It's about time someone showed a mannequin that resembled a sliver of the natural female form, pubic hair highlighted.
Second wave feminists fighting for gender equality rejected the notion that women were only objects of sexual desire by embracing natural hair growth as a stand against commercialized beauty. Albeit for shock value, American Apparel, well-known for its '70s revival fashion like high-waisted leggings and halter tops, took on the decade's full frontal. According to Gothamist, mannequins in a downtown New York American Apparel window are now sporting pubic hair (opens in new tab), which is visible around and through the underwear that they are wearing. We sent our photographer, Kathryn Wirsing, to get some up close and personal pics.
We've been seeing a reemergence of natural pubic hair recently. From dotting the pages of magazines to Gwyneth Paltrow's confession about her upkeep to Ellen Degeneres (opens in new tab), the look has still been controversial for some. This past October, Instagram banned the account of a 21-year-old photographer Petra Collins (photo above) because she posted a pic of hair creeping over the underwear line.
While American Apparel is known for its gimmicky methods (a sales associate at the store location said the display was for "eyeballs" via telephone) and offensive ad campaigns (see: Dov Charney antics (opens in new tab)), the mannequins in its windows are a small step in showing the natural female form in a culture that equates shaving and bareness with beauty.
Update: American Apparel provided this response to ELLE (opens in new tab):
"American Apparel is a company that celebrates natural beauty, and the Lower East Side Valentine's Day window continues that celebration," a rep told us. "We created it to invite passerbys to explore the idea of what is 'sexy' and consider their comfort with the natural female form. This is the same idea behind our advertisements which avoid many of the photoshopped and airbrushed standards of the fashion industry. So far we have received positive feedback from those that have commented and we're looking forward to hearing more points of view."
-
A Celebrity Colorist Explains Why You Should Always Wash Your Hair After Coloring ItEvery color needs a good cleanse.
-
Lizzo's Game-Changing Eyebrow Hack Is About to Revamp Your Makeup Routine
She also gave us a peek inside her makeup bag.
-
This Is the Only Dry Shampoo That Makes My Hair Feel Clean—Not Crunchy
Bonus: It’s only $8 per bottle.
-
The Making of Ariana DeBose's Custom Versace Gown
"When I first saw it, I was left speechless."
-
What I Wear to Work: Silvia and Sofia Tcherassi
"Waking up early in the morning is a must."
-
What I Wear to Work: Cynthia Rivas
For one of fashion's favorite skincare gurus, great skin is the ultimate accessory.
-
What Khloé Kardashian and Kris Jenner Wear to Work
The powerhouse mom and daughter talk us through early morning wake-ups, pre-planning outfits, and dressing for confidence.
-
Fashion Test Drive: Bottega Veneta's Andiamo Bag
The bucket list bag for work or travel.
-
The 10 Best Slip Dresses of 2023
The humble slip dress could be the most versatile dress you own.
-
What I Wear to Work: Deborah Yager Fleming
The hotelier utilizes color coding to jumpstart her day.
-
What I Wear to Work: Rosh Mahtani
The London-based jewelry designer makes her pieces the focus of her outfits.
