Dear Limited Too,

Why did you leave me? I know people change and no clothing style lasts forever, but I thought we had something really special going for us. From your glitterized sign to the collection of knick-knacks by the register area - every inch of every store was perfect. Where else am I supposed to purchase inflatable furniture or sequined mini-skirts? How is one meant to survive without owning at least one velour jumpsuit in their life? Your training bras taught me so much about life, and I felt as though I had a true friend in the monkey that adorned all of your clothing.

I am not asking these questions for myself, I am asking for the sake of the tweens of our current generation. Seriously though, these girls are way too trendy for their own good and I believe having that horribly awkward phase is essential to the life of middle schoolers. Limited Too taught me that gauchos were trendy, that fuggs (fake uggs) should be made in every color imaginable, and that graphic tees were the perfect addition to any outfit. Nowadays, tweens are shopping at Forever 21, and looking like they are ready to go out clubbing – how could we have let such a travesty occur in the nation?!

The only people I can find to blame for this horrible offense against tweens is the owners of Limited Too stores everywhere. I don't mean to sound bitter, well actually I do, because the truth is that I am bitter. When Limited Too took down its sign in favor for one that said Justice, it was as if a peace of my sixth grade heart was ripped out and torn to shreds. I tried telling myself that Limited Too was just going through a phase, but I was wrong. At first, it was just the sign changing, but then the entire store transformed before my eyes. The dressing rooms which once made me feel like a movie star became unfamiliar prison stalls to my unfashionable self. The groovy carpeting and lighting features were removed in favor of cold tile flooring and bright lights – blinding you from the appeal Limited Too once had.

When Limited Too changed its name to Justice, justice was not being served to myself or the other tweens of the nation. Gauchos became skinny jeans, graphic tees became boho tops, and the monkey which once adorned every piece of clothing became extinct. I had always thought that Limited Too would grow with me, that I would never have the need to shop at any other store, but that dream was crushed.

Sometimes, I wonder what could have been? If Limited Too had not abandoned myself and the other tweens of our generation, would middle school girls still be as awkward as I had been? Would they still duckface and throw peace signs in every picture? Would tweens still use Picnick to edit their photos and caption them BFFLS? Obviously, the answer to these questions is yes. So Limited Too, for the sake of making the cringeworthy awkward phase in life a thing again – please come back. Do it for the kids.

And also because I hate seeing these 12-year-olds who dress better than I do.

Thanks,

Chloe Romero

A Lifelong Limited Too Lover