Shift Buzz Lesson here is: the Advertising Standards Authority is okay with Beckham's toplessness, but not Julia Roberts's photoshopped face.
Culture Buzz Nancy Upton, the gorgeous prankster who satirized American Apparel's condescending search for a plus-sized model with smutty and silly overindulgence photos, actually won the online contest! Then American Apparel acted all American Apparel and wouldn't recognize her victory, even though she had far and away the most votes. Here are some more of the photos that lampooned the contest and won the hearts of online voters (including mine). (via extrawiggleroom.tumblr.com)
Nancy Upton is super hot on the BuzzFeed Network right now. Here's all the best viral buzz on Nancy Upton.
Style Buzz American Apparel's XL modeling contest ended yesterday. There was a clear leader in the contest, but she was actually making fun of American Apparel's belittling view of plus-sized models. Here are her entry photos. (via styleite.com)
Business Buzz 24/7 Wall St. has released their annual list of business brands that they predict won't survive to see the next year. Admit it. You thought Myspace was already dead. Find out exactly why these brands are doomed to perish by 2012 over at 24/7 Wall St.
Culture Buzz American Apparel recently received a stay of execution thanks to investors pumping $15 million into the near-bankrupt clothing company. Let's celebrate by looking at their naughtiest ads. Their naughtiest ads from this year, that is. A mega list of every American Apparel ad featuring nudity or blasé soft core would stretch longer than Dov Charney's court docket.
American Apparel is super hot on the BuzzFeed Network right now. Here's all the best viral buzz on American Apparel.
Celebrity Buzz American Apparel founder and CEO Dov Charney is being sued by a former employee for allegedly keeping her as a sex slave. This is but the latest chapter in Charney's sordid history of pervy behavior, sexual harassment lawsuits and salacious statements. Here are some quotes by and about Charney that might provide some context for his current woes.
American Apparel continues with it's line of art porn advertising. This appears to be by the same artist responsible for the line drawing ads, but in more of a Bob Ross vein.
You might be surprised by which store. Spotted in Santa Monica, CA. (Via thatpanic.com)
Business Buzz American Apparel forgoes their sleazy model portraits for “tasteful” nude pencil drawings by Boris Lopez. At least I'm not seeing any visible pubes.
Probably. When it comes to sleazy, Dov Charney will never let us down.
http://fashionista.com/2011/01/can-pubes-save-american-ap...
If pubes can't do it, nothing can.
http://h-spot.com/blog/american-apparel-ads/
The clothing company rolls out another softcore porn campaign. Click to see the racy images.
http://fashionista.com/2011/01/fashion-news-roundup-posh-...
Plus some other links, but you just want to see the American Apparel ad.
http://fashionista.com/2010/12/new-american-apparel-ads-f...
American Apparel now selling cartoon pubes.
Trends come and go, but according to this graph we will never be lucky enough to get rid of American Apparel ads or tacky hipster headbands. They'll haunt us for years to come.
Style Buzz A few weeks ago, several leaked memos revealed that American Apparel relied heavily on a strict aesthetic when hiring employees. American Apparel's official dress code manual was leaked today, and sure enough, it's just as strict.
Style Buzz Gawker has a bunch of internal memos confirming what you always guessed: that American Apparel hires based on looks. They're also moving towards a “classier style” that evokes “early 90s Ralph Lauren Vogue Nautical.” K!
http://nerve.com/scanner/2010/06/03/urband-outfitters-mak...
Urban makes a play for the Controversial Hipster Gear 2010 award. (Someone had to challenge American Apparel.)
Business Buzz Will Justin Bieber or the Backstreet Boys be able to save this failing company? (Via Flavorwire.)
Style Buzz American Apparel may be holding a contest for the best butts in their skivvies, but don’t think it’s all self-serving softcore porn! Some of these butts are SRSLY FUNNY!
It happened. Again. American Apparel publishes an ad for a sheer bodysuit with nipple reveal.
For only $8, you can have a unique and cutting-edge collection of hipster fabric bits. I think you could also probably hit Bushwick with some scissors and hunt your own, but that means no zine. Choices.
Are Mohd Abdullah's shorts too short? Members at the Tournament Capital Centre in Canada seem to think so, and have lodged complaints against the pilates and yoga instructor who claims he'd rather close out his membership than discard the “six to eight pairs of short shorts” he owns. Not for nothing, but is this guy not just begging to be the next poster boy for American Apparel?
Style Buzz The “Coming Soon” section of American Apparel lists assless tights as an item to watch out for. I would wear these if it meant it got me one step closer to being more like Sasha Grey.
http://store.americanapparel.net/expecting-looks.html
American Apparel now markets clothing for expecting mothers. First they sold sex and now they sell to the post-sex crowd. As a friend put it, “Isn't that vertical integration?”
Movie Buzz Steven Soderbergh's upcoming film The Girlfriend Experience has been getting a lot of buzz lately, partially because it's the mainstream debut of adult film star Sasha Grey, an attractive lady who is sometimes naked. Sasha Grey plays a high-end Manhattan call girl who gives her clients “the girlfriend experience,” in addition to the sexy stuff that they pay for. Seems to kind of defeat the purpose if you ask me, but watch the trailer and judge for yourself.