Hollister is Overrated

You're welcome. Those who never finished grade school need all the luck they can get. "From your statement it sounds as if you're blaming American Eagle, as if they should guard the doors from anyone younger than college aged." You misinterpreted my statement completely. I am saying that no matter if the mission statement of the company and store is to appeal to a certain age; the fact of the matter is that a wide variety of ages wear the clothes that are sold, not based on the mission statement, but based on what appeals to the customer. This segues into a point I'd like to discuss concerning Hollister's viewpoint; the store is contributing to the child exploitation that haunts America today. Upon walking into a Hollister store, you are immediately greeted by half-shirtless (and sometimes fully shirtless) men, indescently exposing a protruded nipple. Their faces don an expression that reads, "My mind is vacant...buy our clothes...you'll look good without a shirt too...". This marketing scehem goes along with their "surfer-friendly" vibe, but they overdo it a tad. Plastering the walls with photos of scantily-clad models puts no good thoughts into an 8 or 9 year old's mind. So let's try the website for a safer feel-oops! Another shirtless man! Cover your eyes, Greta, while I look for something for your brother...golly gee, does everyone on this site have beautiful, tender pectorals? Now, is it really necessary to have these pictures scurried around this site? Does it make you want to buy the product more? I think not. Here is a link to reference to: http://www.hollisterco.com... Another thing about Hollister that angers me is their promiscuous gift cards. Just what do you envision a gift card to be? A rectangular block, with the logo of the store on it, displaying the value of the card's worth. Hollister gift cards, on the other hand, show a couple much too involved with each other for a clothing store, and it gives off a slutty feel. The link below shows the card: http://www.hollisterco.com... I stopped over at American Eagle's site, and found no indecent photos whatsoever. The same goes for Aeropostale. Both clothing stores have found success, without giving off a vulgar image. If you don't believe me, check for yourself: www.aeropostale.com www.americaneagleoutfitters.com Let me get my point across straight: I am not criticizing the mission statement of Hollister, to give off a surfer viewpoint. I am criticizing the way they show it off, with pictures of attractive, scantily clad models, lounging on the beach. To get off a surfer feel to the store, rather the pictures portraying beach bums with a vacant stare at the camera, the pictures should portray people ACTUALLY SURFING. You can keep the black and white retro feel, the attractive, muscle-toned models, but rather than have them lazing around, inactive, have them being active and involved in the stereotype the product accompanies. Hollister would get more business this way; it takes the intimidating feel away from protective parents. I know at least 3 classmates whose parents despise Hollister and their gift cards, and are against them purchasing clothes from there. Without the photos, maybe the parents would feel more comfortable with their kids involved in Hollister and their products. Just maybe. "Also, fads aren't seen to be overrated, they're looked back upon, but that's completely up to the individual on what they see that era's style or fad is seen to be." True, true. Some fads aren't looked back upon in disgust, thought of to be overrated...but many are. I have no knowledge of your age, so I'll cover all the bases. Let's say you grew up in the 70's. You've got to have remembered the leisure suit. Many men donned this apparel. Let's take a look at this link and take a trip back in time: http://www.hfmgv.org... Would you wear this nowadays? Do you find it to be overrated? Or let's say you grew up in the 80's, watching your favorite NBA team, and all the great superstars. They all donned the same apparel; short, high rise shorts. Let's take a look back at some photos: http://i.a.cnn.net... Overrated yet? Try this one: http://people.smu.edu... Still not convinced? http://www.aolcdn.com... ...if that one didn't convince you that short shorts are overrated, I'm truly worried. Men's thighs are things not to be publicly displayed. Let's say you grew up in the 90's. A year of questionable fashion. Here's a few samplings: http://cache.viewimages.com... http://www.vintageculture.net... http://www.historicfilms.com... http://www.moviecritic.com.au... We're all looking at these and wondering the same thing...what possessed us to wear that garbage? That's what we'll all be saying in a few years from now about Hollister. All fashion fads are questioned in later years, it's inevitable. The fact of the matter is that Hollister's fashion line should be questioned NOW.