Olympic Gymnast Nastia Liukin Designs Tween Line for JCPenney

Courtesy of JCPenney

After winning five Olympic medals (one gold, three silver and one bronze), Nastia Liukin has cemented her super girl status in the sports world.

Now, she’s moving on to new territory — fashion.

The world champion gymnast, 20, has partnered up with Warner Bros. to create a sporty, yet flirty tween line — Supergirl by Nastia — exclusively for JCPenney.

“I’ve always had an interest in fashion,” reveals Liukin, who was the former face of BCBG. “Designing on the side was a fun way to take my mind off of training seven hours a day, seven days a week.”

Courtesy of JCPenney

Courtesy of JCPenney

The collection — which is online now and in stores starting July 20 — will include cool-girl basics (skinny jeggings, sparkly leggings, graphic tees and dresses, zip-up hoodies), as well as more dance-inspired pieces like tulle tutus, leotards and yoga pants.

Her favorite piece? The Necklace dress ($32), which features a funky gold chain print and stud detailing. Liukin actually has a couture version of the dress that she wears to appearances.

Each style also comes with a hang tag printed with inspirational quotes.

“I’ve always tried to go after my dreams and set new goals, so I hope this small touch will inspire other girls to feel empowered no matter what they are doing at school or in sports,” shares Liukin.

See more of the line at JCPenney.com.

— Shanelle Rein-Olowokere with reporting from Andrea DeSimone

Comments

Ick. Really.

Whatever happened to little girls dressing like little girls and not like, well, for lack of a better word, ‘trash’?

- Rachel on July 16th, 2010

Yuck! Not cute at all.

- Anonymous on July 16th, 2010

Not cute. How is she legally allowed to use the copy-written “Superman” symbol on her products?

- Yves on July 16th, 2010

I think that the clothe is very pretty, but for me not for little girls.

- Marina on July 16th, 2010

I think it’s cute. My daughter is only 15 months so she’s not old enough for it, but if I had an older daughter who really liked it, I’d let her wear it.

And as far as letting little girls be little girls, I don’t see how that DOESN’T look like something a 12 year old would wear. If it were slathered in pink, would it be more little-girly you think? The tween age is a difficult one. These kids are in between being teens, and a child and want desperately to fit into both most likely.

BTW, I love that the “Superman” logo is on a GIRLS’ line, being called “Supergirl”, and not more princesses.

- Robyn on July 16th, 2010

I barely recognized Nastia! I remember her being a bone thing girl back in 2008!

- Electra on July 17th, 2010

what’s inappropriate about these clothes? i fail to see it. they’re cute clothes, i’d let my daughters wear them if they wanted to and weren’t too expensive. and i agree it’s nice that for once it’s not all princess themed, can little girls be nothing other than princesses?

- JM on July 17th, 2010

I am so tired of people thinking little girls need to dress like tiny teenagers. (And I wouldn’t even like some of these outfits for a teenager.) Please let us let little girls dress like little girls. sigh………

- Jennifer on July 17th, 2010

I just love this girl so much.

- Anak Inya on July 17th, 2010

I love it and I’m sure my 9 year old will as well. I think the line looks like it will allow the tweens to be stylish while not being babyish, and most importantly it appears to keep them covered. Can’t wait to take my daughter shopping to check it all out. Great job Nastia!!

- Jenn on July 17th, 2010

Yves, Superman is licensed and owned by Warner Bros. It explains right there in the text that Nadia partnered with Warner Bros. to create this line so obviously they gave her permission to use the trademark. As for the clothing! I don’t see anything the least bit inappropriate about them. When I was a tween back in the 80s I often wore leggings, jellies, oversized shirts, and Jean skirts and trust me, i was just as much of a kid as any one else. The kids in these pics are fully clothed and are not revealing a thing. Besides, these are all separates. You do not have to wear the items as displayed here.

- lizzielui on July 17th, 2010

How would this make girls look like trash? What am I missing?

- Helene on July 17th, 2010

YUCK.
I would not let my 3.5 wear clothes like that until she was a teenager.
They just look too trendy and too ‘grownup’.
Why does a small child need to wear ‘skinny’ jeans? or ‘edgy’ tutus? Why can’t a little girl just be a little girl and wear things exclusively for playing and imagination? Why do they have to be marketed to as little adults?

- Mrs. R on July 17th, 2010

Mrs R. surely you mean why can’t little girls dress the way YOU think little girls should dress? the kids in the pictures are still little girls. maybe they just don’t conform to your stereotyped image. there’s nothing wrong with trendy clothes. they are not “sexual” clothes, or clothes with any kind of inapporpriate message printed on them. i am still failing to see what’s so terrible about what are, as far as i can see, just clothes that you could find in any clothes shop….

- JM on July 17th, 2010

I think the clothing line looks great! I don’t see anything wrong with these clothes.

- halifaxhoney on July 17th, 2010

I think the clothes are cute. Different girls have different tastes. I dont see how this is distasteful? There’s nothing low cut & the skirts have a decent length. Some parents dont like loud, attracting clothes or something modeled from an adult outfit & I understand. But dont bash something because it’s not your cup of tea.

I wish I had cool clothes like these as a kid. I’m only 23, so I’m not like old but I was tall & chubby so it was hard to find clothes in the kids section to fit me. I could fit in the misses department! It wasnt until Old Navy came along that I could wear things some girls took for granted. Like Jeans!! OMG! To find jeans that fit at the waist & were long enough were a nightmare for me.

- Minami86 on July 17th, 2010

Oh man, that’s fun tween stuff! I would have LOVED this at 10-15 and if I had a daughter, I would let her wear this at that age. I don’t see anything wrong with it, but different tastes vary from person to person. Very nice!

- cammie on July 17th, 2010

Mrs. R – you DID read the part saying this was a TWEEN line of clothing. Not for 3 1/2 year olds! I for one think this is WAY better than the supposed Tween line of clothes that Madonna’s daughter Lourdes “created”.

- Christie on July 17th, 2010

@ jenn…sweetie your 9 year old is NOT a tween.

these clothes are disgusting and too skanky,
so i guess they’ll be successfull since 90%
of “tweens” are skanky, which is just a reflection
of their mommas

- Anonymous on July 18th, 2010

i am still failing to see what is so wrong about these clothes…. i mean the girls are almost completely covered up, apart from the skirts and they are a completely normal length, as i said the tops don’t have any messages on them, aren’t low cut… i wish people who were criticising these clothes would actually point out WHY they are the devil incarnate… i think some people just like to criticise girls’ clothes that don’t have pretty pink bows on them and ruffles or that aren’t conservative church clothes. what’s wrong with dressing your kids in a fashionable way?

- JM on July 18th, 2010

Not cute and those are not tweens. Those are 8 – 10-year-olds…trashy. I have a feeling she just threw her name on it.

- Erin on July 18th, 2010

@Christie.

Lourdes did NOT create a line for “tweens” (which typically describes 8-12 year-olds). I’m not sure why it was labeled on some sites as such. Her line is for teens and young adults (13-25).

- Maria on July 18th, 2010

I’l like to join the people who fail to see anything wrong with these clothes. The line is created for 8-12 year olds and they totally look like something some of the kids I know in that age group would wear. You have to remember that all kids are different. Just because your daughter wouldn’t wear it doesn’t mean some one elses won’t. I had a pink phase at around the age of 7 but haven’t really been that into pink since then (and I am only now starting to like wearing purple). Thankfully I grew up before pink totally invaded the girls sections, if I had been a tween now, I would have despaired just seeing the vawes of pink and purple every where. Off course, these clothes wouldn’t have been my cup of tea either, but my god daughters sister would totally love it!

- MiB on July 19th, 2010

@ anonymous….Don’t sweetie me, I’m far from a child. A 9 year old is actually very close to a tween which is 10-12 years old! I am far from skanky and think your comments are very rude and judgemental. Just because teens don’t dress to your liking doesn’t mean they are skanky. You ought to try and get to know them. Isn’t it what’s on the inside that counts? Maybe if people like you were not so harsh teens wouldn’t feel such a need to be different. They are going through a lot at this age and trying to find who they are. Forcing them to conform to your dresscode is not helpful. They need to be able to express themselves. Yes they need guidelines and limits but they need freedom too!!!

- Jenn on July 20th, 2010