I would never proclaim to be particularly fashionable. Vogue magazine bores me to tears, Project Runway doesn’t appeal to me at all and despite never actually doing yoga, I pretty much live in black yoga pants and t-shirts. So, I realize I am not one to judge someone else’s fashion sense. However…
Lily has developed quite a sense of style lately, and despite not following the latest trends, I can at least appreciate a decent sense of style. And hers? It just ain’t a good one.
In theory, I love the idea of letting children pick out their own outfits and develop their own unique look. It’s so adorable to see kids marching around in quirky little ensembles like these:
Unfortunately, Lily’s outfits look nothing like that. They are always mismatched, usually ill-fitting and never seasonably appropriate. And she is adamant about wearing them.
Worst of all? I actually let her leave the house like that. At least on the days when I take her to school in what I slept in the night before. It’s only fair.
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{ 59 comments… read them below or add one }
My 7 yr. old daughter has the same sense of style. I like to call her choices “ecclectic”. At least she always owns her style choices. She’s confident if nothing else.
Reminds me of iCarly/Punky Brewster type style. I think it’s adorable and great when they have their own unique style. I hope Sammi is that way as she gets bigger, right now at 3 she just wants to wear dresses all the time.
Kel´s last blog ..Drunk Kisses
Lily and my daughter must have gone to the same fashion school! But Lily looks adorable and more important, age-appropriate. The horizontally-striped shirt is a nice touch with the vertical pattern on the tights…Keep the eye moving, Right Lily? ;)
Please email me is she’d like to add a Pigtail Pal shirt to her, ahem, distinguishable wardrobe!
I have a “Fancy Ava”…like the books Fancy Nancy). She is adamant about her pink cowboy boots. They go with every outfit that she mismatches and somehow pulls off by looking adorable. She dislikes dark brown and blue, squiggly socks and jeans. She owns her glitter, her pizazz, her personality, her colors, her dresses and leggings and her bedhead and her five-ness. She’s Fancy Ava and I think she grow up to be a powerful woman someday! (and hopefully will avoid Vegas :) ha,jk!) -Chris Ann
LoveFeast Table´s last blog ..Savory Chocolate Salmon Glaze
I know you are going to roll your eyes at me, but I think she looks really cute!
i think she looks pretty cute. but i have no sense of style either. or i’m too used to teaching little kids.
Aimee´s last blog ..soak it up
It’s a pick your battles situation – she looks fine (cute actually). Is it worth a melt down before school?
T Rex Mom´s last blog ..Just Hanging with Dada…
I have 4 boys. They have no style and dont care about clothes AT ALL. I love her look! I think she looks adorable.
Stephanie@The Blue Zoo´s last blog ..Cranberry Salsa
Lily and I have the same sense of style. *Sigh* It’s cute on her…me not so much.
Hugs and Mocha,
Stesha
Stesha´s last blog ..A Birthday Cake Wreck
I think she looks cute too!!
My 4.5 yr old (very important to her that I get that “half” in) has come up with some incredibly inappropriate outfits. In fact, the more inappropriate, the more she likes it, which I am hoping is not a harbinger of what’s to come. I have taken to hiding certain items from her only to see her walking around in them a few hours later. Fun, fun, fun!!
Momlissa´s last blog ..PDM – Pre Disney Mode
I think she looks adorable. I have a fashionista too, but she has to be sure that she matches. She always asks, “momma does this match?” Which nice because that gives me a kind of veto power. Saturday I kept saying, “you know I think these jeans would look better with that shirt… you know now that you have on those jeans I think this shirt would look better,” and by the time we left I had her pretty much outfitted the way I wanted it. The only thing I couldn’t get her to change was her shoes, sandals. I think I’m going to have find them.
Jennifer´s last blog ..David’s Texas Chili
I just love it that you take her to school in what you wore to bed the night before. Makes me feel less frumpy…you know, since I’m not alone.
Heather of the EO´s last blog ..So much limbo
My oldest daughter could live in sweats, just like me. My youngest, on the other hand, definitely can teach me about fashion. Let the learning begin!
Lynn from For Love or Funny´s last blog ..WHEN IT’S BAD TO BLEND IN
We struggle with that here too. I have never met a boy as adament about his clothing as R. Today he picked out red shirt and blue pants with an orange stripe. I will give it to him though… I said, “I’m not sure the red shirt goes with the orange stripe.” His response, “but Mommy, look.” And pointed to the orange truck on the red shirt.
I just have to chalk it up to independence and be sure to tell people that he picks out his own outfits. :)
I honestly think she looks adorable in that outfit! I rarely have my own daughter in matchy matchy tops and bottoms – I think she looks cute in different colors/patterns. Truth be told, I dress her like I WISH I could dress myself!
christy´s last blog ..Do stylish suits exist?
I have a friend that is a shrink that told me long ago to let it be. She said it is so healthy for them to be able to dress as they wish.
My now 7 yr old used to be EXACTLY the same way. I was more relaxed, as I had already been through it with my now 9 yr old. I finally came to terms with the fact that 9 out of 10 people that saw her had kids and realized they all go through the “I dressed myself” stage.
Watch out though…a sign of things to come. Now, it’s ALL about Justice, Limited Too and anything bling. I’m dreading the teen years if 7 and 9 are this bad.
Actually, I think she looks adorable! At five, they can get away with it.
TeacherMommy´s last blog ..My Friday Evening: The Bad, The Good, and the Potentially Scary
Hey–my kids like to wear the clothes THEY slept in to school. No, they are not pajamas. They just put clean clothes on before bed and argue that they are still clean in the morning. Most of the time, I don’t argue back. Now, I WILL protest when my 8 year old son wears navy blue pants and a black shirt. Or when my 6 year old daughter wears two different patterns on top and bottom (“But they’re both pink, Mommy!”) Heck! As long as they don’t have holes in them….I suppose anything goes.
Lolli´s last blog ..A Lesson on Budgeting….and Gratitude
I know that soon Claire will want to choose her own outfit but right now I am happy she lets me play dress up with her.
And I think that Lilly looks cute!
Jen @ buried with children´s last blog ..The Smile Maker 2000
Her pretty face makes up for her serious lack of fashion sense.
Mama Kat´s last blog ..Harry The Dirty Dog
Okay, Lily is adorable no matter what she’s wearing, but…
Well. No. Just no.
Justine :o )
Justine´s last blog ..Sterling Petty Blojo
I think she looks fabulous!
Swirl Girl´s last blog ..And Now For Something Completely Different
at least she hasn’t been wearing the same japanese pajamas since she was two
i’ve been ducktaping Gus’ together
I am sooooo tired of them!
mam´s last blog ..so tired
Lol! She looks adorable! Yes, a little mismatched, but adorable!
This reminds me of myself when I was little. I loved everything girly and in the 2nd grade my teacher had to call my Mom because I had tucked in the straps of my dress to make it a strapless tube dress. I thought it looked cuter that way, my teacher thought it looked in-appropriate for a 2nd grader! She was probably right. :)
Lindsay´s last blog ..We’re Finally Grown-ups!
Ah, but that is where you are wrong my friend! In all the pictures you post of your little girl, I kid you not, I think she looks stylish!!! I love her tights and the fact that they are not perfectly matched to her shirt or skirt. I think she is wayyyy ahead of the game her, Jill… she’s developing her OWN sense of style and fashion, and not going by the rule book! ;) She’s simply beautiful.
Loukia´s last blog ..Facing your fears
1) One of my fave pastimes is sitting on the front steps with crazy hair, last night’s make-up halfway down my face, a hot cup of coffee and my best friend; scoffing at the terrible outfits passersby dare to ware in public.
“NO…”
“Uh.. I am going to have to say no to that one for sure.”
“He has a kid? Somebody was attracted to him?”
“Well, attracted may be too strong of a word, she was probably drunk”
“And blind?”
“And in a coma…at the same time.”
2) My daughter went through a one pair of pants+dress+skirt+hot pink faux fur coat+ white hockey helmet+elmo backpack phase.
Yes I let her do it. I was letting her find herself. Besides, thanks to the helmet, we always got a seat at the front of the bus.
http;//www.theladyslounge.com
Absolutely see this coming with Eleanor. Although she wouldn’t be the only one to test me…the boys REALLY want to wear their Spider Man underoos to Target…
Kate Coveny Hood´s last blog ..It’s Just Like "Mr. Mom" Except I’m a Girl…
Princess Nagger has that same ‘fashion sense’, too… ;)
Stacy (the Random Cool Chick)´s last blog ..Sassy Homemade Wine – In the Beginning, I Made Wine Vinegar
My daughter still needs Garanimals and she’s in middle school. Some of the combos are quite entertaining, like a leopard print top in purple and black with plaid shorts and leggings. Good times. My son used to go around in a Thomas engineer hat, underpants, and frog rain boots at home. It was very Village People.
Once, my younger daughter was at the park wearing a T-shirt and a gold tulle skirt. Some woman, burdened with too much Louis Vuitton, Starbucks, and apparently time, was there. She had two small dogs off leash near the playground, and took time out of trying to talk up a 20 year old man to say, “Nice outfit. And her MOMMY let her out of the house looking like that?”
I said, “Stick with the dogs, lady. Don’t have kids.” And then I stole her boy-toy. Well, not really on the last part;)
she’s so stylie! your kids are so stinkin’ cute jill!
scrappysue´s last blog ..six word saturday (on sunday), the weekend report and an apology
I love it, she looks just like my 9 year old! lol
You have to pick your battles. I think at the age you can totally get away with it, now at our age people will wonder if we own a mirror.
What is wrong with that outfit?! The hearts in the shirt match the tights! She’s so beautiful….a paper bag would even look cute.
haha – I love yoga pants too – minus the yoga!
momma don’t hate me, but I love her outfit. I really would wear that, I love funky stuff.
I live in yoga pants and sweats too. You know I can’t remember the last time I wore a dress.
dawn´s last blog ..devil’s food cupcakes w/ salty mascarpone frosting
She is so cute! When I babysit my friends daughters I let them where whatever they want. My best friend is always horrified : ) I say, life is short. If you want to wear sandals and knee socks, well then, knock yourself out : ) Oh yes I do!
Life with Kaishon´s last blog ..Sometimes I have to pinch myself…
Good for you, allowing her to express herself! Don’t worry, Mom. I had the same daughter – now she’s 17 and looking at design schools for college. Her fashion sense now is amazing! I trust her judgement above all others.
Jane´s last blog ..Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
amazingly enough neither of my girls could care less what they wear. I lay it out each night on the floor for them – they put it on. Done! No arguments ever.
Tiaras & Tantrums´s last blog ..Sesame Street 40 Years of Sunny Days DVD Review
My daughters latest fashion ‘craze’ is wellies. With everything.
She insisted on wearing a short sleeved tshirt (because it was pink), stripey purple tights and denim skirt with her green and pink frog wellies.
Precious.
Amy´s last blog ..Where do babies come from….
My daughter was so like this-but the way I looked at it was as long as it was so out of whack that there is no way on earth I could have done it – then I’d let her have at it. I got to the point where I just instituted my clothing rules. Here they are (and this is all of them):
1. Clothing must be clean (this doesn’t mean not stained or ripped, just clean).
2. Clothing must be seasonally appropriate (no swimsuits in winter)
3. Clothing must cover all appropriate body parts.
4. Underwear must be worn when leaving the house.
Some battles are just not worth fighting. I had to realize that her clothing choices were not a reflection of me as a mom. Hard lesson but there it is. The bizarre thing is that I’ve had more moms come up to me and say that my daughter is a fashionista icon for their daughters – go figure.
Liz Jenkins´s last blog ..DC Organizing Conference: Tips on Estates, Green Organizing & Email!
I don’t know what any of you people are talking about. She looks fine to me.
Then again, you’ve seen how I dress. A friend once said of me, “You can dress her up … kinda.” And she was a GOOD friend.
X
Supa
With a face as cute as hers who cares what she wears! She is adorable and you are a great mom!
She looks fabulous! She’s a rule breaker!
I think she looks cute; but then again what do I know, I’m the mother of boys. ;)
jen´s last blog ..mind
She is adorable and i love her outfit! :)
Stephaine @ Geezees´s last blog ..Crazy Love, Destination Canvas, time spent with family
I have to disagree with you on this.
Your daughter has a righteous sense of style.
FeastAfterFamine´s last blog ..Always my yogini
I have always said that someone should “invent” a button for kids to wear that says, “Look, I picked out my own outfit!” That way it let’s parent’s off the hook and makes people smile at your child with understanding instead of shaking their head at the poor-taste-mommy. Now that I’ve given away my million dollar idea…
I think her outfit looks pretty chic, mixing patterns is very “in” right now!
becca´s last blog ..Bribery. It works.
I’m realizing I had two of my biggest peeve typos in this… ugh. I guess I had a thing for apostrophes when I wrote this.
At least you don’t have a TWO YEAR OLD BOY who wakes up each day saying things like “Today I wear a red shirt” and cries when there are no red shirts clean. Or once he woke me up in the middle of the night bawling “I wanna wear my Tonka shirt!!!!” Sigh.
Rachel´s last blog ..Searching for a Tree Skirt
Ben has just started that and it drives me CRAZY. I expect it with a girl, with him, I have zero patience.
Hello Jill,
I followed you over here from Bitchin’ Wives Club.
All I have to say is I love what your daughter is wearing, it’s Oilily style. Maybe I’m crazy and maybe it’s because I have three boys but I love the clothes that little girls are wearing these days. If only they had clothes like that when I was little!
Love your blog. I’m trying to get acquainted with Blogher people since I missed it last year and want to catch up for the next one. I’m glad to start with you.
Jillian´s last blog ..Do You Really Trust Your Children at Home Alone?
I’d love to hear Lily’s opinion of the new Mattel Ken doll in their Barbie line, to be released in the Spring. How does this description (from Mattel) sound to a 5-year-old fashionista:
“sporting a dashing jacquard-patterned jacket with a light pink polo shirt and crisp white pants.” Wait, it gets worse!
The doll is called the “Palm Beach Sugar Daddy Ken.” My reaction is a gag-me response. What little girl wants an old-man-with-grey-hair-dressed-in-pastels doll? We all know what “Sugar Daddy” means. It’s not something most parents want their little girls to identfy with, even in play. It’s certainly not going to help Mattel’s already ethics-plagued reputation — I’m referring to all those millions of toy recalls and its continuing lead-painted toys made in China. Ethic Soup blog has a good post on the new Sugar Daddy doll at:
http://www.ethicsoup.com/2009/11/ethicsplagued-mattel-steps-in-it-again-palm-beach-sugar-daddy-ken-doll-.html#more
See, I think her outfit is cute! I have 2 boys though. My 2.5 year old likes to pick out his clothes and usually does a heck of a job (insert sarcasm). And you should see what he is wearing when daddy chooses his clothes!!!!
Tamara
http://www.theunexperiencedmom.com
Tamara´s last blog ..Media Chatter: Suri Cruise Has Public Meltdown
Ohmigod, if that is bad, you should see Miss D.–I think your daughter looks completely wonderful? MY kid tries to wear mini-skirts in November and has no understanding WHY a Superman T shirt+ Pink Tutu does not = outfit for school….
TheKitchenWitch´s last blog ..It ain’t pretty, but it be good!
Definitely a pick-your-battles (or don’t) situation. She looks kinda fabulous, anyway.
I’m way lazy. My kid doesn’t care what he wears, and I still barely get him out the door in something presentable each day.
Kim Hosey (AZ Writer)´s last blog ..Apoopos of nothing
Oh my gosh, I could have written this post. My daughter is 5 and is quite the fashionista too. Unfortunately, for her, I’m not anywhere as cool as you and make her where my choices when she goes to school. But, I am nice enough to let her choose when we are locked in the house!!
Mel @ A Box of Chocolates´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday – Somewhere Over the Rainbow
I see the art behind her choice – a flowing pink theme, like spring breaking through winter. It’s amazing! She’ll be the next Stella McCartney! hehe
Jessica – This Is Worthwhile´s last blog ..In other news:
i like her sense of style. she looks creative ;)
Hee Hee Hee… My daughter loves to color coordinate her outfits. And by color coordinate, I mean, wear a turquoise skirt, turquoise shirt, and turquoise socks. And turquoise barrettes. And if we’re not going for photographs or to church, I usually just let it go. I like to save my arguing for when I REALLY need her to look decent.
Makes me wonder about some of my OWN clothing choices as a kid.
Texan Mama´s last blog ..Meal Rotation
She is DELICIOUS!
Maria @BOREDmommy´s last blog ..Travellin’ Man