I feel like Claud would be heartbroken at the thought of no gladiator sandals. What would the BSC do without sandals that laced up their calves? D: D: D:

by Tintin on 8:06 PM. #

I think Claud would be so disappointed at not wearing docs!

Docs.

Which they should learn to spell. Because, since they are going in a nautical direction, "dock" martins sound appropriate as opposed to Dr Martens, aka DOCS, which are not nautical at all. Sheesh.

by Meghan Edge on 9:00 PM. #

They could've had the common courtesy to spell Doc Martin's correctly.

by Adam's Clayton on 10:51 PM. #

I think spelling it "dock" is AA's way of sounding "chique."

For such a snotty, self-righteous personnel policy, it certainly is poorly written.

by Lauren on 10:54 PM. #

If we had AA stores in Australia I'd stomp my Doc clad feet right in and tell them where to shove it.

by Stace on 11:28 PM. #

We do have AA stores in Australia. If we had one in Brisbane, I'd stomp my doc clad feet in there and... buy up half of their new items. I'm sorry, horrible HR policy aside, I love the new look v.v

by xxxxx S. xxxxxx on 12:55 AM. #

this is fucking absurd.

No one should ever wear boat shoes, unless they are on a fucking boat.

by dianne tanner dot co dot uk on 4:43 AM. #

ROFL at "chique" -- used twice no less (did Claudia write this?), their crazy hyphenate brand image, and AA's delusions of attaining class.

by Anjali on 5:17 AM. #

Wow. Just.....wow. Do people really spend time thinking about this? (And apparently not spell-checking it before using it with a large retail company?) American Apparel has never shouted 'classy' to me- are they going to cease all unitards and neon underwear as well, to conform to the "Classy-Vintage-Chique-Late 80's-Early 90's-Ralph Lauren-Vogue-Nautical-High-End-Brand" style they're attempting to enforce?

P.S. Your blog cracks me up.

by Sara on 8:47 AM. #

So, no more skin-tight clothes looking like trashy extras in a Wham! video?

Also, way to pick up on my look for summer circa 2006, American Apparel. Awesome.

by aimee on 9:49 AM. #

"Classy-Vintage-Chique-Late 80's-Early 90's-Ralph Lauren-Vogue-Nautical-High-End-Brand"?!? There are several words that come to mind when I think "American Appare" but I can assure you that they don't include class, vintage, chique, or high-end. Also, what is chique?

by missris on 11:13 AM. #

Is 'there' the chique way of saying 'their'?
(As in 'employees are instructed to base all there outfits on these styles.')
Or is a 'there' outfit internal code for outfit worn within the store? 'Cause 'there outfit' might be a good slang phrase for someone looking like an American Apparel jackass.


p.s. I just threw a resort wear theme party in which many of the attendees seemed on point with the new guidelines. Synergy.

by evilcat on 4:23 PM. #

LOL at "Dock Martins". Way to stay classy. Also, I work at AA.

by Isabel on 6:54 PM. #

"Vintage shoes"? How vague is that? What if they're vintage Converse? Vintage Docs?

by cosmia on 10:22 PM. #

That is disgusting.

by Amanda on 1:04 PM. #

I just saw another posting on Gawker about the new American Apparel "grooming policy", and it seems a little too drab for Claudia. They say that "jewelry must not be distracting", and "One earring per ear is encouraged. Earrings, necklaces, watches, bracelets, etc. must be simple and tasteful". I don't know if I could work in an environment where distracting jewelry was discouraged!

Here's the link: http://gawker.com/5562965/american-apparels-complete-guide-to-grooming

P.S. Your blog rocks my socks!

by Paper Doll on 9:39 AM. #

Wait? Did I just read that there are styles IN THE STORE that are saying are off brand? WTF?

by Courtney on 7:00 PM. #

AA is ridiculous, but it could be worse. When I worked at Express in the mid 90's our retail employee guide told us what kinds of LOTION were acceptable to use (along with the usual accessories, makeup, etc.).

I worked in the stock room unloading boxes and was eventually asked to leave for not wearing full makeup and silk shirts to unload a truck. In my "Docks".

by Eleanor on 12:46 PM. #

Despite their vertical integration/sweatshop free policies....american apparel and its sexploitation drive me nuts. NUUUUUTS!
So now they want to be classy instead of ...hiring porn stars to do their photo spreads? But why? and are we letting them?
Though it's no surprise as in an interview the dude was all "I want to be the Gap. I want to take over the Gap and be better than the Gap." Not verbatim, but he did name his aspirations to be the new "Gap" explicitly.

by bones579 on 4:52 PM. #

True, minus the 'i' and the apostrophe.

by Libellule on 11:56 PM. #

Really? I love my sparkly Sperry Topsiders. I just have to believe that Claud would approve!

by Libellule on 11:57 PM. #

Wow, whoever wrote those AA memos needs to go to AA (you know, the other AA).

I used to work retail. Any way you slice it, it's hell. So many stores have policies similar to these (hire the model-pretty girls. One of my college roommates, a wannabe model, was given one of the more coveted jobs at Express because they "liked her best") but they aren't dumb enough to state these preferences in writing.

by Libellule on 12:04 AM. #