Monday, December 16, 2013
Angry Letter Final Draft
91-224A
Waakea Place
Kapolei,
Hawaii, 96707
December
12, 2013
Brandy
Melville
280
Beachwalk, Suite 104
Honolulu,
Hawaii 96815
To
the Brandy Melville Management:
Because
of your laid back, chic style, Brandy Melville has made a major impact on
teenage fashion trends worldwide, and is still continuing to do so. I have been
a loyal customer since you've opened your Hawaii location a few years back, and
I think that it's safe to say that Brandy Melville is my favorite clothing
store. However a past experience has led me to see your store in a completely
different way.
During
your Black Friday sale, wristbands were passed out to avoid troubles that
occurred in the last year. When I received mine, the man who had been putting
the wristband on me said, "...most girls who shop here are very
slim." At first, it hadn't really bothered me, until I quickly looked over
to the other girls in line, and realized that the man was right. Like I said
before, Brandy Melville is a very popular trend, and like most trends, it
shapes the way we live. And because it is so popular, naturally, teenagers want
to be a part of the hype.
Unfortunately,
due to the "One Size Fits Most" plaques that surround your store, not
everyone can enjoy the items available. Although it may be convenient for
customers to not have to look for a specific size, not to mention that
producing only one size of clothing may save your company money, understand
that this is a form of discrimination, and it can offend people. The plaque
itself basically states that not everyone can fit the one size (aside from some
of the denim products) that you sell, and will create a standard for girls to
fit that one size, which may eventually lead to a health threatening issue.
I
also noticed that most, if not all, of your advertisements, feature thin girls
with flat stomachs and skeletal limbs. These characteristics are what are
considered to be the "perfect" body to most of our society today. And
what's better than to have these "perfect" girls to advertise your
products, to create an image that most teens idolize? However, with this image,
comes a plethora of issues, one of them being body dysmorphia. The average
American woman is considered to be a size 14, and considering the fact that
your store isn't the only one that advertises these rail thin girls wearing
your products, teens who merely want to be a part of the crowd are pressured
into having an eating disorder.
Although
your business isn't the only one who has a target audience, Brandy Melville is
a big name, and being able to change your sizing system will hopefully inspire
other brands to change theirs as well. For example, on your website, the sizing
chart provides an image of an extremely thin girl, once again, using the
perfect body image. But changing these standards will create a positive effect
on our society by creating a new image of a perfect body.
I
hope you don't take this offensively, as I am just trying to suggest a concept
that will not only benefit your business, but also the health of millions of
people who are being molded by the needs of society.
Thank
you for your consideration.
Hannah
Maestro
Monday, December 9, 2013
Risky Business Final Draft
Today, a staggering 48.2% of high school seniors have used illegal drugs, while 15% have abused prescription drugs. But today, drugs don't just come from drug dealers OR the medicine cabinet. Teens are turning to household items, such as glue and hand sanitizer, to get their fix.
As children grow into their teenage years, society's use of drugs leads them to question whether drugs are as bad as they seem, and teens today have a high chance of getting their hands on drugs with alternative, or homemade, drugs that are easily accessible. However, 80% of students report that their parents' expectations, concerns and warnings have influenced their thoughts of using illegal substances; parents who consistently remind their teens of the dangers of drugs are 42% less likely to use drugs. But that doesn't stop parents from having to worry about their teens using not only illegal drugs, but homemade drugs as well.
As children grow into their teenage years, society's use of drugs leads them to question whether drugs are as bad as they seem, and teens today have a high chance of getting their hands on drugs with alternative, or homemade, drugs that are easily accessible. However, 80% of students report that their parents' expectations, concerns and warnings have influenced their thoughts of using illegal substances; parents who consistently remind their teens of the dangers of drugs are 42% less likely to use drugs. But that doesn't stop parents from having to worry about their teens using not only illegal drugs, but homemade drugs as well.
"Many teens are getting dangerous highs from drugs easily found in stores or homes and replacing underage drinking with them," says Dr. Yael Varnado. For example, hand sanitizer, which may lead to hallucinations, extreme paranoia, violent behavior, and erratic heartbeats. Stress and peer pressure are just a few factors that may lead teens to ingest, inhale, or smoke, these otherwise legal substances.
While illegal drugs are still a danger to teens, parents now have to worry about the trending "designer drugs," from cough syrup to nutmeg. Processes of abusing these substances are only a click away. Recipes for homemade highs on the Internet have increased over the past decade, and tech-savvy teens, unbeknownst to their parents, are crowding these sites. Even though doctors have discovered the effect of some of these homemade drugs, they have yet to learn of other harmful substances teens are using, as well as their disturbing, sometimes fatal, consequences. These alternative drugs are very easy to reach, and even worse, parents may not know that their teens are using it, until it's too late.
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Angry Letter Rough Draft
To the Brandy Melville Management,
During your Black Friday sale, wristbands were passed out to avoid troubles that occurred in the last year. When I received mine, the man who had been putting the wristband on me said, "...most girls who shop here are very slim." At first, it hadn't really bothered me, until I quickly swept over the other girls in line, and realized that the man was right. Like I said before, Brandy Melville is a very popular trend, and like most trends, it shapes the way we live. And because it is so popular, naturally, teenagers want to be a part of the hype. Unfortunately, due to the "One Size Fits Most" plaques that surround your store, not everyone can enjoy the items available. The plaque itself basically states that not everyone can fit the one size (aside from some of the denim products) that you sell. Although it may be convenient to not have to look for a specific size, understand that this is a form of discrimination, and it can offend people. I noticed that most, if not all, of your advertisements, feature thin girls with flat stomachs and skeletal limbs. These characteristics are what is considered to be the "perfect" body to most of our society today. And what's better than to have these "perfect" girls to advertise your products, to create an image that most teens idolize? However, with this image, comes a plethora of issues, one of them being body dysmorphia. The average American woman is considered to be a size 14, and considering the fact that your store isn't the only one that advertises these rail thin girls wearing your products, teens who merely want to be a part of the crowd are pressured into having an eating disorder.
Although your business isn't the only one who has a target audience, Brandy Melville is a big name, and being able to change your sizing system will hopefully inspire other brands to change theirs as well. For example, on your website, the sizing chart provides an image of an extremely thin girl, once again, using the "perfect" body image. But changing these standards will create a positive effect on our society by creating a new image of a "perfect" body.
I hope you don't take this offensively, as I am just trying to suggest a concept that will not only benefit your business, but also the health of millions of people who are being molded by the needs of society.
Thank you for your consideration,
Hannah Maestro
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