<p>As offensive as A&F and Hollister are, there must be enough people who fall for their pitch. Mostly kids in middle school, I’m told by my D. It’s so cynical.</p>
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<p>Perhaps Hooters should also get into the carwash biz…</p>
<p>Everyone who I’ve known to work at either store fits the “model” mold. They actively search it as often their sales associates do modeling shoots. But any company tries to hire more attractive people when they can. And it’s more important for Abercrombie as their clothes sell off of their image rather than durability of clothes, quality of material, etc.</p>
<p>*Hollister, CA is inland, not on the coast at all. I always maintain if people have seen what Hollister is like, they would not wear that logo. *</p>
<p>Hollister Clothing is named after Santa Barbara County’s Hollister Ranch, not the city in San Benito County. There’s a good writeup on the two communities here:</p>
<p>[The</a> Pinnacle](<a href=“http://www.pinnaclenews.com/news/contentview.asp?c=227634]The”>http://www.pinnaclenews.com/news/contentview.asp?c=227634)</p>
<p>my son found getting a job at A&F in Boston this summer very easy, I was surprised since their sales have been down. He has worked at A&F, Club Monaco and Bloomingdales in NYC so he does have some other retail experience.</p>
<p>Do lots of h.s kids wear Hollister and A&F? Not here. It doesn’t seem to be as “cool” here as it once was. Both stores are in our local mall. I mostly see 13 yr. olds w/ braces on their teeth dragging Moms into those stores.
My S’s wore it in m.s ( but really more AE)when it was mandatory to wear what everybody else was wearing or risk being branded as uncool. I don’t think either of them wore it after age 14. Thank goodness because the prices are ridiculous and the music gives me a headache.
I was really happy when they decided Goodwill was a cool place to shop for random t-shirts.</p>
<p>You might be surprised how many reputable firms deliberately keep at least one stunning female on staff to help close certain deals.</p>
<p>My son was “a model” at Hollister for 6 months and hated it. He thinks the stores are poorly run. If you’re not particularly good looking, there are two other positions available. One is “folding” clothes and the other is stocking, done primarily at night. Each week they publish an employee list, with over 120 names. This is do you can find your own sub if you can’t work. There is no way 120 people can get decent hours. If they like you, you may get 20 hours, but most people get fewer hours and end up quitting. The music is loud and they “spray” the clothes with their cologne. They require flip flops or a certain type of tennis shoe (I can’t remember what they’re called, but they have the big rubber toe). Both are very uncomfortable if standing for any length of time. My son wore a Hollister shirt purchased last year, and the manager asked him, “Where did you dig up that old shirt?”</p>
<p>Yes, D was told by a few people that worked there that it was an awful place to work. The managers who were asking her if she wanted to work even told her, “It wouldn’t be really hard, just 4 hours maybe twice a week or so.” </p>
<p>Our high school wears a LOT of A&F. Also AE. Hollister was high school but is gradually becoming more Middle school, and the middle schoolers also wear Aeropostal (No high schooler would be caught dead in Aeropostal). According to D, Forever 21 is becoming the “In” place for the high school girls to shop. </p>
<p>I think working at A&F or Hollister would be a recipe for a migraine. It’s not just the overpowering fragrances or the loud music. It’s the lighting - especially in Hollister. I’ve always said I was going to bring a flashlight the next time I go there, so I can see what I’m looking at. D has actually bought pants at Hollister, brought them home, and then rarely worn them because “I didn’t realize they were THAT color when I bought them.” Of course not, it’s too dark in there to see anything!</p>
<p>Im not that familiar with Hollister, but there is a lot of A&F being worn in HS here. Not sure what the MS kids are wearing. D liked A&Fs jeans because they have 00 which fit her nicely and are long enough to not look high-water. She also likes their button down shirts because the XS fit her frame and the sleeves are long enough for her arms. Now that she is in college there hasnt been much time for shopping except the occasional visit to local boutiques or J Crew (15% discount for college students). Unfortunately, she has discovered shopbop.com :(</p>
<p>A lot of high school kids in our area have moved on to J Crew because they are preppier, even guys. A&F and Hollister are for the younger set, middle school.</p>
<p>My girls probably own one polo shirt, definitely no khakis. Their taste tend to be trendier.</p>
<p>10 years ago when it was more of a new thing and when we were living in a different country, it was totally in to bring A&F there as you could only get it in the states and this was for HS not MS</p>
<p>Oldfort, I think the difference between your areas HS and mine maybe urban versus rural. I just dont see HS kids here every wearing J Crew. These kids live in jeans, t-shirts, and hoodies.</p>
<p>I live near Hollister Ranch. Yes, that is the Hollister they are referring to. What is funny is that no kids I know wear Hollister clothing.
Personally these stores creep me out. It isn’t legal to hire only persons of a certain age, race, look, gender. Then again, most of the stuff is made in sweatshops in China so…
I don’t shop there, my kids don’t shop there.<br>
If you don’t like their policies, voice your opinion with your dollars.</p>
<p>“sweatshops in China” </p>
<p>Guess you better tell Obama about that. And the people who prefer working in those plants over tending rice fields and other alternatives. I hear the China economy is eating our lunch and many Chinese are moving into the middeclass.</p>
<p>So, D wandered into A&F today. There was a canvas bag there that she and I had both been admiring since March. Very well made - sturdy canvas, leather handles, reinforced seams and grommets, with a classy embroidered floral motif. It was the perfect size, would hold up for years and look good all the while - but neither of us wanted to pay the $90 they were asking. Well today it was on clearance - D scooped it up for $20. </p>
<p>It’s sitting on the couch in my family room, and now the whole family room smells like A&F fragrance.</p>
<p>D was very into A&F and Hollister when she was a freshman. She seemed to spend a lot of allowance and birthday money there until she realized that she could get a lot more for her money (and still look good) at stores like Aeropostle, Macy’s and Target.</p>
<p>Several years ago, I thought that 60 Minutes did a segment on A & F & the focus was that they were not hiring minorities.</p>
<p>D was at the mall again Friday, checked out Hollister (didn’t buy anything) and had another “do you wanna work here?” episode. Except this time, the manager gave her a business card. She was told the card was good for all 3 stores in the mall (Abercrombie, A&F, and Hollister) Now that I read the back of the card, I finally understand their philosophy:</p>
<p>“Abercrombie & Fitch Casting - We’re looking for sexy and sophisticated individuals to come and represent our brand. Start inside our stores then rise to the top and become a recognized model in our iconic photography, online, or even on our shopping bags.” </p>
<p>Silly me - I thought their store employees were there to ring up sales and unlock dressing rooms! Now I know they’re there pretty much as live models. Now I also know why A&F requires their staff to be 18 - because most of their “iconic photography” features models who are half nude. </p>
<p>D’s friend who applied (without being solicited) at Hollister in June never got a call back. Their loss, she’d have been a good worker.</p>
<p>Funny thing is A&F has approached my S several times about a job, but none of their clothes would even fit him – he wears a 30-36 pant and needs an extra long shirt in a medium.</p>