Last week I had to put away almost an entire closet of Natalia's clothes. Most of them she grows out of faster than she wears them out, so we donate them to Goodwill. Buying clothes now is a little more frustrating than when I could dress up my sweet little toddler. Low rise jeans for a school age girl is a totally obtuse idea, as is the idea of the "skinny jean". I had to explain to Jeremy that this isn't a judgment, just the look of the pants when they get to the ankle. I will spare you my rant on the tween girls T-shirt that has a scratch and sniff chest logo. She now also has a say as to what she wants to look like. At least she is pretty predictable: Pink dresses that "twirl", anything with glitter or sequins, and Hello Kitty. I approve and would dress that way myself if I thought I could pull it off without an intervention involving a social worker.
When we shop for Natalia, I try and do an entire coordinating wardrobe all at once. I have learned over the years that since there are multiple people dressing this child, I must make it as user friendly as possible. I am mainly speaking about Jeremy. Holy cow. He totally doesn't get it and now I marvel that he is able to dress himself and not take on the world looking like Napoleon Dynamite.
As we shop, Jeremy puts together an outfit where the top piece and the bottom piece both have "red". It wasn't red. Neither piece had a scrap of red on it, not to mention there were two totally different and busy patterns involved. I just stood in Old Navy looking at him like he had just grown a third eye. Don't feel too sorry for him because he is not color blind - he just doesn't get it. Although it would be helpful if he unleashed some sort of metrosexual side, it would also make me a bit confused, so in the meantime - I spoon feed her fashions to him.
My favorite Jeremy fashion moment is when I met my two favorite people for dinner at Tucanos after a training class one evening. They were already sitting at the booth and eating when I joined them. Natalia gets up to accompany me for round two at the trough when I realized she is wearing a shirt and tights. Tights, just tights, nothing but the tights. I asked if she spilled something on herself and she said 'no'. Jeremy's response is "What's wrong?". Um, those are hosiery - not bottoms. He still looked puzzled and I just about died laughing. By the way... Natalia thought she looked great.
Now, dressing herself is another matter. She puts together the typical six year old stuff. She will put together her favorite shirt with her favorite skirt and feel fabulous even though the two clash so loudly it could wake the Titans. She sternly reminds me "Mom! It doesn't have to match." I can honestly tell you that I consulted my Natalia 101 manual and she is right. There is nothing written stating her clothing has to match. The only parameters are weather appropriateness and clean. Those are the days I take extra time to make sure her face and nails are clean, and that her hair is groomed so I don't get a call from Child Services regarding the welfare of my little boogerface.
I do have to admit that when it comes to Natalia - getting dressed has never really been a battle between us. She has always pretty much just gone with whatever I picked out for the day. I miss the days when she got to wear a princess dress over her clothing just to run errands. I mean, seriously. Wouldn't that be so much fun even as an adult? Clothes are way beyond the practicality these days. Natalia and I both agree that the four inch platform booties not only keep our tender feet off the harsh ground, but also look fabulous. They look amazing with her red monkey pajamas while she clomps around the house sounding like a seizing Irish dancer.
The point is this: Who really cares if she doesn't match as long as she feels fabulous? While I am not promoting she find her self worth in appearance, don't we all want to step out and feel like we shine? If she gains a little sparkle from wearing a periwinkle blue "twirling" skirt with a red T-shirt, brown sweater and pink suede shoes I say "Work it girl! Rock that sparkle". Just don't let daddy dress you anymore.
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