The Abercrombie & Fitch Kids website selling the Ashley Push Up Triangle bra.

Abercrombie & Firth is marketing padded bikini tops to girls as young as eight years old and many parents are unhappy about it.

The push up triangle bikini tops, which come complete with thick padding for breast enhancement, are included in the spring 2011 line for Abercrombie Kids (a division for 8 to 14 year olds).

Abercrombie & Fitch has yet to comment, but we here at Style Seen Daily have a suggestion –why not add “preteen section” to the kids web site?  Maybe that would help calm down some angry mums.

Brittani Wills in Springboro, Ohio.

In a town of cookie cutter homes, a population just over 12,000, and where Friday night football takes precedence over everything else, you might not expect style to be to be on the minds of residents at all.  However, that’s not necessarily the case in Springboro, Ohio. While the latest fashion trends fresh off of the runway aren’t necessarily seen gracing the halls of Springboro High School or on moms at the school PTA meeting, personal style is still ever present here.

Magnolia's on Main shop in Historic Downtown Springboro.

Springboro is nestled in the Southern-western corner of the Buckeye state. The small town, founded by Quakers in the 1800s, is full of hometown pride. Downtown Springboro, which spans 6 blocks, includes a few quaint shops, historical buildings that were once a part of the Underground Railroad, and a drive-in restaurant that is a local favorite. Over the past decade or so Springboro has been made a gradual change from a rural farming town to a sprawling suburb. As new families move in to and make Springboro their home, they also bring a piece of the style and fashions from their previous towns, which contributes to the overall flavor of Springboro.

School-aged boy in graphic t-shirt from Pacific Sunwear and Aeropostale cargo shorts at local skate park in Springboro.

In a lime green shirt from Forever 21 and cotton shorts, this Springboro gal is ready for summer.

Springboro girl lounging in the shade in Aeropostale shorts and tank top, Converse shoes, and bright orange sunglasses from Forever 21.

Style in this midwestern town could easily be described as All-American. During the summer months when temperatures reach 100+ degrees and the humidity is almost unbearable, function definitely takes place over fashion. Shorts of all lengths and styles tend to be the most popular item.   Teenagers and younger residents like to have a little more fun with their looks, while the more mature crowd tends to keep it simple. Neon and other fun colors pop up in accessories and tops worn by those in the school-age crowd. Mixing patterns and colors also makes looks more playful and fitting for the age group. Older, high school and college students usually wear more classic pieces such as khaki shorts and basic tops. However, details in clothing such as ruffles or texture keep the looks from becoming too bland.

Staying classy and cool in twill shorts from Gap, American Eagle cotton top, and sandals from Target.

Springboro college student in shorts from Abercrombie & Fitch and a printed top.

Stores like Abercrombie & Fitch, American Eagle, and Aeropostale are crowd favorites in Springboro. These specialty retailers all offer basics that can appeal to a variety of  a variety of age groups and . Stores that offer somewhat trendier items, like Forever 21 and Pacific Sunwear, are also popular among Springboro residents. High fashion is not on the forefront of minds here, primarily because of limited access to stores like Barneys New York.

This Springboro High School student tries to beat the heat in a Hollister t-shirt and khaki shorts.

As I prepare to leave my hometown of Springboro and head to the Los Angeles area to pursue my career in fashion, I’m taking a bit of classic, Springboro style with me. I’ve watched my own style evolve during my 4 years in college from that off an 18-year old high school grad to a more style-conscious young woman. Writing for Style Seen Daily and being immersed in the fashion industry of L.A. will no doubt play a large part in my style in the future, but Springboro and the midwest is a part of me that won’t be left behind. Personal style is something that is constantly changing and no matter what city you’re in, there is something to offer.

From:  Reuters

CHICAGO (Reuters) – Teen clothing retailer Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF.N) beat Wall Street profit expectations on Friday and said it is optimistic about international expansion, lifting its shares more than 13 percent.

Abercrombie also said it is reviewing its operating expenses, has already started to cut costs and plans significantly less in capital expenditures this year.

Management is “actively managing expenses, while at the same time protecting the brand for the long term,” Credit Suisse analyst Paul Lejuez said in a research note.

Once a high-flyer in teen apparel retail, Abercrombie has seen a protracted sales slump as rivals such as Aeropostale (ARO.N) take market share by cutting prices.

Net profit fell sharply to $68.4 million, or 78 cents per share, in the fourth quarter that ended January 31 from $216.8 million, or $2.40 per share, a year earlier.

Excluding impairment charges and costs tied to a new employment agreement that extends CEO Mike Jeffries’ contract until 2014, Abercrombie’s profit of $1.10 per share topped analysts’ average forecast of $1.01, according to Reuters Estimates.

Sales fell 19 percent to $998 million. Sales at stores open at least a year fell 25 percent.

Abercrombie’s strategy of keeping prices higher than competitors to increase its cachet has put off many U.S. shoppers looking for bargains, although the retailer has discounted clearance items.

On Friday, the company stood by its strategy.

“We are not promotional and will not be promotional, and by promotional I mean 50 percent off a category, buy one, get 17 free, or somebody whispering to you about a secret sale; we don’t do stuff like that,” Jeffries said during a morning conference call.

The company has cut some prices at its Hollister and abercrombie kids chains, but said the changes were not significant.

OVERSEAS MARKETS

Abercrombie is “very bullish” on the potential it sees in international markets, while it is “not bullish on U.S. malls at this point,” Jeffries said.

The retailer said it is committed to opening some stores, such as its namesake ones in Milan and Tokyo in 2009, but would postpone opening its namesake store in Copenhagen and an abercrombie flagship in New York to 2010.

Jeffries said he sees the opportunity for 30 Hollister stores in the United Kingdom. There are currently three Hollister stores in London. 

Abercrombie had warned last month that its fourth-quarter earnings would be significantly below the outlook of $1 to $1.05 per share that it had previously issued.

The company said it expected a difficult selling environment to continue in 2009 and did not issue an earnings outlook for the fiscal year, citing volatile sales levels.

Abercrombie expects capital expenditures of $165 million to $175 million in the fiscal year that began this month, a major portion of which is tied to new stores and remodeling.

The company spent about $370 million on capital expenditures last year.

Its shares were up 13.3 percent at $23.46 on the New York Stock Exchange.

(Additional reporting by Aarthi Sivaraman in New York and Alexandria Sage in San Francisco; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn, Dave Zimmerman)