Living Vicariously Through My Daughter’s Closet

Like most women I know, I enjoy clothes. I like shopping for them. I like wearing ones that flatter me. I think clothes are fun. When I was a teenager who wore size 2, extra long, clothes were even more fun. I thought of planning my week’s outfits as an activity, something to get excited about. I shopped at cheap stores like H&M and Forever 21, so I always had something new to wear. And while in college, my style could pretty much go wherever it wanted. I never had to worry about the appropriateness of my outfit.

Now that I don’t have to time to take Pilate’s every morning or spend a couple hours on the elliptical whenever I’m feeling sluggish, I can’t really wear a size 2. I can still find plenty of clothes that I like, but it takes a little more effort. I also don’t buy clothes from fast-fashion stores for less than $20, so I have less novelty items to choose from. My closet has a lot more quality, but I don’t have that same new-clothes-thrill I used to have on a weekly basis. Then, there are work limitations. My office is definitely a conservative one. All in all, getting dressed in the morning just isn’t as fun as I would like it to be.

Dressing my toddler, however, is exciting. Her clothes are adorable! All the bright colors, bold prints and oh-so-sweet styles that little girls wear make me smile just thinking about them. She doesn’t have to worry about whether or not her noon meeting will mind something strapless. She’s never concerned that a sweater makes her look frumpy. My daughter’s biggest concern about her clothes is if she can handle the snaps or buttons by herself. Every once in a while, she’ll request something that twirls when she spins in circles. Those are pretty simple demands.

Shopping for my daughter is a lot easier. First of all, she doesn’t need to try anything on. I sincerely miss the days when I never entered a dressing room unless I was buying a dress for semi-formal or prom. A long time ago, I never questioned whether something would fit me. It was just assumed. When I’m running through Macy’s, I can pick up any 4T there and, with complete certainty, know that it will fit my little girl. And let’s face it, kids clothes are so much cheaper! If I take a trip to the outlet malls, $200 can provide my daughter with her entire fall wardrobe. There’s so much opportunity to buy matching accessories and outfits that she’ll only wear a couple times. To put it simply, shopping for my daughter brings about the kind of excitement for clothes that I had a kid.

I realize that we shouldn’t get hung up on our children’s appearance. In fact, we really don’t need to comment on it at all. My daughter is intelligent and inquisitive and well-mannered. I’m much more proud of those features than I am of her adorableness in a navy and cream checked jumper I just bought her. But that doesn’t mean that the thing isn’t intensely cute. Clothes and fashion are meant to be fun. Is it wrong to have more fun with my daughter’s than I do with my own?

I live vicariously through my daughter’s wardrobe. Once again, I honestly enjoy planning a week’s worth of outfits the minute the laundry is finished. Yet when I get ready in the morning, I find myself groaning at my closet as I try on three shirts and two pairs of pants before I finally settle on something. My daughter’s closet is the fun one now.

What do you guys think? Are you guilty of living through your children’s wardrobe?

(Photo: People)

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