Thankfully (for my sanity as well as my wallet), my preschool daughter is much more interested in flinging her body off furniture than she is in fashion. She would rather craft than discuss clothing trends and she could care less about the latest and greatest hair accessories. In fact, save for her sparkly tutu and matching pink heels that she dons when watching “Dancing with the Stars” she really has no desire to dress up at all.
My current situation (as fleeting as it might be) makes it hard for me to relate to parents who (whether they realize it or no) are creating mini fashionistas. Case in point: mega-upscale retailer Neiman Marcus recently came out with a new collection of kids fashions called “Just Kidding.” And after receiving a copy of their latest catalog (the result of being attached to every mailing list known to man) I think I’ve figured out how the company came up with the collection’s name:
$280 for a raincoat
$240 for a Marc Jacobs dress for preschoolers and $310 for the matching boots
$100 jeans for toddlers
$245 Juicy Couture coat for tweens
$85 for a cotton T-shirt
One look at those prices had me asking: Is Neiman Marcus “Just Kidding”?
The economy stinks? Really? Apparently not for the parents buying their kids clothes at Neiman Marcus.
Before I get hate mail from Neiman Marcus’ attorneys, let me say that the catalog’s selections are absolutely adorable and the day I win the Powerball jackpot I promise to treat my daughter to the $150 rain boots in the shape of puppies that she has her eye on.
In the meantime, I can’t help but think of the parents who use this catalog as the main source for stocking their children’s closets. Three hundred dollars for a dress that has nothing to do with a trip down the aisle? One hundred dollar jeans for a kid who would rather be running around buck-naked? What happens if (gasp!) the inevitable happens and that $245 designer coat becomes the backdrop for a finger painting masterpiece or more conceivably, a makeshift napkin for peanut butter and jelly smeared hands?
Than again, I suppose if you can afford a $900 outfit you have enough money to pay for someone to clean it for you.
Don’t get me wrong. I think fashion is a great way for kids to express themselves and I have been known to drop more than a few dollars on outfits my daughter requires for special occasions, but those times are few and far between. In addition, thanks to coupons I get by being a member of clothing clubs at Carters, The Children’s Place and OshKosh B’Gosh I get quality clothes for my daughter that I never pay full price for. What’s more, I am not above scouring the sale racks at Target and Wal-Mart to get great deals on basic items she grows out of in three months time.
My daughter is still learning how to read. She has no idea if she is wearing something made by Marc Jacobs or Marc Jujubes. Which begs the question: Are the designer duds really for the kids or for the parents?
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