https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/childhood-fashionista-moments Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Tue, 28 Apr 2026 16:08:45 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/childhood-fashionista-moments#post-351876 Wed, 18 May 2011 03:03:19 +0000 Mo 351876@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I remember when we rented out a room at our house to a lady named Charlene. It had been my dad and brother and I until I was 5 and my stepmom came on the scene, so no females around. She gave me an old nightie that was layered chiffon-like material in different purples. I twirled and twirled and twirled in it day and night. </p> <p>I am also 41, so I can recall all the 80's moments alluded to by Krishnidoux and others, although I opted out of a lot of the fashion at the time. In high school I was more into black nail polish, tight parachute pants and concert t-shirts with bandanas wrapped all around my wrists. Perfectly feathered hair, too, of course. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/childhood-fashionista-moments#post-351760 Wed, 18 May 2011 00:51:27 +0000 Medicechic 351760@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I remember being 3 and wanting to pick out my clothes and shoes!</p> <p>Next I remember being around 5 and loving my pink easter dress and twirling in it! I also distinctly remember a pair of jeans with zippers at the bottom. I was so upset when someone accidentally bleached them!</p> <p>I remember a pair of hush puppies oxfords that were black and white with hard soles, loving black patent leather shoes, and always loving anything in my favorite color, RED!</p> <p>Sometime around that horrible middle school age or so I lost my style and am determined to get it back now! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/childhood-fashionista-moments#post-351706 Tue, 17 May 2011 23:45:39 +0000 Anonymous 351706@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I wasn't terribly inclined, fashionably speaking, until Jr. High....the age when you are either fashionable or the object of ridicule! I was very preppy in school (not anymore)...penny loafers, lots and lots of Ralph Lauren, and even back then my friends and I loved to thrift! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/childhood-fashionista-moments#post-351683 Tue, 17 May 2011 23:15:03 +0000 rosee 351683@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Krishnidoux: I'm 41. So Pretty in Pink was when I was still in high school, actually all the John Hughes (?) movies were popular then. Memories, eh?<br /> p.s. You are a pretty creative writer.</p> <p>As my good friend said in high school, "Alternative to what? We are pretty much all doing the same thing." ;p </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/childhood-fashionista-moments#post-351674 Tue, 17 May 2011 23:01:31 +0000 krishnidoux 351674@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Chouette22, yes French is my native language. Is it yours too? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/childhood-fashionista-moments#post-351269 Tue, 17 May 2011 11:19:36 +0000 chouette22 351269@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Love all the posts here but Krishnidoux, what a moving story you shared with us. Merci! It looks like you speak French with your 'maman'? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/childhood-fashionista-moments#post-351260 Tue, 17 May 2011 09:28:16 +0000 Polly (thunalata) 351260@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Krishnidoux - I'm in tears with your story! Wonderful! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/childhood-fashionista-moments#post-351259 Tue, 17 May 2011 09:01:54 +0000 krishnidoux 351259@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Rosee: "80's = teens, babysitting money spent at the mall with my friends. (...) somewhat classic somewhat punk(...)"</p> <p>That was exactly me also! We must be close in age, if not the same age. I once spent a whole summer worth of babysitting on one white Polo sweater (!). Either I was not well paid for my work, or the sweater was outrageously expensive. Think it might have been both. About the classic / punk: do you remember the style called "alternative", very Molly Ringwald, involving pinning a shirt with brooch at the collar front?</p> <p>Molly Ringwald's style, especially in the movie "Pretty in Pink" absolutely fascinated me. I was captivated by her outrageous, classic, punky style, and the strong personality that emanated from her. I wanted to be her. Your wonderful story about the prom dress reminded me of the movie, of the era. The kindness of your friend, the black dress that must have been so incredibly cool, accessorized with the crinoline and shoes, the date... that is such a good story. </p> <p>Late eighties was a time when North America just recovered from a recession, and now a new crowd was taking over, ambitious and hungry and ruthless. They were the ex-hippies, now reconverted into Yuppies, and everything they did seemed new, expensive and extreme: driving expensive cars, buying renovated condos, eating pricey and smelly Cesar Salads and drinking gallons of espressos. Women often sported full suits with heavy loafer type shoes, square jaws and sleek spectacles. They worked with the guys and had the babies all at once. </p> <p>For the younger generation at the time life was harder. A large portion of us did not have access to this new wealth. We kind of lived on the fringe of it, looking at it from afar. We worked in the service industry, restaurant, store clerks, and served the Yuppies by days while escaping into New-Age / underground by night. The bachelors we rented were usually in poor state, used public transportation with our Doc Martens, and ate mac and cheese. But we had our youth, our creative energy and to me that is what Molly Ringwald incarnated: the girl who wins in the end, with her style. </p> <p>Correct me if I'm wrong... maybe what I just described is truncated by my own subjective perception at the time. Anyone else felt this way? </p> <p>Pretty in Pink:<br /> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcSMDqXT52s" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcSMDqXT52s</a> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/childhood-fashionista-moments#post-351146 Tue, 17 May 2011 02:33:20 +0000 rosee 351146@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great story Krishnidoux!!! Liking all the comments above.</p> <p>my big moments: (summarized):</p> <p>- 1.5 to 2 years old = I used to rearrange all shoes in the front closet according to the ones I liked best (mostly mom's) to least (mostly dad's). When my parents had guests over and there were several pairs of shoes in the front hall, I would often sit and play with the shoes instead of the other kids (unless they wanted to play with me with shoes). My mom relayed that a few times I wouldn't allow some women to "take" their shoes home -- the shoes had to stay!</p> <p>- I grew up in the 70s so I had tried many of the cool trends at the time: clogs, flares, chinese shoes (like Krishnidoux), striped turtlenecks, knitted ponchos, satin shorts, etc. My mom made many of my clothes but she often let me choose the fabric for the outfit. Apparently I was quite picky compared to my brothers.</p> <p>- 80s = teens, babysitting money spent at the mall with my friends. I did better in the later 80s than in the early 80s. I was somewhat classic, somewhat punk in high school and discovered how to get good clothes for cheap at thrift stores. </p> <p>- high school grad (referred to as prom in the US) = didn't want to go b/c of school politics and I couldn't find a dress. An older friend from work (restaurant), who was also a part-time drag queen with great sewing skills, offered to make my dress for me for a very reasonable price. He practically convinced me to go, and gave me attitude pointers to boot. I ended up with a retro 50's style fit-and-flare dress with 3/4 off-shoulder sleeves -- in black!!! Very few girls wore black then to the grad dance, mostly pastels and jewel tones. I also had a cream crinoline with black satin ribbon on the edges and cream kitten heels. Classy, but I stood out. Then, my good friend, a very popular boy, asked me to be his date. Things were definitely looking up. My only regret is that I don't have a photo of that day or that outfit. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/childhood-fashionista-moments#post-351065 Tue, 17 May 2011 00:19:58 +0000 krishnidoux 351065@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Fashion was all about owning a K-way and a pair of clogs... I was about 9 or 10. I remember because every recess girls would have to take them off to play "elastic", and dirty their white socks. Those like me who didn't have these things would also be the ones stuck at holding the elastic or the dancing rope. That's when I first became aware of fashion. Fashion comes and goes, but the politics about it never change! The following year was all about a flat, rubber sole espadrille shoe. Let me entertain you with a little true story about it. </p> <p>The shoes were called "Chinese shoes", were all the rage on the school grounds and how I longed to have a pair! I pressed and insisted and insisted until finally, towards the end of the year, my mother gave in and bought me a pair. </p> <p>They came in a nice box in gift wrapping paper. I couldn't even bring myself to unwrap them. They were so perfect, so black, I can still remember the smell of rubber escaping when I lifted the box's lid. They laid there like new objects do, not yet worn in. And so girl-like.</p> <p>As the eldest, I was usually dressed in non-gendered clothes that could be passed on. And my parents were very conservative. I had witnessed from the shadows the rise and fall of the K-way, the clog mania, the cutting, flipping and subsequently growing out of bangs without ever dreaming of participating. But now it was all different. Now, I -gasp- I OWNED the very shoes all the cool girls had, and they were spark new! I would wear them the next day. I would walk among the cool girls and be part of their group. And they would accept me. And they would let me lead elastic.</p> <p>A bit later the same evening I did something wrong. I don't remember what it was. I dropped something important, caught a fight with my brother? Anyway the end result was my mother taking away the shoe box. "They are confiscated until I say when. You will learn." My throat instantly clasped. "But Mom, please, anything, anything but taking those, please I beg you, you can't!" I pleaded, begged, kissed her hand repeatedly, no avail. I watched tearfully as she put them away in a little closet in the basement. </p> <p>I cried myself to sleep that night.The next morning though, as I got dressed to go to school, all I could think about were the shoes. I knew where they were. My mother had already left for work, and as usual wouldn't be back until late. She would never know. I could sneak downstairs, take them. My father had no clue of all this drama. Then when I came back from school I could place them back in the box, in the closet. Ni vu ni connu.</p> <p>The closet wasn't locked. And the box was there. I checked, the shoes were inside. So easy. I could envision the Chinese shoes stylishly negotiating the elastic, and in them, my feet, and me on top of my feet, effortlessly going about the complicated choreography with a semi-bored, satisfied expression on my face, just like those girls I observed recess after recess. </p> <p>Yes. Nothing stopped me from taking them. Yet I didn't. I resisted. I thought about my mother. Between the shoes and her, what was I to choose? Her of course. And so I had to respect the harsh punishment. I put the box back in the closet and quickly left for school with my brother. Doing that was a real feat for me at the time. </p> <p>Later that day came recess. It was my turn to play, but the cool girls decided otherwise. "You hold the elastic!" So unfair. I rebelled. We were in June, the air was hot and heavy with dust swelling out from the ground around us. They were six or eight, I was alone. The tone raised. The air was even thicker now. They pushed me until I fell, then gathered and laughed endlessly. I felt so ashamed. I hated them. I hated the whole school. So I took off. I ran and ran passed the gates into the street and to the next and the next, I ran with my old beaten clunky shoes stumping on the searing pavement and on the piles of dust, big tear drops pushing out of my eyelids and rolling down my cheeks. And while I ran, the sky descended slowly into a black lump above the streets as if it was about to cry too.</p> <p>I suddenly found myself in front of our house and I knew it was locked and empty. What was I doing there? I didn't care, I threw myself onto the front door and... magically it opened! I literally stumbled in the dining room where, of all people, sat my mother who looked at me as amazed as I looked at her. She smiled to me.</p> <p>"Maman! " I cried out running toward her embrace and as I did, and this is true, the sky ripped apart into a huge roll of thunder. She held me and I stayed there for a long time. She caressed my hair, wiped my tears, and asked me what was going on.</p> <p>"The mean girls at school... they all ganged up against me... I couldn't take it anymore!", I hiccuped. </p> <p>My mother spoke to me softly, and gave me a trick. She told me how when they ganged up they looked like hen in a hen house and that made me laugh. Then she bathed me, dried me and made me wear a very pretty green dress that was usually reserved for Sunday use only. She gently parted and braided my long hair into clean braids. It was very rare for my mother to take such care of me because she worked in a hospital as a nurse where mothers gave birth and people died day in and day out and someone had to care for them. </p> <p>She led me downstairs. My heart was pounding. She pulled out the box. "Here, wear them. They are perfect with that dress." Oh, how happy I was that I had not taken them behind her back that morning ! </p> <p>"You look so grown up now! Remember, if they do anything... the hens, right?" And we laughed in complicity.</p> <p>Then she lent me a very cute adult umbrella and as soon as the downpour calmed down, sent me off with an note of excuse. I hoped back to school avoiding puddles, my feet so light and dry inside the brand new Chinese shoes, my heart singing in joy. The skies were clearing and sunshine hit the wet trees and cars. I felt so deeply happy. </p> <p>I walked in the classroom, confidently handed my note to the teacher and returned to my seat. I was beaming. </p> <p>The mean cool girls were still mean after this, but to my eyes, they were not so cool anymore. </p> <p>I wore and cherished the Chinese shoes until they fell into shreds. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/childhood-fashionista-moments#post-351063 Tue, 17 May 2011 00:15:56 +0000 catgirl 351063@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I couldn't stand dressing up as a child. My favorite pants were a pair of bell-bottom jeans with a horse print somehow embedded in them, and a rainbow t-shirt. My mom always wanted to wear layered satin dresses that made me look like a wedding cake. I remember LITERALLY itching in them. Even now, I am averse to fluffy lace and tulle on me. I guess that's more of an anti-fashionista memory! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/childhood-fashionista-moments#post-351048 Mon, 16 May 2011 23:42:45 +0000 Aziraphale 351048@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I wasn't aware of fashion until much, much later than you, Nancylee! As a young child, I was totally clueless. I just let my mom dress me. Back then (I was born in 1972), children's clothes were quite different from adult clothes, and my mom dressed us pretty cute, with the shorts and knee socks and maryjane shoes etc. </p> <p>The first clothing item (that wasn't dress-up) I can actually remember was a tee shirt I wore when I was maybe nine. It was a gray baseball shirt with blue raglan sleeves, but the reason I liked it so much was that it had a little mouse embroidered on the front.</p> <p>If dress-up clothing counts, I had this white antique dress that my mom got from Oxfam for three pounds (about six dollars) that I loved so much my parents say it was hard to get me to take it off. It was heavy and swishy, with a ruffled neckline, little covered buttons all down the back, and a flounce at the hem. If you twirled, it would fan out in to a big circle. I think I wore it from about age five until I outgrew it. Ah, memories. It was the perfect princess dress.</p> <p>There's more to the story. My mom found the Oxfam dress a few years ago in the dressing up box in her attic, and took it to a seamstress to have it repaired and cleaned, and now my daughter wears it for dress-up make-believe. Maybe she'll pass it on to her daughter, if she has one. I've heard of wedding dresses getting passed down the generations, but this is much better! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/childhood-fashionista-moments#post-351019 Mon, 16 May 2011 21:54:23 +0000 Anonymous 351019@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I had a velvet red and white dress( peter pan collar) and some adorable patent leather shoes ( black with a white detail on the front) . I was going with my mom to visit dad in hospital. We were waiting in the bus station when i told her. We are so elegant , we should take a cab. My mom laughed all the way ( and took a cab). So did my dad , who got better really soon. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/childhood-fashionista-moments#post-351016 Mon, 16 May 2011 21:44:35 +0000 Sylvie 351016@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Silver shoes!</p> <p>I was nearly five and my mom had just bought me a pair of needed shoes. I was staring at a pair of silver shoes in the store and wouldn't admit to wanting to try them on. She did end up letting me try them on and bought them for me.</p> <p>I've been told that at my fifth birthday party (during a visit to India) I told every single one of my relatives about my silver shoes. I do remember being very excited about them before the party so that when I went to put them on I had a large audience (probably at least 5-10 people) who were probably wondering why I was so hyper. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/childhood-fashionista-moments#post-351004 Mon, 16 May 2011 21:23:30 +0000 nancylee 351004@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Angie's blog about mothers, daughters, and fashion got me thinking about childhood moments related to fashion...and particularly when you realized you were "aware" of fashion. </p> <p>There are three early childhood moments I can recall:</p> <p>Kindergarten - I brought my red sparkly high heel dress up shoes in for show and tell, and as I was waiting for my turn to show them off the boy sitting next to me told me how much he liked them. I remember just nodding sagely in agreement. Of course he liked them. They were killer shoes!</p> <p>First grade - When all the other girls in my class signed up for the Brownie troop, I refused because I thought the brown uniforms were ugly. I chose the less popular Blue Birds club, which had a cool red vest, blue skirt and blue baseball cap. Much more fashionable.</p> <p>First grade (again) - I wore my red cowgirl outfit with the white fringe along with the hand-me-down black cowboy boots with red stitching every chance I could. That fringed skirt made me feel fabulous, and I loved boots even then!</p> <p>Anyone have any early fashionista memories? </p>