Hope for the tweeners

It’s tough being a kid. Even tougher when you’re not quite kid, not quite adult. Those indeterminable years between adolescence and pre-adolescence, characterized by acne, unexplainable bumps, and niggling suspicions that the whole world is dead-set on ignoring your early life crisis, are difficult. And it doesn’t help that you almost have nothing past-kid, not-quite-adult to wear.

Bench (bless them for thinking about everything) yet again gives a non-intimidating solution to what is fast becoming Generation Zs most pressing problem. Their new Bench Tweeners line, made especially for kids and adolescent ages eight to 14, is a fun, colorful collection that assures adolescents hankering for a sense of style that will never (ever) be ignored.

Cool and ideal for the beach, the new Tweeners collection presents a blank canvas for young budding stylesetters who want a slice of their own individuality early on. The new summer collection takes up from the Bench’s "Made in Paradise" summer theme with brilliant colors, movement-friendly styles, and breezy cotton fabric. Bold, nautical stripes collide with vintage-style treated logo tees that sport kid-amiable images (pets, the beach, and uppity, young rebel phrases). Gals can kick it in pastel-colored sleeveless pique shirts while the boys ham it up in solid-colored comfy tees. Sporty khakis and washed denim jeans round up the entire cool summer ensemble.

Giving credibility to the Bench Tweener summer collection is a cast of young ‘uns who seem to really enjoy the freedom of these in-between ages. The roster includes celebrity kids who have all grown with the spotlight bouncing off their heads: Alynna Asistio (daughter of former actress Nadia Montenegro and Macario Asistio), Winwyn and VJ Marquez (children of Joey Marquez and Alma Moreno), Inah de Belen (daughter of John Estrada and Janice de Belen), Dana Martinez (daughter or William Martinez and Yayo Aguila); and ABS-CBN’s Little Big Star winner Sam Concepcion.

The new Bench Tweeners Summer ’06 collection is available at all Bench stores nationwide.

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