Dear Urban Outfitters,

Posted on 01.20.09 to Opinion, Updates by Lindsay

You and I have had some struggles over the years. First, you were a cool, below-the-radar place to shop (you know, back in the 90′s), and I loved you. Every piece of clothing my sister would purchase from you, I’d secretly covet. Then, when my Mom took me there to make my first purchase, I fell completely in love with the mid-calf, knobby knit pencil skirt you offered me… I kept it until less than a year ago – it was still perfectly in-tact, wonderful… Very you.

But now, I enter your store and see GOBS of mass-produced knockoffs in every corner… I see you in the tabloids, and run by a nasty corporate headquarters who seem somewhat intolerant of what could be a very large piece of their target demographic. I see hemlines getting shorter, larger sizes becoming less available, and I cry inside as I watch you fade into the monotony of hipster-wear.

I struggle to withhold my support of you, because I so fondly remember you for what you used to be… But when a friend showed me a skirt she was embarrassed to enjoy (because it was in your store), my mind was made up.

I saw this photo as a “modeled” version of your garment:

You’ve finally hit the bottom, Urban Outfitters. You’ve succumb to the very depths of exploitation, displaying a young-ish girl wearing your (admittedly lovely, ugh) skirt in some kind of Floridian retirement home… Was she walking around topless while visiting her grandparent’s house while wearing this garment? Is this some kind of kitschy spring break party, where the kids are so cool they they just screw and drink all day, walking around in their “classy” garb?

I’ve long been disappointed with your now-rival, American Apparel… And if you’ve made this decision to conform to their advertising tactics for competition, please be aware that it will never work. Perhaps it will suffice for young, late-teen girls who aspire to be so free and “unique”, but to the shoppers who care about where their dollar lands – it will never work.

You’ve successfully turned what could have been something demure into something crass.

Don’t worry, I entertained the thought that it might just be one bad marketing decision on one particular skirt… So I shopped around a little. The next catagory was shorts.

[[Photo subsequentially changed after post.]]

Ah, yes. Shorts. Because… from the photos you can tell how the shorts (pants? jeans?) fall from the hip. Naturally, she was photographed topless to… um, be sure we’re well aware of where the shorts rest on the waist.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m well aware of your advertising strategy. Sexy, young, wild… It’s all very alluring. I used to be an aspiring fashion photographer myself… However, when I would practice my craft, I’d typically dress my subjects first.

Admittedly, I did “dig” for these examples… Your catalogue isn’t full of half-naked women (perhaps half-full of half-naked women), but digging aside, consider this awareness.

I’m watching you, Urban Outfitters. I’m keeping a keen eye on your foray into the smutty world of exploitadvertising, and I’m sure I’m not the only one. I encourage everyone reading this to do the same.

Signed with suspicious glances,

PS – I’m sure these “shorts” are every mother’s dream.

Full coverage my ass. xo.

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