It ain’t easy being tween

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 16/06/2012 (5046 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

I’ve always said it’s great to be a girl. There is no shortage of fabulous fashion boutiques, stellar shoe stores and excellent accessory boudoirs in the ‘Peg to satiate even the greediest fashionista.

But while we “big girls” can revel in fashion galore, the same cannot be said for our younger counterparts — and when I say young, I’m talking tweens.

Not quite the little girls who live for pink frills and pouffy dresses, nor the teens who can venture to the mall for the latest “it” garment (never mind that it’s not always the most age-appropriate attire), the tween has oft been overlooked when it comes to trendy, stylish clothes made especially for them.

Well, with an untapped segment out there in the world of fashion, it really was just a matter of time before some style-minded entrepreneurs came up with what has become one of the most sought-after tween brands in Canada.

The vision of Calgary-based moms Linda Maslechko and Mona Rae Peterson, Triple Flip is a line of trendy activewear, loungewear and streetwear designed especially with preteen girls in mind.

Using actual tweens as sizing models, Triple Flip has created a line of clothing that is made to fit the preteen’s body. Rather than merely downsizing an adult cut, the designer paid attention to important details, such as making the sleeves a little longer.

Each of the pieces is designed to celebrate the active lifestyles of a preteen with garments that are fun, funky and, most importantly, fabulous. The collections you will find at Triple Flip range from leggings and stretch tops to maxi dresses and cropped jackets.

While Triple Flip may seem like a dream come true to tweens looking for stylish, wearable fashions, finding the brand in the city has been a bit of a challenge — but that’s about to change.

Once only available to tweens who had the opportunity to travel outside the city, Triple Flip is poised to open its first store in the city at St. Vital Shopping Centre on June 28, after more than 200 email requests from local girls clamouring for this versatile yet fashionable Canadian brand designed especially for them.

And to celebrate this, 24 local girls were selected to participate in a photo shoot for an in-store poster campaign, which will be revealed at the store’s grand opening.

For a sneak peek at the latest Triple Flip styles for spring/summer 2012 visit www.tripleflip.ca

Got a suggestion for a future column or a fashion trend worth following? Email Connie Tamoto at connietamotofashion@hotmail.com.