“TRAMPY” KIDS. SPOILT FOR CHOICE?
I have been clothes shopping for my daughter in Target for 12 years now and I can safely say she’s never left the house looking like a street-walker.
I can also tell you, that when I was a kid growing up in country Australia there was no choice in children’s clothes at all, and most of us girls looked Amish.
Oh, my, we would have loved a pair of leopard skin ANYTHING!
Back then it was illegal to wear animal print under the age of 26.
When I head that Port Macquarie mum and primary school teacher, Ana Amini posted on Facebook that she was not prepared to shop at Target again because it was selling clothes that made young girls “look like tramps”, I was surprised.
“You have lost me as a customer when buying apparel for my daughter as I don’t want her thinking shorts up her backside are the norm or fashionable,” Ms Amini wrote.
I was even more astonished to read that the post had gathered more than 50,000 likes by this afternoon.
Is the Target at Port Macquarie different to the one at Warringah Mall?
Because I find plenty in the racks for Maeve to wear…or have I been inadvertently been shopping in Target’s 7-14 formal wear department?
Somehow stumbled into the “non-ho” aisle?
For every skimpy pair of shorts (in fab colours,easy to wash and as cheap as chips) there are plenty of leggings, jeans, ¾ length pants and cargo pants. There’s no need to buy a low-cut top, or you can layer them with t-shirts or singlets.
And the range of stuff is amazing – jackets, handbags, hats, scarves, jewellery, lots of cute shoes. I can’t get over how lucky kids are to have the choice of all this stuff. How affordable it is.
When I was a kid ( uh,oh, here we go) children’s clothes were HIDEOUS!
They were just scaled down versions of adult’s clothes. Dresses in gingham for casual and velvet for good. As I write, I almost gag at the memory of what I had to wear to church: an emerald green velvet dress with a flouncy skirt and ties at the back worn with white, lace-trimmed socks and black lace up shoes.
My school shoes.
Because the local shop didn’t stock anything in kid’s footwear except Volleys, Bata Scouts and gumboots, or , if you were lucky, there might be one a pair of red patent leather Mary Janes that you’d dream of owning in your lifetime.
Can I say it? I think some mums and kids might be spoilt for choice these days. It’s not a matter of what’s available, but surely, how you pull it together. And, it seems to be hitting the spot with most mums and daughters… the only hazard at my local Target is getting there before most of the racks are picked clean.
Might be time to quit posting on Facebook and instead go on Twitter with: “WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU’RE GOING LOOKING LIKE THAT YOUNG LADY?”
PS: Here’s a little something I wrote earlier… Shopping With Maeve. Absoultely Fabulous.
49 Responses to this article
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Dirty Pierre August 14, 2012
THANK YOU … thank you …. people are telling me this is not just a mum at all but a well orchestrated campaign by Christian right wingers
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Puhlease August 14, 2012
Oh come on Dirty Pierre! – I shop for my daughter at Target every season too, but do you not have any other comment other than the old christophobic one?
Some of these commentators make a good point, but I doubt you would use that argument should the mother turn out to be Jewish, Muslim or Gay!
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Susie August 14, 2012
Dirty Pierre, I actually know Ana Amini. She is a real Mum. A lovely woman. Trust me. This is from her heart, not some right wing conspiracy.
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Cath August 14, 2012
Susie – maybe you do “Actually Know” someone that has had a few moments of fame via the internet but saying “trust me” when nobody knows who the hell YOU are is a bit of a reach!
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FerrelBerryl August 14, 2012
I haven’t the status update but I’ve got to say, I agree with her sentiments. I don’t shop at cotton on kids as their corporate values do not align with my personal ones. I haven’t shopped at Target since the time they stocked padded bras for pre schoolers. I’m not losing sleep over it, nor am I particulalry passionate but we ARE spoiled for choice and I choose to spend my money at stores that don’t trivialize child abuse and sexualise young kids. I’m not a Christian right winger (as per above comment), I’m not Amish and I certainly wouldn’t usually find myself aligned with the pearl clutchers but it’s so easy to give big corporates a free pass because they sell cheap consumables we want. Fortunately in the age of the Internet it’s also really, really easy to spend my dollars elsewhere.
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JenB August 14, 2012
Well said, Wendy! Where are the “padded bras” for pre-schoolers in the department stores? Some of the articles in the press today are even claiming they’re selling spangly g-strings for little girls. I’ve never found them. These exaggerated stories always generate headlines they do not deserve.
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B.H. August 14, 2012
The 7-14 range in Target is horrendous. I was in the nearest store to me yesterday (in a town of 15,000) and there were no leggings in that size range, no trackpants in anything other than grey or navy. The shirts were all that floaty sheer polyester crap and the dresses were fancy pants and not designed for outdoor play. My daughter is 6 and wears a size 7 and the vast majority of the clothing in that range is not suitable for a 7 year old. Or any other child under about 12. The younger girls range is much better and has a lot more choices available.
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FerrelBerryl August 14, 2012
Ok I just saw the post. Get a load of the comments underneath. It’s hard to take the high moral ground when you blatantly slut shame little girls. Vile. I can see the context of your article now Wendy.
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The Huntress August 14, 2012
I’m with you Wendy. I would have LOVED to have had the opportunity to wear the gorgeous clothes girls have available now, rather than my brothers old hand-me-downs. I felt so ugly as a child and it probably explains my massive over-consumption of dresses today. I suppose it’s easy for me when I’m the mother of a little boy, but believe me, when I see all those gorgeous skirts, cool cargo pants and jackets and hats to accessories I almost wish I had a girl to dress up.
It really is simple – if you don’t like it, don’t buy it, take your dollars elsewhere. The only way to instigate change is to hit the store financially. Personally I have no idea what this womans problem is, but she certainly has no idea about fashion.
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Janet August 14, 2012
I have to agree Huntress. I shop for my daughter at K-mart (embarressing I know) but she loves her jeans and horse skivvies, pink boots and jackets. I havent seen anything inappropriate. I’m not sure what this woman is talking about . The kids in the park that I see look happy and comfortable.
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The Huntress August 14, 2012
Not embarrassing at all, Janet – our kids grow so fast it’s just not appropriate to spend big bucks on investment designer items for their wardrobes. I have to say in my local area I’ve not seen a single kid and thought “oooh, too much!”. I live inner city, too, where people are more likely to be fashion conscious, but like you say I always see kiddies happy, comfortable and appropriately dressed. Not counting my son who insists on board shorts and a t-shirt in the middle of winter *sigh*.
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The Huntress August 14, 2012
LOL I’ve just listened to her interview now (I had only previously read the article) and I loved her comment that she doesn’t want to see her child in black clothing with skulls on it as it’s inappropriate. I’m evidently a bad mum then, I’ve been dressing my son in black shirts with skulls and skeletons on them for years. I thought they were cool and he is delighted when people pick on him for “being too skinny, I can see your bones!”. I’m even more convinced now that she’s overreacting.
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Sapphyre August 14, 2012
I think the problem is that girls these days think they have to be sexy. You should’ve seen the Grade 6 gals all dolled up for Graduation last December.
Every time I’m in Target or Kmart with my 8yo daughter she begs me to buy her a padded bra. What the???
That’s what this woman is complaining about. Now, of course you can buy all the other nice stuff, and I do. Mostly when she’s not there. If she’s there I really hate shopping.
I think the problem is the kids drive us crazy.
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Janet August 14, 2012
Dora Explorer, trampy? I thought it was just colourful.
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Sarah August 14, 2012
Oh Wendy, you made my day!! For a second there, I thought there was something wrong with me! If you develop enough of a close relationship with your child, and are able to informally discuss these things……then they will follow your moral compass and BE O.K REGARDLESS of how they wish to express their individualism! Phew, I praise you, thanks.
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Alice Shaw August 14, 2012
I’ve actually struggled to get my kids age appropriate clothing at Target since they moved into the size 10 to 16 range. I always loved the tiny girls clothes but honestly, some of the shorts are just revolting and I don’t want my little girl dressed like a 16 year old. I think Target has some good clothes but they have definitely moved into some creepy stuff with their girls clothes.. and I’ve also noticed the sizes have shrunk. A size 12 girls is more like an old size 8. That’s been my experience anyway.
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Susie August 14, 2012
Hi Wendy,
I shop at Warringah Mall Target too. My daughter is in the middle of the demographic we are discussing. I have no problem finding leggings, cargo pants, tops and hoodies etc, all quite modest. Some of the dresses I think are actually border line daggy (peter pan collars! helllloooo).Have a look at the clearance rack though! 60% off the already reduced price for the Veronica’s range. I have always found The Veronica’s association with the Target 7-16 demo very odd and most inappropriate. My daughter takes one look at the Veronica’s stuff and turns up her nose. (Shakes head “nooooo”).
Having said that, I actually know the lady who wrote the post on the Target page. She is a lovely girl, a beautiful Mum and I think she was speaking from her heart and from her own perspective. I congratulate her for speaking up and for being heard.
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Dramaqueen75 August 14, 2012
I can see both sides of the story here. I was one of the people who clicked that they “liked” the Facebook campaign. I guess because I work with a lot of kids that come from backgrounds where they have had some pretty poor or damaging parenting and I do see these kids wearing awful clothes and looking rough and, dare I say it, “trampy”. Girls who are developing and are squeezing into tiny mid drift tops and cut off shorts that do not show them at their best.
Whist I don’t think it is appropriate to act as societies prude police, and many of us who are parents exercise our freedom of choice and purchase clothing that is comfortable and fashionable for our kids, there are many people who either have limited financial options or limited choice and buy clothes for their kids that are both cheap and nasty looking.
There is always a flip side though- I must admit I feel sorry for kids who are sent off to school in suits and ties or heavy dresses, tights and sensible shoes. Heck, you are a long time grown up. I think kids should be free to be kids and able to wear clothes that do not restrict their freedom of moventment or have to be fussily cleaned and ironed.
I look for a happy medium I guess.
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Sally August 14, 2012
While my little sister is perfectly capable of making age appropriate choices. I think Wendy does make a point about being spoilt for choice. But I think it’s just the surprise of seeing some of the choices made available in some of the bigger stores – especially considering their family friendly marketing.
Bathers are especially tricky. My 11 yo little sister almost cried when all she could find inside a local target was padded bikinis and the only one pieces had big cut outs. through the belly and back.
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Anna August 15, 2012
I let my 7 and 8 year old girls loose a couple of times a year to choose whatever they want in a shop like Witchery Kids and they love the freedom (I have limited their choices to cool but age appropriate stuff and they feel excited and empowered to be trusted with the choice) Mine wear size ages 8 and 10 so this solution might not work next year when they have gone into the tweenie sizes. It worked out cheaper in the long run…
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Julie Wright August 15, 2012
I can remember my daughter at age 8 in her horse riding attire for pony club. Bought at a well known horsey store, she wore her jodpurs and little collared shirt. A mother of one of her friends told me she looked “too sexy” in her riding attire. I was shocked by this statement and wondered how she came to that conclusion. I thought the statement catty and mean spirited. So just goes to show that even jodpurs and a collared shirt can be seen as ‘too sexy.’ Ridiculous.
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KayO'Sullivan August 15, 2012
Dear Wendy,
Love the line about how it was illegal to wear an animal print under the age of 26 when you were a kid. I reckon there should be a law against anyone over the age of 26 wearing it now. -
Norelle August 15, 2012
Does anyone mind if I use the opportunity to invite you all to check out this year’s History Week – the theme of ‘Threads’ – the clothes we wore !
Feel free to check out http://www.historyweek.com.au (hope you don’t mind Wendy) for History Council NSW. Imagine telling any of these girls that during WWII there would have had to rely on a clothing ration card! -
Marnie August 15, 2012
Once upon a time children looked forward to going to the ‘next stage’ . It was a rite of passage going in to your teens for boys to go from short pants to long pants, for girls to go from flat shoes to heels. To get your ears pierced at 14, wear make-up at 16, get a training bra as soon as you had something to ‘train’. Each stage was eagerly awaited and planned for.
Of course, that was a long time ago and everything has changed. Children want, expect and can have, all the trappings of adulthood from the time they leave the cradle. Babies as young as six months can now have jeans and leather look jackets and everyone thinks they look cute.
The clothes we reluctantly accept that our teenagers will wear is now available for younger children and some parents perceive them as ‘slutty’ or ‘sex bait’ . Hmmm I can recall my parents saying that about my mini skirt and hotpants, etc when I was in my teens. If we are going to continually allow our children to grow up prematurely then we need to accept that they will want the outfits of their older siblings. Many parents are happy to allow their children to take the lead and stores like Target are catering for that market driven need. -
Margaret August 15, 2012
I wouldn’t go so far as to use derogatory adjectives to describe Targets girls range. However, as a regular Target shopper post childbirth…. I have purcahsed very little girls clothing there since my daughter turned 8. She is now on her way to 11. I took her to have a look for herself 2 months back and we walked out empty handed. Her comment was, that the clothes were too messy looking and the jeans too skinny. Out of the mouths of babes. Yes, I could only have dreamed of even trying on such a variety when I was her age. She wears an eclectic range of non designer brands but is fairly conservative.. when not running around the house in her near naked state after a shower! She is a dedicated dancer and someitmes wears dance wear as street wear as it fits and covers her comfortably. What ever did we do berfore leggins?
Is the layering of clothes a sales booster. Buying garment to cover the underneath ones? My son is no problem, bless his cotton tshirts. Yes Wendy, life and certainly clothes, is about choice. Hope we can enjoy both while our daughters allow us to buy for them….teenage years ahead Yipes! -
Kris August 15, 2012
See, yet another reason I’m glad I have boys!
As long as it has skulls, crossbones or dirtbikes on it, they’re happy. I do have nieces though & it can be hard to buy nice clothes for them at times – it depends on the store & the season. On the whole, I tend to stick to K-mart & Best & Less when buying clothes for them – good quality, cheap & last a long time. -
sami August 15, 2012
Gosh I really don’t remember what I wore as a kid! In my teens I lived in board shorts, singlets and jeans as I was more sporty/tomboyish than anything, but in the 90s the fashion wasn’t quite the same as it is today.
I see photos of myself as a kid in the 80s and I apparently wore stuff like fluro ra-ra skirts and a woolen dress with giant fluoro polka dots, and a range of shorts and t-shits, all relatively normal looking (err except the colours! haha).
From memory the only thing I coveted was a pair of happy pants but thankfully mum refused to buy them for me. In hindsight an excellent decision by her but I was so envious of my friends at the time!I reckon if your kids are comfortable enough to climb trees and run through the backyard they’ll be fine. Pretty sure we used to run naked through the sprinkler- imagine the fear and outrage that would cause today! Do kids do that any more?
And re Pierres comment- he was just trolling, don’t fall for it
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Michelle August 15, 2012
I am the mother of a tall 6 year old. She wears size 8. I have LOVED and bought lots of Target’s Size 1-6 range as they are reasonably priced, fashionable and appropriate for the target age. I now find that I have to purchase from the 7-16 range which, for a 6 year old, is mostly not age-appropriate and the prices are much much higher. I said this on the Target Facebook site and I say it again here. Extend the existing 1-6 range to size 8, and alter the 7-16 range start to at size 9. Problem solved.
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ellenni August 15, 2012
wow what a furore. who is in charge of the credit card – if its you then dont use it on things you think are inappropriate. sadly trampy is the fashion.
see through clothes, short shorts, underclothes as outerwear, leggings worn with short skimpy tops, pregnant ladies in tight fitting clothes and those big platform shoes which make your feet look really big and remind me of the polio shoes my elderly cousin wears. one has to blame the designers for our fashion – do they wear their way out fashions? do the men who design our silly shoes wear them. we are to blame because we follow the crowd. -
caroline August 15, 2012
I really hate the way young mums dress their tiny baby boys these, bloody jeans and teenage type jackets,not to mention the hair do to go with it!!!! Remember babies just 45yrs ago wore little nighties and booties, and they looked like babies.Iam not suggesting that we go back there but the babieis looked adorable then
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Suzy August 15, 2012
you’re all so lucky to have kids, I missed the boat
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Brea Edwards August 15, 2012
I agree with you. There is such a great variety of kids clothes out there these days. A lot of our girls clothing and shoes come from target because they have some amazing choices as well as the basics at a reasonable price considering they grow out of clothes so quickly.
Sure there will always be clothing that you think is not quite right for that age group but that’s when parenting steps in. If you dont think they should wear then don’t buy it….
Skimpy shorts are not too sexy when you think of the swimwear selection. At most surf shops etc. they are making triangle bikinis for babies these days. I personally think that it is a little over the top but then I would never buy it.
Then you have the speciality shops who target the preteen to teen age market making outfits for clubbing in xxxs which could fit an 8 year girl. If you are going to take on a company why not take them all on….
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Jessica August 15, 2012
I’m probably a bit of a freak then on this argument because I prefer to just dress my kids in plain clothes. My son is 2.5 and doesn’t really care about trucks or cars or any particular branded merchandise. And my daughter is only a baby. My son gets dressed in plain shorts or jeans, with a basic t-shirt or skivvy. My daughter is in a nice, bright wondersuit 9 times out of 10. Our plan is to let them start making their own fashion choices when they take an interest. If it’s something we disagree with then we’ll discuss it and issues of image, but if they’re prepared to go out however they look and say ‘I don’t care what other people think’ then I think that’s an admirable trait anyway. This is the same reason that my son has left the house many a time with girls’ hair accessories or jewellery of mine on – because he wanted to wear them.
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Jessica August 15, 2012
Essentially my point from above is trampy is as trampy does.
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Karen August 15, 2012
My daughter is 17 now, but when she was younger all her friends went to Supre, I refused after one visit as I told her no point her dressing lamb up as mutton. Time enough for that when she older. But on the other hand, it would be nice if Target bothered to employ a designer for the big girl area that has heard of colours. Getting pretty sick of the black sacks on offer. So whilst there younger stuff may not be age appropriate, the assumption that being over size 16 means you like wearing all black and mumu’s is also insulting.
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Kate August 15, 2012
I grew up with Madonna. All of this stuff has been done/said before. I think it’s silly to boycott a store because of a few types of clothes, but that’s your decision. Does Ana boycott McDonalds McCafe because of the burgers? Target are a business and a general business so are trying to appeal to all their customers. I hope that this does not affect Target’s way of offering clothes. Buying clothes is a personal decision and any business is entitled to offer whatever sells.
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Christine August 15, 2012
Do’tt buy your kids clothes you don’t want them to wear.
Simple.
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liza August 15, 2012
My kids are grown up now however I remember feeling the same about keeping them young .I did find though that a discussion is possible around what sort of looks they admire and why ?
I was often amazed at the maturity shown by my daughter and it made me happy that I could not be blamed for the decisions -
anna August 15, 2012
trackie daks and ugg boots…. you cannot go wrong
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MEGA August 16, 2012
Perhaps the mother should learn to say NO!
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Fifi August 17, 2012
If you dont like the range available at a particular store shop somewhere else then. It isnt rocket science
