No Skinny? No Size 2? No Service: CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch Against Larger Sizes

Abercrombie & Fitch. A store that is globally famous for tight formfitting clothing and giant revealing teenage ad posters hanging on every wall. A store that is considered to be one of the most famous brand names among the younger audience, and a store that prides itself on attractive, shirtless and ripped male models sometimes standing outside store doors. As I look through my closet and dresser drawers, I realize that I have a couple pairs of jeans and shorts from Abercrombie. I also realize that when I walk into the store, it can even be difficult for me to find a pant size that fits my big butt and bulky legs, and I train hard, on purpose. And then, I also realize, that recently it has been claimed that the CEO of A&F, Mike Jeffries, has a very strong and limited view on people who wear extra large sized pants. 

Taken from thinideals.blogspot.com

The claim is this: Mike Jeffries, CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch, "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.'" This was stated by co-author Robin Lewis, from Business Insider. 

As Jeffries said in defense to the incredibly successful business of the store, "Those companies that are in trouble are trying to target everybody: young, old, fat, skinny. But then you become totally vanilla. You don't alienate anybody, but you don't excite anybody, either." 

Stated directly by Jeffries in an interview in 2006, "In every school there are the cool and popular kids, and then there are the not-so-cool kids. Candidly, we go after the cool kids," the clothing retailer explained. "We go after the attractive all-American kid with a great attitude and a lot of friends. A lot of people don't belong [in our clothes], and they can't belong. Are we exclusionary? Absolutely."

I'm not going to lie...everyone is entitled to their own opinion...as every CEO is entitled to their own policy. So my opinion, upon reading the above statement, was a moment of jaw dropping shock followed by a couple re-reads. I understand the preferred edge...the need to be different...the need for a global store to be exclusive. But what I simply do not understand, is the idea of an "all-American cool kid with a great attitude and lots of friends." Girls larger than a size 6 can have lots of friends and a wonderful attitude. And while our country is made up of people of all different sizes, a large percentage of the current "All-American" is larger than a size 6-8. It's pretty unfortunate that our country, priding itself on individuality and freedom, has an all-American ideal and requirement of having the looks of a poster model and the waist size of a Barbie. 

credit to theblacksphere.net

But I would like to say this. To all of the girls and women who are reading this...or who would love to shop at Abercrombie and can't...being thin and skinny, does not define "the cool kid." It does not define the word "popular" at school or in your community. It's sooo overrated hearing someone tell you that it's your "personality that matters" because quiet honestly, I graduated from high school last year. People really don't care about your personality in the halls, people care about what you look like and what size jeans you wear. They judge you by your body and your appearance first. When they identify the little A&F moose on the corner of your t-shirt, they decide to like you because you bought a shirt from the same store they did. It's a rough world out there, especially down those school hallways. People, and women, are beautiful regardless of their size and regardless of the miniscule emblem on their clothes. Mike Jeffries may say that he does not want "larger people shopping in his store." but Lil Miss Strong says, that beauty comes from within. You are beautiful for wanting to improve your lifestyle. You are beautiful for wanting change. You are beautiful for being strong enough to turn away from a store that refuses to sell your size, and smile anyway. 

Some may be a size 0 or 2...and that is ok! As long as
you are healthy

If you regularly shop at Abercrombie and fall into the tinier category of sizes...that's great! You found a store that you like, and clothes that you feel comfortable in. If you cannot fit into the clothes there and now understand why they apparently refuse to sell XL items, understand that this does not make you uncool, or unpopular. If you're a size 2 and healthy...fabulous! If you're a size 8 and healthy...fabulous! It isn't about the size, it's about if you're healthy, how you feel, and if you live a healthy lifestyle. It is not about image. It's about

Some may be a size 6...or 8 or
higher...that is ok too!

reality. To everyone: regardless of your age or your jean size, you are beautiful, inside...and outside. You have the right to be surrounded by wonderful friends, and to be considered an All-American, regardless of having a skinny or an overweight status. You have the right to be yourself at school. 

And most importantly. Regardless of your butt size. You have the right to feel unstoppable. To feel empowered. And to feel absolutely, indescribably, STRONG.

You are All-American. You are All-Global. You are All-Incredible. YOU ARE ALL WOMEN.

-Leala Luna McGinnis 
 Lil Miss Strong 

And regardless of your size...0...2...6...8...12...you are all BEAUTIFUL.
Photo credit www.examiner.com

***Credit: Research and information, including statements and quotes has been taken from an article written by Jennifer Chan, "Abercrombie and Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries Doesn't Want Fat Customers, Says Author Robin Lewis" at (http://www.eonline.com/news/416492/abercrombie-fitch-ceo-mike-jeffries-doesn-t-want-fat-customers-says-author-robin-lewis?cmpid=rss-000000-rssfeed-365-topstories&utm_source=eonline&utm_medium=rssfeeds&utm_campaign=rss_topstories)
- Top photo taken from blog.zap2it.com