It’s no secret that “skinny jeans” have dominated the women’s denim market for the past year or two. But a new trend of marketing skinny jeans to kids has caused quite a stir and concern. Many are wondering whether the trend is bad for kids’, especially girls’, who already have delicate body image. Will this trend cause impressionable youngsters to pick up messages about what their bodies should look like, more than they already do? Or is it just a harmless fashion trend?
I have a strong, though admittedly biased, opinion on the subject. First of all, as a kid, I hated jeans. I know, abnormal. I just felt that they were so restricting, so I preferred leggings, skirts, dresses, skorts, you name it — anything but jeans. Thankfully, I grew out of that, and today I probably have around 15 pairs in my closet (and that’s after a few rounds of Goodwill trips.) How many of them are skinny jeans? None.
Skinny jeans are just not made for my body type. Every store carries my size of jeans, but apparently NO store carries my size in skinny jeans. Any pair that I find that comes close to fitting right gives me that nostalgic itch to break free. Even though I have a fairly slender/athletic build, skinny jeans have always made me feel self-conscious about my body and my legs. Give me a pair of bootcuts or flares, and I’m fine.
I know I’m not alone in this, and I hate the idea that young girls (and boys) might see “skinny jeans” and think that if their body type doesn’t fit in them, it must mean they’re not “skinny” enough. Then there’s the other thing that comes to mind when they hear the term skinny jeans: Countless mom’s saying, “I’ll feel so much better once I can fit into my skinny jeans!”
Sure, it’s just semantics, but kids pick up on that stuff — I certainly remember doing so.
What do you think? Check out more on this topic here.
@ Sandra
Thanks so much for your honesty. The good news is you don’t have to feel that way the rest of your life. You are beautiful just as you are. Period. For me beauty is just another way we say power. Regardless of the terrible messages you’ve gotten from other people who felt the need to put you down to feel better about themselves, it is your character that makes you beautiful. What are you really? Your knees? Your thighs? or your spirit and kindness?
I bought three pairs of skinny jeans this year because the sales people said it would make me look slimmer. I have a round but and big thighs and big knees. When I look in the mirror – I hate my knees the most. I feel good in the jeans and hope that if I walk fast enough and keep myself standing at a certain angle when others are looking at me that I don’t look so bad….
I wish I could exercise every morning. Not hate myself.
Love myself and exercise every morning……
I got my fat legs because my parents were very strict with me and never allowed me to leave the house. I never got exercise.
What I hate the most is that my mom screamed “Oh my god” when she saw my legs and said “You’re so fat!” and I have an ex who I hate so much that used to tell me my knees were big and my legs looked “squingy”. At least I have a beautiful face and beautiful hair.
okay well to me skinny jeans are something I wear once a week. I have three pairs and I barely wear them It’s pityful i know but, they make my thighs look huge. I am not skinny and I do not want to look bigger then I actuall am. so skinny jeans are a nono for me.They are just a trend someone set and now everyone is obbsed its kinda of scary, what if someone suddenly announced that clothes weren’t cool anymore we wood all be runnin around naked. Now that is just plain wrong.
I detest ‘fashion’ items for kids full stop! There is plenty of time in life to worry about whether you look trendy or not later in life. However, it can’t be denied that kids are getting interested in fashion younger and younger now, and therefore there needs to be a market specifically targetted to them.
This market should be regulated in the same way as any other product for children: it should be assessed as to its suitability for them both physically and psychologically. This makes it even more important than in the adult industry to use models of varying sizes and make clothes that are tailored to children’s needs. I don’t personally think that skinny jeans fit any of these criteria.
Those little jeggings for kids are great, though: surely those are a far better alternative!