Make-up and clothing

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-15-2006
Make-up and clothing
13
Mon, 04-03-2006 - 1:03pm
What do you all think about the make-up and clothing being marketed to young teen girls these days? My DD has her 8th grade dance coming up soon, and we were out shopping for dresses this weekend. Honestly, there was nothing suitable. Everything was too low-cut or too short, or both. My DD is pretty developed and everything looks way too sexy on her. So, the dress I got her has spaghetti straps, but at least it's not too short. DH will have a fit when he sees it. I would love to have him take her shopping instead of me so he can see what there is to choose from.
What make-up do you allow your 13- 14 y/o girls to wear? I don't like my DD wearing dark eyeliner. She wore me down by asking if she could wear plum or light brown. And then one day I was like, how did this happpen, your wearing dark brown/black now??
I just feel like she is growing up too fast and looking too old/sexy too soon. Does anybody else feel this way?

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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-21-2005
Tue, 04-04-2006 - 9:32am

My dd is fairly self-conscious when it comes to clothing so I haven't had any trouble with revealing clothes with her. She wears a uniform to school and she typically keeps it on until it's time to change for bed. On weekends, she's in the jeans and t-shirt mode most of the time. I know what you mean about the dresses - I've just given up on that one. Dd is 5'8 and she thinks really short dresses make her look like she's 10 feet tall, so she favors the longer ones. She loves skirts and she has some that are fairly shor but, again, I let it go.

Now, I wish I could say I let the makeup thing go ... I try, but every so often I have to say something. She started asking "when can I wear makeup" around the age of ten. For her 13th birthday, I took her to a aslon and she got a manicure, hair cut and makeup application. They did a great job - very natural - and she looked gorgeous. I told her, as long as she didn't overdo it, makeup would be ok. For a long time she was fine, but then she started with the heavy eyeliner and eyeshadow. If it got to be too much, I'd make her tone it down ... depending on where she was going. If she was headed to a friend's house, fine. If we were going to dinner with Nana, it was toned down.

She has very pretty blue eyes - people comment on them all the time - and she thinks, for some odd reason, that blue eyeshadow makes them stand out more. It looks hideous - even her friends tell her so, but she still wears it.

I let it go more than I don't, but I should let it go more often. She'll figure it out eventually and I am grateful that she's such a good kid and she's expressing herself in such a harmless way.

The one fashion thing that I would never allow (but it's never come up) under any circumsances are those HORRID t-shirts that say things like "Yes, they're real" and "I make boys cry" and - one that I saw recently "If you're not good looking, keep walking".

Yikes.
jt

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Tue, 04-04-2006 - 3:18pm
I was a little surprised at the criticism I got from several friends when I let my 12 year old DD buy a pair of sweatpants for gym that said "Varsity" across the butt. Honestly, they were the only ones we could find, but it never occurred to me that there is anything wrong with a word on the behind....but several people said that it was totally inappropriate to have people staring at her rear, which would happen if there was something there to draw attention. I thought it was kind of silly - but this year she actually DOES have a figure, and I'm starting to see the point. I'm lucky because for the most part she is VERY modest and I don't have to "veto" any of her clothing choices - in fact, I'm trying to convince her that she doesn't always have to wear clothes baggy enough to be concealing. She DOES own a couple pairs of thong underwear, though, LOL> they're the only ones that don't show under her dance leotard.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-17-2005
Tue, 04-04-2006 - 8:50pm

My youngest daughter is around that age and I am thankful that how she dresses and make-up has not been a big issue. She is a modest dresser and prefers catchy t-shirts and lipgloss than being dolled up. She had a banquet about a week ago, and she had to wear a nice dress. It was strapless, but she wore a sweater over it. I had more issues with one of my older daughters. She likes eyeshadow and eyeliner and in middle school was sneaking it from me. After butting heads, she and I made a compromise and she could wear a little make-up as long as it was natural.

Stephanie

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