Unbelievable Apparel

Following the body-image theme from Thursday I would like to call attention to a shirt that my favorite store, Urban Outfitters, once had available for sale. The shirt has a rather frighteningly direct message (see image below):

Many woman of all ages, ethnicities and backgrounds have seen this shirt in stores and on-line. It is fittingly worn by a stick-skinny model and most certainly tells customers that they should "Eat Less" to achieve model-worthy beauty. This is disgusting. Many media sources subliminally tell girls to watch their waistlines, however something so direct and offensive scares me. Urban Outfitters has always been my favorite store, but there is no way that I would ever support the "fashion" statement this shirt is sending. Actress Sophia Bush was also appalled at Urban Outfitters for producing this shirt. She wrote a letter of complaint as follows:

UO,

 I have been a supporter of your store for many years, but now I’m through. I am fortunate enough to star on a wonderful TV show called One Tree Hill. I play a fashion designer named Brooke Davis, who started a campaign on the show called “Zero Is Not A Size” and the outpouring of love and gratitude that came my way from girls and women ALL OVER THE WORLD who have body image issues brought me to tears.

 To promote starvation? To promote anorexia, which leads to heart disease, bone density loss, and a slew of other health problems, not least of all psychological issues that NEVER go away? Shame on you. I will no longer be shopping at your stores. And I will encourage the tens of thousands of female supporters I have to do the same. I have fought to boycott BP. I never imagined I would also be boycotting affordable fashion.

You should issue a public apology, and make a hefty donation to a women’s organization that supports those stricken with eating disorders. I am sickened that anyone, on any board, in your gigantic company would have voted ‘yes’ on such a thing, let alone enough of you to manufacture an item with such a hurtful message. It’s like handing a suicidal person a loaded gun. You should know better.

I sincerely hope that next time you decide that making fun of serious issues is comedic, or ‘snarky in a cool way,’ that you rethink your decision.

With Sincerity but NO respect,

Sophia Bush

Bush eloquently was able to write her and my anger in writing. The shirt is not funny. It's dangerous, and if UO needs to make a shirt commenting on weight, it could sell millions of shirts with the message below:

If anything, I would buy a shirt with this message. Society continues to shock me.