DEAR AMY: I know this is not a life-altering question, but I would appreciate any suggestions you have for me. I have an absolutely beautiful 9-year-old daughter who is quite tall and mature looking. While she is not overweight, she has a solid build. She has outgrown the children’s sizes in the clothing stores, but I can’t find anything remotely appropriate for her to wear in the junior’s section. (In fact, I am pretty sure I won’t find this “junior” clothing appropriate when she is a teenager. What are these designers thinking?) I cannot be the only parent with this problem. Do you have any ideas of how I can appropriately clothe my daughter?
Wondering Mom
DEAR MOM: My own daughter passed me in height when she was 9, and I well remember the awkward transition and dearth of choices for a girl who is as tall as a teenager but still a little kid.
I checked various store sites and also Pinterest for ideas for you, and suggest this basic look to start:
Leggings, an oversize T-shirt or blouse and a fun vest and/or denim jacket.
Fringe seems to be “in” this year, and you might be able to find a fringe jacket your daughter likes.
Leggings (and “jeggings”) are a lifesaver for tall girls. They give and grow with you, come in all kinds of great colors and patterns, layer well with tops and dresses and go with everything. Don’t leave your daughter out of this process; it is vital that she likes what she is wearing.
__________________
The Principle of Least Interest: He who cares least about a relationship, controls it.
A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
9 years old is 3rd grade. I am sorry but misses and Ann Taylor for a 9 year old? She will be made fun of incessantly if she is wearing old lady clothes to school like that. This mom needs to buy the juniors clothes and have them tailored so they are not revealing or skanky. Get them a size bigger and have them cut down to her size. If she is this tall, she will need a good tailor the rest of her life. It will cost a bit more but she should have clothes that she feels comfortable in, that look like kids clothes and not like she is wearing her mother's clothes.
__________________
Out of all the lies I have told, "just kidding" is my favorite !
It can be that hard when you can't find clothes that fit your child. There are a ton of kids who are too tall for the appropriate aged clothes. Luckily your daughter didn't have that problem. Many do. And it can be very very difficult. I once waited on a woman and her son who was so tall at the age of 5 that he could not wear any kids pants because they were too short. He couldn't wear men's pants because they were too big in the waist. It was a horrible mess.
__________________
Out of all the lies I have told, "just kidding" is my favorite !
No one is saying anything about being a victim - except you. I just said it is difficult. Which it is. Not sure why you think this person doesn't have a right to find something difficult without being degraded. Lots of compassion you have. Sheesh.
__________________
Out of all the lies I have told, "just kidding" is my favorite !
9 years old is 3rd grade. I am sorry but misses and Ann Taylor for a 9 year old? She will be made fun of incessantly if she is wearing old lady clothes to school like that. This mom needs to buy the juniors clothes and have them tailored so they are not revealing or skanky. Get them a size bigger and have them cut down to her size. If she is this tall, she will need a good tailor the rest of her life. It will cost a bit more but she should have clothes that she feels comfortable in, that look like kids clothes and not like she is wearing her mother's clothes.
Who is talking about Ann Taylor or old lady clothes?
Jeans and tops are jeans and tops.
Get over yourself.
__________________
A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
IKWTDS suggested Ann Taylor and you suggested misses clothes. Which are "old lady" clothes for a 9 year old. Sorry. But it's true. Maybe you should have some perspective. What 9 year old wants to dress in the same clothes as her mother and grandmother?! She will want fun young clothes.
__________________
Out of all the lies I have told, "just kidding" is my favorite !
It was really hard to find clothes that were long enough.
Jeans? Forget it. But misses had longer pants.
And I fell in love with boots.
Pants inside the boot and no one knew if they were too short.
Then I found stirrup pants.
Those were awesome.
Dresses on the other hand were either too short or too long.
So I learned to tack up the longer ones.
The point is, shop around, try things on, think outside the box.
__________________
A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
IKWTDS suggested Ann Taylor and you suggested misses clothes. Which are "old lady" clothes for a 9 year old. Sorry. But it's true. Maybe you should have some perspective. What 9 year old wants to dress in the same clothes as her mother and grandmother?! She will want fun young clothes.
I don't know where you are shopping.
Sounds like Snobs "r" Us.
But I've been buying from misses sizes for decades.
Tye dye, funky prints and patterns, stylish cuts and trends are available in every size.
Caitlyn has been wearing them since about 8 or 9.
Guess we just have better shopping options around here.
__________________
A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
Stirrup pants? This isn't 1987. She can wear leggings as suggested in the OP. But stirrup pants?! Where would one even find those?!
The POINT was, there are ALWAYS options if you shop around.
And yeah.
If I could find in style clothing in the 70s and 80s for my taller frame, then it should be ten times easier now.
I was 5'5" at 9, 5'9" by 15.
Juniors were a joke.
__________________
A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
I need to know how tall this girl is.. dd8 is tall for her age and we are no where close to outgrowing the kids department they go up to a size14 now. Most pants also have the hidden elastic waist buttons to help with kids who need the length but a smaller waist.i second the leggings idea, and you can pair them with too short dresses too.
We went school shopping yesterday and I started with a trip to Once Upon a Child (gently used clothes) that way I could easily have her try on a variety of brands and styles to see which ones worked the best on her without having to go all over town, lol. I wish I tried that years ago, we have a hard time finding jeans that fit, but are long enough, but also don't show her butt when she bends down, sits, or squats.
Especially the ones with prints and the shirts are too short.
Not flattering at all, for anyone.
__________________
A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
Unless it's freezing, why wear anything under a cute dress?
Wear the dress or wear the pants.
I don't know.
They make me think of long johns.
But I don't like yoga pants, knit pants or sweat pants for daily wear either.
__________________
A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
Unless it's freezing, why wear anything under a cute dress?
Wear the dress or wear the pants.
I don't know.
They make me think of long johns.
But I don't like yoga pants, knit pants or sweat pants for daily wear either.
I said a 'too short' dress. DD is tall, so she grows out of her dresses length wise quickly. Too short to leave the house on their own, but with leggings, you can make dresses last longer.
A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
She is nine. Justice has up to a size 20. I can wear some of their clothes. She may have to order them online. Kohls has some acceptable juniors clothes.
__________________
LawyerLady
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
We have tall, very thin daughters, too. Our 17 yr old is 5'11"! They always found tshirts and skirts worked for them. Leggings in cooler weather help stretch the life of a skirt that might otherwise be too short.
We shop at second hand stores and can typically find quite a bit very inexpensively. The better brands (LE, LL Bean, Hanna Andersson, etc) have held up nicely over the course of six girls.
I also sew and currently I am lucky in that our youngest still thinks mama's creations are cool. I make her a lot of farm dresses (think Little House on the Prairie). She's 8 so, if she's anything like her sisters, I have a couple of years before she laughs those off. I write my own patterns so the height thing is no problem.
IKWTDS suggested Ann Taylor and you suggested misses clothes. Which are "old lady" clothes for a 9 year old. Sorry. But it's true. Maybe you should have some perspective. What 9 year old wants to dress in the same clothes as her mother and grandmother?! She will want fun young clothes.
I don't know where you are shopping.
Sounds like Snobs "r" Us.
But I've been buying from misses sizes for decades.
Tye dye, funky prints and patterns, stylish cuts and trends are available in every size.
Caitlyn has been wearing them since about 8 or 9.
Guess we just have better shopping options around here.
Again, no 9 year old will want to wear the same clothes as her mother and grandmother. No matter how cool they are. She is 9. She deserves clothes meant for a 9 year old.
__________________
Out of all the lies I have told, "just kidding" is my favorite !
And so far on this thread you have told me to get over myself and called me a snob. I am not so sure why you are so upset but it sounds like you need a nap. Or perhaps just to step away from the computer for awhile. I hope you feel better.
__________________
Out of all the lies I have told, "just kidding" is my favorite !
IKWTDS suggested Ann Taylor and you suggested misses clothes. Which are "old lady" clothes for a 9 year old. Sorry. But it's true. Maybe you should have some perspective. What 9 year old wants to dress in the same clothes as her mother and grandmother?! She will want fun young clothes.
I don't know where you are shopping.
Sounds like Snobs "r" Us.
But I've been buying from misses sizes for decades.
Tye dye, funky prints and patterns, stylish cuts and trends are available in every size.
Caitlyn has been wearing them since about 8 or 9.
Guess we just have better shopping options around here.
Again, no 9 year old will want to wear the same clothes as her mother and grandmother. No matter how cool they are. She is 9. She deserves clothes meant for a 9 year old.
Again, it's easy to find trendy and in style clothing if you look.
Don't know why that's too hard to understand.
__________________
A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
And so far on this thread you have told me to get over myself and called me a snob. I am not so sure why you are so upset but it sounds like you need a nap. Or perhaps just to step away from the computer for awhile. I hope you feel better.
Aww... look at you.
__________________
A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
Whether or not it is easy to find clothes depends on if you live in a good shopping area, or if you are comfortable shopping online. Not everyone does and not everyone is.
__________________
LawyerLady
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
And so far on this thread you have told me to get over myself and called me a snob. I am not so sure why you are so upset but it sounds like you need a nap. Or perhaps just to step away from the computer for awhile. I hope you feel better.
Aww... look at you.
Not sur what the point of this post is. It does back up my theory that you need to take a nap. You sound awfully cranky. I hope you feel better.
__________________
Out of all the lies I have told, "just kidding" is my favorite !
Stirrup pants? This isn't 1987. She can wear leggings as suggested in the OP. But stirrup pants?! Where would one even find those?!
I don't know - but finding them would make me EXTREMELY happy. I hate it when my pants ride up in my boots.
Right?
I think I still have the clip stirrups.
You remember those?
__________________
A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
Pttt, stirrup pants. Never liked them because they were always too long.
And they were often still too short for me.
__________________
A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
Pttt, stirrup pants. Never liked them because they were always too long.
Mini skirts are too long for you!
Yeah, not so mini. I love buying capris though, they are a perfect length. Or i can roll them up and wear them as capris.
Hahaha... that's the best image I've had all day.
__________________
A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
Stirrup pants? This isn't 1987. She can wear leggings as suggested in the OP. But stirrup pants?! Where would one even find those?!
I don't know - but finding them would make me EXTREMELY happy. I hate it when my pants ride up in my boots.
Right?
I think I still have the clip stirrups.
You remember those?
I think I still have some, too.
I think Caitlyn used them last winter.
They work.
__________________
A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
I think the Brass Plum Dept. at Nordstrom's is good. Old Navy & Gap, too. I'm not really sure where she is finding these "inappropriate" clothes unless she's going to Bebe or the like.
Time for mom to consider making some clothes for daughter. My mom ROCKED the clothing aspect. Even just a few pieces could really round out her wardrobe nicely.
A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.