In Her Words

Designer Jeans for Little Girls?

Never too young to fret over fashion

-Jill Coury

Designer jeans for little girls? Who came up with this one? I guess designers felt women were not spending enough money on premium denim, so they decided to hit up small children as well.

My daughter Kalie is six and will be entering first grade in the fall. She is a sweet, shy little girl and, up to this point, she's been rather naïve about name-brand jeans and designer shoes.

Some friends were over when I received a department store's anniversary sale catalog. As we were looking through it, a few of the moms noticed the children's designer jeans were on sale and mentioned they would be purchasing the "premium" denim for their daughters. I gasped. I have to admit I cringe when I have to spend more than fifteen dollars for any one piece. That's a splurge!

Kalie noticed we were looking at the anniversary catalog. Later that evening, she opened it up and pointed to all the items her friends owned and mentioned what she would like to buy.

Last weekend I went out with my sister to get school shoes for Kalie at the sale. Before I left, Kalie was very specific on what she wanted and what she found to be appalling. I couldn't believe my ears. What had I raised? A bubble-gum-popping, mall-shopping post-toddler? Could this be? I was not expecting to have this conversation with Kalie at age six. I had been preparing a speech for when she turned 16; I guess I was a decade off.

I reminded Kalie how grateful she should be to even receive new shoes each year. I also let her know we have a budget and that she would not be getting the "designer" shoes her friends owned, but rather the shoes I found appropriate in taste and in price.

When I got home later that evening, Kalie was still awake, waiting for her new shoes. She opened the box, excited with what I had purchased, and ran to her room to try on the shoes. I realized that she and I had made it through the first round unscathed. But I fear the future. I guess I will have to lead by example and show my daughter that designer labels don't define a person; they're just labels.

And if that doesn't work, I'll just burn the anniversary-sale catalog before she sees it!

Are children dressing over-the-top? What's up with the styles these days?

Jill Coury is a married mother of three who lives the suburban dream: carpools, volunteer work and loads of dirty laundry! Visit her at www.jillcoury.com.