You make the call: A&F Manager to face jail time?

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Abercrombie & Fitch store hit with obscenity charges
Associated Press; Feb. 4, 2008

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) - Abercrombie and Fitch says authorities in Virginia Beach overreacted to a store's display photos of barely dressed models.

Police in the Virginia city hit the store manager with a misdemeanor obscenity charge over the weekend and confiscated two of the large pictures. One showed three shirtless young men, with one man's upper buttocks showing. Authorities said the other image was of a woman whose breast was mostly exposed.

Abercrombie's Columbus, Ohio area headquarters released a statement today, saying the photos show less skin than you'd see at the beach, and less than you'd see when a plumber is working on your kitchen sink.

The chain says it will fight the case aggressively.


From Fox News:

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SHIELD YOUR EYES!  OFFENDING PICTURE TO FOLLOW!

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

What I don't get is how the absence of clothes sells clothes.

Because you're not supposed to be buying the jeans, you're buying the illusion that you actually look like that.

What I don't get is how the absence of clothes sells clothes.

Even more odd, when I lived in IL - on the Sunday before classes started there were live models in the store - one guy with only a pair of jeans and flip-flops on - and a girl in jean shorts and a bikini top.

I went in... ok I like "near"-smutty tshirts - and just had to speak to them on my way out I said "I feel like I'm interrupting something" Ironically I ended up playing Soccer with the guy.

Fun fact: those working in the store are called "sales models," because that's essentially what they are.  They're specifically (supposed) to be picked based on their attractiveness.  I think it's the terminology that helps them evade lawsuits.

All the folks in A&F ads are actually store employees.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Even more odd, when I lived in IL - on the Sunday before classes started there were live models in the store - one guy with only a pair of jeans and flip-flops on - and a girl in jean shorts and a bikini top.

I went in... ok I like "near"-smutty tshirts - and just had to speak to them on my way out I said "I feel like I'm interrupting something" Ironically I ended up playing Soccer with the guy.

How does someone play soccer in flip-flops?

Psh.  You just totally don't get the A&F lifestyle.