I despise walking into Victoria's Secret stores. I find them more geared for preteens than adult women. When hunting for lingeree for my honeymoon last year, I had to ask the clerk for appropriate attire in my size - I couldn't find it in the store. Turns out, they didn't even keep it on the shelves. She went into the back room and brought out an assortment of negligees and teddies in my size.
I find their entire "PINK" line disturbing. It bothers me to no end when I see a 10-year-old girl wearing sweatpants that say "PINK" across their bum.
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Originally Posted by Acetylene
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I can say from experience that it is really, REALLY hard to dress and act like a girl and not a slut when growing up, and my experience was during the 90's - it's only gotten worse. I had to buy small sizes of women's clothes, mostly sweats and plain t-shirts, and never anything pretty or cute because almost everything that was nice was also low-cut, clingy, or both. I wasn't ready to be sexy and I felt it was wrong to advertise myself sexually when I was a little girl and had no intention of sleeping with anyone for years.
I also didn't want to wear a bra because dang, those things are uncomfortable, and so I didn't start wearing one until my breasts were actually large enough to warrent it. This was about 3 years later than most of my peers, and I wasn't a late bloomer - they were wearing lacy Victoria's Secret padded bras over their tiny not-even-A-cup nubbins. Let me tell you how much teasing I got in the changing rooms.
As a result, the general school populace thought I was lesbian. Seriously?? When I was eleven?? Come on!! And if that wasn't bad enough, any girl I hung out with got called lesbian, too, for associating with me - and not in a nice way, either.
If I ever have kids, I hope they are boys. I would not wish girlhood on anyone I loved.
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Somewhat of a parallel situation for me.
I wasn't ever called a lesbian. Always had a guy or two trying to win my affection. Never really understood why. I definitely wasn't trying to attract their attention.
I chose to wear tank tops under my shirts until I developed enough to wear a substantial bra. I started wearing a bra when I was an A cup, in the sixth grade. I suppose that I developed earlier than most girls. I was wearing baggy jeans with a Star Wars or Disney children's character T-shirt and an oversized flannel as a daily uniform through high school. I wanted nothing to do with the word sexy. I had a few dresses and skirts that I would occasionally wear, all of which were to my ankles. The only thing that really gave people an indication that I was female was my long, neatly braided hair. I was frequently hit on by the men in my choir groups when I dressed up in the slightly more revealing show choir dresses (goodness - you could see my calves!) People called me a prude. One friend gave me the nickname "puritan". I never took it as an insult.
When I went away to college my sister and mom took me shopping for two months straight, helping me to develop a sense of fashion. I started wearing slacks and blouses that said "hip adult woman" without too much "sexy". Though I've since shifted my wardrobe to include far more of the "sexy" category. I enjoy showing off a little so other men will be jealous of my husband.
I did not start wearing makeup regularly until last year (age 25). I wasn't in the habit, didn't see a need. Soon after I was married I decided to make it a part of my morning routine. I feel foolish now for not starting earlier - makeup is fun!