True Colors
My kids have been dressing themselves for a long time. I can't even remember the last time they needed help.
The problem is, they've inherited my fashion sense. Meaning, they don't have much of one.
If my daughter comes out of her room in a pink polka-dot blouse with green-striped sweatpants, I don't even blink an eye.
It's not unusual for my wife to exclaim on a daily basis, "You let her wear that?!"
Coordinating colors and styles are the last things on my mind.
It wasn't always like this.
Back in the day, I was quite the sharp dressed young lad, setting the kindergarten trends with my bold choice of colors and matching accessories.
Here I am, a 5-year-old fashion maven, wowing the crowds at Yellowstone with my bright yellow ensemble, clearly outshining my similarly-styled brother and sister. Apparently we didn't want to just enjoy the scenery. We wanted to be the scenery.
Kids don't dress up like this anymore. At least mine don't. We wear what's comfortable and clean. I don't put much thought into the appearance of my children beyond that.
Is that just me and my lack of fashion sense? Or do you feel the same?
The problem is, they've inherited my fashion sense. Meaning, they don't have much of one.
If my daughter comes out of her room in a pink polka-dot blouse with green-striped sweatpants, I don't even blink an eye.
It's not unusual for my wife to exclaim on a daily basis, "You let her wear that?!"
Coordinating colors and styles are the last things on my mind.
It wasn't always like this.
Back in the day, I was quite the sharp dressed young lad, setting the kindergarten trends with my bold choice of colors and matching accessories.
Here I am, a 5-year-old fashion maven, wowing the crowds at Yellowstone with my bright yellow ensemble, clearly outshining my similarly-styled brother and sister. Apparently we didn't want to just enjoy the scenery. We wanted to be the scenery.
Kids don't dress up like this anymore. At least mine don't. We wear what's comfortable and clean. I don't put much thought into the appearance of my children beyond that.
Is that just me and my lack of fashion sense? Or do you feel the same?
Permalink posted by Idaho Dad at 1:06 AM
17 Comments:
My daughter, without any external cues, clearly finds fashion important. But a young mind is, let's say, more flexible about what looks good and what doesn't.
The trick to me, is to guide her to choose with at least a sense balance while not thwarting her innate sense of creativity. I know that she'll develop a classy sense of style because it is so important to her.
My son, on the other hand, shows as much interest in how he dresses as he does broccoli. The challenge with him? To make sure he doesn't put on a red winter parka in 120 degree heat, combined with pink socks, lime-green plaid shorts and a diagonally-striped orange shirt.
Our daughter is starting to get her own fashion sense, as she has begun to invent her own outfits by combining tops, bottoms, and various layers that were never really meant to go together. It doesn't bother me, really. I think it's cute. She's just ahead of the curve. I didn't go through my mix-and-match thrift store phase until I was much older. :)
My son, on the other hand, is only 4, so his idea of being fashionable is intentionally wearing two different colored socks.
weird, I just realized that my comment sounds almost exactly like brettdl's...first I talk of my daughter, and then I even used the same phrase "my son, on the other hand..."
Quirky. I guess I should always read other people's comments before I leave on of my own. LOL.
My 6yo has been dressing herself since school began. The thing is, her wardrobe for school is limited to jeans and whatever tshirt or blouse she chooses. It really doesn't bother me so much when her socks are pink and her shirt is purple. Just as long as her clothes are clean and *appear* coordinated.
When she's home, she's allowed to go wild with whatever else she has in her closet. Some days she coordinates just fine.. Other days she makes me want to cry but I suck it up and hope her fashion sense picks up when she gets older.
You were beat up a lot as a kid, no? Lol! Just kidding. I was right there with you in the fashion 'forward' sense.
There's absolutely no way I can tell the 6yo what to where. Most I can do is tell her how hot or cold it'll be so she knows what to pick for layering. Luckily, Portland is rather eclectic when it comes to fashion, so she fits right in no matter how crazy her combination is.
My boy is pretty decked out most of the time.
Dude, those yellow socks are rad.
those yellow socks are rad
I might just go out and get a pair of yellow socks to wear this summer. With my sandals no less!
My daughter had a fashion sense of a fashion designer from a young age, she demands everything but ordinary clothes, which she don't get, hence mum is not popular in her books when it comes to clothes. The more the glitter, bling and frills .. she wants it.
The boys will be the same as your kids, dress what ever is comfortable and clean. Little man, as long as it has a picture in the front it'll do him.
Love the socks too :-)
My oldest daughter, 7, has a more conservative style, mostly jeans and reasonably sensible shirts. My youngest daughter, 6, likes tank tops in January, sweaters in August, thinks plaid and polka-dots match if they both have pink in them, and still wears three different play dresses/costumes each day. I hate to admit it but she has left the house several times with what I would consider a poor choice of attire simply because the effort seems too much.
Clare puts a lot of thought into what she wears too. We can't even buy anything for her anymore without her approval.
That photo, by the way, might be useful for a Wikipedia Garanimals entry.
I was always like that. I'd tell my daughter that she needed long sleeves and pants (on a cold day) and she'd do the rest. Mismatched, who cares? I just wanted her happy and comfortable. Personally I don't see a need for my kids to look just like catalog (model) kids.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Enough said.
When my boys were at the "please get yourself dressed" stage, the only saving grace was that they were about the same size and so they would grapple through drawers and come up with whatever combo they desired at that NOW moment. I remember one day, all three of us looking for socks and we couldn't find socks. I left the room in frustration and then watched them leave for school, each with one brown sock and one green sock. {sigh}
Yes, alright, attention is good at five years old, but canary yellow?
canary yellow?
Yes, I'll have to bring that up with my mother next time I see her!
Awesome picture. I'm guessing it was around Easter time with all those coordinated pastels.
And I too love those yellow socks. I doubt you could even find something like that today.
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