Baby Dolls Or Real Women?
Monday, July 20, 2009 at 1:56PM MAD21 By Mallory
Right now I'd like to take a moment to discuss what's going on with women's clothing. I could rant about immodest clothing (because Christians like to talk about this) or leggings-as-pants (because it's gross), but I don't think either of these things really pinpoint what's bothering me about what they're trying to sell us this year. The “baby doll” look is in (which apparently means very short dresses and skirts.) Don't get me wrong -these clothes are really cute. And stores (particularly ones selling to younger women, like Forever 21, H&M, etc.) are selling baby doll dresses like they're going out of style. And I really, really hope they are.
Photo Courtesy of TVGuide.comSure, a miniskirt or baby doll dress definitely isn't the most modest thing around. But I'd say this is bigger than that -this is about being a self-respecting woman as opposed to, well, a baby doll. I don't think I want to dress in a way that's “cute” when it's compromising who I am or the impression I want to leave on someone.
I mean, think about it -on what occasion can you wear a dress that's this short? The beach, and... okay, that's all I've got. You can't bend over to pick up your bag or your book or a kid or anything else in your short-but-cute dress. If you're a teenager, it's too short to wear to school if there’s a dress code. It's not work-appropriate. And, at the risk of stepping on a few toes, I'd say that maybe we shouldn't wear clothes like this to church.
So, since it doesn’t really make sense to wear it at most places, I’ll go ahead and say these clothes are not practical for our real-women, everyday lifestyle. If we really WERE dolls, we could wear a doll's outfit. But we’re real, live women with feelings and responsibilities. So what is the fashion industry saying to us? That the best thing we as women can do right now is just stand there in our baby-doll dress and look pretty?
God has a purpose for all of our lives, and I don’t know if I want to run around fulfilling it in my “cute” minidress. Do you?
Appearances, Young Adult in Young Adults
Reader Comments (3)
Amen! I like to dress well and look like I belong in this decade but baby doll dresses didn't look good in the past and certainly don't now. Maybe if I were 6 and 4 feet tall!
Funny thing is that even if you were 6 and 4 feet tall, the dresses would still be too short!! Take it from someone who shops for a 5 and 3 year old. I can't believe what the clothing companies think a child that young should wear, worse yet, the families that buy them. I'm all for looking cute and in fashion, it's part of being a girl, but there is a line.
I love your last comment, Mallory! I could do without seeing the skimpy clothing on other people, and I'll spare them seeing me in them :o) Can you imagine trying to work with little kids in those short-short skirts? I'd be mooning people all day!! <yikes>
That second sentence slaaaaaayed me! LOL I really loved this article