The inbetweeners
High street fashion jewellery retailer Claire's is entering administration in the UK. It's the end of an era for tween shoppers. Or, rather, ex-tweens who've since grown out of it, because the current crop have moved online.
Back in August, when the chain's future hung in the balance, now twenty-something ex-tweeners reminisced over hair accessories, friendship necklaces, and lip gloss. And reading it brought back memories of my daughters' time at Claire's.
The stores are fewer and further between in Switzerland than in Britain, so neither of them shopped there with their friends. But they did shop together when we took them to Basel, Zürich, or back to England. And the tat they accumulated was so cool
when they returned to school.
But, like those earlier tweeners, they grew out of it. Perhaps a little older, given the scarcity here, but eventually nonetheless.
It's kinda sad that today's tweeners won't have that experience. Online shopping makes goods cheaper and accessible, yet at the same time it's more transactional and sterile; not the stuff of fond childhood memories.
Fings ain't wot they used t'be, an' no mistake.