There is nothing wrong with you!

Perhaps you saw or heard some of the furor surrounding the statement given by A&F CEO Mike Jeffries regarding why they don’t make their clothing in larger sizes. A great many people seem to be of the opinion that the biggest indictment against this statement is that it reflects a desire to make women feel bad about themselves. To which I say… pish posh. Just because someone brays like a donkey doesn’t mean it reflects on you in any way. Just because a company only manufactures their clothing up to whatever they are calling a “size 8” doesn’t reflect on you in any way. What if they only made petites, for women 5′ and shorter? Would that make you feel bad about yourself because you’re too tall? Or look at the clothing sold at certain low-end retailers, which have the narrowest sleeves and pant legs I have ever seen on a garment. EVERY clothing brand manufactures clothing that is designed to fit their marketing demographic. It doesn’t reflect an ideal body and it certainly is no benchmark for YOUR ideal body. It is MARKETING.

The only difference between Ambercrombie and everyone else is that they come out and say it. (In a foolishly tactless manner that probably has their marketing people crying themselves to sleep at night if they’ve an ounce of sense. But here we are, talking about it like everyone else, so perhaps not.) Let me just lay this out for you: if you are looking to a retailer, any retailer, for validation, you are going to be disappointed. Retailers and marketing people are in the business of causing people to desire their products. The less satisfied you are, the more likely you are to buy, buy, buy. Validation is not profitable. What’s profitable is convincing you that there is something wrong with you.

There isn’t anything wrong with you. So don’t buy it.

Was what the A&F CEO said rude? Absolutely. Is it any reflection on anyone but him, and, by extension, his brand? Absolutely not. The only brand that you should be worried about is YOURS. If you need a brand to put you front and center and have your best interests at heart, design a label with your name on it, and look at it every day. Write a mission statement, if that makes you feel better. Appoint yourself the CEO and write your own press releases about your best product- YOU.