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Letting it all hang out

For many young women, one size fits all -- no matter how that makes them look.

July 04, 2006|Robin Abcarian | Times Staff Writer

For the last four months, Sophana Soth has been a sales associate at Forever 21, a chain store that sells trendy clothes at a bargain. When Soth stands watch at the dressing room entrance, she said, she sees a stream of girls who try to squeeze themselves into too-small outfits. "For me, it's really uncomfortable seeing them because their bellies are popping out and you can see the tight marks and on their arms too," she said.

Browsing the Forever 21 racks with the ultimate accessory -- a tiny dog named Toby -- 20-year-old Jennifer Fuentes was stylishly dressed in a short skirt, low-cut top and leggings. She'd like to lose a few pounds, she said, but isn't interested in getting "all thin and anorexic." When an overweight girl in very tight clothes walked by, she said, "The thing is, sometimes big girls try to wear something tight, thinking it will make them look better, but they should cover up. Their shirts rise up and their bellies fall out. People try to squeeze themselves into something that doesn't fit right."

Blanca Perez is a self-confident 26-year-old Los Angeles County animal control officer who is 5 feet, 8 inches and 230 pounds. "There is such a thing as a cute fat chick," she said, "and that's me." She loves body-hugging clothes and she loves dressing up, but she will not wear clothes that are too small just to make a point to herself.

"I do see that a lot, though. I see too many girls with their belly hanging out and their jeans too tight and it's not cute." She has a younger cousin who is chubby and insists on wearing clothes that are a few sizes too small. "She thinks she looks cute," Perez said. When she called the cousin to see if she would consent to an interview, the girl burst into tears and hung up. Three days later, Perez reported, her cousin was still hurt and upset.

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