If you have girls, I'd like to talk for a moment about clothes. In the past,
as I've written about, Grace has always preferred simpler, more "adventurer" styles of clothes. She's never been one to want dressy and frilly, never went through a princess stage or begged for scarves to wear around her neck (did anyone else have that trend flare up in their child's school?). Once I let go of trying to push my ideas of style on Grace, we've had a nice run of fuss free dressing.
But now that she is a teenager, things are changing! I'm so happy that she is willing to experiment and try new things so I celebrate that, but man it's a scary world out there. I'm struggling to find a place to shop for her. She's in that in between stage of being tall enough for adult clothes while not being filled out enough (um, she has a 23 inch waist) to wear them, but the brands we've worn for the past several years don't go up to her size. Also, and here is where I sound like a prude, everything seems to be so revealing! Shorts are scraps of fabric, tops show bra straps (on purpose?) and skirts are so short you certainly can't play, or even bend down. It's important to me that Grace learn the value of modesty even while pushing the envelope as teenagers have probably done since the beginning of history!
And we are dealing with new territory in that, for the first time ever, she wants a bikini. I've always maintained a "no bikini" party line, however, I realize it's a tough spot to be in since the vast majority of her friends wear bikinis. She went to a pool party a few weeks ago and she was the only one in a one piece and that can be hard for a 13 year old; even one that's pretty comfortable in her own skin. So I'm trying to come up with a compromise with more of a tankini style (she doesn't want that) or more of a sporty type of bikini. But where do I find such a thing?? Or do I just let go and embrace the bikini stage?
A few days ago, Grace and I spent a few hours shopping at the mall and at the end of the day Grace had picked out some really lovely, and appropriate, clothes. In the end, I smiled because even though she is stretching her boundaries, everything she picked out was still "Grace" but with a bit more style!
So I'm really curious how you deal with this? Or is it not an issue for you? Perhaps I'm being entirely too old fashioned? Or maybe I"m just not shopping in the right places? If you have good sources to purchase clothes, stores or online, please share! Surely there is somewhere besides Forever 21 and Aeropostle, though, frankly, that seems to be where the kids want to shop!
P.S. The above photo is of one of Grace's favorite finds from our shopping day. A whole store (Forever 21) full of lacy and on trend items and picks out a Cherry Coke sweatshirt!