*This is technically “part three” in a series of Liberty of London for Target posts I’m doing today. If you’re interested, part one is on Wishing True and part two is on Style Key West.
Long before I had my own daughter, I would marvel at some of the truly hideous outfits I saw little girls wearing. Especially when the parents accompanying them were dressed so tastefully. Where was the disconnect? Why did they put their daughters in hot pink bedazzled Barbie halter tops? What possessed them to think shiny polyester dresses in Easter colors made for appropriate “fancy” clothes?
Now that three year old Eleanor has taken an interest in her own wardrobe, the pieces are starting to fall together.
Bottom line: little girls have atrocious taste.
When Eleanor was just a newborn, I combed Ebay for Janie and Jack’s London Town line. It came out a year before I knew I would have a daughter, so I didn’t buy any of it. I have fond memories of pressing my nose up against the store window while I clutched my first born boy, tears running down my face, as I admired those darling plaid jumpers and embroidered cardigans… But Ebay delivered! I found every piece in the collection from the red rosebud embroidered top to the plaid gaucho pants. I couldn’t wait to play dress up with my new doll. But wait I would, since I knew better than to dress an infant in such finery. I only purchased the 3T sizes.
And this was our year! She turned three in October and as soon as the weather began to cool, I gleefully showed her the rich wool and soft cotton.
Her response? “That is not for me.”
Excuse me? Since when did she have a say in what she wore? Didn’t I have time until the inevitable teenage girl battles over low rise jeans and bra-less tube top ensembles?
Apparently not. And after copious tears over the gaucho pants (on both sides), I had to admit defeat. Look for my Ebay listings next Fall.
Sadly, this was not an isolated incident. Every shopping trip involves at least one conversation where I ask her what she thinks about something adorable and she tells me, “it’s terrible.” Seriously – that’s the word she uses. Where do they get this stuff?
I recently wrote about our children developing their own personalities and how they should be free to choose “who” they want to be. That? Was a load of crap. Eleanor’s fashion sense isn’t developing well. And I really wish I could just enforce tasteful clothing, like I enforce good nutrition and bedtime schedules. Oh – who am I kidding, my kids won’t eat anything but cheese sandwiches. Why would I think their wardrobes would be any different?
The most recent of our mother-daughter debates took place yesterday when we drove to Target to see the new Liberty of London line. I had already viewed most of it on the Target website and was enchanted by the dresses for little girls. One of each please!
Eleanor did not agree. She looked at this…
…and promptly sniffed her disapproval. She then pointed at this:
Out of EVERYTHING in the girls’ section, she picked the shiniest, sleaziest polyester. In sunset colors with a rosette AND a bubble skirt.
And she meant business.
She really wanted that dress.
Luckily for me, there weren’t any in her size and I didn’t have to lie. Crisis averted. But it’s just a taste of the years to come…
But I’m smart. And I have a plan.
Eleanor is madly in love with our six year old neighbor Jonas. She begs for him to come over and play, and when he leaves she dissolves into tears. When he is here, she spends half her time asking me why he’s not talking to her and insisting that I come tell him to pay attention to her
What am I? Her wing man? Seriously Eleanor – he’s just not that into you.
But it does kind of break my heart when she gets all excited about showing him her pretty dress and he could care less. She smiles and flourishes, “LOOK Jonas!” And he just gazes at her blankly, obviously thinking, “what am I looking at.” Oh Eleanor…get used to it…you’ll be dressing up for men for years and it will never change… (Barring the low rise jeans and bra-less tube top of course, but that’s another conversation for another time.)
So here’s my plan. I’m going to ask Jonas’ mom (a good friend of mine) to bring over the Liberty of London dresses one day and say they’re from Jonas. I may even pay Jonas to tell her he loves them on her. And I totally think it will work.
But what about the future you ask? What about the more important disputes over indecent apparel? Well – I have a plan for that too. I have no intention of being the bad guy. When she walks downstairs wearing a skirt that barely covers her bottom and a challenging glare, I’ll just smile. Then I’ll say, “you look nice honey. Just go say goodbye to Dad before you leave.”
Oh those ruffled LoL dresses are SOOOO pretty – I'm heading there later and hope to find them in the right size! I can't believe you have all those adorable 3T clothes- Fi is a 2T now and if they're fall-ish you might have a buyer sooner than later! :) I LOVE your plan re: Jonas – you have to tell us if it works!!!
That reddish one at the bottom…I want that one.
Girls and their love of pastel polyester puffy dresses – who can understand it? I am forever steering Annie away from those fashion atrocities. And, yes, sadly, these things matter to me.
i love your plan and totally approve!
my little m has a mind of her own when it comes to clothes. fortunately, she never went for "character" merchandise, but i'd love if she'd wear a dress now and then. my fave thing on her was her private school jumper. now that she's in public school, it's all about the suede boots and the jeans.
LOL. You are terrific, Kate!Loved the line "the sleaziest polyester". Classic. When I have kids, I'm coming to you for parenting advice! I was just back in Target today and one of the Liberty displays they DID have out was the girls dresses and I thought how adorable they were…
I think your plan is genius and cannot wait to hear how it comes off…. xx
My wife was so looking forward to having a little princess to dress. Now we're just adding another Jonas to the pack.
My daughter likes to dress herself too. She looks like a homeless person 90% of the time.
P.S. Porgie wanted that dress from Target too. She loves silky clothes.
Argh, I can't believe that phase starts so young and hits so strong! I laugh every time I see a little girl out in something really outrageous (recently: a giraffe costume on a random Saturday at National Airport). But I looooooove dressing up our baby girl in my own favorites, and will be so sad to lose the Power of the Wardrobe when the time comes.
first of all, genius idea. Second, I just read about that line of clothes and they are already sold out in my local target, damn it.
Third, I wish I could tell her to say goodbye to her dad. I have no back up on this. It sucks
That last line is key, I think.
My girls are almost 10 and almost 7 and I'm still waiting for them to learn what matching means.
Oh, Eleanor, I know how you feel. Jonas just doesn't get it. Last week when I had on my J Crew Cowl neck sweater dress, he told me the collar looked funny. When I went all out and had my hair cut, highlighted' and straightened, Jonas said it "just doesn't look good". Like his father, he clearly has no sense of fashion. However there is hope for you. Jonas' father also has a penchant for younger blondes, so in a few years he may be very into you!
-Jonas' Mom
Call me sleazy, but I think I like that brown number beside that overly colorful thing she picked out. However, your picture could be doing it some undue justice??
I do love that Liberty of London dress on the bottom though! I am actually heading to Target this evening and I will be on the lookout!
yes…way cute!
this post makes me laugh because i realize how lucky i have it! my k will wear whatever is placed in front of her. she is just not bothered!?! oh well….?
what we do battle about is her hair…hence the reason that i took my OWN pair of scissors, with my OWN hands and chopped it off…outside…in the backyard. CHOP!!! i am serious…LOL!
so yes. we all have our battles i guess, when it comes to our daughters!
Oh! This post was SO dead on! I LOVED it : ) It makes me want a little girl. Sort of : ). : )