11/29/2003
Abercrombie Zombies
Today at the Abercrombie & Fitch store at The Grove they were using the easiest trick in the book to lure in teenage girls and gay men: young male flesh.
A&F's holiday marketing campaign revolves around The Legend of the Great Moose (gee, what's that a euphemism for?), which you can learn about by watching a cloying little Flash movie on the A&F website.
The hunks were placed strategically at the entrance to the store next to a sign that read:
"A Little Naughty Can Do A Lot of Nice: A dollar donation to Toys for Tots lets anyone snuggle up for a picture between these two, shirtless A&F guys straight from the Legend of the Great Abercrombie and Fitch Moose. They'll make Santa think twice before he reaches for another slice of pumpkin pie."
Upon review, I couldn't help but notice the unnecessary insertion of the word "straight" into the marketing text. And these boys at the door couldn't have seemed less enthused that a guy was taking their picture. A&F continues to straddle this very fine line between homo and heterosexuality. It's a line that's strong enough to hook the homos and reel them in yet because of major boob abundance in the catalogs the "straight" guys are able to take the bait as well.
A&F's is brilliant marketing, although it would be nice to one day see them acknowledge that gay is okay in an overt and well-meaning marketing gesture. Titillation is certainly not the same as tolerance.
Did I go in the store and purchase merchandise? I sure did. So I guess the marketing worked, because it wasn't Santa's lap I was thinking about sitting on while I swiped my credit card.
A couple more things: How many moose (meese?) had to die for this campaign?
And, can anybody come up with a good caption for the picture below?
Posted 9:40 PM EST by Andy Towle in Fashion Men | Permalink
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caption:
i really like this
blonde dude: do i have clevage?
not funny, but most likely, they were dumb models not educated on selling their bodies on market ploys and how much they didnt know just being there was somehow demeaning the sexuality stances you so finely pointed out.
Posted by: eunae | Nov 29, 2003 11:19:20 PM
blondie: "got a come rag?!?"
Posted by: boifromtroy | Nov 30, 2003 1:50:33 AM
caption: "That guy the other night was like 'this' big."
Posted by: ksquare | Nov 30, 2003 6:49:31 AM
"Alas, poor Yorick; I knew him well..."
Posted by: Chris Hota | Nov 30, 2003 2:23:31 PM
"No, seriously, dude, I've had much better results with NADS than I ever had with Nair."
Posted by: Steve | Nov 30, 2003 5:57:50 PM
"The A&F fashion orthodoxy that requires 1.7" of boxer to rise above the waistline is one thing, but why did they pick me to wear this god-awful belt? It's not like my birthin' hips need one"
Posted by: Jer | Dec 1, 2003 2:51:48 PM
Not all models are dumb. For example, look at... Wait. I can't think of an example.
Posted by: Bravo | Dec 1, 2003 8:27:01 PM
"Dude! You do know it's pronounced TOLL ROAD and not TOWEL ROAD, Right?"
Posted by: thomas | Dec 2, 2003 1:18:43 PM
C'mon dude, if you're done with him, PLEASE give me Jefferson's phone number. I've GOT to get some of that.
Posted by: Jefferson | Dec 2, 2003 10:14:01 PM
these same boys were spotted by me at the After X-mas sale at A&F-South Coast Plaza. The brunette was sucking his thumb, oddly enough.
Posted by: brent | Dec 26, 2003 10:37:13 PM
Hell I'd still fuck em...
Posted by: Anon | Dec 27, 2003 7:27:07 PM
shaggy haired guy: omg!you got the red one.i wanted that one!
blonde guy:oh,dude...im wearing this belt.does this belt make my hips look big?
shaggy haired guy:so,how was your night,big boy?
blonde guy:oh,dude,it was great.i met this a&f guy in the club and we got it on,and then his friend came along.'he was a one of those men with 'this big'.
Posted by: felix | Jan 8, 2004 12:37:35 AM
they're hot.i'll still totally do them.
Posted by: gino | Jan 8, 2004 12:38:39 AM
Hey your models are pretty sexy welp gtg bye
Posted by: Kendra | Feb 19, 2004 2:01:46 PM
Blonde: You want to use your thumb like this...and pivot/swivel with a sensual motion.
Posted by: Rovvie | Feb 26, 2004 2:25:56 AM
Hey babe look at these guys they are hella Fine!!!!
luv ya babe
britt
Posted by: renee | Mar 5, 2004 4:38:43 PM
Yes, i was wondering how could i become a abercrombie model being a african american
Posted by: Foy Howard | Mar 8, 2004 8:40:39 AM
Surfer: [grimaced face,clenched teeth] "Dude, I said 'twenny for head, 10 fora han-job.' You owe me 10!"
Mechanic: [tight-lipped] (***tax-free readies AND...compla-nin***)
Posted by: Terence | Mar 23, 2004 8:52:19 AM
hey! i was wondering how i can become an abercrombie model? is there any sheet or something i could fill out?
Posted by: rebecca | Mar 28, 2004 9:13:57 PM
How do I become an abercombie model? Please send me any information! Thanks yall!!!
Posted by: Alex | Apr 1, 2004 1:07:05 PM
How do I become an abercombie model? Please send me any information! Thanks yall!!!
Posted by: Alex | Apr 1, 2004 1:09:21 PM
Most of Abercrombie & Fitch's models work for them in their stores, that is the best way to get into modeling for them. Also by contacting them directly by phone or through letters or emails.
Posted by: Wesley | Apr 12, 2004 10:35:10 PM
Hey! I was wondering how i could become an abercrombie and fitch model. I have the look and the attitude. Please tell me if i can get an address to send my headshots to? Thanks!!!
Posted by: Nicole | Apr 18, 2004 5:44:26 PM
I am wondering how to go about becomming a Abercrombie model, I think I have the look, any help would be appreciated! Addresses, emails anything
Thanks!
Posted by: Julie | Apr 30, 2004 9:17:45 AM
hello,
I think that i have what it takes to become an Abercrombie model. Please send me anything that would help me become one. Thanks so much
Posted by: Alexa | May 2, 2004 10:40:17 PM