FIERCE Perspective! | Abercrombie Topless Male Models No More?...

A classical, refined era is passing away. What a world out there now...
Image, Nick Ray, The Times, 2007   |   (image source)

         NOW A WEEK after the new senior management of Abercrombie & Fitch Co., post-Mike Jeffries, made it official - really, we all already knew it was happening - that there will be no more iconic, clean, aspirational sexuality and shirtless male models (and scantly-clad girls) in the marketing and instores (and now that we've definitely had a good time to cool down from detriment of it all including the severe loosening of associates standards), a now-having-left male A&F Store Model - shhh, we're not supposed to use that anymore either [eyeroll, grimace] - gets candid on some key aspects on why the admirable sales floor positions truly mattered and what it means for those who once held the highest stance...

Speaking in anonymity, this aforementioned ex-associate to thank - and who may well be from A&F London on Savile Row/Burlington Gardens - spoke to British lifestyle media site The Debrief after the fallout. He has been store model, and he tried out for being a shirtless model but was turned down. A total trooper, he furthered, "It would have been good, but I didn't fit the criteria. It’s quite shallow obviously and I've heard guys get told they need to have a bigger chest or lose some fat, if they want to be the topless model. My problem was I had really bad tan lines on my arm, and I looked too young. I've got quite a baby face. [...] It’s gutting when you get rejected, but it’s not the end of the world." He stands rightful on the matter, supportive and positive on the system, and made following key points during his interview...

"If you work at Abercrombie, and you’re one of the topless guy, it’s a position of respect. [...] You get bonuses and the respect of the managers as the topless guy. I don’t see anything wrong with it, to be honest, because it’s what we’ve all signed up for. You’re employed as a model and, especially if you’re on the door, you’re there to be looked at."

"If you think of it negatively, that Abercrombie employs good-looking people, I think you’re being a bit short-sighted. There are other industries who employ other skills that only a certain number of people have. Being good looking is just another criteria. Why does it make any difference?"

"Sex sells – everyone knows it, it’s the oldest trick in the marketing book. [...] Loads of brands show nudity and, to be honest, I think that there’s always someone with a negative opinion on everything. Marketing adverts that show people who are good looking or have good bodies – a lot of the time they've worked for that good body, so why should there be a negativity associated with it? Isn't that a good thing?"

"It’s good for people to feel aspirational and look after their bodies [...] Being internally healthy reflects your external appearance. If you’re healthy, you’ll generally not be overweight and you’ll look good. When companies promote people as fit-looking and healthy, they're promoting health."

"I [understand some people feeling intimidated coming in]. And I think that maybe sales will increase now they've got rid of the topless models on the door, because people with low-self esteem won’t feel so intimidated. But, on the other hand, [the store models] attracted lots of [fans/customers] taking photos, who would then have a look around the shop. That’s going to harm sales."

"I feel sorry for the guys, because it’s hard being a model, and if you worked the door at Abercrombie, you’d get model agencies scouting you. It was regular income that got you more modelling work, and it's a shame that it’s gone."

A very great, warm applause and clap on the back to him! He's completely right and put it nice and simple. Do read the entirety of the article by The Debrief (here)! The dismantling of the great ideals of Mike Jeffries' Abercrombie & Fitch is expected to be complete beginning July...

Stay FIERCE (we need to now more than ever)!