Depending on what you read, American Apparel is either circling the hipster drain or are about to have an extreme makeover; either way it seems only right to give them a proper kiss goodnight by looking back at the only reason we actually looked at American Apparel in the first place. The OMG, I-can’t-believe-they-did-that ads. I loved seeing porn stars Sasha Grey and Lauren Phoenix in the ads, and I quite liked their best bottom 2010 contest. You can see all their models here (I think Jillian ended up being the dirtiest, along with Eliana).
Their banned ads were really… something.
If you want a great wrap on the turmoil of AA from sexual harassment to undocumented aliens (trumping the use of porn stars in ads for assless tights), The Fashion Time sums it all up when they ask Is It The End of American Apparel And Their Steamy Explicit Ads?
Image via RN D/LAB’s fun post, American Apparel New-D Adverts (that’s Britney in the zip-up). There’s more full nudity in Pedestrian TV’s Sexy American Apparel Ads Banned (2010). Also check out StyleCrave, who has the winning post The 50 Sluttiest American Apparel Ads of All Time (2009). Pinstripe Mag has Top 20 Sexiest American Apparel Ads (2008).
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I avoid American Apparel specifically because their ads are made to look like dodgy porn shoots. Porn has a place, and its place is not everywhere.
Wow. Where the fuck have I been that suddenly American Apparel = Soft Core Porn Modeling?
The perv side of me says “Let me see Jillian’s puffy nipples again” while the regular side says “can’t we just attempt to sell clothes and not sex? or are the clothes that shitty?”
Also, I’m enraptured at how Jillian was able to do those stripper poses on the office chair with wheels. While in heels, no less. I’d for sure be on my ass faster than anybody could take a good picture.
There’s a difference between porn and pornographic advertising, but few of American Apparel’s defenders will confront this, instead blasting AA’s critics as “anti-sex” feminists or prudes.
But AA’s ads are irksome for another reason too. Look at how the power relationship between the photographer (usually sexist CEO Dov Charney) and the model (often a retail employee) is inscribed in the ads. Hey, here’s Dov in bed with one of his middle managers. Look, here he is tugging at her panties. Here’s another with his thumb prying her mouth open. As photographer, mouthy CEO and frequent offscreen subject of his own ads, Charney constantly reminds us of his sexual access to the woman in the picture.
Most porny advertising tells us “You can fuck this girl.” AA’s ads seem to say “I just fucked this girl.” That’s what makes them creepy.
As a guy who identifies himself as ‘bi’ I get so confused about American Apparel.Violet, if you read this, I would love to know your opinion about movements like About Face, which was posted on Feminist Frequency in late June…
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