So I was doing a little internet search that initially began with looking for concealers and some how ended up with me googling updates on the American Apparel sexual harassment case that is going on right now. I was reading an article in the LA Times when I came across this little quote:
As creative director of the company, he appointed himself fit model, the person who tests the look and size of his men’s line. He has even appeared in the ads. “I weigh 155 pounds, I’m five-10. Am I not fit? Is there any job that is not appropriate for me to do?” he said. “All the big guys did exactly what I do. Versace — they all wore their own bathing suits.”
5’10”? Really? As someone who has come into contact with Mr. Charney multiple times I can attest to the fact that he is not 5’10”. The man is 5’4” TOPS, I mean I had to look down when I spoke with him face-to-face (or his preferred view, face-to-tits).
OK, whatever, Dov Charney is short, why does he feel the need to create a complete lie to mask his petit stature? I don’t have anything against a shorter gentleman (considering my boyfriend is the same height as me) but most of the incredibly annoying shorter men I have met in my lifetime have all lied about their height, and it is always in the 5’8”-5’10” ballpark range when most of them are barely 5’5”. The moustached Dov Charney is no exception to this rule.
Also, I think Dov is misunderstanding the term “fit model.” It does not, as some fashion amateur or layperson (you know, someone who is not the head of a multi-million dollar clothing company) might think, a reference to the “fit-ness” of the model’s body. Rather, the term is used for models that are hired to model a particular size (usually the sample size). Being a totes buff 155lb. “5’10”” dude does not instantly make you a “fit model.”
On a different (but related!) note: regarding this whole sexual harassment case, I was kind of feeling for the girl here, and the environment at AA was definitely sexually-charged and exploitative of (young, hispanic) women working in the retail stores but when Dov starts talking about the flippant and lazy attitude of the woman suing him (which resulted in her termination, according to AA) that sounds pretty accurate with most of the people I ran into. While there are a few people (FEW) who work there that posses enough intelligence to carry the entire company on their shoulders, the majority of “lifers” that work there were clueless, manipulative, spoiled, drug-addicted assholes who treated everyone like crap just because they were the “driver-dispatcher for the NY district” or “handyman.” But I guess that is what you get when you hire idiots, Dov!
[ LA Times ]
