Girls’ Fashion Choices: A Little Glitter Goes a Long Way
As the mother of a 7 year old girl who “hearts” anything pink, frilly and sparkly, I’ve had to bite my tongue more times than I care to admit as my daughter walks out from her bedroom in an outfit she’s proudly assembled. Really? You thought taffeta, lace and rhinestones would work well together for the school trip to the zoo? We’re now finally out of the stage where Halloween costumes double for day-to-day outfits (has anyone else had to plead with their daughters to leave the tutu or princess outfit at home?!) but we’re now in an entirely different stage – over-the-top glitter and glam.
Girls love sequins, and I should know, given what we sell on FashionPlaytes. Not surprisingly, our best selling embellishments are rhinestones in every shape and size – peace symbols, dogs, stars, hearts, you name it. In small amounts, and on age-appropriate clothing, rhinestone appliqués can transform an outfit. But don’t blame me, this glitter and glam trend started way before FashionPlaytes came along.
Today, girls have clothing choices I’d never have imagined as a kid. This summer, retailers will undoubtedly feature tube tops and halters bedazzled with rhinestones, prints and patterns in an Easter egg array of colors. In the winter, we saw racks of pink and purple fur-trimmed coats and boots. Cute? Yes, but in a comical, costume-y way. It’s a struggle to keep my daughter in stylish, yet age-appropriate outfits when it becomes harder and harder to find well-made, trendy and kid-friendly clothes that aren’t just copies of what’s being sold on women’s racks in smaller sizes.
In an age where Hannah Montana reigns and edgy brands like Ed Hardy are becoming popular at school, moms are faced with increasingly difficult decisions when it comes to their young girls’ clothing choices. At work, I’ve received letters from moms across the country willing to share their advice, or simply commiserate, on how to best nurture daughters at this young age. I’ve connected with many of them about how to find balance between encouraging our daughters to express themselves through fashion while helping them make appropriate decisions on what to wear.
In the spirit of sharing, here are some of the most compelling and helpful stories and advice I’ve heard from moms in the past year.
- Explain the difference between dress-up and real-world: One mother wrote, “My daughter loves to watch me apply makeup and often throws in her own suggestions, “Mommy, what about this sparkly powder on your eyes?” I’ll use the opportunity to explain why shimmery eyes, lacquered lips and day-glow cheeks might look great on her dolls but aren’t what people wear on a daily basis (especially not for an important business meeting). She needs to know there’s a distinction between Barbie-land and the real world.”
- Avoid being judgmental: A friend recently shared the story of how her daughter burst into tears when her older brother teased her about choosing an outfit “Barbie wouldn’t be caught dead in.” We all know it’s no fun being judged, especially by siblings or parents, so don’t create that dynamic with your daughter. Applaud her attempt to express herself and like anything, choose the right time to let her know that taffeta, lace and rhinestones aren’t the best combination.
- Make choices together: One mother told me that designing clothes with her daughter on the website made her daughter more curious about her own fashion choices. Before she knew it, she had to defend her black and charcoal “go-to” staples and at her daughter’s request, started adding colorful scarves or dangly earrings to liven up an outfit. Once she began to listen to her daughter’s advice, her daughter was more willing to take her advice…and the hard feelings of being lectured eased away.
No matter where we live, or how much we have to spend on clothing for our girls, our daughters are all going through similar struggles in terms of trying to test the boundaries of dressing to meet peer expectations and parental requirements, while establishing their own sense of style. As women know, it’s a dynamic girls will face as women for years to come.
How have you found this balance with your daughter? Post your comments below, I’d love to hear from you!
- Sarah McIlroy, Founder/CEO, FashionPlaytes
