Posted on 05/08/2013 9:05:22 PM PDT by BenLurkin
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Controversial comments about plus-size shoppers made by the CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch have struck an angry chord with women.
The size chart at the popular clothing store doesn’t go past a size 10, and that’s exactly how Mike Jeffries wants it.
According to Robin Lewis, the author of the “New Rules of Retail,” Jeffries said he “doesn’t want larger people shopping in his store. He wants thin and beautiful people. He doesn’t want his core customers to see people who aren’t as hot as them wearing his clothing. People who wear his clothing should feel like they’re one of the ‘cool kids.’”
In a 2006 interview with Salon magazine, Jeffries admitted his company isn’t targeting all shapes and sizes.
He said, “A lot of people don’t belong (in our clothes), and they can’t belong. Are we exclusionary? Absolutely.”
CBS2’s Kristine Lazar spoke with a number of women who were outraged about Jeffries’ stance on what is considered beautiful.
“Tells (women) that they need to be a certain size in order to appreciate their body and that’s not true,” said shopper Andrea Haykel.
“To be thin is to be cool, that’s what I think (he’s saying),” said Denise Vanleuvan. “That’s not okay.”
“There are full-figured women out there and they shouldn’t be judged by this man,” said Jessica Nerio.
Erica Ives, a certified eating disorder specialist, said it’s up to parents to use the publicity surrounding Jeffries’ quote to open up a dialogue with their teen.
“The first thing is… do not minimize their experience. But then, yes, you have to focus on the other traits that make people beautiful,” she said.
Lazar’s calls to Abercrombie’s headquarters were not returned.
well, maybe it is a gay store, I sure feel creeped out in there
I have a hard time finding clothes that aren’t made by tent and awning frankly
So where can the other gals find those Gloria Peterbilt jeans ?
My local mall is only open because of these type of teen stores. They employee 100’s of young people and help keep the other stores and food court open because the parents shop while their kids are shopping in A&F/Hollister. I have to wonder what is the motivation to drag up a quote from 2006 other than to try to shut down a private business with feigned outrage from parents who perceive them to be “bullies”.
Oh and it is vanity sizing. Size 10 women’s shorts in A&F have a 34/36” waist and usually have lycra for more stretch.
I don,t think people object to fat people as much as they do to the reason most people are fat.
Because they do nothing except lay around and eat while some one else works to feed them, and have done that since they were babies.
Of course we know that every one who are fat is not on welfare but in these days of socialist America it is so obvious to any one who lived on a working mans pay in the forties and fifties and even the 1960s.
Able bodied people were expected to manage for themselves even if it meant doing that dirty word , work, or go hungry.
So there is no war against fat people which i for one sure in the hell would have no part in, it is a deep resentment against the socialism that America has adopted which has always failed and would be dehumanizing in any case.
This quote is all over the net. I am on another board with mothers and they are all outraged. Ironically the mom leading the rampage is a Mass liberal and she told everyone they should shop American Apparel because they pay a “living wage” and have healthcare. So I Google Image “American Apparel” to see the type of clothing she is talking about. Just let me say their ads are NSFW. Apparently AA got back in the news after the Bangladesh factory collapse.
So, don’t go to A&F, go to a fat store!
I'm not about to make excuses for this Jeffries guy; he sounds like a typical nasty, image-obsessed fag. But you're right when you say people are getting fatter.
Big women might not be able to shop at A & F, but I can't imagine they have many problems elsewhere. If you go into a store such as Kohl's and glance through the merchandise, you'll find perhaps one small, one or two mediums, five larges, and a big stack of everything up to XXXXL. I asked a clerk once, "What am I supposed to do if I need a smaller size?" She shrugged and said the large sizes are what they get now....women are getting bigger and bigger. She said, "If you find something you like in a small, you should snatch it up quickly."
Mac, I’lll bet your grandmother’s dresses were gorgeous!
In 2009, fashion features editor Sara Buys had an opportunity to try on some items from a collection of Marilyn Monroe’s costumes and clothes and reported:Contrary to received wisdom, she was not a voluptuous size 16 — quite the opposite. While she was undeniably voluptuous — in possession of an ample bosom and a bottom that would look at home gyrating in a J-Lo video — for most of the early part of her career, she was asize 8 and even in her plumper stages, was no more than a 10. I can tell you this from experience because a few weeks ago, I tried to try on her clothes.
I am old enough to remember when Abercrombie and Fitch made high-end gear for hunting and fishing. Now, their clothes look like things Goodwill rejects. Even the mannequins look like they slept in the clothes.
and what a shame it has become. AF USED to be an upscale sporting goods store (back in the dark ages when my Dad would treat me to something from AF when we vacationed at the Broadmoor). Those days are looooong gone.
I haven’t shopped there in over thirty years
and note that is the maximum size they carry. size ten women do not fit the term rubenesque
a woman’s size ten comes out to be abut the same measurements as a men[’s small
Because once it is on a fat person, by definition, it isn't stylish
Umm. Why exactly can't they hope to achieve it?
Lane Bryant.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.