In a juicy profile, New Yorker's Rebecca Mead goes inside the behemoth teen taste-maker Alloy, a sort of sinister junior Clear Channel that's responsible for much of the YA bestseller list, including the multimedia Gossip Girl and Traveling Pants juggernauts and, more lately, The Vampire Diaries. And do we ever see the pink, undead, bratty sausage being made! Here's how Mead describes the efficient hit-factory:

[Alloy] pack-ges about thirty novels a year for publishers, and also generates television shows and a growing number of ideas for featurefilms. In order to do all this, Alloy has developed a process with an industrial level of efficiency. Ideas are typically suggested in weekly development meetings and, if they gain the approval of Morgenstein and Bank, are fleshed out into a short summary by an editor. A writer is asked to create a sample chapter on spec; if Alloy executives are happy with the sample, they put her (or, on occasion, him) on contract. The writer hashes out a plot with Bank, one or two other editors, and Sara Shandler, Alloy's editorial director-an alumnus of Seventeen, who, at the age of nineteen, put together the anthology "Ophelia Speaks".

It's always kind of creepy to see unabashed marketing at work, and especially when it's aimed at an impressionable age-group, however lucrative. Of course, cash-in teen-lit has a long pseudonomynous history, from Nancy Drew to Sweet Valley. And the Alloy execs would just say they're giving kids what they want. One Alloy exec defends it thusly: "Editors and publishers can get hung up on what's good for kids...At Alloy, they always think first about what kids want to read." Which, of course, isn't always - or indeed, ever - an improving tract. And the idea that the body of literature informs and shapes said nascent tastes, paving the way for a lifetime of dutiful buying - well, that's conveniently ignored. Yes, kids want candy and Easy-Mac: because they've seen ads designed to attract them. Not because it's what's best for their development, or some genetic imperative of childhood.

Sure, some of the series sound really interesting (I really want to read the second "Wish" book that they map out in the piece), and the Alloy execs say we're moving away, culturally, from the excess of "brat lit" into Twilit territory because "more serious, angsty literature is where girls are right now. Morbid, dead-girl lit." And some of the book are even of historical interest! Mead mentions a new novel about
"a boy who acquires superhuman powers after being tortured during the Civil War." Then there's the new gilded-age Gossip-Girl-esque series, the cover image of which Mead describes:

The result is a look that no woman in the Gilded Age would have been immodest enough to wear beyond the boudoir or the brothel, though the Alloy team felt that the sartorial anachronism was entirely forgivable (much like the heroine's request for "ciggies"-slang that would take another sixty years to emerge). "Girls today would not relate to the more severe necklines and covered arms and horrible hair styles that girls were wearing at the time," Sara Shandler says. "We tried to do the imaginary-princess version." Or, as one of the publishers competing for the book described the gown, "the ultimate fuck-me prom dress."

And there, of course, is the rub. There's a continuing belief that kids can't relate to anything unlike themselves. Richer versions of themselves, 19th Century versions of themselves, maybe magic versions of themselves - but the feeling seems to be that kids are such incredible narcissists that any truly expanded horizons are more than they can handle. And the problem, of course, is that it's self-fulfilling. The other day I passed a poster at the bus stop bearing a still from the new Where The Wild Things Are movie. "Read," it ordered - seemingly without irony. Alloy would totally agree.

The Gossip Mill [New Yorker]

I can't get away with tiny animal print shorts, but surely some of you can? Thirty bucks is a good deal!

This long, strapless printed dress seems versatile — whether you're going to the supermarket, to the beach or to a garden party. $50!

Multi-colored denim — matched to Chucks — just makes it seem like the world is full of joy and possibility. Or maybe it's giving me a flashback. The jeans and the sneaks are $50 each.

Loving the poppy, op-art tunic. Pair with footless tights for a mod look! It's $45. the plaid shirt I'm meh about, though it looks great on the model. ($40)

Hmm, plaid dress? Do we likey? ($45)

Four words: Cute, cute, cute cute! That black and white boy-short suit on the lower right is additionally adorbs.

I've written about being a plus-size shopper who plunders the pages of Alloy before; this issue has plenty of items I covet. Starting with the backdrop on the cover… I don't know where it is, but it looks like a vacay. I want to go to there.

I have some of those Truck jeans (far left) and they fit great. They come in sizes 1-25 and inseams 30"-37". Because — gasp — women come in different shapes and sizes!

Even though I despise jumpsuits, this chick is pulling it off. Maybe because it's a "romper"? Or maybe the backdrop is helping.

Pretty!!! (I could say more, but why?)

I love summery clothes which are loose and loungey. And! That tunic on the right comes in sizes S-XXXL.

For some reason I find that tops with open, square or scooped out necklines are not only flattering to the double Ds but more comfortable and breezy. Hence: Want.

Psst. Yoga pants "super steal."

Teens who wear outfits like this are better-dressed than I am but then again I blog from home in a muumuu.

More pretty. Especially the long dress on the left and the tunic on the right. And everything here is under $50.

Add an ice cream cone and some flip flops and you've got a summer classic.

Delia's [Official Site]
Alloy [Official Site]
Earlier: Alloy: The Secret Weapon Of The Broke & Plus-Sized
Delia's Deals: A Guilty Pleasure For The Young At Heart

First, what is a "plus size"? Forever 21's wretchedly named line Faith 21 (launching tomorrow) offers size XL and XXL. How… inclusive? Target's Pure Energy line will go up to size 30, which seems more like they're making an effort. (The article doesn't mention them, but Alloy.com goes up to size XXXL or 25; Torrid offers sizes 12-26.)

Second, CNN reports that the rate of obesity among adolescents age 12-19 has more than tripled in the last 20 years. So is accommodating plus-sized customers actually reaching out to overlooked teens? Or just a savvy business decision?

Third, and perhaps most important: Do plus-sized lines promote fat? MeMe Roth, president of the organization National Action Against Obesity thinks so: "When you look at the human cost, what we're doing is we're on the Titanic and rather than forcing our children into the lifeboat, we're telling them to join the band. Worrying about fashion rather than worrying about the food is a horrible message that we're sending these kids."

Some would argue that cool clothing only coming in smaller sizes could be a motivator for teens to lose weight. And let's face it: We're talking about two cheap brands; most upscale fashion designers don't produce beyond a size 10 (even though the average woman is a size 14) because that's not their vision — that's not the customer they want. They want the super-slim models and actresses, and that is their prerogative.

Plus-sized model Emme argues: "I completely disagree that these lines are promoting obesity. You need to wear clothes to look cool at school. You need to wear clothes to be present in life. And when everybody else has fashion, you should, too." She also says: "Could you imagine taking away all of the clothes for thinner women and saying, 'Sorry, you're too thin. You can't have that.' It doesn't make sense."

And maybe there is change in the air? Ben Barry, a 26-year-old PhD candidate currently a visiting student at Harvard Business School, not only has a modeling agency which represents women of all sizes (Dove came to him for the "Real Beauty" campaign) but is conducting research at Harvard that could "reshape" the modeling industry. Barry says:

"I learned that there was this narrow criteria of who was considered pretty. I was pointing out models who I thought were phenomenal and had great personality and energy. But everyone would just shake their head and smile. They'd say their hips are too wide, or they weren't tall enough."

Of his research, Barry explains:

"The idea is to see how women react to models who represent their size, age, and cultural background versus models who represent an ideal of Western beauty […] When I looked in the journals of marketing there was really nothing that addressed this. Right now it's just an argument that you can reach a wider audience. I'm trying to prove that with hard numbers."

Meanwhile, CNN speaks to a "full-figured teen" at a F21 in Manhattan, where the plus size stuff is not available yet. She's looking forward to it, though. She says: "I tried on something earlier that was totally cute and it did not fit my breast size, which is really frustrating, because I liked it."

Fashion Stretches To Fit Plus-Size Teens [CNN]
Can This 26-Year-Old Change The Shape Of The Fashion Industry? [Boston.com via Boston Globe]
Related: Faith 21 [Forever 21]
Earlier: How Do We Solve The Plus-Sized Clothing Crisis?
Alloy: The Secret Weapon Of The Broke & Plus-Sized
Designers Refuse To Cater To The Average American Woman
Fashion Designers Are Small Minded About Plus Sizes
Anti-Obesity "Activist" Tells Elle That Women Are Fat, Stupid
The Ann Coulter Of The Fat Police

[Image via Forever 21]

Since this fake girl power show was written by a fake Asian, who cares if the actress is Korean and not Japanese, right? It's totally not relevant that Japan occupied Korea and oppressed its people and forced girls and women into sexual slavery. Bygones! Samurai Girl plays on pop culture audiences desire for strong females. Jamie Chung tells PinkRaygun.com that her favorite part of being on the show is the action. "It’s playing a young female, a strong character. And I feel like there is not enough of that on television, and I think it is an honor to be able to play that for the younger generation. I think that’s cool." She's right: There aren't enough strong women on TV. There aren't enough Asians on TV. But where Gossip Girl revels in its lack of feel-good message and advertises itself as a guilty pleasure, Samurai Girl wants you to think empowerment. It just doesn't seem like the show has the ability to deliver.

Teen Drama, With A Twist [Wall Street Journal]
Samurai Girl: An Interview with Jamie Chung [PinkRaygun]

• Sadie defended fashion from hateful Wintourish anti-heroes.
• We told Seventeen's constructive criticism and eyeshadow advice to suck it.
• Women's magazines "saved" Cathy Alter's life.
• But not ours.
• Dodai revealed her secret passion for juniors fashion..

• Tracie slayed the "emotional conquistador."
• Lamb cums all over Gwen Stefani's face!
• We were fondly embarrassed by our fathers.
• It's thankfully, oh so thankfully Friday! So enjoy your Cocktails n' Dreams and have a fantastic weekend

Most items mentioned are available in sizes XS-XXXL.

This stuff is not just for teenagers! Wear the dress to work with a cardigan; the trench with trousers. Pretend you didn't see those pre-torn jeans.

These are the jeans that you should wear with the previous trench. Plus: The Karmann-Ghia is my dream car!

Cotton blouse with lace inset! Under $32! Actually, everything on this page — except for the pre-torn jeans — is pretty great. And that includes the vintage luggage, which, sadly, is not for sale.

While all of these are cute, your best bet is the Sackrace dress. Cotton. In white or black. Up to XXXL. Forty bucks.

I have this dress. I get so many compliments on it. It's so crisp and easy and looks cool with silver bangles and gladiator sandals. Highly recommended; now on sale.

Skinny jeans! I know they are much-debated. I think they can be slimming. You may disagree. But check this out:

Wide leg, trouser cut and boot cut. From sizes 1-25. Awesome fall colors. All under $40.

More dresses! I've already ordered that drop-waist one on the left. I'll let you know how it goes.

The top and the dress are pretty great. Ixnay on the eansjay and the ootsbay.

I also ordered this blouse. Cotton! 35 bucks! I'll pair it with a pencil skirt and the kooky oxford heels I got at Payless.

[Alloy]