Abercrombie goes gay -- again!

[+ friendofsheila]

They is bringin' back the catalog that so many men took to the bathroom.

 

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20100628/BUSINESS/6280359/1010/Abercrombie+&+Fitch+brings+back+racy+catalog

[Guest greatness]

oh my

 

I saw an A&F catalog at my straight friend's house for the first time several years ago.. I don't like A&F (frankly I'm not in the A&F demographic .) I thought my friend was gay but he denied it. Why would a straight guy have an A&F catalog in his bedroom? BTW the guys in the catalog were hot~~~

 

They is bringin' back the catalog that so many men took to the bathroom.

 

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20100628/BUSINESS/6280359/1010/Abercrombie+&+Fitch+brings+back+racy+catalog

[Mocha]

I always thought A&F and A&E were just too plain and mundane for me. The models in the photos are cute and all...but the clothing just seems to lack any type of originality.

 

I'd see alot of guys in high school wearing them and me and my friends would just think, 'clones'. But I understand its a status thing more than a fashion statement. $100 for a plain button down shirt

[body2body]

Quite a few years ago Genre Magazine approached A&F regarding use of their clothes in an editorial spread. They were told in no uncertain terms that A&F was not interested in having their clothes appear in a Gay Men's publication, they said they were not interested in attracting customers in "that demographic". The Editor of Genre was so apalled that he published the letter from A&F. If you spend your hard earned gay dollars at A&F you are supporting a company that does not want your business. Has lost court cases for racial discrimination, and discrimination on the basis of appearance. Employees interviewed on NPR said that they were told to ignore people over 40 to discourage them from spending time in their stores. Don't be a fool. The boys may be cute but the company is odious.

[rvwnsd]

The models in the photos are cute and all...but the clothing just seems to lack any type of originality. ...But I understand its a status thing more than a fashion statement. $100 for a plain button down shirt

 

I have to agree with you on that one, Mocha. Their clothes look like something out of Target. Target clothes are fine, but their shorts cost $24.99 ($16.99 on sale) not whatever ghastly price A&F charges.

[orbital sander]

Quite a few years ago Genre Magazine approached A&F regarding use of their clothes in an editorial spread. They were told in no uncertain terms that A&F was not interested in having their clothes appear in a Gay Men's publication, they said they were not interested in attracting customers in "that demographic". The Editor of Genre was so apalled that he published the letter from A&F. If you spend your hard earned gay dollars at A&F you are supporting a company that does not want your business. Has lost court cases for racial discrimination, and discrimination on the basis of appearance. Employees interviewed on NPR said that they were told to ignore people over 40 to discourage them from spending time in their stores. Don't be a fool. The boys may be cute but the company is odious.

 

Mike Jeffries is friends with the Vatican, perhaps the Pope has some influence here...

[Romann]

Abercrombie catalogs and soft porn go hand-in-hand.

[seaboy4hire]

My nose can be sensitive to over the top perfumes and I wont shop there on the basis their stores smell like a cheap wh.... and not to mention I find their advertising to be less then tasteful.

 

Hugs,

Greg

[RockHard]

A&F is for kids.

 

Makes me think of all the homely, older gay guys who wear the brand thinking it helps make them look like one of their models. That's the problem when sexy youth is the focus of a clothing ad campaign. A&F will happily take an older troll's money even though the trolls look absolutely ridiculous in their clothing. Brilliant marketing.

[JT Brooklyn]

Undergear Catalogs

 

Least we not forget UNDERGEAR! The "Catalogs" of the past Year leave nothing to the Imagination as far as just what is Packed into most of those SPEEDOS & UNDIES!

 

Sadly 90% of the Customers BUY on the Fantasy they too can look THE SAME with their Clothes Off! NEVER HAPPEN..

[jimboivyo]

Rockhard makes a good point. AF knows who's buying their stuff, they exploit them and gays keep coming back for more of it.

 

Just wearing a snug AF t will not make you sexy, muscular or younger.

[+ azdr0710]

no revelation here, but, as with all hip labels, the wearers seem to need some sort of self-esteem/ego boost or are in desperate need of self-validation....

 

way back in college (early 80s), I fell prey to LaCoste shirts (though my Mom had been dressing me in them since I was a tiny kid)....never bought Ralph Lauren polos, though, that were white hot then!...

 

it's all marketing, of course....and sheeple....

 

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=sheeple

[Guest greatness]

oh my

 

You mom is so sweet.. I bought LaCoste Shirts for my first escort and he really liked them. He was so sweet.

[RockHard]

...as with all hip labels, the wearers seem to need some sort of self-esteem/ego boost or are in desperate need of self-validation....

 

I disagree. Some "hip" designers make fabulous designs that are very well made. Dressing can be an art form and men who respect it as such can wear fabulous clothing with pride and wear it well. There's nothing wrong with wanting to look good, especially if you have a body that wears clothing well. IMO, that's an indication of healthy ego and self-esteem. The issue with A&F is they are marketing to young and VERY hot, which basically means (to anyone with a brain), if you're not young and hot, don't wear their clothes. You easily see plenty of escorts claiming to be the "Abercrombie" type. You never see any escort claiming to be a "Hilfiger" or a "Lauren."

[RockCreekRunr]

Right on...

 

 

RH, You make a great point here... I've also never seen an escort promoting himself as the "Target" type guy. While some young, hot, hip men buy their clothes at Taget or Wal-Mart rather than A&F, they don't seem to want to self-identify with the discount retailer brands. On the other hand, I've read countless profiles (from Rentboy to Adam4Adam to Manhunt to Craigslist) where gay & straight-identifying young men proudly claim to have the "A&F" look/body. A&F's marketing and branding strategy clearly works for their business--for better or worse.

[+ g56whiz]

I have to agree with you on that one, Mocha. Their clothes look like something out of Target. Target clothes are fine, but their shorts cost $24.99 ($16.99 on sale) not whatever ghastly price A&F charges.

 

Horse Pucky! I paid $12.00 for my shorts at Targét just last week! Love those father's day sales even if I'm not one. Got a few fine cotton t shirts for $7.00 a piece too. Love Targét!!!!

 

Years ago, oh hell decades ago, when I still dated women, I dated a designer who made me promise I'd never pay money to wear someones advertising except hers which is what she considered all those designer logos to be. I've not always kept that promise but avoid all those blatant Polo, Hilfiger [sp?] A&F etc. products like the plague.

[+ deej]

Horse Pucky! I paid $12.00 for my shorts at Targét just last week! Love those father's day sales even if I'm not one. Got a few fine cotton t shirts for $7.00 a piece too. Love Targét!!!!

 

I wear polo shirts all the time. (Notice the lower case.)

 

Land's End "polo" shirts are cheap, durable, wash well, and travel well. And I don't hate myself when I'm painting a room and drip on my shirt.

 

I do wear logos and have trouble dressing without one. But only when the clothes are freebies. I went to enough conferences in the 90s that I still have shirts in original shrink wrap.

[+ g56whiz]

Land's End "polo" shirts are cheap, durable, wash well, and travel well. And I don't hate myself when I'm painting a room and drip on my shirt.

 

Back in the days when I had to wear banker's drag every day, I had a large collection of Land's End, all cotton button down shirts. They were a third the cost of the Brooks Brothers shirts and were equally shapeless (an advantage to my physique then). In due course they made excellent dust cloths. Now I have to rely on swifters.

[Mocha]

You easily see plenty of escorts claiming to be the "Abercrombie" type. You never see any escort claiming to be a "Hilfiger" or a "Lauren."

 

I'd probably consider that a lack of originality on the part of said advertiser. ExpressMen and A/X is actually whats more in style now anyhow.

 

Don't get me started on clothes, I'm trying to abstain from the mall til the 4th of July comes up.

[+ deej]

Back in the days when I had to wear banker's drag every day, I had a large collection of Land's End, all cotton button down shirts. They were a third the cost of the Brooks Brothers shirts and were equally shapeless (an advantage to my physique then). In due course they made excellent dust cloths. Now I have to rely on swifters.

 

Yeah, I had a closet full of those Land's End pinpoint oxfords back when I had a job that required "attire". They travel well too, and last forever.

 

My current goal is to never again have a job that requires "attire". I've become accustomed to the southern California shorts & flip flop crowd.

[Mocha]

I've become accustomed to the southern California shorts & flip flop crowd.

 

A bit of a tangent...and not to knock anyone's style, but thats another thing I couldn't stand about the A&F get up. Flip Flops are not a fashion statement! Your feet and toes are not either.

 

Its great to wear at the pool/beach but thats about it. But now I see guys wearing them at the mall, and even the club of all places. It just gives me the impression that either the guy is too cheap to buy a descent pair of shoes or that they just too slack to put on any.

 

Makes me feel bad for all the shoe stores out there because seems like no one wears shoes during the summer, they just slide around in flip flops.

[+ friendofsheila]

I remember seeing on the A&F website that "modeling opportunities [were] available only to retail employees."

 

Hmmm...

[+ deej]

A bit of a tangent...and not to knock anyone's style, but thats another thing I couldn't stand about the A&F get up. Flip Flops are not a fashion statement! Your feet and toes are not either.

 

Its great to wear at the pool/beach but thats about it. But now I see guys wearing them at the mall, and even the club of all places. It just gives me the impression that either the guy is too cheap to buy a descent pair of shoes or that they just too slack to put on any.

 

Some of us dress for comfort and don't give a crap what you think. :o

 

I had to dress for a funeral recently and the shoes were EXCRUCIATING. Honestly, wearing a suit and tie for the first time in several years was far more comfortable than those fucking shoes.

 

Men are only now beginning to understand what women have known for generations. SHOES SUCK.

[+ purplekow]

I enjoy a well fitted pair of shoes but mostly shoes are too tight or too loose and generally inconvenient. I would walk around barefoot all the time, if i was in a position to do so. I do have some awesome looking feet though.

[Boston Guy]

A bit of a tangent...and not to knock anyone's style, but thats another thing I couldn't stand about the A&F get up. Flip Flops are not a fashion statement! Your feet and toes are not either.

 

Its great to wear at the pool/beach but thats about it. But now I see guys wearing them at the mall, and even the club of all places. It just gives me the impression that either the guy is too cheap to buy a descent pair of shoes or that they just too slack to put on any.

 

Makes me feel bad for all the shoe stores out there because seems like no one wears shoes during the summer, they just slide around in flip flops.

 

I prefer boat shoes to sandals on myself because I prefer they way they feel. But I think good-looking guys look hot in flip-flops or sandals. I do think it's part comfort and part fashion statement.