Abercrombie Kids recently released their summer line which included padded swimsuits for seven to eight year old girls. Yes, you read correctly. PADDED SWIMSUITS FOR SEVEN TO EIGHT YEAR OLD GIRLS. And the padding is not thin. Apparently, it’s the same amount as Victoria’s Secret uses in their swimsuits, which, for the record, are for adults… or at least girls whose age is more than one digit.
I can just picture the designer having this miraculous breakthrough. “Why haven’t we thought of this before! Eight year olds must have swimsuits that make them look like they’re 28!” How could anyone think this is okay? Can you imagine seeing a second grader walking around with a padded bikini? She would look like an idiot. Rather, her parent would look like an idiot for buying it for her.
However, society hasn’t completely failed us. Many parents are disgusted by these swimsuits and are demanding the company to take them off the shelves. Newspapers, magazines, radio programs, television shows and blogs everywhere are discussing this travesty. Abercrombie, however, is not folding.
A similar crisis occurred last year when Abercrombie Kids introduced skinny jeans in their lines for such young kids. Parents, understandably, freaked out but that was nothing compared to their reaction to the swimsuits. No one could understand why such young kids needed such tight jeans. Many people defended Abercrombie saying that the skinny jeans were fashionable. I don’t think you can make the same argument for the padded swimsuits.
I definitely don’t expect Abercrombie to take the swimsuits off the market. Thinking from Abercrombie’s point of view, the swimsuits are probably a smart business move, which is a whole other problem. Young girls will definitely want the swimsuits because they will want to seem older and although many parents oppose the swimsuits, many more parents do not and will buy their children the swimsuits.
Kids will want to wear these swimsuits because the media tells them that that is what is cool. Society, friends, and boys all contribute to the girls’ desire to look older. So really, parents should not be so upset with Abercrombie. They are just capitalizing on society’s flaws. And really, if they didn’t do it one of their competitors probably would have.
I predict that Abercrombie will start a trend with these swimsuits. Soon enough American Eagle, Limited Too, and the Baby Gap will introduce padded swimsuits in their lines. I can’t wait to see toddlers being carried around with unusually placed baby fat, if you know what I mean.
While I don’t think I will ever approve of the swimsuits, I don’t think Abercrombie should be blamed…we should.
Final Say: Abercrombie Kids should remove padded swimsuites from shelves.
Allison • Jul 8, 2013 at 7:50 am
I and 13 and shop at abercrombie kids, and not once have I seen a 7 year old shopping there. The padding in there bathing suits are REMOVABLE. This is not such a big deal. I have also noticed they have a wide variety of bathing suits and there are some that are appropriate for a seven year old, if one shopped there. Also, the padding is NOT as thick as that in Victoria secret bikinis. I own 2 bikinis from there and am happy with my purchase. The models on the website are certainly older than seven or eight, they look like they are about 15 years old. And I think the bathing suits are completely age appropriate and are cute too! Also I as a 13 year old am very small and have trouble finding bikinis that fit me and are cute too, abercrombie kids bathingsuits are exacly what i was looking for! And skinny jeans, I find that rather funny that they started a controversy. I have seen 5 year olds wearing skinny jeans. P.s. American eagle already sells padded bathing suits, as it is ment for teenagers not kids.
Amanda • Aug 10, 2012 at 3:59 pm
My daughter is 13 and just started to be able to wear Abercrombie kids when she was 12. I don’t know any 7 or 8 year olds that could fit into their bathing suits or clothes. If you don’t want the padding, like my daughter, she simply takes it out. And the skinny jeans aren’t even tight on my daughter. She has to buy the jeggings to get a jean that fits her good. Some girls are petite and even at the age of 16 or so can fit into the kids at Abercrombie and will be delited that padding was added. Also some of my daughters friends started needing patted bathing suits in 3rd grade! It’s not a big deal, if you don’t like it don’t shop at that store or just remove the padding, its that simple!
Kelley • May 28, 2012 at 5:58 pm
some girls older then ten are slim, but have a little bust which causes them to need a padded swim suit (not sexy though). Where should these girls buy swimwear, it is a big problem! They need it!