May 27, 2008
Who, What, Wear: UO vs. AA
Photo by Stephanie Fysh from the Torontoist Flickr Pool.
All along Queen Street West, consciously kitschy cuckoo clocks are ticking down to tomorrow's grand opening of Toronto's sophomore Urban Outfitters. Just west of Spadina, but still east of cool, the kaleidoscopic shop takes up residence on the far end of what is fast becoming the strip mall stretch of Queen.
Little problem: that block, and the accompanying teenage wasteland demographic, has been ruled by American Apparel since August 2004. One, two, three, four years of unchallenged spandexocracy? We declare a turf war. Before you take sides—AA or UO—take our test!
1. What's always in your makeup bag?
a) Urban Decay glitter eyeliner (a la Cory Kennedy, natch) and a teasing comb.
b) Face powder. Wait. Makeup?
2. Last book you read?
a) NYLON.
b) VICE.
3. No. Book. What was the last actual book you read?
a) STREET: The NYLON Guide to Global Style.
b) The Bible, ironically.
4. Springtime! What do you ride?
a) A superawesome vintage cruiser, of course! Okay, fine, vintage-inspired.
b) What don't I ride?
Results after the jump!
If you answered mostly As... "is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?" It's a fauxhemian rhapsody for you, dear Urbanite. Lace up and sneak into the preview party tomorrow evening: we hear there will be cupcakes, and sweeter still, deals galore on the massive sale rack. If you miss that, the new Outfitters opens its doors to the hordes Thursday morning at 10 a.m.
If you answered mostly Bs? Keep flying that American flag. And the competition down the street? Let it slide. We all know nothing sticks to silver lamé, anyway.
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Urban Outfitters has a long history of ripping off artist's work to make t-shirts from their designs. I stopped shopping there for that reason alone.
Also, UO is owned by a scary Republican who keeps hidden to avoid turning kids off the stores. I only read that a few days ago, couldn't believe it.
From Wikipedia (not where I read it first):
What does it mean if I answered C, none of the above, for all of these? I'm not 15?
That's also the first time I've seen a Werner truck in Toronto. I'm still considering if that's significant in any way.
this article is totally unnecessary and not even funny enough to make up for that fact. this is the kind of writing style i wish would die.
What's ironic about reading the Bible? It's not a book? I'm confused.
trek: is he scary cause he's a republican, or for some other reason?
agreed re: counterfeiting. i'd also never buy a graphic shirt (or graphic anything) from urban in case it's stolen from a struggling graf artist in brooklyn. however, i have not the moral fortitude to resist that sale rack...
n0wak: yes.
oskar: oh, christ. it was all in fun. go back to your garbage can.
gloria: ironic because the american apparel lifestyle is antithetical to a biblical one. the original aa kids probably railed coke off bibles and used the paper to roll joints afterward.
get it now?
Being a Republican isn't scary enough?
haha. but no, i don't think so. not all republicans are bushwhacked. easy to forget that, these days.
Oh, I see. I guess I was confused because I tend to associate AA with light-hearted, clean-living hipsters (mostly thanks to how many awesome webcomic shirts are printed on them).
Plus because the Bible is antithetical to pretty much every lifestyle.
"the Bible is antithetical to pretty much every lifestyle."
HA. comments are closed, kids. can't beat that.
Anyone else foresee those giant wooden doors being propped open all summer with the a/c running on full inside?