Posts with tag american apparel

We can admit it, deep down under that layer of snarky cynicism, we really do like some of American Apparel's collection -- minus the deep V-neck shirts they popularized last spring, of course. Still, it's hard to believe that anyone would crown the super hipstery designer, obsessed with t-shirts and latex, 'Label of the Year.' Sunday, the Guardian ran an article chronicling the rise of this year's king of UK retailers. Maybe we're just jaded with all of the sex scandals and soft porn advertising.

We all know that American Apparel likes to play fast and loose with its steamy, semi-pornographic ads. Well, rumor has it that advertising isn't the only department where CEO Dov Charney likes to spice things up. According to a wrongful termination lawsuit filed by a former accountant, American Apparel decided to can him because he refused a request by Charney to put the company's sales figures in a sexy tank thong to make them more attractive to investors.

We're all a little strapped for cash these days but that doesn't mean you find some killer holiday gifts under 20 dollars. The trick is to shop retailers you know go low, have funky finds and offer useful, unisex gifts. Let's take a look at some gifts we've gathered from stores like Urban Outfitters, Sephora, American Apparel, and Target.

With their quasi-perverted finger on the pulse of the nation's hipster demographic, Dov Charney and his cohorts at American Apparel had the not-so-brilliant idea to come up with some DIY costume ideas for notoriously indecisive twenty-somethings. The minds at American Apparel actually came up with quite a few ideas, but some work much better than others. The unifying theme, as always, is AA's trademark ability to insert soft-core porn into every situation. After all, aren't slutty costumes what Halloween's really all about?

Um, seriously, Lake Bell? Completely divine? We thought so too. Even cooler? That she's rocking American Apparel here at the Downtown Film Festival.

In a Hollywood world full copycats and/or people that try too hard, we love how Lake mixes high and low, adds a retro twist with vintage, never looks like she's trying too hard (see wispy hair), hangs out with two of our favorite gals Cameron Diaz and Drew Barrymore...

Okay we will stop there because this could be a while. Could be our new favorite. Might be obsessed.

Keep those peepers peeled because there will be some more Lake in the future rest assured.

• American Apparel Interlock pencil skirt in Cranberry, $32

• Vintage Carven top, N/A

• Ferragamo Ribes pumps, Neiman Marcus, $470

• Kara Ross Lucis clutch, Bagborroworsteal, $43/week

A plot of land in LA that was a productive community farm for more than 20 years is once again the center of controversy and political intrigue, with tramptastic and disposable clothiers Forever 21 in the thick of the dispute.

The LA Times reports that the 14 acres that used to be South Central Farm, and that activists are still trying to turn back into a community farm, is being considered as a site for a warehouse and distribution center for Forever 21. Besides losing the farm, those against the development are also upset about the additional traffic and environmental impact of the 2,400 (!) daily truck trips that would be created by the center.

Back in July, Dov and his pervvy minions put on a blowout Independence Day sale called Operation Freedom. While we did catch the news about the ultra-low prices in time -- we somehow missed the accompanying commercial.

Now, thanks to the watchful eyes over at Copyranter, we find out that a poorly produced Operation Freedom commercial had been released, and it seems to sum up American Apparel's controversial advertising strategy: soft-core porn.

You've seen them. The fanboy's and women-children walking around with heavy eyeliner and day-glo Doc Martens -- sporting some bizarre second layer of skin that only seems appropriate to wear at night and with sunglasses.

As to not steal attention from the stars of the show, Diane Kruger laid low at the L.A. premiere of The X-Files: I Want to Believe on July 23 at the Grauman Chinese Theatre. Her casual attire consisted of an easy American Apparel tee and Acne jeans pairing which she lightly accessorized with an adorable printed scarf, cool white watch, and studded bag. The perfect low key look for a night at the movies.

Either Jennifer Hudson's album team was working from a low budget or she's just a fashionista who likes a bargain. The dress for her album's cover only cost $36.00! How's that for a steal?

Check it out! As if American Apparel wasn't affordable enough, now they're offering their Operation Freedom supermega blow out sale - $10 off $80, $20 off $100, and $30 off $150.

The offer is still good through July 10, 2008 in the US online store only. Log onto the American Apparel website to get the discount codes needed for purchase.

We'll see you there!

Last month, we told you guys about an underwear company who was making heat-sensitive underwear -- meaning they change colors when friction occurs due to a special dye they've been treated with. Yeah, you can draw your own conclusions.

Now we want to shed light on another brand who's aiming to show its love for 90s favorite, Hypercolor, in a less freaky way.

Trends: We understand them, we sometimes despise them, we've tried a few out, and lost a friend or two in the process of finding our signature style. So, we fault no one who felt compelled to walk around in head-to-toe acid washed denim outfits, way too much blush, and big hair back in the 80s.

It was really, really cool -- at the time.

In fact, we imagine when people first laid eyes upon the new "hi-tech" and "chemically enhanced" special jeans it was similar to our reaction when we first saw Kate Moss frolicking around London in a peculiar-looking pair of stove pipes: initially shocked, but ultimately wanted to get a pair before any of our friends caught on.

Dov Charney's genius in the perverted arts and sciences has long been the subject of rigorous debate and legal actions. Well, last Friday's LA Pride festivities brought with it another opportunity for American Apparel's CEO to showcase his rare talent at coaxing free advertising out of America's sex-crazed twenty-somethings.

American Apparel's LA store hosted a party that included the first inaugural 'LA Pride Underwear Contest,' where the winner could appear in an American Apparel underwear ad for free, and receive a gift package -- get it? For clothing that for the most part isn't all that sexy, American Apparel certainly manages to get the most mileage out of their soft-core porn marketing ideas. Sleazy, yes -- but we still kinda wish we could have been at the party. The flier is what really gets us -- click here to see the full flier. NSFW.

[via Gawker]

If you've ever wondered who's behind the racy ads and the supposedly hyper-sexual corporate culture over at American Apparel, his name is Dov Charney -- and he was just named the fashion industry's Retailer of the Year. He may not be the most conservative CEO in the fashion business, but his brand has totally benefited from combining well-made t-shirts with a really provocative, openly sexual kind of style of marketing.
His libertarian views on dating co-workers and exploring porn themes in his advertising have given him reputation for being a major perv -- as this freakin' hilarious video points out. Yet, American Apparel's sexy and controversial image is pretty much the one big piece of marketing genius that keeps them from being another Hanes. The uber-liberal corporate image, pro-labor business policies, and titilating ads are exactly what draws in the young, fashiony, hipster types. You've got to hand it to him, few people have made such a reputable business off of soft-core porn.

[via Jezebel]