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Friday March 25th, 2011

American Apparel “Shake Down” Continues: Internet Smear Campaign Launches Against Dov Charney’s Accusers

by Leah Chernikoff and Lauren Sherman

In the last month, five former American Apparel employees have come forward claiming sexual harassment against the company’s founder Dov Charney. 20-year-old Irene Morales filed suit in early March, seeking $260 million in damages. On Wednesday, the New York Times reported that a second sexual harassment suit was being brought against Charney on behalf of four former American Apparel employees: Kimbra Lo, Alyssa Ferguson, Marissa Wilson and Tesa Lubans-Dehaven. The same lawyer, Eric Baum, is representing all five girls in both suits.

Today we spoke to a source who knows Lo, as well as several of the other women. According the source, Lo worked for the company for seven months and left in May 2010. The source calls these group of women “estranged groupies” who are using this as a “way to get rich quick. They all know Dov, whether platonically, or not. Or in the case of Irene, she was practically stalking him.” When asked why these women might want to do such a thing, the source said. “It’s a way to get rich quick. Kimbra has a history of getting involved with high profile men, and this is her cash-out.”

Another source remarked, “All made threats of some sort not only to Charney but to other American Apparel employees like the photographers, etc. that if they didn’t get more money and attention, they would go public with a fake lawsuit. As of now, they have no evidence. This is a civil matter, not a criminal case, which is what people don’t understand. They won’t get a dime.”

It seems other folks are out to leak their own “smoking gun” photos and bits of gossip. We’ve been bombarded by anonymous tipsters leaking information about Kimbra Lo’s personal life and now extremely NSFW emails alleged to be from Irene Morales to to Dov Charney have appeared on two blogs–kimbralo.blogspot.com and alyssaferguson.blogspot.com. More photos of Lo with Olivier Zahm are featured on these blogs, as well as Lo’s alleged spread for hipster porn mag Jacques. Gawker received similar tips, including additional emails alleged to be from Morales to Charney, one of which is a list of American Apparel birthday items she wants, dangling this as bait: “do it for all those delicious blowjobs I would give you, and how I would lick your little asshole clean!!! And how I would love to do it again when I see you!”

Dov Charney Accuser Kimbra Lo is Apparently Olivier Zahm’s Ex-Girlfriend

by Lauren Sherman

While Dov Charney’s latest accuser, Kimbra Lo, was making her case on this morning’s Today Show, our Inboxes were bombarded with rumors of her alleged past. Along with rumors that she at one point dated Olivier Zahm–she appears on his Purple Diary here, here, and here–she has also posed for upscale erotic magazine Jacques. Fashionista has obtained the images, but we’re not running them until we are granted permission from the magazine.

Fashion News Roundup

Fashion News Roundup: Dov Charney’s Accuser Speaks Out on Today, R.J. Cutler’s Latest Project, and Hervé Léger Thinks Models Are “Too skinny, Too sad”

by Leah Chernikoff

Dov Charney’s Accuser Speaks Out: Kimbra Lo, the second former American Apparel employee to file suit against founder Dov Charney for sexual harassment, went on the Today show this morning. Lo told Ann Curry Charney attacked her after she showed up at his house to discuss photography and modeling opportunities. “I didn’t feel like there was a way for me to leave safely..I was terrified,” she said. American Apparel has issued a statement saying they have love letters from Lo to Charney after she left American Apparel and that they have “‘smoking gun’ photographs undermining her false accusations of unwelcome harassment.” {The Cut}

The September Issue Director’s New Fashion Project: R.J. Cutler is one of the executive producers behind a new show for HBO called Spring/Fall starring Tea Leoni. It’s a half hour comedy, “set in New York City against the backdrop of the fashion world and stars Leoni as half of a dysfunctional partnership between two women with different approaches to career, family and friendship.” {Deadline}

A Carine-Inspired Editorial: Fashion Indie unearthed this editorial from Polish mag Fashion which takes aim at Carine Roitfeld et al. Bonus: a cardboard cut out of Tom Ford features prominently. {Fashion Indie}

Fashion News Roundup

Fashion News Roundup: American Apparel’s CEO is Sued Again, Anna Dello Russo Says Its OK to Look Like a Christmas Tree, and Men are Getting More Fashionable

by Sarah Ferguson

Dov Charney Strikes Again: For the second time this month, Charney, American Apparel’s CEO, is being sued for sexual harassment. This time, a 19 year old former employee claims that she went to his home to discuss future job opportunities and Charney undressed her then forced her to perform sexual acts. Charney, of course, denies the claims. {NY Times}

Kate and Naomi Set the Record Straight: A new website allows celebrities to correct false information written about them in the press called ICorrect. Kate Moss writes that any Twitter of Facebook account bearing her name are imposters and Naomi Campbell explains a controversial comment she made about the location of the 2018 World Cup. Other participants on the site include Sienna Miller and Tommy Hilfiger. {Vogue UK}

For Anna Dello Russo, Fashion Week is Like the Olympic Games: In a video interview on CNN, the Vogue Nippon editor talks about her love of Dolce & Gabbana and Lady Gaga, and admits that she changes outfits three times per day. Of her eccentric wardrobe choices, Russo says “Sometimes I look like a Christmas tree. But it’s okay!” {CNN}

American Apparel’s Dov Charney Accused of Using Teenage Employee As Sex Slave

by Leah Chernikoff

American Apparel founder Dov Charney is being accused of keeping a teenage employee captive and forcing her to perform sex acts on him in a new suit filed last week in Brooklyn Supreme Court, the NY Daily News is reporting.

The plaintiff, Irene Morales, now 20, began working for American Apparel when she was 17 as a salesperson at the brand’s Chelsea outpost. According to the suit, in April of 2008 when Morales was 18, Charney invited her over to his Manhattan apartment, greeted her in nothing but briefs, and “forced her to go down on her knees just inside the front door and perform fellatio upon him.” Then Charney reportedly forced Morales to perform the same act on the bed, “nearly suffocating her in the process.”

The horrifying accusations go on from there.

Campaigns

American Apparel is At It Again, Reveals Topless Ads for Swimwear

by Leah Chernikoff

Oh, American Apparel. You are such a tease. One minute your models are bearing all, the next they’re covered up. You give us a topless model on horseback, or a girl with her pubes showing through lace panties, and then a photo of founder Dov Charney’s childhood darkroom and a story about his struggle with dyslexia. Aw. You keep us on our toes! And we like that.

But what most folks seem to love (or love to hate) are American Apparel’s more provocative, more gratuitously naked ads, like this one. It fits nicely into the brand’s canon of provocative ads, which dates back to 1995.

Another important question: how does one wear this bathing suit without flashing everyone?

Check out the full ad, out today. Apparently there are many topless poses one can assume in this bathing suit.

The Business

In Fashion Biz News: American Apparel Continues to Tread on Thin Ice, J.Crew’s Investors Want More, More, More

by Sarah Ferguson

It was a big day for fashionable retailers.

First up: American Apparel. Yesterday was the controversial and struggling company’s last day to prove that they are in a good enough financial position to pay off their $125 million and growing debt.

Campaigns

American Apparel’s Most Provocative Ads from 1995 to the Present: An Evolution

by Leah Chernikoff

American Apparel’s ads have always been provocative but lately they’ve been grabbing headlines. Namely, the ad for sheer lace panties that showed the model’s pubic hair seemed to generate a lot of buzz. And then it seemed Dov Charney and crew did an about face–the next ad out showed none of the “t” and “a” that we’ve come to expect from American Apparel and instead featured some photos of founder Dov Charney‘s childhood darkroom and a story about his struggle with dyslexia.

When we asked which American Apparel you preferred–modest and personal or unabashedly naked and provocative–the response was clearly in favor of American Apparel’s porn-ier side. Or as one commenter wrote, “I don’t really care about this guy’s childhood, just give me more pubes…”

So we listened and we’re giving you what you want. A look back at American Apparel’s most provocative ads through the years. Unsurprisingly, last month wasn’t the first time the hipster retailer released an ad showing pubic hair.

Exclusive: American Apparel’s Newest Ad Features No Pubes; Features Nobody At All

by Leah Chernikoff

Based on the ads we’ve seen from American Apparel in the new year, it seemed it was fair to say the struggling hipster retailer was returning to its racy roots–each new ad more shocking and porn-y than the previous one. To wit: pantless models climbing trees, topless models painting their nails or riding a horse (like the one at right), and one model whose pubic hair shows through her white lace panties that got everyone else’s panties in a bunch.

The ads are unquestionably provocative and we questioned whether the near-bankrupt retailer was returning to their ’70s porn-esque advertising roots after a streak of more benign and conservative ads–including illustrated ones and one featuring founder Dov Charney working on his laptop–in an effort to drive up sales.

But a new ad set to run in an upcoming issue of VICE flies in the face of that theory. It features, well, no one. No partially nude barely legal college student, no Dov Charney, no one.

Check it out.

Can Pubes Save American Apparel From Bankruptcy? The Hipster Retailer Backs Away From More Conservative Advertising

by Leah Chernikoff

Remember when it seemed like American Apparel was toning down their notoriously porn-y ads? There was that ad that featured Dov Charney working on his laptop in bed flanked by his creative directors. Then there were those illustrated ads, that showed frontal nudity and pubes galore, but the girls were, you know, CARTOONS. We figured Read more →

Fashion News Roundup

Fashion News Roundup: Posh is Pregs, Kate Middleton Gets Copyright Protected and American Apparel Ads Get NSFW Again

by Leah Chernikoff

American Apparel Gets All NSFW Again: Just when you thought American Apparel was toning down its racy ads, featuring Dov and his creative team hard at work and fully clothed, or using illustrations of naked girls instead of actual naked co-eds, there is this series of NSFW ads. Look! College girls climbing trees with no pants on (who doesn’t do that in college!?) and painting their nails topless in a room full of mannequins. That’s not creepy at all. {Copyranter}

Fashion People are Having Babies: Victoria and David Beckham have confirmed they’re expecting a fourth child sometime this summer (maybe she’ll finally get a girl to dress up!), Miranda Kerr gave birth to her first child with husband Orlando Bloom and Marion Cotillard is pregnant with her first child with partner Guillaume Canet. Fertile times for fashiony folk! {People, x17, and People}

Kate Middleton Gets Branded: Using Kate Middleton’s name to endorse a product might now be a sue-able offense, so say “royal aids and legal experts.” {Vogue UK}

New American Apparel Ads: Finally, Dov Charney Can Show Pubes

by Leah Chernikoff

Just when you thought Dov Charney was toning things down while his empire teetered on the edge of bankruptcy (his last ads showed him at hard at work on his laptop, fully clothed, with his two creative directors–albeit in bed), new print ads that appeared in the Village Voice and Vice show American Apparel models fully nude, bush included.

Of course, American Apparel’s latest ads don’t feature college freshmen as models. They’re illustrated. These ads mark a dramatic shift in the brand’s advertising, which has relied, since its inception, on ’70s-style Polaroid porn shots of lamé-clad real women in suggestive poses. The ads are still unmistakably American Apparel–’70s vibe, naked girls, suggestively posed, etc.,–but to go from using real models, a hallmark of the American Apparel brand, to illustrated ads might be a sign that the brand is investing in serious cost cutting measures, as Copyranter points out.

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