https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-obverse-of-the-baby-phat-thread Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Fri, 10 Apr 2026 21:44:19 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-obverse-of-the-baby-phat-thread#post-2322689 Sat, 13 May 2023 12:23:33 +0000 April 2322689@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>JNZ, my mother had a bunch of rhinestone jewelry that I adored dressing up in (apparently from infancy).&nbsp;</p> <p>My 8-year-old self was deeply disappointed by her shoes, however.&nbsp; She favored square-toed one-inch block heels in navy or beige YAWN.&nbsp; Nirvana for me was seeing a neighbor mom's closet - platform sandals with probably a 5-inch heel on a 2-inch platform - that she let her daughter clomp around in.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-obverse-of-the-baby-phat-thread#post-2322570 Fri, 12 May 2023 21:10:45 +0000 Jenni NZ 2322570@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I’m happy the pic of her dear wee feet made your morning! She certainly seemed interested in pretty things quite early. “Pretty” was quite an early word, initially said when looking at earrings, she would turn my head to look at the other one and for a while called any and all jewellery “pretties”. Another game lately is putting on and taking off the cheap beads I have had for dress-ups since 2008. My daughter (her mother) called them Mardi-gras beads?<br /> Also my husband’s running medals (on the floor in the pic) are another thing she likes to put on! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-obverse-of-the-baby-phat-thread#post-2322469 Fri, 12 May 2023 13:06:04 +0000 April 2322469@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Joy - I bet the dragons look awesome in your cuffs!&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Bijou - that sounds like one adorable boy.</p> <p>Sally - I never told LMA what to wear either, though once during that magical year of same-size feet (age 12?) I loaned him my Doc Martens when he needed black shoes for an awards banquet but only owned colorful sneakers. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-obverse-of-the-baby-phat-thread#post-2322418 Fri, 12 May 2023 07:45:18 +0000 Sally 2322418@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My son was has always worn sports clothes.&nbsp; I never told him what to wear.&nbsp; I think its only been recently when he was about 16 that he asked for a pair of jeans and I think it is just for going out with friends and he wants a logo like champion sweatshirt.&nbsp; The funny thing is he has always worn his school sports wear with logo out for training (loose shorts and a t-shirt), even before he started high school.&nbsp; I think he realised they were the most comfortable and decided to stick with it.&nbsp; If he's not doing his school work, he's playing sport or at the gym so I guess it makes sense.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />My nieces loved clothes (they are in their 30s now) and go through changing styles ...They dress their children in a rustic boho style ...earthy colours and boots, flowing dresses etc </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-obverse-of-the-baby-phat-thread#post-2322410 Fri, 12 May 2023 05:43:07 +0000 Bijou 2322410@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I had so much fun when my son was little, dressing him in trendy and yet comfy street wear. So much so, that when we visited Japan and he was 4 years old, groups of teenage girls and boys wanted their photo taken with the mini star (Justin Beiber's name was often mentioned). He took the attention with grace and happily posed; I think he would be far more reluctant now at 14, he still looks like Justin too! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-obverse-of-the-baby-phat-thread#post-2322310 Thu, 11 May 2023 12:49:53 +0000 April 2322310@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>OG - being the "not mom" is so good.&nbsp; Sort of like the difference between staying at a lovely inn for a week and building the lovely inn yourself, without power tools, followed by 18 years of running it.&nbsp; ;)</p> <p>When my son and only child was born, he had already had four cousins, all girls.&nbsp; I had such fun gifting them "little girl clothes" and for the older ones, makeup they coveted like Chanel's famous Vamp lipstick and nail polish.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>One of those nieces is having her own baby girl this summer, so I'll be a great-aunt for the first time.&nbsp; Couple thousand miles away from me, but that's why we have the postal system!&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-obverse-of-the-baby-phat-thread#post-2322309 Thu, 11 May 2023 12:46:11 +0000 Anonymous 2322309@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have 2 little grandchildren. &nbsp;The little girl, a preschooler, loves face paint and painted nails. &nbsp;She usually likes fancy dresses or &nbsp;no clothes. Her favorite colors are pink , purple, and Elsa blue. &nbsp;Her older brother likes comfort. &nbsp;He likes dragons and his favorite color is red. &nbsp;His favorite clothes are sweats, tees and a hoodie. &nbsp;Clothes in general to not appeal to him. &nbsp;He notices my bracelets and sometimes wants to borrow cuff ones for his dragon stuffies to wear around their necks. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-obverse-of-the-baby-phat-thread#post-2322302 Thu, 11 May 2023 11:44:42 +0000 Olive Green 2322302@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I really love it when kids show up as their own version. You know exactly what to talk to them about.&nbsp;<br />Took my step grandsons shopping many years ago when they kept showing up without clothes, for long visits. They had a very keen eye as preteens and teens do.&nbsp;<br />We had the best time, and they thrifted really interesting outfits. A tall 12 year old in a dramatic trench coat? And hats!<br />Regular basics came from the ordinary stores. Shoes were always, always needed.&nbsp;<br />I never wanted to be a mom, but I always liked being the back up, lol.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-obverse-of-the-baby-phat-thread#post-2322241 Wed, 10 May 2023 18:54:24 +0000 April 2322241@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Bonnie - there's something about the encased compression feeling of a swimsuit that some kids find very pleasurable.</p> <p>RL - if it ain't broke...&nbsp; ;)</p> <p>Roberta - wow, James Bond.&nbsp; So suave!&nbsp; LMA went to a progressive&nbsp; elementary school where visible branding or tees with commercial characters -- Pixar, Disney, Star Wars -- were strongly discouraged, which suited him just fine.&nbsp; The school didn't actually forbid these items but there was peer pressure (among parents and students) to comply. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-obverse-of-the-baby-phat-thread#post-2322238 Wed, 10 May 2023 17:54:23 +0000 rachylou 2322238@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My dd (properly speaking, my ward, but of course she’s old now) is completely unlike me: total hiphop disco in terms of style. We shopped a storm tho because we both definitely love fashion. I was on board with her t-shirt hacks. I used to sew her and her cousin’s Halloween costumes, until they got too old and wanted store-bought (those meanies! Lol). She’s also amazing with hair and makeup… really don’t know how that happened, lol.</p> <p>Not a young person… but my brother is pretty much dressed by me and an old girlfriend of his STILL. He’s VERY hard to dress. I hit on a Uniqlo puffer one year and she hit on thin unbanded polo sweaters, and of course we both think each other brilliant and duplicate both like mad now. Haha! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-obverse-of-the-baby-phat-thread#post-2322235 Wed, 10 May 2023 17:44:10 +0000 April 2322235@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>LP I know four boys who, as very wee ones, had long hair and sweet little "feminine" faces.&nbsp; Three were not by choice but by parents' religious tradition (Orthodox Jewish and Sikh).&nbsp; And one just liked his hair long and was quite forthright with strangers who said "she" - "I'm not a girl, I'm a boy with long hair."</p> <p>Another memory of LMA, age four.&nbsp; His lifelong friend Abby came over one day and they played "Pretty Kitties", which involved tying huge ribbon bows around their heads (cat ears?) and drinking water out of a bowl on the floor.&nbsp; Then they wanted to go to the craft store with me, so I asked if they were going as Kitties.&nbsp; "Yes."&nbsp; I told LMA&nbsp; whatever he wanted to do was fine but that the craft store ladies might mistake him for a girl (4s LOVE accuracy regarding all sorts of identity).&nbsp; His response: "So?" </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-obverse-of-the-baby-phat-thread#post-2322215 Wed, 10 May 2023 15:23:05 +0000 LaPed 2322215@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have a 9yo with a very strong sense of his style. He absolutely marches to his own drummer. In kindergarten, he put his foot down and told me I wasn't allowed to keep cutting off his hair, because he wanted to wear it long. It's now down to the middle of his back. We usually keep it in a long single braid, or sometimes two, because his hair is very very fine and tangles so easily. My favorite is when he puts it up in a messy bun; really suits his facial structure. </p> <p>Also in kindergarten, he said to me, "I'm going to wear a cardigan every day!" and did so for the entire spring. Cardigans are still his favorite clothing article (must be all cotton, crewneck, button-front, in bright colours); we mostly shop the girls' section for these.&nbsp;</p> <p>His preferred color palette is tropical brights; he's never been without a pair of bright orange pants (must be the Dutch genes coming through!), and loves colors like orchid, raspberry, and golden yellow. He dislikes graphics and logos for the most part, and was very insistent that I stop buying clothes with picture and patterns, but does make exceptions for hearts (his favorite motif), dogs, and anything astronomy-related. Stripes are okay if they are *rainbow* stripes.&nbsp;</p> <p>He has accepted the fact that wearing pink and purple and having long hair will result in being mis-identified as a girl from time to time, and he appreciates it when the adults in his life gently correct strangers. He is somewhat non-binary in his outlook, much preferring to be referred to as a "person" than boy or girl, but doesn't like "they" for grammatical reasons, so is sticking with "he" for now. He has several gender non-conforming friends and classmates; so far I've found he and his peers to be very flexible, understanding and accepting of kids who aren't interested in upholding traditional gender norms. One of the things I love about parenting and teaching is watching them figure out who they are and how to present themselves in a cultural landscape that offers many more options than it used to.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-obverse-of-the-baby-phat-thread#post-2322210 Wed, 10 May 2023 14:44:08 +0000 Roberta 2322210@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My boy was enamored of James Bond between 4 and 7 (the Pierce Brosnan era), and his way of being Mr. Bond was to wear a black vest and a bow tie as often as he could. If he didn't wear the vest, he wore the tie with a button down shirt. I thought I might be raising a fashionista! In the long run he became very straightforward; chinos, v-neck sweaters, souvenir t-shirts. He has no interest in brand names or logos AT ALL.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-obverse-of-the-baby-phat-thread#post-2322209 Wed, 10 May 2023 14:40:23 +0000 Irina 2322209@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>April, oh I know how sad it can be - My DH is the one who passed his "fashion sense" to our son by his own admission.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-obverse-of-the-baby-phat-thread#post-2322207 Wed, 10 May 2023 14:35:20 +0000 Bonnie 2322207@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Fun stories. I had a granddaughter who also had to wear a one piece swimsuit under every outfit from the time she was a toddler to when she was in school, maybe K. I don't remember if she wore purple lipstick but how funny that there was another quirky child with the same obsession. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-obverse-of-the-baby-phat-thread#post-2322205 Wed, 10 May 2023 14:25:09 +0000 April 2322205@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Irina, Mr. A was like that too, with his first wife.&nbsp; He went from his mother dressing him in khakis and polo shirts to First Wife dressing him in khakis, polo shirts, and Cosby Sweaters.&nbsp; </p> <p>I used to buy him clothes but not any more.&nbsp; Now he gets his "good clothes" guidance from LMA, who along with his stylish artist roommates, has decided Mr. A should dress exclusively in Arc'teryx Veilance with either his Common Projects sneakers or Blundies on his feet.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>I believe Mr. A feels most confident in these items because they have the Cool Kids Stamp of Approval.&nbsp; Left to his own devices, oh it's sad.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-obverse-of-the-baby-phat-thread#post-2322201 Wed, 10 May 2023 13:59:40 +0000 Irina 2322201@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>It was an opposite for me - I was buying my son's clothes until he met his wife and now she buys his clothes :)<br />I remember, in his 20-s he once went clothing shopping with his friends. 80% of that he later returned to the stores after trying it at home. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-obverse-of-the-baby-phat-thread#post-2322197 Wed, 10 May 2023 13:52:01 +0000 April 2322197@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Interesting, J!&nbsp; I loved and still love thrift shops but I never dressed my son from them.&nbsp; Little Him was always off looking at some gadget or device he found awesome: the hand-cranked card shuffler, the battery-op coin sorter, the vintage brass apothecary scale with weights.&nbsp; A cheap way to satisfy a mechanically curious little boy.</p> <p>And your niece sounds like a real pip (of the best kind).&nbsp; I had to grow into her attitude.&nbsp; :)</p> <p>ETA: Angie, LMA turned 26 in January.&nbsp; I know, right, how does this happen?&nbsp; &nbsp;Like Seb, he was happiest in sports gear - from tee ball at age 4 to the first travel soccer team (age 6?) where the boys were required to wear real football boots, shin guards, etc.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-obverse-of-the-baby-phat-thread#post-2322196 Wed, 10 May 2023 13:50:28 +0000 Angie 2322196@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>April</b>, I enjoyed your stories! Go Team Pearls :)</p> <p>Is LMA 25 already! How did that happen??? I remember when he was 14!&nbsp;</p> <p><b>Janet,</b> I enjoyed your stories too!&nbsp;</p> <p>My little nephew Seb (lives in London) - who is 24 and towers over me - refused to wear ANYTHING with a button when he was little. He wouldn't even hug you if YOU wore clothes with buttons! His absolutely FAVOURITE thing to wear as a child&nbsp; was his Chelsea soccer kit. You could barely get it off his body to launder.... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-obverse-of-the-baby-phat-thread#post-2322170 Wed, 10 May 2023 11:50:57 +0000 Janet 2322170@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>One of my nieces has worn and looked fabulous in black ever since she was a toddler! Her coloring is high contrast — fair skin and very dark hair. From the time she was young, she wanted to wear clothes that looked like she was heading out to the club, which was the source of many arguments, LOL. Takes after her mom a bit, perhaps! </p> <p>My stepsons’ mom hated to spend any money on their clothes and only bought them the most basic secondhand thrift items, while my husband and I would buy them a bit nicer things. Invariably, when they’d come to visit us, their nice items never came along. It was also a trial to get them to wear a button front shirt with a collar when we would go to a holiday dinner or to see my mom. They were so used to t-shirts and never dressed up out at home in the Shenandoah valley. Thankfully they grew out of that! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-obverse-of-the-baby-phat-thread#post-2322166 Wed, 10 May 2023 11:25:10 +0000 April 2322166@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><a rel="nofollow" href="https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/baby-phat#post-2322151">OliveGreen's Baby Phat thread</a>&nbsp;is such fun to read!&nbsp; JNZ's photo of her granddaughter's tiny feet in grown-up yellow shoes made my morning.</p> <p>It made me want to ask about the obverse: style choices of any small people in your life: kids, grandkids, neighbors, nieces, nephews, students, customers.</p> <p>Here's the funniest thing I remember about LMA.&nbsp; When he was two (1999), his dad and I went to London and brought him a plastic British bobby hat which he adored.&nbsp; I was in grad school at the time and there was a department party to which families were welcomed.&nbsp; I let him pick what to wear and he chose a regular outfit (comfortable tee, sweatpants) topped by the bobby hat and a long strand of pearls.</p> <p>I guess he had caught on that parties meant dressing up.&nbsp; ;)</p> <p>I taught nursery school for many years, and we certainly had some interesting dressers in those classes.&nbsp; One little girl liked to wear a one-piece bathing suit under every outfit, plus purply-pink lipstick.&nbsp; Every now and then we had a mother who'd send her daughter to school in expensive dresses and party shoes, then complain if she painted or went in the sandbox or played at the water table.&nbsp; A memorably gorgeous 2-year-old boy showed up in designer clothes with similar guidance from his mom not to get dirty. </p>