A few Rants ago I proclaimed this site as “Low Carb” which sort of went off its track into a blurb about why average isn’t the bodily “norm” for people in the US. Basically, the whole point of it was to point out the following: since magazine models are airbrushed beyond belief and act-ors/-resses are made over for many hours before appearing on a screen, wouldn’t it make sense to expect normal people to not look like them? In fact, I don’t expect those people to look like that in reality! At least most of them – some might, but a very small number of them. I would hope that the “norm” would be more average, and to that end, I applaud a particular store that I found in my local mall.
First things first. Abercrombie is the devil’s spawn and their sizing is completely off. Their models should be shown in a two-picture format: before and after the eating disorder that the company inflicted on them to fit into their clothing. Evil, evil store.
And before I go on, let me also say that I also believe that the American youth is overall too fat for their good. They are heading in the other extreme, which has been promoted all their lives by fast or fatty food and low exercise. Mighty Kids and Big Kids meals? Enough said.
Both groups are polar opposites, the moderately obese and the “stick” people. Between these extremes is a shrinking group of people that either want to be the stick, and would do anything for it, or the “I’ll never be a stick, so I’ll eat everything in site and be happily obese” people. Am I oversimplifying this? Of course, but that’s what extremes are there for. The problem is that the space between the extremes is growing instead of shrinking.
Simply put, I believe that the majority of people should fit into this middle ground and be happy that they’re there. I find that the majority of people that are in this group are constantly trying to get out of it and either find themselves in stick-figure land or, slide into obesity which is often caused by failure to transform into a stick. Both of these extreme groups are unhealthy to be in, obviously, yet people work hard to get in either camp… go figure.
All of this leads to a store in my local mall. I was mindlessly wandering past a number of stores the other day, while gazing at the windows as I walked by. Abercrombie had their typical manikin with eight differently colored size-0 t-shirts, in their display window. EBX had a cut out of a Halo character. I wasn’t looking for anything particular, so I just continued to wander around. And then there was an ass in my face. I stopped and looked to see where in the mall I was: I had landed in front of Against All Odds (AAO).
I’m not sure what the demographic for AAO is, or if I would ever shop there as I’m in a don’t-buy-new-clothes-until-I-wear-everything-I-still-own-one-time funk (and that could take the rest of the year), but I have to admit that they had one of the better displays that I’ve seen recently. They had six manikins out front, all of them only from the waist down, they were all turned with the bum facing the mall. All of them also had a reasonable sized ass packed into the jeans and pants that they were promoting. There wasn’t a spare tire packed in there; just enough junk in the trunk to help show that normal people do have an ass and that showing it off isn’t [always] a bad thing. I salute them for this: job well done.
Where do I fit into all this? Well, I’m somewhere smack dab in the middle of this average group and I work every day to stay in it. It’s been about three years since I started exercising every morning – except Sundays – and it’s the only thing that keeps my weight where I want it to be: average. If I sat on my ass more, I would be popping out of my 501’s again, and I refuse to have that. In fact, I’m probably in the best shape that I’ve ever been in, and guess what: it only gets me to the place of “average”. I won’t be running any marathons or signing up for any extreme sports; I’m just healthier than I used to be and that’s more than enough for me.
And if there was any doubts as to whether I’ve cracked, this might be misconstrued to prove that I have lost my mind: I’m promoting exercise to other people, using my own exercising experiences as an example that it can help. To the people that have known me over the years… they’ll refuse to believe this and probably find that this is completely impossible, yet it is the reality that I’m living.
If I start promoting smoking, some one needs to lock me in a closet for no less than fourteen days, because I’ve been replaced by some nefarious aliens and and they might need to be coaxed out over time.
Don’t worry, the pod people haven’t been seen in years. You are reasonably safe.
I, too, started exercising to stay in the average group. Over time I found that it was easy to take it further…
I had started by changing my diet. I started eating foods with less sugars and preservatives (read: No McDonalds, Burger King, etc) and moved away from sodas/pops and such to water. I dropped about 70lbs in a half-year just from that. That was enough to get me in the average group.
Then I started doing crunches every morning to even things out. My weight didn’t change but everyone made remarks about my appearance and dropping most of my spare tire.
Now I bike to/from work a few times a month (about 8 miles) and I find myself slipping towards the more fit end of the average group.
Maybe I am lucky. I would like to think that most people can enjoy a similar experience. Props on your success and dedication.
Oh, and I just found out that I’ll be moving in August-ish. Time to get rid of my old place of 5 years now and get a house.
i wish against all odds had a web site i’m trying to find a certain type of jeans and i ‘m trying to see if they carry them so please get a web page
I would like to know what new clothings you have because i like to be in style
i think that Against All Odds clothing store in one of the best clothes stores ever opened its my favorite store and since i only wear name brand clothes i can get up-to-date good name brands at a low price
against all offs web sites
aao-usa.com
That website does not do a lot. It does not even show some merchandise of theirs.
against all odds sucks. they mad fuckin expensive and they sell fake shit there
UM OKAY ABERCROMBIE IS LIKE THE BEST STORE EVER! THE CLOTHING IS SOOO CUTE. AGAINST ALL ODDS HAS LIKE THAT GHETTO CRAP EXCEPT FOR LACOSTE WHICH I BET IS FAKE ANYWAYS. SO WHATEVER. EVERYONE’S ENTITLED TO THERE OWN OPINION AND THIS IS MINE AND THAT’S YOURS SO WHATEVER!!
Um, OK, see, the point is that 0.5% of the fatty assed population SHOULD be wearing Abercrombie clothing… The other 15% of the people that shop there do so b/c they think they look like the models in the store while their fat sticks out over their too tight pants. They look dumb. Consequently Abercrombie clothing sucks.
Against All Odds seems to make clothing that is more practical, with regards to size. I don’t particularly like the style, but that’s not the point. Old Navy has more sensable sizes; that is more my style.
You’re entitled to your opinion – yer just wrong :)
my comment is that everyone is entitled to choose what store to shop in. Some like against all odds and some dont. I am a plus size woman who likes their clothes but can’t buy anything from there because they only go up to a size thirteen and xxl shirts fit like l shirts. Even thought this is the case i still shop there for my relatives who shop there because you can find great deals. Items that normally cost 50 and 70 bucks you can find on sale for between 9 and 30 buxcks. I just bought a gift for my sis from there that was marked down from 80 to 40 so i am happy about that. I love old navy and to tell you the truth I am a bargain shopper so Ambercrombie is nowhere in my budget plus the clothes do not fit my taste. The point is, regardless what everyones taste is, Ambercrombie, Against all odds, old navy, and any other clothes store out there will still make a profit. Why? because there is a store for everyone.
i love against all odds i shop there alot i love the slection of miskeen and omavi jeans and also pepe jeans
Against all odds is a “DAY CLUB” everyone loves it and everyone hates them… Get Over IT! The clothes is hot,, u cant front! N of course someone tha wears ab..crumy n fitch. LOL
cant fit alot of the clothes ther because, fortunatly they are greatly shaped for more Booty-Delicious females..
1 Luv!
BaBe*
lol @ against all odds sells fake clothes… youre an idiot lmao
who f-ing cares …… and how can clothes be fake jack ass????? hmmm they cant be but the name can and who cares if your wearin a pair of jeans that just looks like some othe kind….they f-ing look the same , whos gonna be all up in your shit to see that your jeans aint name brand…prolly no one you fool , soooo keep ya abercrombie and your pepe jeans who has to buy it for you lil ghetto hoes anyway either ya partents or that guy whos back seat you just got out of…….yeah thats what i thought
well everybody have similar opinions and i think everybody is right there’s people that likes the thuggish side and there’s others that like to dress prep pie,nerdie and slutty. so that’s what make you unique because we all are different in some aspect.ambercrambie clothes are too small for some and against all odds clothes are too big for some people.it so easy for someone to stereotype like you see more whites killing and kidnapping there own and blacks selling drugs. there know perfect ties in any race we all screw one way or another. so look yourself in the mirror before judging.
Omg i love against all odds. They have the best clothes in ther and i actually just bought a baby phat tub top in there. Wow but the bad side to that is that they are a very exspensive store and the need to cut down a bit…… but its also true cause they sell names brand clothes …..holla …..lol
xox ariana xox
against all odds is the shit.point blank.
Bitch ass who eva wrote that Abercrombie sucks SUCKS dick
Contrary to popular belife Abercrombie and Fitch runs a little bigger than most stores. Although they do only carry up to a size 12, most people who wear like 1’s or 2’s would wear zero’s there.
I know, believe me I work there. And yes I am a size 00. so what.
Against All Odds is a pretty cool store…and they do NOT sell fake Lacoste to the dumb broad who said that previously….I believe that people who wear A & F moreover have no sense of personal style. Everything matches there…so is it really hard to put an outfit together when EVERYTHING matches?
Wus good ur body. I think Against all odds is bangin feel me but i like A & F and Hollister because their clothes fit nice and tight, and if u kno how to keep ur size fit, u will b able to fit them. U cant b madd at everybody else cause u aint fly. Get over it, both stores is straight if u wanna look like a ghetto chik or dude one day go to against all odds, if u wanna go prep wit the polos and shyt go to A&F. I prfer Hollister doh.
Im outy
HEY I WORK FOR AAO AND AS FAR AS I KNOW ALL THE CLOTHES ARE AUTHENTIC!! THE MALLS WILL NOT ALLOW IT ANY OTHER WAY! (PLUS ITS AGAINST THE LAW), BUT IF YOU WANT FAKE SHIT GO TO YOUR LOCAL MOM AND POP STORE IN SOME DOWNTOWN AREA AND I BET THEY WOULD BE MORE THEN HAPPY TO TAKE YOUR MONEY AND SELL YOU SOME FAKE SHIT!!! SO DONT GET IT TWISTED ITS AAO U-KNOW!!!!
against-all-odds is off the hook. they need to get against-all-odds down here in georgia cause they don’t know about it. i gotta wait until i go to jersey every summer to go. that ain’t right.
OK? AGAINST ALL ODDS TOTALLY WOULD NOT SELL FAKE CLOTHING. HOW THE HELL WOULD A STORE SELL FAKE CLOTHING? HELLOOOO, UR ASS WOULD GET SUED.. PEOPLE MIGHT MISTAKE THE MARC ECKO RHINO SIGN ON SOME OF THE POLOS BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE THE CROCODILE SIGN ON THE LACOSTE SHIRTS. YEAH ITS KIND OF THE SAME. BUT NONE OF THE CLOTHES ARE FAKE. MALLS DON’T SELL FAKES. GET IT RIGHT DUMBASS. ABERCROMBIE///AAO/ WHO CARES? ITS JUST CLOTHING. SOME MIGHT PREFER THIS SOME MIGHT PREFER THAT. JUST STICK TO YOUR OWN OPINION BUT KNOW THE FACTS
Does against all odds have a website? I dont have one around me, but I have seen them at malls in NY.
Inspite of myself, I found a reference via MSN Search:
http://www.aao-usa.com/
i aggree wit against all odds cuz i am ghetto n abercrombie is a shitty place!!!!…..lol
ii love against all odds ii got dat pr booty so ii gotta go there to get mii jeanz cuz ii cant get mii ass in dose white grl abrecombie & hollister jeanz lmao
ey bra…against all oddz shit go dummy slappin out here in tha flatz but if ur lookin for bapez n shit…dey aint even got it…but i do go there for girbauds and shit liyk dat
who cares?
YEAH i`M WiT WH0EVA SED DAT AB0UT All DAT ABERCR0MBiE SHiT. All DEM PREPSZ BE R0kiN DAT ShieT WAY T00 MUCH. N0W ERY0NE BE liKE 000HHH WHERE`D Y0OH GET DAT FRUM?! H0lliSTER. EW. THEY GO THERE TA FiND A CERTAiN SHiRT AND WHEN DEY AiN`T G0T iT ; lEMME l0SE 60 POUNDS JUST TA FiT iN THiS. THAT SHieT`S RiDiCUl0US. i liKE AGAiNST All 0DDS. AND DEY NEEDA WEBSiE.
against all odds is the shitzzz they got all the name brands nothing fake there you can believe that. there cloths are off the hook i wouldnt shop no where else except for dr. jays yeah i know what im talken about im all about fashion you can believe dat !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
whats the website url for against all odds?
THE WEB SITE IS AAO-USA.COM
THAT STORE IS THE SHIT!!!!! I JUST WISH THEY HAD SOME LIMITTED ADDITION NIKES!
where do they sell bape,bbc,ice cream hoodies for girls all that i’ve seen is the ones for guys
That’s shit. Abercrombie rocks an it’s not our fault we don’t overeat it’s all the fat ass people in the world’s fault. And AAO (as you affectionately referred to it as) is ghetto and the 2 are in completely different leagues
Yeah. One is geared for people made of sticks and the other is geared for real people. Thanks for pointing that out.
No Randy one is geared for people who are in shape,look great and have a sense of style and one is geared towards people who have no sense of style, not so great looking and dirty. Cassie is right, A&F kicks ass!
You’re entitled to your opinion.
You’re just wrong.
YO FUREAL AAO IS TIGHT I BE ROCKIN THAT EVERYDAY!! I ACTUALL JUS WENT THUR TODAY! AND
A & F IS WACK… PREP
YO!….YA HEARD AGAINST ALL ODDS IS OPENING A STORE IN VIRGINIA! THEY’RE OPENING AT THE POTOMAC MILLS MALL FRIDAY MARCH 23RD. I HEARD THE WEEKEND IS JAM PACKED WITH COOL SHIT! LIKE THE WIZARD CHEERLEADERS , REDMAN IS DOING A SIGNING AND MISKEEN ORIGINALS IS HAVING 1 OF THEIR ARTIST DO A LIVE PAINTING EVENT. THE GRAND OPENING IS GOING TO BE OFF THE HOOK!OH YEA THEY ARE ALSO GOING TO HAVE THE ILLEST GEAR AROUND.. SO DONT GET IT TWISTED ITS AAO U KNOW!!!!!!!!!!
http://WWW.MYSPACE.COM/AAOUKNOW
i love both store equally.. there both awesome but i luv hollister better cuz im a prep.. i think i jus depends on ur style and how u are..
i love shopping aao love missasiab
DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT KiND OF MUSiC THEY PLAY AT AAO?
THAT MUSiC iS BANGiNG…
SO iF U DO KNOW LET ME KNOW…
THNX…
they play hiphop/rap music in their sometimes they have mixtapes available. Some of their clothes are fake i know for a fact that tgier new era caps are fake because ive seen their packaging that they ship in the box says made in china when new era caps are made in the usa
Hey Alonzo I hate to correct you but New Era manufactures 90% of their entire product over seas. They use to do everything in the USA until they got too big and couldn�t keep up with domestic orders. So for your information be careful what you say and get your facts straight before you make asinine comments like that!
It’s AAO U KNOW!!!
I work for AAO and im very proud ive been there since the store first opened in my mall and first of all they dont sell fake clothes. Its a mall duh! but who ever shops at source of new york, eblens than watch out they sell fake clothes. Also I like to shop in A& Fitch, Hollister,AAO they all have great clothes so who cares… I love it. I like to dress different everyday either preppy, gettho, heels its me im different…..( most of the time in heels) :)
the clothes there is my life
This is some funny shit right here!!! I’ve been working for AAO for years and I must say that the stores are HoT!! AAO has something for everybody, whether you want expensive shit, cheap shit, high quality and low quality. We try to cater to everybody, but you know that you can’t please everybody. I’m the DJ for the company and I play hip hop, r&b, club, house, reggae, reggaeton, oldschool, and whatever else is requested. Bottom line, AAO is doin’ it and we took the retail game to the next level. How many retail store do you see customers dancing and having fun? How many retailers have celebrities shouting thier store? How many retailers do you see that have sweepstakes and send customers to L.A or Hollywood or NYC? We do it BIG!! Don’t Hate on AAO.
I love AAO.Everytime I walk into either abercrombie or hollister or aeropostale EVERYTHING LOOKS THE SAME. Shit I walked into Abercrombie yesterday and first of all its fuckin dark as hell in that store, second its freakin expensive and third everything its either blue, white, or pink, and occasionally beige. Its nothing special! In AAO you can mix and match your clothes. Aeropostale has similar jackets and shirts. All their jackets have fur inside. Whoopee How exciting! And hollister is just plain stupid. If Im going for the preppy look I’d rather go to forever 21 or charolette russe. AAO sells everything from shoes to belts to jewelry. Anyone from any race can walk in there and buy something. And its not ghetto! Its called hip-hop and urban. Why does have to be ghetto just cause its a mainly hip-hop store? AAO rocks.
And they have the best music. So abercrombie fans keep going there to buy more clone-ish clothes. AAO definately doesnt need yall.
I do agree that some people should start eating more healthy but if your comfy as you are then keep going. just remember that its you whos responsible for any health problems