Little People, Big World: Age-Appropriate Kids

[BigAgoo]

Studying costumes and costume design was one of my favorite things in school. For whatever reason, I loved the ornate and overly detailed fabrics of the years gone by. I was particularly enthralled with the 17th century, the French court and all that was Renaissance.

I adored the intricate floral prints, the ribbons, lace and overly grand ensembles that every lady wore. The stomacher, Watteau pleating, chemise and pannier hoops were just a few of the accomplices of that highly ostentatious era. Red heels, lace cuffs and a six inch ruff on the men made them no less the object of great finery. All was big, bold and overly impressive.

What I did find odd though was how the children were dressed as miniature copies of their parent’s attire right down to the brass buttons, lace pinafores and diamond buckles. It seemed a bit odd to me at the time how anyone would think a child, barely walking, would enjoy the layers upon layers of court dress, not to mention the opulence, constriction and weight that accompanied such elaborate outfits.

It seems common sense to me that any child would prefer the loose, light and carefree construction of a simple garment, and their parents would want something easy to clean, repair or discard if destroyed in climbing a fence or rolling down a grassy knoll. Yet, in all of the historical depictions, no matter how poor or how impoverished, children still wore their bonnets, layered skirts and dutiful aprons.

These days we can look back and see the silliness of such customs. Children are meant to dress as children: cute, comfortable and pure. The innocence that comes with being a child should be reflected and encouraged in the way that they dress. Of course, we know better these days, and we practice it. We no longer live in a society that expects children to dress in such absurdity, clothes light years beyond their age and so inappropriate. No, we have defiantly evolved…or have we?

This week I stepped into a well-know retail store to buy something for my eight month old daughter. I was looking for a cute white sweater that would go with all her adorable summer dresses. As I made my way to the baby section I was immediately greeted by the mannequins and front rack displays that don the season’s newest arrivals. There, right in front was a baby bikini, metallic gold with a pair of cut-off denim shorts worn over the bottoms. Again I was in the baby section…

I had to stop and look twice at this miniature replica of a very sexy, beach-babe bathing suit. Perfect little triangles to cover the breast area with stringy straps to hold it in place, metallic, shiny fabric to give it just the right amount of…? What, sex appeal?
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