My older DS is such a "clothes-horse"! He is as bad as my DD was at his age (16). He LOVES to shop, and has to have brand name clothes. (As opposed to my younger DS, who could care less. Walmart is fine with him, or occassionally, Old Navy).
The clothes that I see in Abercrombie looked USED!! They are frayed, and faded..when I was growing up, if our clothes got to look like that, we put them in the rag bag.

I told Shawn, that I will take him to Salvation Army, and show him jeans and tee shirts that look JUST like them, and I wasn't kidding! and, instead of $50.00 for a pair of jeans with frayed bottoms, you can get a BAG full at Salvation Army for $5.00!

Do they, indeed, sell used clothes? They MUST, for the clothes to look so DISTRESSED.

By Karen~moderator on Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 06:02 am:

ROFL Hol! Do you remember when *stone washed* jeans made their debut? Personally, I like jeans that look a bit *used*. But I don't shop A & F!

I remember when my oldest two were in high school, jeans with holes in the knee or the back pocket ripped off were *cool*. I caught Jules ripping holes in her jeans. I was p*$$ed! I remember telling her the same thing, that we could go to Goodwill or someplace and get some for $3! Only thing was she wanted GUESS jeans with holes in them!

Jen actually loves to shop thrift stores. She absolutely hates to wear something that everyone else is wearing. She told me that if she gets something at the thrift stores, she *knows* that no one else will be wearing the same thing when she goes somewhere! Only problem with that is, she is VERY particular about her jeans and will only wear a certain brand that she finds at Buckle. I don't buy them unless they are on sale. LOL

By Bellajoe on Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 08:00 am:

I know what you mean, Hol. They are all frayed. I have a pair like that, frayed at the bottom with a hole in the knee, ...but i got them a year ago and they looked nice at the time! LOL

A week ago i saw a hat on our coat hooks that i had never seen before. It look old and used so i thought it was my dh's friends that he had left here. I come to find out my dh had just bought it at Abercrombie! Can I also say that i can't stand to go into that store because the music is so loud that it gives me a head ache right away?? LOL I can just hear my mom saying "What is this noise, they call that music ??" LOL

By Marg on Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 08:50 am:

Ok, I can kind of relate to this topic, because oldest d "adopted" d gives the clothes she does not want anymore to our dds. These shirts and skirts will not fit my 11 yo. Now remember the girl I am speaking is 20, wears 11-12, is approx. 5'8". Weight unsure. My 8 yo wears these hand-me-downs.

What is it with stores and these short-tight shirts? An X-large in an adult looks like it would fit my 8 yo. Am I going blind or senile? Or are shirts getting smaller in size no less made out of all cotton, so they will strink some more.

I was never a tight fitting shirt type of gal. I grew up with those baseball t-shirts, you know the kind 3/4 sleeves. But now, it's such a shock. Our children go to private school where you can not where shorts, skirts have to be a certain length and t- shirts, well I say no to that one, even though they would never dress this way. Our other daughters look at the 20 yo and often tell me she dresses to skimpy lol!

By Kate on Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 08:59 am:

Most people have a problem with Abercrombie due to their provocative, irresponsible, 'nudie' catalogs featuring teens. There is so much controversy regarding that that I've truly never heard anything about the actual CLOTHES, themselves. They sell thongs in their children's store....can't recall the name of the kid store. The regular store has provocative pictures all over, too, but it's the catalog that encourages group sex that has parents up in arms, and rightly so. If you'd like more info on this I can give it to, I just don't have time right now and I realize I've strayed off topic anyway.

By Dawnk777 on Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 10:05 am:

Yes, the pictures in the A&F catalog are too provocative for my taste and I always wondered why people would buy clothes that were ripped and torn! I just don't get it. We would have to drive an hour to get to an A&F store, so buying their clothes really isn't a problem. That store is too far away.

By Babysitbarb on Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 12:15 pm:

I took my girls shopping the day after christmas so they could spend their christmas money and certificates. Anyways, I must be so old fashion also because the clothes at the Good Will look better then the clothes that are out now days and cost a fortune. My older daughter is going to be 15 next month and she's somewhat into the lastest fashions except for the clothes that don't cover you (we wouldn't allow it anyways even though she is a size 5)but my 11 year old could care less.She would wear a t-shirt and jeans and they could be handy downs and she don't care. When I see these kids who wear their pants hanging half of their hips it drives me nuts also.

By Pamt on Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 04:33 pm:

Aside from your original comments Hol, here is precisely why I will never darken the door of an A&F store or give $.01 of my money to them.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/gen/may02/43941.asp

They have long had a reputation for crossing the line in the way that they market and sell to teens and preteens.

In response to your initial post...I do think teens need to be able to express some of their individuality in their clothing choices---which ironically they do by dressing basically the same. I think what they wear needs to be one of those battles carefully chosen. Of course, if it is overly revealing, suggestive, etc. then that is a hands-down "NO." However, if it is a matter of just not liking it, then let them experiment a little and maybe use their own money to buy things other than "normal" jeans and shirts. Teenagers can be given some freedom of self-expression within limits even if we think they look ridiculous.

By Bellajoe on Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 07:12 pm:

It just doesn't make sense that they are a CLOTHING company and have pictures of nude or partially nude kids in their catalog. Are they trying to sell clothes or what?

And the thing with the thongs for little kids is absolutely disgusting!

By Bobbie on Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 10:33 pm:

A friend of mines DD got a $20 gift certificate for A&F. She could not find anything other than a T shirt. The T shirt is very thin cotton, looks cheap and like it has been washed hundreds of times. (I have a couple of T shirts that are almost 20 years old that aren't this worn).

I have so many issues with the way kids dress that I will just keep my opinions to my self. But lets just say... Mom and dad buy the clothing and allow the clothing. And do nothing to stop the clothing. So whose fault is it? The people that make it or the people that buy it? They have the right to design and sell what every they want. But if we as parents don't go into the store and buy the crap they call clothing then they will adventually go under or improve their line of clothing. Just because they make it doesn't mean we have to buy it. And teens have been pushing the clothing issues since the beginning of time and parents have been saying NO and the kids do survive although they think they won't....

And Karen. I had a pair of jeans that had the butt and both knees ripped out of them. I wore a pair of long johns when I wore them. The fashion is returning yet again. Callie said that a girl in class was using the edge of scissors to shred the knees on her brand new jeans Friday at school...

By Hol on Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 10:54 pm:

I TOTALLY agree about the so-called "music" in the stores. I can only take it for a very short time, also. and, yes, the pictures on their walls are, what I consider, soft porn. Victoria's Secret is just as bad. They put THEIR posters in the WINDOWS! (my DH says that Victoria HAS no secrets. LOL!)

Pam, I will be interested to read that site that you mentioned.

My original question was, ARE the clothes that they sell indeed USED?

By Bobbie on Sunday, January 11, 2004 - 12:14 am:

No they are not used, they make them look used. By dying the fabrics and roughing up the edges... I think alot of the fabrics they use are low grade fabrics too (example the t shirts). LOL You are paying for the label not the way the jeans look. LOL He could rag out a pair of ten dollar jeans and make them look the very same way BUT they wouldn't have the label... Get with it mom. LOL But, Now you know...

By Dawnk777 on Sunday, January 11, 2004 - 01:40 am:

I remember reading that article in the Milwaukee Journal about the thongs for kids. My kids were totally grossed out and in May 2002, they were 10 and 12. They would still be grossed by thong underwear. I would never buy that stuff for them, but they wouldn't want it anyway. Someome brought an A&F catalog to work. It was interesting to look through, but I don't know why they think they have to portray kids like that.

By Dawnk777 on Sunday, January 11, 2004 - 01:43 am:

Abercrombie and Fitch for Kids

Ugh! I wouldn't let my 14yo wear that tank top! It looks like underwear and I think a tad revealing with all that lace! Good grief. She wouldn't want it anyway.

I didn't even get to the rest of the clothes yet.

By Hol on Sunday, January 11, 2004 - 10:25 pm:

Oh, I remember all about LABELS, from my DD. Back then, in th 80's and 90's, it was Beneton and Guess, and some others that I DON'T remember. LOL!

By Bobbie on Sunday, January 11, 2004 - 10:33 pm:

LOL Hol and Levi...

And Dawn, I agree about the thongs. And that tank does look like an under shirt.

By Karen~moderator on Monday, January 12, 2004 - 07:49 am:

You know, this is actually the very first time I've ever really looked at an A&F ad! I have to say, I agree with you all!

By Eve on Monday, January 12, 2004 - 08:34 am:

Ok, call me nuts, but I think that tank top is adorable. It is a little low cut when she bends over, but maybe with a better fit, it wouldn't be the case. I would let my DD wear it. My sister always goes for the double tank top look if something is too low cut. Rather than tell my DD not to wear it, I would advise her on what would be more appropriate and how to wear it. Certainly over a bathing suit to the pool for example, perfect!

The ads do drive me crazy! I think they go over the edge with the frayed look, but it sells. I actually think their fabrics feel good. The t-shirts ,for example,feel really good. My younger sister wears some of their stuff and it all feels great. My only complaint is their stuff runs SMALL!! I have not shopped there in many years. You would laugh at how conservative the stuff I own is from A&F.