If you are the parent of a plus size teen or pre-teen, you've spent many a tearful time in the dressing room where nothing fits your child, or if it does fit it's old lady style and they hate it. The only choice until recently has been plus size women or men's stores. Then, these stores would call all their plus size clothing, "teen friendly". Plus size teens have told me the large flower print smock type blouse isn't youthful or attractive for a young girl!

Plus size pre-teens really can't find anything that fits. It's an awkward growing stage, when even pre-teens sizes don't fit too well so plus size pre-teens can't find anything that works. They had to buy jeans that were too long and too baggy in all the wrong places, and even with alteration, they would grow out of them quickly. Pre-teen Swimming suits went to size 14 or 16 if they were lucky, and then the bust size would always be too big. JC Penneys and Sears were about the only places to shop. Going back further, the fashion world all but ignored plus size people in general. Mumu house dresses and the boxy navy suit were the only styles available. The 70s brought an appreciation and realization that one size did not fit all, and jean companies began to stretch their line to size 18 and 20 with some fashionable choices. Richard Simmons came on the fashion scene in the early 80s and brought a recognition that plus size women and men were people too and might want some style in the wardrobe. But it still took another 20 years for fashion to embrace a teenage, youthful plus size look.

Thank goodness the fashion world has finally recognized there is a market for young, hip, plus size clothing. The internet has forced choice on the fashion manufacturers and they are slowly realizing the demand is there and profitable. Forward thinking companies like Alight, Always for Me, Torrid, b&lu, Lane Bryant and The Avenue are delivering plus size teen fashions, in many choices and styles. Plus size teens still can't find many options at the mall but that will no doubt change as the popularity of the online plus size teen stores becomes evident. Television shows like Oprah, Tyra and The View are featuring plus size fashion shows as the norm and not the exception. The waif model is morphing into a more realistic body type and fashion designers are building their styles on "normal" women, rather than designing a size 0 and making it larger for their plus size customers.

This notion that plus size teens would rather hide because of their weight problem and then not need fashion is being replaced with the realization that with body acceptance comes a greater ability to deal with weight issues. Again, stars like Oprah, Tyra and plus size model Emme have consistently asked for change in the way society treats plus size teens and adults. Slowly our image of a beautiful woman or attractive man isn't limited to skin and bones, but includes all shapes and sizes. This new, healthy way of looking at size and style will ultimately help plus size teens feel better about themselves both mentally and physically. Hopefully the fashion world will embrace these new body types and retail possibilities and continue to expand their lines with plus size clothing actually made just for plus size teens.

Nancy Sutton Smith is the creator of My Plus Size Teen, a website devoted exclusively to Plus Size Teen fashion. She has struggled to find fashionable plus size clothing her entire life. She is also a 6x regional Broadcast News Emmy winner, high school, college and adult educator, webmaster and owner of Sutton Bay Media Company, a video production facility creating marketing and fundraising videos. Edit Home Video For more information about Plus Size Teen Fashions go to My Plus Size Teen

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