https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/did-you-play-dress-up-when-you-were-little Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Thu, 23 Apr 2026 22:54:20 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/did-you-play-dress-up-when-you-were-little/page/2#post-1912968 Thu, 26 Apr 2018 12:45:58 +0000 RobinF 1912968@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes! We always had a dress-up box with old costumes and clothes from my mom. We had some ponchos that were great skirts! I was also an aspiring costume designer and would draw outfits, especially historical styles, constantly. That would still be my dream job. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/did-you-play-dress-up-when-you-were-little/page/2#post-1912947 Thu, 26 Apr 2018 11:04:05 +0000 lyn67 1912947@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yesssss, it was my favorite playtime when young child! We had a big box under the piano full of colorful stylish clothes inherited from a very stylish but several years older cousin living abroad and just couldn't wait to grow in them, I always&nbsp; wanted to wear them asap- so sometimes they ended up hacked or fixed up for my size before the time--- oh-great memories,&nbsp; those were the great times:-) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/did-you-play-dress-up-when-you-were-little/page/2#post-1912875 Thu, 26 Apr 2018 06:40:12 +0000 Ledonna N. 1912875@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What a great thread. Although I didn't dress up as a kid I find that it's so much more fun now dressing up and playing pretend. I'm doing that with my daughter we just stand in front of a mirror and dress-up and when I say dress up I mean we'll do you like cowboy hats or costumes or jeans jacket something different things so it's not just fairy tales and princesses but it's kind of like badass going on here. Is there such an innocent to watching a child Explorer and that makes it more fun for me. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/did-you-play-dress-up-when-you-were-little/page/2#post-1912873 Thu, 26 Apr 2018 06:14:50 +0000 Greyscale 1912873@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm like LaPed (no surprise to me) - I spent all my time outdoors in boys' clothes. I didn't play dress up with fashion / fancy things. But I did have a lot of interest in historical costumes. I sewed a lot for myself and for my doll that was basically a homegrown version of the American Girl dolls. My favorite creation for myself was a Little House on the Prairie calico dress and matching sunbonnet (pale pink - so I guess I did wear pink!) . I pulled my brothers and cousins into long elaborate make believe games that were very historically accurate - cooking food over a fire in the backyard, that sort of thing. I also did a lot of American Revolution make believe and had put together a whole (boy's) outfit for that. For that one, I remember forcing my brothers to run a toy printing press making flyers for the revolution. No joke. My brothers now say they had a great time with all of this, which is reassuring.</p> <p>Strangely, now that I live in a city where costuming is everyone's favorite hobby, I have no interest or energy for it. But plenty of interest in women's clothes. Who knew? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/did-you-play-dress-up-when-you-were-little/page/2#post-1912864 Thu, 26 Apr 2018 04:37:57 +0000 cherylm 1912864@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I played dress up especially with jewelry but more often I dressed up my Cat. I had a very accommodating cat. Does that count? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/did-you-play-dress-up-when-you-were-little#post-1912760 Wed, 25 Apr 2018 19:51:27 +0000 anchie 1912760@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh, I remember fondly playing in the attic of my childhood home and discovering boxes full of my mother’s clothes from the 60’s. It was like treasure trove. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/did-you-play-dress-up-when-you-were-little#post-1912672 Wed, 25 Apr 2018 12:07:55 +0000 Janet 1912672@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hehe, I think I might have been discouraged at a young age from going into my mom's or sister's stuff (sister is ten years older and I can't even remember ever going into her bedroom during her teenage years!). But I cultivated my interest in fashion and dressing in other ways: I drew constantly and was particularly interested in colors and what people wore. And I had an impressive collection of Barbies and the corresponding wardrobe, and I played with those A LOT. In fact, those dolls and all their clothes are in a suitcase in my basement, waiting for me to decide what to do with them. Sigh. Anybody know someone who collects old Barbies? :-)</p> <p>Oh, I do remember dressing up in my sister's old dance costumes from time to time. I think there's a photo of me wearing her tutu with a dishtowel on my head kaffiyeh-style, and sunglasses -- very silly!&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/did-you-play-dress-up-when-you-were-little#post-1912669 Wed, 25 Apr 2018 11:37:23 +0000 Summer 1912669@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I remember that all my little friends and I had dressing-up boxes filled, not so much with clothes but with old costume jewellery, bags and odd bits of fabric.&nbsp; Old net curtains were perfect as bridal veils for make-believe weddings.&nbsp; We all used to totter around in our mothers' high heeled shoes, too, as well as trying out their powder and lipstick when they weren't looking!</p> <p>Today's little ones often have cupboards full of shop-bought costumes - everything from pirate outfits to princess dresses, but I'm sure that my friends and I had just as much fun with our boxes of cast-offs. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/did-you-play-dress-up-when-you-were-little#post-1912664 Wed, 25 Apr 2018 10:49:59 +0000 Liesbeth 1912664@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Such lovely anecdotes. Me and my siblings and cousins dressed up often too. I vividly remember my mothers' wild seventies and early eighties discards that ended up in our dress up trunk. Mainly big flowery dresses with multiple layers, tops with enormous foamy shoulderpads, and extravagant waistcoats... Even then, I could hardly imagine my mother ever wearing those things irl, they seemed so fantastical.</p> <p>So dress up was definitely a game for me, and we often used this as a starting point for all kinds of 'plays' and 'shows' to perform to the adults. It never informed my personal style, which differs greatly from my mom's - that's another story altogether. </p> <p>But what Suz says:<br />'There is something in that transformation from every day to "special" that is truly magical.'<br />YES. I do occasionally enjoy layered dresses, costume jewelry and the works for special occasions, reminding me of playing dress up with those fantastical garments. Because for very special occasions, you do transform yourself a bit into someone else (a princess without too many worldly concerns&nbsp; :)). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/did-you-play-dress-up-when-you-were-little#post-1912662 Wed, 25 Apr 2018 10:36:31 +0000 MsMaven 1912662@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ah yes. We had a few of Mom's and our Grandma's old dresses and full length silky slips that my sisters and I pretended were evening gowns. One favorite old dress of my Mom's was a black net and lace with some beading over teal satin evening gown that she wore as a young woman. Worn with a pair of too big Mom's high heels, wow! Such glamorous babe we thought we were.&nbsp;</p> <p>My aunts' cast off party dresses were usually remade into party outfits for us.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/did-you-play-dress-up-when-you-were-little#post-1912635 Wed, 25 Apr 2018 07:41:50 +0000 Gigi 1912635@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm with&nbsp;<b>Sterling.&nbsp;</b>I really wish I had had the opportunity to play dress-up as a kid. I know I would have enjoyed it immensely. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/did-you-play-dress-up-when-you-were-little#post-1912634 Wed, 25 Apr 2018 07:38:34 +0000 jussie 1912634@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Not dress ups exactly but I did try on my mums wedding dress a few times, and she also had a black gown with pink roses on it which I loved to parade around in. Genuine 1970’s polyester :). I actually have far more memories of playing in my mums makeup bag! Now that was hours of entertainment :). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/did-you-play-dress-up-when-you-were-little#post-1912621 Wed, 25 Apr 2018 05:27:25 +0000 Staysfit 1912621@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>One more super fun way to dress up and have fun when we were young......one of my good friends and I used to make tapes. I suppose we would have made films if we had a video camera. We did not, they weren’t in wide circulation. We had a tape recorder so we wrote stories with multiple characters and recorded them. Very funny to listen to, We wore costumes even though no one could see them. It helped us get into our acting. :-)</p> <p>To answer Runcarlas original question, I’m certain that all the dress up I did when I was younger had some influence on my current style. It influenced my personality, so how could it not effect my personal style choices? (For example, I never wear anything with neon flags, ever.....) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/did-you-play-dress-up-when-you-were-little#post-1912593 Wed, 25 Apr 2018 02:47:04 +0000 Staysfit 1912593@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>OMG, bike parades! We had yearly 4th of July Parades in my neighborhood! So much fun, and great fond memories! Wow! Everyone dressed up in some patriotic way and carried banners related to whatever the theme was for the year. One year DB and I attached a wagon to his yellow banana seat stingray bicycle and tried to pull our 7lb poodle mix named Caesar along for the ride. Perhaps the theme was animals or pets?! They probably didn’t want real pets incorporated into the design. Where were my parents? Didn’t we get any adult supervision? (This could be a topic for off topic). It’s good that Caesar was fearless and up for anything we sent in his direction. He needed a doggy bicycle helmet to protect him, or at least some goggles and a cape to make the situation look intentional instead of embarrassing. I think Angie has some costumes for Sam that would have done the trick. In any case, he only had his fluffy shaggy hair to protect him and let’s just say there was a small mishap when the wagon dislodged from our carefully engineered moorings and went rolling away from us down the biggest hill in our neighborhood. (Careening downhill would be an exaggeration.) Ah well.....Caesar survived uninjured, and lived a very long life, miraculously, and despite my brother and I...... He wasn’t upset by his Snoopy flight, and after a Bomb pop, a Creamsicle, cake, ice cream, hot dogs and corn on the cob, probably in that order since we were kids and it was DB’s BD we forgot about our bruised egos, and were ready for more competition, sparklers and fireworks. Oh, and who can forget those silly tall neon flags that we attached to our bicycles to help them be more visible to cars? How many of those do you think we managed to attach to my brothers Stingray? I’m going to have to call DB now to remind him about all this. What a riot! Since we are so close in age, our friends are pretty much the same, and we had a lot of fun together. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/did-you-play-dress-up-when-you-were-little#post-1912547 Wed, 25 Apr 2018 00:00:03 +0000 Suz 1912547@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>These are lovely stories!&nbsp;</p> <p>Staysfit, it was like that in my neighbourhood, too. And MUFFS!! I had forgotten those! I had one of those in what I called "ermine." I also got to wear my grandma's fur jacket sometimes in play... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/did-you-play-dress-up-when-you-were-little#post-1912543 Tue, 24 Apr 2018 23:52:05 +0000 Mainelady 1912543@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh, yes, yes, yes! I have such fond memories of dressing up and the role playing that we did.<br /> My Nanna Nick had the most amazing clothing, jewelry, shoes and some wigs, too! My twin, my cousin and I would spend vacation weeks with Nanna Nick. Nanna would move into her guest room when we arrived and turn her bedroom over to the 3 of us. She would post a sign on the door to “our room” that said Girls’ Dormitory. Oh the fun we had! We tried on everything and created outfit after outfit. We would parade down the halls and into the living room to put on fashion shows for Nanna. I am not sure who loved it more....Nanna, or the 3 of us. I learned a lot about color and accessories, the importance of a great smile and how to apply lipstick and nail polish. Nanna Nick always wore red nail polish.<br /> Until I was 10 our family lived on a street with a total of 31 children. 4 of the families had big trunks full of clothing, costumes and lots of fancy duds. All the kids would get together to dress up, create plays and dances and perform them for our parents. We would all dress up and go door to door, entertaining each of our families. I learned that the oldest kids got first pick of the costumes, but there were plenty of choices and it was fun to try different pieces together. I always hoped for the pink tutu with the big full skirt, a pair of high heels, the white “fur” muff and one of the tiaras.</p> <p>Staysfit, it sounds like you and I grew up in similar neighborhoods. Kick the Can, bike parades, catching fireflies.....<br /> Runcarla, thanks for the trips down memory lane. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/did-you-play-dress-up-when-you-were-little#post-1912530 Tue, 24 Apr 2018 22:42:15 +0000 Staysfit 1912530@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I played dress up with my moms clothes, and I used to sneak into her closet and take things too! She had the best date night outfits when she went out with my dad and I would “borrow” them along with her heels and of course he coat, often faux fur or maybe real if it was winter (sorry to admit this). One of my favorites was when she would let me take the white rabbit fur shawl she wore as a topper and then one of her fancy skirts. I made crowns out of construction paper and foil. Perfect princess outfit! She also had a fur muff which I loved to use. My neighbors were a mix of girls and boys. With the girls we dressed up and put on shoes. With the boys, I still dressed up but as Wonder Woman or Cat Girl and we played Super Hero’s. LOL! That was a long time ago. Kick the can and Capture the Flag took over as the neighborhood games by the time we were 9.......No more dress up. It was fine, I was a quick runner, and ready to ditch my moms heels for some Adidas. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/did-you-play-dress-up-when-you-were-little#post-1912528 Tue, 24 Apr 2018 22:30:44 +0000 Anonymous 1912528@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Nope- between brothers and only boys in the neighborhood, I was just “one of the guys”. I think that might be why I am classic sporty in style and not the least bit daring. Even my dresses lean toward sporty more than romantic.<br /> I did provide my daughter with plenty of dresses and opportunities for her and friends to play dress up. Today, her dresses lean a little more romantic- shocker. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/did-you-play-dress-up-when-you-were-little#post-1912526 Tue, 24 Apr 2018 22:28:37 +0000 Jjsloane 1912526@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I sure did! I had a bunch of my mom's 60's formal dresses to try on and my favorite got worn to death (as a fairy princess for Halloween a few years running). I found a very similar vintage one on ebay many years later and I keep it just for fun. I'm sure that's why I love to be dressy even when I'm casual. Such fun it was. My kids did not get into it as much as I did which sort of made me sad.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/did-you-play-dress-up-when-you-were-little#post-1912476 Tue, 24 Apr 2018 19:32:27 +0000 tulle 1912476@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh yes, and I'll never forget one special piece:&nbsp; I was a flower girl in my babysitter's wedding, and a floor-length dress with a full skirt made of layers of taffeta and organdy was made for me.&nbsp; My mother disapproved of&nbsp; "gowns" for eight-year-olds, but I adored playing dress-up in such a fancy long dress that fit me perfectly!&nbsp; I made sure to fill a dress-up box full of discards and thrift-shop finds (lacy nylon slips were a big hit) for my daughters and their friends--even found a funny little jacket that my friend's son called his "Prince Charming" outfit... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/did-you-play-dress-up-when-you-were-little#post-1912462 Tue, 24 Apr 2018 18:45:22 +0000 rachylou 1912462@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh yes. All my mother’s clothes from the 60s, which included a pink number with pleated chiffon sleeves and tiny little embroidered rosebuds on a high waist - from when my mum was a bridesmaid at my uncle’s wedding. Very special </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/did-you-play-dress-up-when-you-were-little#post-1912455 Tue, 24 Apr 2018 18:20:37 +0000 Ginger 1912455@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I certainly did! The dress up trunk had my mother's clothes from high school and college, which she had made. (1970s maxis, very romantic with lots of interest.) And her bridesmaid dresses from her sisters' weddings. I loved the feeling of a big skirt swirling around me. Still do. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/did-you-play-dress-up-when-you-were-little#post-1912429 Tue, 24 Apr 2018 16:57:18 +0000 kkards 1912429@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I still covet a pair of high heel black lace shoes that my mother had passed on to my dress up trunk.... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/did-you-play-dress-up-when-you-were-little#post-1912426 Tue, 24 Apr 2018 16:54:05 +0000 Sara L. 1912426@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>No I never did.&nbsp; I wasn't particularly sporty either so I'm not sure why I didn't.&nbsp; Just not my thing, I guess. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/did-you-play-dress-up-when-you-were-little#post-1912413 Tue, 24 Apr 2018 16:42:03 +0000 Suz 1912413@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Dress-up was my <b>favourite</b>!! It also became the basis for all kinds of dramas (that I wrote, directed, and often starred in, ha!).&nbsp;</p> <p>I had a big trunk of my mother's old clothes in the garage. In particular, I loved one "new look" style dress in navy with tiny white polka dots and a sweetheart neckline (heaven only knows how far it dipped on my 5 year old chest!). Another piece was an amazing peach satin robe with smocking at the waist (hand stitched by my mother herself -- she'd made it) that had been part of her trousseau. There were shoes, hats with veils, bags -- the works! At my friend's house, we had her mother's wedding gown and satin pumps.&nbsp;</p> <p>I also remember loving to watch my mother get dressed up for a party. There is something in that transformation from every day to "special" that is truly magical.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/did-you-play-dress-up-when-you-were-little#post-1912405 Tue, 24 Apr 2018 16:34:48 +0000 Style Fan 1912405@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes!!!&nbsp; I had a collection of old gowns.&nbsp; I also had a cowboy outfit.&nbsp; I have no idea where these things came from.&nbsp; I have always loved clothing. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/did-you-play-dress-up-when-you-were-little#post-1912399 Tue, 24 Apr 2018 16:21:46 +0000 Anonymous 1912399@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Sadly, I did not.&nbsp; I wish I had had the opportunity because I believe it would have informed today's decisions.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/did-you-play-dress-up-when-you-were-little#post-1912390 Tue, 24 Apr 2018 15:50:55 +0000 Bijou 1912390@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Most definitely - I also loved accessories and the 4 year old me was a hand bag lady even back then. Playing dress ups in makeshift fairy costumes was the best fun. My best friend's Mum was a beauty queen (not that we were allowed near her precious dresses) and her style was definitely an inspiration for the young me - as were the girls from ABBA. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/did-you-play-dress-up-when-you-were-little#post-1912387 Tue, 24 Apr 2018 15:47:55 +0000 Anonymous 1912387@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I dressed up my and my sisters' dolls rather than myself.&nbsp; I set up a "shop" that had all kind of sewing scraps, scarves, brooches, etc., and came up with outfits that I was convinced were the height of fashion!&nbsp; Strangely, I never dressed myself up, except for Halloween.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/did-you-play-dress-up-when-you-were-little#post-1912386 Tue, 24 Apr 2018 15:47:24 +0000 Helena 1912386@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love this story and topic Runcarla!</p> <p>I absolutely did - my mom's old clothes, my older cousin's hand-me-downs, costume jewellery, makeup - you name it, I loved it, and I would change clothes and makeup as sport, or make-believe I was a grown-up doing important things in my outfits! Might explain why I love this forum so much! </p>