Abercrombie and Fitch has always been notorious for taking their fashion wear to the extreme. Whether it’s from barely there jean shorts to their miniature tops to their risqué skirts. Recently, Abercrombie kids may have crossed the line when they came out with the summer 2011 swimwear. The collection featured the “Ashley” push up triangle.
Abercrombie kids usually reaches out to kids from age 7-14. At this age, girls don’t really have much to “push up”. Even if they did, they are far too young to be flaunting their assets. Abercrombie is sending out the wrong message to these adolescent girls. They are telling them it is okay to show off their skin and curves, but it is not! These young girls need to be taught to respect their bodies and not feel pressured to flaunt what they have.
By selling these suits, our society is already starting to degrade these girls, even at such a young age. Push up swimwear and bras are meant for women to enhance what they are and this usually draws attention from others. This sort of attention is not appropriate for these young girls. We need to encourage these girls to feel comfortable in their own skin.
Due to all the controversy over this itsy bitsy bikini, Abercrombie later removed the swimsuit from their website. They agreed the suit is appropriate for girls 12 and older, but I still think that is far too young. We the consumers have the power to control the success of products. We should stop supporting companies that are sending off the wrong message to these young girls.
Appropriate for 12 years and older? that's ridiculous. Even at 12, there's no need to have a push up bra, much less a push up bikini top. Products like these are the reason that women in America have so many eating disorders and self-image concerns. Pushing stuff like bush up bras on girls as young as 12 makes them feel the need to be perfect. At 12 years of age, girls should be gossiping in middle school, not worrying about looking good in a bikini. Society gives girls these unrealistic expectations and then we wonder why our youth is so troubled?
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