Urban Outfitters: Eat Less. Actually, just Shut up.

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I’ve never really shopped at Urban Outfitters. They have some cool stuff, but mostly I think it’s overpriced. I browse online, would possibly by something if it was on sale. Of course, not clothes, because Urban Outfitters doesn’t sell clothes to fit fat girls. In fact, after the shirt that they are selling right now, I wonder if they just hate fat girls alltogether:

Photo: Urban Outfitters

Does anyone else find this shirt just utterly offensive? To anyone? To women especially? As if there isn’t enough body shaming to go around, nothing like a hipster clothing store to promote it a little further. And especially market it to teenagers, who already feel horrible enough about themselves, let alone having their friends walk around with a shirt telling them not to eat. And of course, who is going to buy this shirt? Certainly not a chubby girl – who is going to feel judged just looking at it let alone WEARING it. This is along the lines of Perez Hilton’s shirt, which quoted Kate Moss – “Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels.” (Was I not just railing against that in a previous post? I’m glad things have changed…) Hilton just discontinued his shirt (after posting this stupid video during which he proclaims, “I didn’t know this had an negative connotations!” ARE YOU CLUELESS PEREZ?), and guess what? After the major backlash, Urban Outfitters pulled their shirt from their website, too! However, rumor has it that stores still carry it. Oh, and the best part:

Mostly the larger sizes are still available. GEE I WONDER WHY.

Who thought this was a good idea? Many blogs/news outlets are calling it a pro-anorexia shirt – which is akin to what Hilton’s was called. But I really just see something much worse in it – cruelty. I don’t feel like someone is going to wear this shirt with any other intention than to make other people feel bad. Since when is fashion about hurting other people? This shirt just screams:

“FEEL BAD ABOUT YOUR BODY AND HOW MUCH YOU EAT!”

It’s not a political statement. Or environmental statement. It’s not even funny! Part of me wants to buy it and wear it because one that I can definitively say, is I know this shirt was NOT marketed to me. Fat girl rocking a too-tight tee that reads “Eat Less,” – I can’t help but just want to do it. While I’m eating something. Like cake. Really play to all of the fat girl stereotypes. It appeals to the protester in me. Some slogans I would consider in place of the one on this shirt? Read on:

Eat more.
Eat if you want to.
Eat to live.

And on the opposite spectrum:

Talk less
Hate less
Promotebadbodyimagetothemasses Less

Thoughts about this shirt? Anyone want to make shirts with me? We can use iron on patches – I know, I’m classy. Would YOU wear this shirt?

UPDATE: And due to the popularity of my slogans, I have created a shirt in response, and you can buy it here (other colors, too!):

http://www.extralargeaslife.com Natalie

I think that shirt is crazy. Society today already seems to push the “you have to be skinny to be popular’ mould, you don’t need it being advertised on tshirts.

Having suffered from a eating disorder for many years, this doesn’t help. Sure, those times are behind me, but seeing something like this automatically kind of flicks a switch in my brain. It’s just crappy.
.-= Natalie´s last blog ..Eclipse Q&A =-.
http://fatheffalump.wordpress.com sleepydumpling

If you ask me, it looks like they have issues with women altogether. How dreary and blah the whole thing looks. Why would you put a photo like that advertising something you want to sell to people? I just get depressed when I look at that bored looking model in an uninspired outfit with a crap slogan.
.-= sleepydumpling´s last blog ..Anyone Want a Quickie? =-.
http://jasiferlionsclub.blogspot.com Jen

Jesus, that’s horrible, I’m surprised Urban would sell a shirt like that, tsk tsk tsk, not good!! I would love to make a shirt with you! really like the slogan “eat to live”
.-= Jen´s last blog ..Summer challenge =-.
http://itallchanges.wordpress.com Cynthia (It All Changes)

That shirt is just crazy. It makes me feel sick.
.-= Cynthia (It All Changes)´s last blog ..Oh the things you find =-.
http://www.thecitizenrosebud.com citizen rosebud

It’s a pretty stupid shirt, and you’re right, only skinny people would probably wear it. And it proves the point that somehow, it’s still acceptable to be prejudiced and rude to uh, fat people. That’s NOT really even the correct term, because I see rude, body-judging going on everyday, many towards uh, regular body types. You know, you’re not under-weight, work out 7 days a week, and like to butter your toast, and for some reason, strangers seem to think it’s ok to make comments about your choice of dessert.

Nobody deserves to be treated cruelly, but I guess it’s UO high school mentality, you know to be in, you’ve got to force people out.

I’d love to see your T-shirts. I vote for HATE LESS.
.-= citizen rosebud´s last blog ..Jumping Juniper =-.
http://www.mamastillwearsgucci.com Gucci Mama

I want a shirt that says, “I will cut a bitch”. And then I’ll just snarl at random people.
.-= Gucci Mama´s last blog ..Dear John =-.
http://bonjourgazel.blogspot.com Gazel

Eh. Shows people who actually buy that shirt are skinny, ignorant little hipsters who think they’re being “ironic”.
.-= Gazel´s last blog ..037. (Floral Fringe) =-.
http://thebuxomandthebeautiful@blogspot.com kori

its sad not just for larger girls but for girls of all sizes! our society has really created a horrible sickness when it comes to weight weather it be large or small. very sad.
http://copperlocs.blogspot.com Anthea

I’m astounded. Literally. How incredibly iresponsible of UO.
.-= Anthea´s last blog ..NYX Indian Pink in action =-.
http://stylistvirtual.blogspot.com Maria Moraes

I didn’t know about this shirt, specially because we don’t have any UO store in Rio de Janeiro. But I think it is offensive to everybody, even to skinny people. We could call it an ad to anorexia… Loved your site, by the way!
.-= Maria Moraes´s last blog ..Lagerfeld recebe prêmio e festa surpresa em Paris. =-.
http://fourjedis.blogspot.com Natalie

I don’t think I can ever look at UO again after seeing such an offensive get-up… not to mention that you have to be shaped like a 13 year old prepubescent boy to sport their stuff. The quality is crap, and the prices are too high… and now I just think they suck in general…
.-= Natalie´s last blog ..Leg Shaving and small kids… =-.
http://the-coveted.com jennine

is it strange that i’m actually more bothered by the typography than the message?
.-= jennine´s last blog ..Mental Images, How Inspiration Works =-.
http://reizende-rundungen.blogspot.com Katrin

Scary thing… I mean not that it is just offensive to everyone who looks like he eat 3 meals a day, it is just stupid. I mean You could also put “Breath Less” on it. And they put it on a girl that actually looks like if she would eat less you could bring her to hospital… How o girls feel that may just come over their anorexia who see this?

I am not sure if I would wear a shirt with “eat more”… but “Hate Less” would definitely be a great thing… just like “Love everyone” or “Give a shit about the others” xD
.-= Katrin´s last blog ..City Trip =-.
Sarah

hahahaha no because it really is an awful font – very reminiscent of slogan for a chain restaurant. LIke subway..”EAT LESS!”
http://www.thriftypoet.blogspot.com Renee

that t-shirt is insane–I seriously can’t even imagine what the person who designed that t-shirt was thinking!? or who in the world would ever buy a shirt like that?! I like your version much better—hate less, for sure!
.-= Renee´s last blog ..Links à la Mode =-.
http://blog.nickienoel.com Nickie Frye

Woah. That shirt is lame. I can’t say I’m surprised, though. I remember a while ago UO came out with a cute little cigarette case. I was like, WHAT? Really? Promoting SMOKING? Oh dear! That said, I still like UO. I don’t always buy, but I like to look around.
.-= Nickie Frye´s last blog ..Hog Riding =-.
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[...] Return to Sender: A Fat Girl’s Letters to the World – Urban Outfitters: Eat Less. Actually, just Shut up. [...]
http://wannabestylistgirl.blogspot.com/ EdinburghStylistGirlie

wow that tee is utterly disgusting. Who in their right mind at Urban Outfitters decided that selling a pro anorexia tee was ever a good idea? I have never bought any clothing from UO but do like their accessories however I am so appalled that I will take my business elsewhere.
.-= EdinburghStylistGirlie´s last blog ..Pearl Again =-.
http://www.parkerandmuse.com/blog/?p=2687 Links a la Mode: Fashion Blogger’s Delight | Parker+Muse

[...] Return to Sender: A Fat Girl’s Letters to the World – Urban Outfitters: Eat Less. Actually, just Shut up. [...]
http://www.fasshonaburu.com/ Fasshonaburu

I know it’s terrible, but the shirt did make me laugh…. I’m a horrible person!
.-= Fasshonaburu´s last blog ..Links à la Mode: Fashion Blogger’s Delight =-.
http://thelaundrynarrative.blogspot.com Fia

Eat to live! Heck yeah.

Great post. That shirt is so offensive on many levels. We’re either told to eat a sandwich or eat less. No one wins.
.-= Fia´s last blog ..239 =-.
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[...] Return to Sender: A Fat Girl’s Letters to the World – Urban Outfitters: Eat Less. Actually, just Shut up. [...]
http://www.rosetinteduncertainty.blogspot.com Rhona

I totally agree with you… This tshirt is hurtful, it is bad enough that young curvy girls feel so awkward in this world. I am offended, mainly because my best friend is a size 8/10 and she eats much more than me (I am a size 16/18). Do people just assume if you’re on the larger size it is all because you stuff your face!?! Some girls are just curvy and some girls aren’t…

Also I hate the fact that their large size is a 12 or something! What is with that?!?!
http://www.365fashionrehab.com 365 Fashion Rehab

Great post. Loved ABSOLUTELY everything you wrote. I enjoy the idea of the promotebadbodyimages less t-shirt. Hope you sell a lot. Love, A
http://halfseriousfopperies.blogspot.com Helen

I can’t imagine anyone wanting to wear that! Unless maybe a slighter bigger girl with enough sass and sense of irony, but even then it’d be lost on most people.
Sort of reminds me of those ‘I beat anorexia’ shirts that are only sold in big sizes.
http://alamodest.com/?p=1061 Links à la Mode: Fashion Blogger’s Delight | a la Modest

[...] Return to Sender: A Fat Girl’s Letters to the World – Urban Outfitters: Eat Less. Actually, just Shut up. [...]
http://lovelustandpixiedust.blogspot.com Becky

Having a bit of excess chubb myself, I’d totally buy that (cheaper, of course) purely for the irony factor.
.-= Becky´s last blog ..Mini-Break =-.
http://www.glossaryzine.blogspot.com Lauren

That shirt makes me sad. Bad call Urban Outfitters.
Nathalie

I remember seeing that shirt in the online store recently and predicting that they weren’t going to pull it. I’m just confused. I’m assuming they are being ironic with it, but the choice of words are so strange. Why “eat less”? Maybe the designer decided that it doesn’t sound as harsh as “lose weight” or “stop being fat”. Why not “be healthy”? I see that it could be funny in and inside joke kind of way, but the context here is way off. It really was a bad call.
http://blog.brooklynposh.com roni

I think you guys read way too deep into it. I’ve seen plenty of skinny people who can throw back 4 big macs and plenty of fat people that couldn’t. You have this idea that eating less equates to weight gain which it really doesn’t. That’s simplistic. Weight and size are deeper than just caloric intake. I’m pretty sure you knew that. If you want to write about weight issues that’s fine, write about them. Just don’t use unrelated shit as a clutch to vent.

It’s a bad shirt, you’re absolutely right. But you’re definitely reaching 100% with this one.

Your eat more t-shirt leaves just as bad a taste in my mouth as theirs. How about a love thyself shirt?

BLNT,
roni
http://blog.brooklynposh.com roni

you could’ve used the “cigarette case” as a card holder, wallet, jewelry pouch etc.
.-= roni´s last blog ..Han Cholo =-.
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[...] Return to Sender: A Fat Girl’s Letters to the World – Urban Outfitters: Eat Less. Actually, just Shut up. [...]
Maddie

I totally agree!
Miranda K

This shirt is completly right!! Being a skinny girl all my life (only 100lbs) i am glad to see a shirt that says it all out in opened. There is way to much obesity in the world and maybe having this shirt will make a fat person feel confronted and make them stop eating so much. I just think alot of bigger people have no self control over what they eat.
Jamiec1993

I would wear the urban outfitters shirt…

if i was ready to go for a jog… or I would just put it on and look in the mirror, then my appetite would go away.

it’s ads like these and skinny models that make girls feel like they have to be skinny to be pretty.

Who said skinny was attractive?

I say… more cushion for the pushin’. I’m about to go iron myself this shirt.
Atasmom

You have waay too much time on your hands and contentions in your heart. Is the “Don’t super size me” ad campaign also “anti-fat”. You read way to much into this, we have larger portions that most countries, you know~Geez~