Abercrombie's Boneheaded Billboard

Abercrombie & Fitch is suppose to sell clothing to ages roughly 14-29, but some are saying what they really sell is teen sex - gasp! So ladies, does this billboard make you want to "head" to the mall to see the latest Abercrombie cutie sporting more than just the Fall collection? Maybe the advertising execs figure if this guy likes Abercrombie jeans that much and gets all "excited" over some worn denim, then maybe you will too and it will encourage you to buy a pair. Abercrombie & Fitch has "erected" a huge billboard ad that been seen plastered in major cities like San Francisco and New York. Now in SF, I can see how this ad would hit it's target audience, if you know what I mean. However in NY, I love the city but can't think of anything I would hate more than walking down the street and having my head pass under another guy's bulge. Would that make me a "dickhead"?

Teens and 20somethings are bombarded on a daily basis by the pressure not only to do great, but to look great. They are also constantly having sex thrown at them to look sexy and to have sex. Businesses know this and market towards it. It's simple, sex sells. We live in an oversexed society and good or bad, there is no denying the message is everywhere and is very clear. Whether you personally find this photo a little over the top and sexually explicit given the fact it's directed to youth...or if you feel it's perfectly fine and has become the accepted norm since so many other companies market like this, we can all see why Abercrombie is once again in the "hot seat" when it comes to controversy.

A few years back a lawsuit was filed against Abercrombie to pull some t-shirts off their shelves. People argued that the messages on the tees where racially offensive. Now some people are pointing the finger once again at Abercrombie and accusing that their advertising campaign is walking a thin gray line towards child porn. Sure the models may be 18 and it's legal, but in the past big clothing designers like Calvin Klein have faced the exact same allegations. CK had several TV ads pulled that depicted a very young (some call barely legal) teen couple rolling around and making out practically naked on a beach. They wore next to nothing, just a stitch of clothing - some wet, white underwear. It left little to the imagination, but brought huge criticism.

The billboard speaks for itself. The guy is obviously aroused as you can clearly see from the crotch shot with perspiration dripping down his lower body. Like most clothing designers, Abercrombie wants you to feel sexy when you put on their clothes. They want you to think that if you wear these jeans, you will get attention, you will be noticed, you too will be hot and desired by the opposite sex...or the same sex if you prefer. I don't know about other guys, but if I have a chub brewing in my pants, I'm not trying to draw attention to it. In fact most guys would like to hide it, unless of course you are with someone who enjoys to see Mr. Happy and encourages him to come out and play, then that is a different story. I've worked with Abercrombie's competitor American Eagle and I've even worked with Calvin Klein who is know to really push the envelope, however I've never been told to nor encouraged to "have a hard-on" in order to make a good photo shoot. I'm thankful for that because I wouldn't want my Mother to walk down the street and see her son's package showcased 50ft in the air. Although somewhat embarrassing to me, this is a more tasteful billboard experience for Mom.

I tend to feel this Abercrombie & Fitch billboard might be better suited to be displayed only in the meat packing district of a city. I should note that to enter the store, you just need to follow the doorway opening beneath his balls. Irony at it's finest.