab people's asses & shit is hilarious

HereToRockYourWorld said:

sweetie, you just gave me a FANTASTIC idea for work .

newpower99 said:

sure they are cute...i'd probably shag the hell outta the guy on the left...but the one on the right who is wearing a t-shirt that says 'Itch'...hmm...wouldn't do him cause i'm scared of what makes him itchy....


i hate that store...as an above average....voluptous woman...i can hardly get a breast in their pre-pubescent t-shirts. my bodacious bootay can't be shoe-horned into their no waist, no hips, straight legged-i'm-shaped-like-a-teenage-boy jeans. dammit...i don't want to wear their crappy clothes anyway. i went into one in Hawaii once...the idiots working there looked at me like i had a screw loose for even looking at their clothes...you could just hear the screaming in their tiny heads "if she even THINKS her big ass is going to wear any of this....!!!!" man...i sooo wanted to say....ok chickie your skinny malnourished ass can't AFFORD to eat on your minimum wage salary...This is what $50000 a year looks like. but i am too classy to go there

lillith said:

I feel ya, Lil. I have a California cousin who has grown up in the suburbs, around some fairly wealthy white families. She loved A&F when she was in high school (she also swore by wearing blue contacts then -- and we're the same caramel/black complexion).

Ripped-up, frayed and faded baseball caps were $24. The abused look given to all the other clothing was incredible. And, yes, I totally felt unwelcome when I walked in. But, I'm not so sure my cousin caught the vibe, at the time. I think she might by now.

That store is all about middle-class whites wanting to buy into the old-money, prep image at the core of its marketing. That image thrives on exclusivity. So, it's no wonder its loyal market would seek to perpetuate that, or that its employees would buy into it, as well.

I say boycott the turkeys. But, I would.

lillith said:

I had no idea that they even had stores in Canada...do they? I don't know a single person who wears these clothes.

Anx said:

I honestly get angry some times. I'll see some hottie at the bar. All rocking a fauxhawk or a shaved head. Looking properly messy and hawt. Then I realize he's wearing A&F and all the hawtness is gone. I thought queers were supposed to have more fashion sense/style, but aparrently we are as gullible of a target market as any other group.

RipHer2Shreds said:

Oh my God me too!

A woman I know has a college-age daughter that works there from time to time as a "door girl". She's a very beautiful, all-American looking girl. Tall, long legs, tan, blonde, etc. Very suburban and exactly the type of person who they want to buy their clothes. Anyway, she just has to stand there in little short-shorts and greet the customers along with equally good-looking frat boy type guys.