Walking billboards, conformists, “snobs”; all words used to label those who willingly wear labels. The stores that plaster their names or logos on the chest of every shirt, and similarly the individuals who choose to purchase this clothing, are so often given a negative connotation. However, these stores do have their purpose and it is not singularly to serve as a status symbol.
The arguments against these stores, common names including Hollister and Abercrombie and Fitch, are easy to find. Many argue that due to the sizes and prices of the clothing offered, the stores market only to the thin and wealthy. Therefore, it is easy to misconstrue a young woman’s choice to wear these clothes as doing so to simply draw attention to her appearance and economic status.
Others argue that these mass-produced articles of clothing offer little to no sense of individuality to the person wearing them. The store names written on almost every piece can easily be considered free advertising, or more, advertising that the consumer must pay for.
The value that comes from the existence of such stores and brands is often disregarded. However, the clothes are selling, suggesting that clearly these stores are doing something right. This clothing does have its appeal, and it does not stop with the status symbol provided.
Have you ever walked into a department store, for instance, and known exactly what size you were in any top in the store without having to try it on? And pants; how many do you have to try on before you find the perfect fit? Now, this is great if you like to spend a whole day shopping. However I, for example, hate to shop. It isn’t that I don’t like getting new clothes; I simply dislike spending my time in hot, stuffy stores with bright fluorescent lights trying on a million articles of clothing that may or may not fit me.
Sometimes you can guess what size you are in tops, but honestly every brand is different. An unlimited number of brands may be for sale in any given store, making trying clothes on before purchasing a necessity. I, however, like the online method. The cost of shipping really isn’t that much more than the cost of gas to get to a store, and I can spend less than half the time.
Through shopping the online catalogues of Abercrombie or Hollister, I always know exactly what size I’ll be in any given piece of clothing. A small in a t-shirt is the same as a small in a sweater or a hoodie and an American Eagle “2 extra long” is always going to fit the same no matter the style of jeans and pants. Brand names with consistent sizes take all of the guesswork out of shopping.
Another plus about these stores is that they give consumers the ability to look good without trying due to their stereotypes. Like it or not, in our society styles that end up in these stores are considered stylish.