Hello and happy Friday!
Today we share just two topics, beginning with a story in The Times that I’m hoping mothers can share some insight on: “Mini Me With High Heels of Her Own“.
Once the stuff of tabloid headlines (there was general “tsking” when paparazzi captured Suri Cruise in silver peep-toe heels), wedges and heels for tots and tweens have gone mainstream, turning up in schoolyards and on playgrounds far from Hollywood or Madison Avenue.
Even without reading the portion of the story shown above you can guess who the poster child for the trend would be, Suri Cruise.
Star Traks Photo via The NY Times
Here is a sample of a heel for young ladies, the MICHAEL Michael Kors Girls’ Violet Wedge at Dillard’s shown in the ‘Youth Girls’ category.
MICHAEL Michael Kors at Dillard’s
Back to the story by Tatiana Boncompagni:
Dr. Shari E. Miles-Cohen, a senior director of the Women’s Programs Office at the American Psychological Association in Washington, said that while young girls who wear their mother’s heels around the house are only pretending to be adults, the “line gets blurry” (and the message confusing) when they are given the “accouterments of adult clothing” to wear in real life.
Here is the Kenneth Cole Reaction Girls’ Dan-cin, available in Toddler sizes. A toddler….??!!
Kenneth Cole Reaction at Dillard’s
And our final portion of the story:
“The research suggests that the bombardment of sexualized images tell girls that popularity and social standing are based on looking like a sex object,” Dr. Miles-Cohen wrote in an e-mail.
Besides potential social and psychological effects, there is also the question of whether these heels are safe for a child.
Here are the Stuart Weitzman Satin Wedges, also for Toddlers. (This is the point at which TPP bashes her head into the keyboard. Lifts. Repeats.)
Stuart Weitzman at Saks Fifth Avenue
We have clearly moved into the “It’s Just Not Done” zone. And as far as that ‘Mommy & Me’ trend goes, below we share Stuart Weitzman’s Girls’ Braided Wedge Sandal (left) and Women’s Minx Sandal (right), definitely workable for those needing to have Minnie Me footwear for their young lady. (Ahem.)
Stuart Weitzman
For “dressy” toddler and girls’ shoes is it so bad to pine for something as simple as a ballerina flat, perhaps in a shinier finish if need be? Or a modified Mary Jane with a velvet bow? Seen below, Bloch Ballerina Flat and Gucci Flat with Bow, both at Saks. (You know desperate times are here when I am showing a Gucci shoe for girls as a positive footwear example!)
Bloch/Gucci at Saks Fifth Avenue
Here’s where I desperately need insight from those who are raising young ladies: am I hopelessly out of sync with ‘the real world,’ is this truly an “everyone is doing it” situation? Or is it more a trend not truly embraced or allowed by many mothers? (The post also in the “Help Me Understand” category, clearly.)
You can read the entire NY Times story here.
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Our other tidbit involves a brand we have certainly harped about in this space, J. Crew. Unbeknownst to yours truly, the company is doing a limited range of maternitywear. The fabulous I Pick Pretty, ever-vigilant on all things fashionable, shared the news via her Twitter feed.
J. Crew Maternity
The selection is very limited at this point, really only two different pant styles at this point. Below we show the Minnie pant.
J. Crew Maternity Minnie Pant
Here is how the Minnie is described:
Our Minnie pant (aka the magic pant, because it looks that good on everyone), now in a maternity edition. With a chic cropped fit like the original, it’s tailor-made for moms-to-be with a waistline that dips slightly at the front and super-discreet elastic panels at each hip so it can be worn right up until the big day (and after too).
The Minnie maternity pant sells for $118, it is available in three different colors.
J. Crew Maternity Minnie Pant
Best of all, the maternity Minnie also comes in Tall and Petite sizing.
Crew’s other style is the Pixie Pant, it retails at $128.
J. Crew Maternity Pixie
The description for the Pixie is similar to that of the Minnie.
Our pixie pant is beloved for its incredibly slimming (yet completely comfortable) design—and now it’s offered in a maternity edition. Like the original, it’s sleek and structured thanks to our figure-flattering heavyweight stretch ponte fabric. The (key) differences? The waistline slightly dips at the front, and it has super-discreet elastic panels at the hips, so it can be worn right up until the big day and after too.
Here is a better look at a major part of what matters in a maternity fit, the waist, we show the Pixie waistline.
J. Crew
Thank you again to I Pick Pretty, letting us know there is another option in maternity wear.
With that, g’bye until next time!