The Horrors of Brandy Melville

 

In recent years Brandy Melville has been criticized for promoting a very distinct idea of what young girls' bodies should look like. Its "one size" clothing really only fits small, thin bodies, which can make many young women feel left out or not good enough. This can be seen as body policing, meaning it ultimately sends the message that only certain bodies are acceptable or desirable. The brand sells the image of the "trendy, effortless girl," but that image is chosen for a reason and excludes many different body types. My best friend Anna used to work at Brandy Melville, and her experience made this even more clear. She felt like the employees were expected to fit the brand's ideal look, almost like they were part of the advertising. She mentioned that the hiring and styling of the manikins seemed to favor girls who matched the same skinny, trendy aesthetic. This made me realize that this brand doesn't just sell clothes, it sells a specific lifestyle and type of femininity. I feel like instead of praising different body types and personalities, it creates a pressure and a kind of need for girls to change themselves to fit a certain ideal.