It's no more about covering yourself up. It's about being in style. Clearly there's a growing market for trendy, youthful fashions in larger sizes. Sales of women's sizes 16 and up have risen steadily since 1997, jumping 22.2 percent last year alone. And modeling agencies are fielding more requests for full-figured models.
Shopping can be especially painful for larger teens, who so desperately want to fit in.
For example, the New York resident couldn't find anything jazzy to buy for her 24th birthday party and had to resort to wearing a basic black skirt and top that was hanging in her closet. Her size-8 girlfriend, who was also celebrating a birthday at the party, had no such problem. Shopping also is trying for Russo, the associate producer, who earlier this year had trouble finding something to wear to the opera. Although clothing makers and retailers have been slow to recognize the potential market for larger trendy clothes for younger shoppers, they have not been completely oblivious. Target introduced larger juniors sizes in 1997.