For many Gen Z, the news that Claire’s is closing hundreds of stores across the U.S. sends waves of both nostalgia and sadness their way. It’s not just the loss of a store—it’s the end of an era.
Claire’s wasn’t just a store. It was the place where many of us got our first pair of earrings, spent our babysitting money on glitter lip gloss and begged our parents for rainbow scrunchies and mood rings. For older teens who are now in high school or heading off to college, it was a beauty and fashion training ground—long before Sephora or Ulta became popular among teens.
16-year-old Maile Smith from Archie Williams said, “I always felt loved getting jewelry and friendship necklaces there. It was my happy place.”
According to USA.Today, on August 6, 2025, Claire’s filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy again, just as they had in 2018. They are now closing nearly 300 stores, including both Claire’s and its sister brand, Icing. Liquidation sales are already underway, and many locations will shut down by October 31.
For those who grew up seeing Claire’s as the go-to stop inside every mall, the news feels like watching childhood memories go out of business.
Evie Dickerson, a 16-year-old from Redwood High said, “Claires was my sephora.”
This closure feels different than other retail shutdowns. Claire’s represents the pre-iPhone era of girlhood, where you actually went somewhere to feel trendy, instead of scrolling through TikTok.
The newer generations can’t relate to this feeling, and are further forced by society to skip the “tween” faze we all enjoyed. Claire’s—loud, sparkly, affordable, and unapologetically tween. Now, it’s disappearing, and so is a piece of that awkward, unforgettable stage of growing up.
With Claire’s closing, young girls are going to more mature beauty stores, such as Ulta, or Sephora. There they spend money on products that either aren’t age appropriate or simply unnecessary. We’re not talking about a cute lipgloss, or a body wash that smells good—we’re talking about the hundred of dollars of retinol serums and thick foundations being purchased by 9 year olds.
According to aytm.com, parents spend a monthly average of $119 on makeup and $140 on skincare for their pre-teen girls alone. That’s more than 3,000 dollars spent on beauty products per year, per kid.
It’s not hard to figure out why young girls are in such a hurry to grow up. Young girls always look up to older girls, so when Gen Alpha sees their favorite influencers and singers collaborating with brands, they are pressured to buy into it. Redwood Highschool junior Evie Dickerson, explained how important it is to be seen as cool to peers.
“…going to Sephora and getting stuff like that is how you do it,” Dickerson said.
Unfortunately, the products they put onto their skin causes more damage, and only hurts their parents’ wallets. And again—we’re not talking about sunscreen or even a soft moisturizer. Shona Harrision, a Junior from St. Florence’s Florida High, called the makeup and skincare abuse, “Unnecessary.”
It’s sad to watch how the new generations are forced to grow up so fast, leaving no room for the simple and joyous tween parts of life.
We will mourn the loss of a staple childhood place. Hopefully we as a society can steer the new generation away from the urge to grow up so fast.
