Cameltoe anyone?

@cedarpointfan: lol that is pretty gross for a mannequin.

Considering the season and the cat ears, I think it's obvious it's meant to be a costume, and not every day wear for sluts.

their shirts feel thin and cheap.

When you wear that AA shirt with the sleeves falling off the seams, you can feel the satisfaction that the person who made said shirt got a nice massage as an employee perk.

Does anyone actually wear AA? I can't think of one person I know that does.

@SOhp101: I own a couple shirts made by them, used by other companies for printing. Woot prints on AA shirts. I doubt I'd buy them otherwise.

It's the Disco Lion! Mwrraarr!

I was actually at an AA yesterday and asked someone who worked there if they had a pair of their legwarmers out of the package for me to try on. She told me, no, because they don't let people try on socks. i tried to explain they weren't like socks at all and that they really should have a pair lying around for people to try on since you can't buy them unless you know how they fit AND they have two sizes. She gave me a dirty look and walked away. And THIS is why I don't shop at this silly store.

judging by the "I work retail" article on Jezebel; this assesment may not be as far off as you think.

Such a hot look: fishing fuzzy armwarmers out of your coat sleeves, where they got trapped; yanking gold spandex out of your butt crack, where it got trapped; periodic nipple-control checks down front. Never mind going to the bathroom. For something so cheap, it's very high maintainance.

Not to be picky, but it's "lamé" unless you're also misspelling a South American pack animal. Which might be oddly relevant as from what I've read about the owner of AA, he's probably had sex with one.

Hey, at least we know that they clothes are made by well paid factory workers. That's gotta mean something for the Consumerist, right?

@Her Grace: Yep, so does Glarkware.

[shill]American Apparel makes poor quality clothing? I own maybe 12 American Apparel shirts, and they're all still in excellent condition. I've also found them to be very comfortable.[/shill]

Did I miss something?

yeah, i really like their basic tees. i have about a dozen that i wear pretty much every day, just because they are cut well and are cheap. otherwise, everything else they make is pretty silly.

Whoa, the Furries are gonna love that outfit. (If you've no idea what a Furry is, you are a lucky person, indeed.)

@MOJITOBABY: Lamé? I thought it was just lame.

I really do like their plain hooded sweatshirts - they fit well and wash really well. Unfortunately, I hate going into their stores so much because the employees are such douchebags, that I never buy new ones.

As tacky as their advertising and window displays may be, the business model is anything but. The folks who put the clothes together actually make an (American) living wage, and I have a ton of their t-shirts and underwear and they've held up great.

@konstantConsumer: Cheap? You should look into Hanes if you want some cheap regular t-shirts.

Shouldn't this be on Jezebel?

@jesseraub:

I'd say yes, really.

So you're telling me American Apparel isn't a store for hookers?

Ummm... actually, I just wore those gold lame leggings yesterday. For my Halloween costume. They were ridiculously comfy. "Ridiculously" because, really, something that tacky shouldn't be something you *want* to lounge around in.

the nice thing about AA stuff, as opposed to Hanes, Fruit of the Loom, etc, is that it is not designed for fat people. The cut of their designs is more flattering if you are thin or fit.

But yeah, I hate the pretension of AA and do think it is crap. I just wait til more expensive stuff is on sale.

I guess I'm in the minority. The employees have always been friendly to me. Plus they were really accommodating to my mom when she lost a shitload of weight on chemo and needed a new stretchy wardrobe that didn't look frumpy...they weren't freaked out by her fresh neck surgery sutures, and were very helpful.

Was her pimp in the store or down the block in his Hummer?

I love their underwear. They have tons of unusual colors with white piping. It makes me feel like a Golden Age DC Comics superhero.

If you like the fit of AA but hate the advertising, etc., check out Bella.com. Much less offensive.

And from their webpage:

Choose Bella for Social Responsibility:

More Than Just a Slogan
As our industry continues to demand both quality and affordability, we recognize our responsibility to meet these demands by establishing strategic relationships which embody our fundamental values of integrity, honesty, and proper conduct amongst our workplace, customers, and distributors. We believe it is of our highest priority to provide our workers with a safe working environment which practices excellent workplace standards and complies with all government health, safety, and labor regulations. Just as we are committed to producing only the highest quality garments, we also hold ourselves to maintaining the highest ethical and conscientious standards for our workers and factory conditions.

No, I don't work for them, in fact I've never used their products, but plan to next time I need/want something. If anyone else has used them, please let us know what you think!

I, for one, say Gold lame yesterday, gold lame today, gold lame forever!

Makes my favorite hookers easy to find in low light!!

that outfit totally reminds me of something my aging whorish ex-landlady would've worn. to the grocery store. in mid-afternoon.

AA is all right for their basic t-shirts, tights, underwear and socks. I just have to grit my teeth everytime I go in there. Both for the many creepy bad designs they have displayed, and because XL is the only size there that fits me.

Seriously, if you want to be truly socially responsible about your clothing, learn how to sew. Otherwise you're stuck buying either stuff made by enslaved 10-year-olds, or stuff owned by CEO who jacks off in front of his employees. I have yet to find a middle ground.

Jaysyn: It was, complete with cocaine and sex orgies.

Looks like a community theater production of Cats rolled into town.

"Memory...all alone in the moonlight...

what's w/ all the American Apparel bashing lately? Did they drop out of Gawker's advertising?

@fairywench: I love Bella shirts. They're a bit short, but cut for girls with more curve (and this is from a girl who isn't even that curvy). They hug a lot better than AA, which are better fitter for really, really skinny girls. Skinny girls need clothes too, but yeah, AA's cut is not for me.

Alternative Apparel is a similar brand to AA, but less creepy. Their site is a refreshing alternative.

I do wear AA sometimes, but only because many t-shirt companies print on them. Someone mentioned Glarkware; Threadless is another giant that prints on AA, although I think they're switching to their own brand now. I also try to support a lot of webcomic artists, and many of them print on AA.

Leg warmers? For real? Ummm why?

Ummm for keeping your legs warm.

In Los Angeles, the AA not-a-sweatshop closed down on May 1st. Why? Because it's workers were illegal aliens and needed to go march.

If your factory is in the poorest part of a city, and you pay at least minimum wage, you don't need to exploit illegal workers. Not when you can toss a rock and hit any number of non-profit employment agencies & half-way houses.

Do we have anything other than AA's word that their workers are so well paid. Or is just management & the design teams that enjoy the perks?

Why would anyone go to an AA store when you can use the webpage? Regardless, I've never had any hassle in the store, but I've heard this from people... ugly people ;)

But...I like leigh, I won't maul him!! I'm sorry to the OP, I just remember this handy and hilarious website [www.notwithoutmyhandbag.com] every time I see someone with a perfectly normal name (molly) transformed into a bizarre and faux-trendy version (maulleigh).

AA just seems to work for some people and disturb others...kind of like every other retailer on earth. *shrug* seems like a classic case of disagreement. The gold shiny thing is horrendous, but I bet their t-shirtts and hoodies are comfortable.

And for what it's worth mentioning, I went to see MIA last night in Atlanta and it looked like an AA fashion shoot. Not only was MIA and her 2 backups wearing sparkly AA leggings, but it seemed that everyone at the show was wearing something from there (although it was hard to tell sometimes if it was a costume, ironic, or serious).

It's working with a certain demographic. I wouldn't be surprised if it caught on in the mainstream in the next few years. Ironic t-shirts went all the way from "stupid hipster crap" to Wal-Mart.

Have to say, I don't understand legwarmers. Don't understand the use for them. And I am in the in-between generation, the kids born in the 80s, too young for legwarmers, too old to understand their use for current generation.

I'm confused - isn't that a bandeau bra around her hips? Is that really necessary?

Ch...Cheetara? Is that you?

@HellsWaitingRoom: Is ANY of what is on that mannequin necessary? It's gold spandex!

@bbbici: Yes! Their clothing is cut for thinner people; their t-shirts fit me incredibly well. Yeah, Dov is weird, the stores are weird, their sales staff are insane...that's why I buy everything from them online. I've probably got 20 or so tees from AA. Love em!

I love American Apparel. I don't get the ads complaints. Obviously, they're trying to sell clothes with sex. THey're not alone in that. I tend to view the men in their ads because I like men. I kinda filter out the women and just assume they're as tasty as the men. THe people in the stores are always nice to me, their stuff is comfy and fits people who aren't fat, and I think the guys in their ads are hot--and I don't do pedophilia.

@kellyd: ..you disturb me. greatly.

I love AA.

I dislike going to the AA stores.

I buy everything online. Their clothes are made for thin people, which is refreshing because most clothes today are cut for fat (normal) Americans. As a 5'8" 115 male, it's nice wearing t-shirts that aren't short and wide. All of my T's and sweaters are AA.

Dov is a sick fuck though.