As a mother of a six year old little girl, I am very mindful of what she wears. I like for her to dress age appropriate and I do not buy anything that makes her appear older than what she is. I have recently been reading on the web about retailers like Gap making skinny jeans for babies and it makes me wince. It does matter how you dress your little girl.
If you are Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, it’s cool for your daughter to walk around New York in high heels. I’ve even had a few friends of mine remark how “cute” it is that Suri likes high heels. This is not cute at all, in my opinion. Playing dress up in their rooms, yes. A pair of play plastic heels is acceptable. But out and about in actual heels made for girls is not cute, I am sorry. Why can’t we let kids be kids?
According to a recent article on the Wall Street Journal, we buy these types of clothing for our kids because we can’t afford them for ourselves. So we buy them for the kids to satisfy OUR needs:
The mini-me mentality has trickled into Gap’s other designs for kids and baby. On shelves now, shoppers will find motorcycle jackets and ankle boots. “People love trend take-downs,” says Mr. Breitbard. “Fashion-right clothes are really adorable the smaller they get.” —Executive V.P. of GapKids and babyGap.
On the other hand, a lot of journalists and pundits have remarked about the way Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt allow their daughter, Shiloh, to dress. Oftentimes, you see Shiloh wearing “boy” clothing like plaid shirts, jeans, hats, nothing “girlie” or “frilly”. Does this matter as well? Are Brad and Angelina setting up Shiloh to be a masculine little girl?
Angelina said in a recent article that she allows Shiloh to pick out her own clothes. Shiloh obviously likes to wear “tomboy” gear and I see nothing wrong with that. As long as she isn’t spouting a fake mustache, I am good with little Shiloh. I think she is age appropriate for now. But at the same time, I think that letting a little girl pick out her entire wardrobe is not a good idea. There must be limits set in place in order for them to know that YOU ultimately draw the line.
I think sometimes, in our quest for our little girls to be cute, we think they have to look like us. It’s cute for them to dance and sing songs on the radio but at what price? Kids grow up fast as it is these days without us speeding it up with their clothing choices.
Am I making a mountain out of a mole hill?
What is your take on the way we dress our little girls? What do you think about skinny jeans and hot pants for our little ones? Or what about girls who “dress like boys” in the case of Shiloh Jolie-Pitt?
I think children should dress like children as well. It irks me to see children, even teens, dressing in things that I as an adult don’t even think are appropriate choices for adults.
I agree. Our kids are growing up too fast as it is! Let them be kids while they can.
This was a very insightful article and I totally agree! Age-appropriateness is relevant at any stage of life. This year I relinquished my denim minis in favour of new well-fitted jeans and dresses. My mother is 46 and is able to dress modern and beautiful by playing up her modest wardrobe with amazing accessories and shorter heels–NOT by trying to dress like me, half her age!
Loved this! Thanks for sharing!
-Jenn
It’s interesting that you mention your mom because yes, dressing appropriate goes for all of us! I think I may tackle older women dressing younger as well because I see a lot of that too. Especially in Hollywood.
It’s really hard to try to compare our children and celebrity children. Celebrity children don’t live normal lives, their parents aren’t trying to help them fit into normal society like we are with our children.
Suri or any other kid wearing heals as regular daily shoes is stupid and will probably have a negative impact on the way the feet grow. Personally, I think anyone wearing heels all of the time is just asking for foot trouble, no matter what your age is.
I would ten times rather see Shiloh or any other little girl wearing “boy” looking clothes instead of stripper looking clothes. Perhaps Shiloh will start a trend and less little girls will look like mini-prostitutes on the playground.
Children should be children, and the clothes they wear should be designed for comfort and durability.
Terri–You have a good point when it comes to the comparison of celebrity children versus non celeb children. BUT many kids and their parents look to these celeb children as fashion role models. This too must stop. Thanks for commenting.
Yeah..I think it is totally unacceptable for little girl to be out and about in heals.
It would’ve been cool in my opinion if it were just a one-time instance. But Suri has been seen countless times out and about wearing heels. I don’t think that is cute at all. Thanks for commenting.
I could not agree more! Short skirts and lace tops annoy me the most. It is NOT okay to play Barbie with your kids!
Until they’re old enough to leave for good and live on their own, parents should manage their offspring’s attire. Period.
No negotiations!
When I was a kid, I wasn’t allowed to paint my nails before the age of 16…
I think it’s cute to see little girls dressed up in ADULT clothes while they play, but I also understand the attraction to adult clothes created in tiny sizes.
Thank you for the article.
Hubby and I saw a little girl in heels, tights and a fitted shirt walking into the JoAnns Fabric on Sunday. We both did a double take and skinned up our faces. No.