"Girl's" clothes vs. "Boy's" clothes

bennikki · October 2014

I didn't read the original blog entry, but this follow up on Huffington Post was really interesting.

I only have DS and another DS on the way, but I do have nieces, and I'm definitely seeing this as they are getting older and moving into the girl's section and out of the toddler stuff. Luckily we have a great local children's boutique that "lets them be little" so-to-speak while still giving them style and whimsy.

I had a girlfriends day out this weekend, and we were talking about how the pressure to dress their kids stylishly/trendy gets so real once their kids are in school, even pre-school, and often the "stylish" stuff is this over sexual, genderdized garbage that marketing forces down our kids throat at a really young age. Obviously this isn't really on my radar yet (DS doesn't really watch TV yet, and even when he does, it's Sesame Street on Netflix), but just wondering if some of you are feeling it already and how you're dealing?

Mom2anAngel2 · October 2014

I'm really into the more "classic" looks on kids. DS is often in a pair of khaki shorts and a polo shirt. I don't have a lot for DD yet, but what I do have is jumpers and sweater dresses with leggings. I think there are options available (even at Target), it just takes a little more looking around to find them.

I'm sure in time I will have to fight the clothing wars with both kids. For now I am going to just be picky about my choices.

bennikki · October 2014

I agree that you can't blame the store, and hey, Target is my jam, so it's not a bash towards Target just more a general discussion of the way our clothing styles are influencing our children. I know my SIL is getting into this issue with my 7yo niece. Only their issue is, my niece doesn't like the tight jeans or the short shorts, but she also doesn't want to wear stuff from the boys department. My SIL is very much a tom-boy and dresses for comfort and mobility (she still looks very "put together" but her special ed job requires her to be able to move a little more freely than someone who may work in an office), so I think a lot of this comes from watching what her mom wears. My SIL has had a lot of luck with the Justice store and a local boutique, but really why should it be so limited? If these stores can cut shorts and tank tops stylishly without making parents worry about nip slips and crotch shots, why can't others?