"We Don't Market to Anyone Other Than Good Looking People"

A bit of a different post today, but this is something that's really wound me up the wrong way so I need to just get this down in words.

Browsing through the Daily Express, I came across the following article;
"Fashion store that wants thin and beautiful shoppers only".

I could have guessed said shop was Abercrombie and Fitch.

We all know A&F are very selective with who they employ. However, what I didn't realise was to what extent this was taken.

Apparently, their obsession with appearance has become so extreme that they have recently been sued for forcing an employee with a prosthetic arm work in, and only in, the stockroom.

Similarly, they have been forced to change their policies after asking an employee to remove a poppy as it "was not part of her uniform".

Are these people for real?! I find this absolutely disgusting.

Now I don't want to offend anybody that may or may not work for A&F.

Yes, the shop assistants are all beautiful there's no mistaking that, but yet again here arises the debate surrounding young teenage girls growing up absorbed in this unrealistic idea of perfection, and the need to be beautiful. The media and its obscene standards have so much to answer to; anorexia, bulimia, plastic surgery...the list is endless.

As if all this wasn't enough, A&F big boss Mike Jeffries has said that he

"doesn't want his core customers to see people who aren't as hot as them wearing their clothes".

This has apparently justified the selling of women's trousers up to and not above a size 10.

Yes, you read that right. Size 10.

Yet they're happily selling men's clothes up to an XXL.

Let's take former plus size model Crystal Renn as an example.

Source

Although she has now lost weight, she was a size 16 at her largest.

Was Crystal ever fat? Not a chance. Is she beautiful?

Whatever size she is, I challenge anyone to tell me this woman is not beautiful.
However, according to A&F's standards, she is considered as ugly.

What the hell chance have us folk got if this woman is "ugly"?

I find it disgusting that such an influential brand as A&F can get away with promoting this kind of behaviour.

I'm well and truly lost for words.

What are your thoughts?

Jo xx