Abercrombie model

[Michjoe]

A few days ago I was walking by Abercrombie & Fitch in the local mall and noticed that the model in the large print at the main entrance was naked except for an appropriately placed towel. You could see one entire side of his body so he was definitely naked behind the towel. Today when I walked by the print had been changed to a shirtless model with pants slightly unbuttoned. They usually leave the prints up for a few months so I wonder if someone complained and they decided to change prints. The second print in my opinion is much more suggestive than the first but the model is not naked. To me the first print was more artistic than suggestive. Is this an example of the knee-jerk reaction of many to nudity?

[Michjoe]

A few days ago I was walking by Abercrombie & Fitch in the local mall and noticed that the model in the large print at the main entrance was naked except for an appropriately placed towel. You could see one entire side of his body so he was definitely naked behind the towel. Today when I walked by the print had been changed to a shirtless model with pants slightly unbuttoned. They usually leave the prints up for a few months so I wonder if someone complained and they decided to change prints. The second print in my opinion is much more suggestive than the first but the model is not naked. To me the first print was more artistic than suggestive. Is this an example of the knee-jerk reaction of many to nudity?

[David77]

What a pity that even with a strategically placed towel, there apparently was complaint.

[Rabid_Clam]

One could offer a sure cure to cancer and someone would complain.

A complaint is due when the safety of someone is in danger or loss of property is iminent but personal preference needs to be kept to one self. We do not live in this world to please another person's value structure or feelings where we have our own value structure and feelings to contend with.

[luvnaturism]

I didn't see the poster in question, so I won't comment directly on it. In the past I've noticed that some of their pictures strike me as having strong sexual overtones, which I haven't thought was appropriate considering that their target market is teens.

If the picture is a sexual tease to sell merchandise, I might well be one who complains. But if any complaints were based solely on partial nudity, shame on those who complaim.

But wasn't there something a few years back about A&F sending out catalogs with pictures so graphic that they knew they would be forced to discontinue them, but they were counting on the uproar for extra free publicity and extra sales?

[Wiggle It]

A sexual tease to sell merchandise, exactly! Many such photos are exactly that. A&F is in the clothing business targeting the younger market. Hence the perfectly beautiful young and near-naked models to appeal to the age group. Nothing against perfectly beautiful young models, by the way. http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/happy.gif But, unless A&F is breaking into the towel business, the print you mentioned is not directly related to their business except by the sex appeal angle (you'll look as hot as this sexy guy if you buy A&F merchandise).

[David77]

I don't see that most sex appeal photos in our ads are pornographic nor immoral, but most the time are in good taste and for the most part, made rather charming, so that the product will sell. They are certainly not making any comment on nudity in naturism.
Of course there are limits on "exotic" photos in ads so that the young are not corrupted and mislead by misdirected ads, and there is such a thing as good taste and avoidance of vulgarity, which, for the most part, are adhered to, as the religious US public would complain.

[fredm74]

A&B promotes sex and sexy images NOT nudity. They want you to buy their clothes. http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/happy.gif

-Fred

[David77]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by fredm74:
A&B promotes sex and sexy images NOT nudity. They want you to buy their clothes. http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/happy.gif

-Fred </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

They promote their clothes by association with sexy looking persons. They are not promoting and selling sex, but are promoting and selling clothes.

Let us not be tough on some types of sexy ethical type images, as acting as if we do not like, appreciate a beautiful nude or near nude body would not be authentic of ourselves, and would misrepresent our true innate feelings and humanity.

[jon71]

It's a mistaken belief that sex sells. Sex does not sell, sex gets peoples attention. Having your (potential) customers attention is one ingredient in making a sell.

[fredm74]

David77, I wasn't being tough at all. Just calling a spade a spade. Yes, the images they advertise in their magazines are beautiful and highly erotic, nothing wrong with it. But in my humble opinion they are promoting sex/sexuality. They pick attractive models and use them and their bodies to sell clothes. The provacative images are meant to attract consumers into buying their merchandises. It's all part of the marketing.

-Fred



<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by David77:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by fredm74:
A&B promotes sex and sexy images NOT nudity. They want you to buy their clothes. http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/happy.gif

-Fred </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

They promote their clothes by association with sexy looking persons. They are not promoting and selling sex, but are promoting and selling clothes.

Let us not be tough on some types of sexy ethical type images, as acting as if we do not like, appreciate a beautiful nude or near nude body would not be authentic of ourselves, and would misrepresent our true innate feelings and humanity. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

[NakedTao]

Fred, I tend to agree with you on the sex angle. Two reasons: (1) as the old marketing slogan goes, sex sells, and (2) a couple of years ago in our local alternative newspaper, the Pitch, they ran an article about A&F's discriminatory hiring practices - that is, hiring only young men and women that are considered attractive, much like the models in their advertisements.

I've personally never shopped there, and really have no desire to ever do so.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by fredm74:
David77, I wasn't being tough at all. Just calling a spade a spade. Yes, the images they advertise in their magazines are beautiful and highly erotic, nothing wrong with it. But in my humble opinion they are promoting sex/sexuality. They pick attractive models and use them and their bodies to sell clothes. The provacative images are meant to attract consumers into buying their merchandises. It's all part of the marketing.

-Fred



<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by David77:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by fredm74:
A&B promotes sex and sexy images NOT nudity. They want you to buy their clothes. http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/happy.gif

-Fred </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

They promote their clothes by association with sexy looking persons. They are not promoting and selling sex, but are promoting and selling clothes.

Let us not be tough on some types of sexy ethical type images, as acting as if we do not like, appreciate a beautiful nude or near nude body would not be authentic of ourselves, and would misrepresent our true innate feelings and humanity. </div></BLOCKQUOTE> </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

[David77]

The type of pose has a lot to do with it's acceptability, correctness, "purity".

[Wiggle It]

David, you're correct about the pose issue. The A&F models' poses I have seen so far are not lewd in any way IMHO. The catalog mentioned from some years back, in which most of the models were fully nude (I didn't see the catalog, just copies of some photos) didn't show any poses I consider lewd, just young people having fun nude. Doing things I have done or might do, myself.
But, the purpose of the nudity is to attract attention to the product with sexy, glamorous,naked young bodies. Catch a potential customer's eye long enough to get your brand into their consciousness, and it may lead to a future sale. It's about the money. It may be a different tactic than porn, where the naked flesh IS the product, but it's still about the money.

[Michjoe]

Yesterday I stopped by the local mall and noticed when passing the Abercrombie & Fitch store that the large print of a model covered by only a towel that was removed from the entrance has reappeared as a smaller print further inside the store but still visible from a distance. Still wondering why it was removed from the main entrance?

[Baremore]

Michjoe---Satisy your curiosity, and ours! Stop by and simply ask the manager "what's going on with the photo display." I can't think of a reason why he would have to keep it a secret.