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fashion evening for girls--need ideas

Taffy

I'm in charge of doing an evening activity for the 12-18 year old girls for church next week, and could use some ideas and suggestions. I was going to cover Angie's information on dressing for body types and the top trends for spring and summer...but then I started thinking that most girls that age are all going to be pretty straight rectangles. So I think i'll need something else to cover....any ideas?

I thought of the mixing patterns post, and maybe something on using color (but i'm not sure how to do that one)?

Thanks for your help!

Taffy

General

17 replies

Latest reply was from Becky

Rosie

Veteran

I just wrote a long post that I accidentally deleted! Oh well. I'll sum it up:

What fun! The one thing I would caution is to not assume all girls in that age group are rectangles. I certainly wasn't by the age of 12 and neither were many of my friends. There will be all different shapes and sizes. A talk on body shapes - one that truly promotes positive self-image - would be helpful. It might be a bit tough as even us "adults" sometimes take negative things away from our shapes - my stomach is too big, hips aren't womanly enough, etc. So if you can explain to them the rules with Angie's positive tone, fantastic! Colors and patterns go right along with it. Perfect!

One thing you could do, if possible, would be to ask each girl to bring in a nice, gently used accessory for a swap! Easier than clothing swap.

I'd like a refresher on everything - may I come, too?

Anonymous

You may be surprised at how curvy a 12 yr. old can be! I think you can still address Angie's body type tips. How about talking about how to dress fashionably and young, yet with modesty? ( ...and why modesty matters). There could be discussion about piercings and tattoos and really considering carefully the long term before doing these things. It also doesn't often occur to this age girl that they probably will not look like the model or star when they wear the same clothing. Wishful thinking sometimes overcomes reality. Finally, how about lots of love and acceptance for the beauty of one's body as it is? These girls will be full of body issues even as their bodies are still changing. Good luck and plan to be flexible to go with what they are most concerned about.
Edit: Love the idea of an accessory exchange.

Taffy

I do like that idea of an exchange!...we're also going to take them all to a Goodwill or something a couple of weeks later, as a follow up to use the principles covered.
So I guess I will keep the body typing idea as the main focus then... and how there's nothing wrong with you if the clothes don't fit, it's the clothes. I have to admit...with my 3 boys and the baby the girl, i'm a bit out of touch with young girls, and am relying on foggy memories! So any help is appreciated!

rute

Veteran

I have an 11 year daughter. She loves H&M or Zara. She likes to use flats, a pair of skinny jeans, a colorful t-shirt and a cropped cardigan.

From 12 to 18, they don't like skirts or dresses, no pink and no bows, they like something more trendy!

Queen Mum

Veteran

yes, talk about body shape... as that is information they can continue to take with them as their bodies continue to change. I look back at pics of me as a teenager and how I wish I had understood the concept of dressing for body type and proportions.

You can also talk about how to dress attractively without being immodest. Our youth pastors wife has a favorite phrase... "modest is hottest" I like that one.

And for the fun aspect, demonstrating how to use one item of clothing in several different ways.

Rosie

Veteran

Joy brings up some good thoughts, particularly since it is a church-based group. I think there is so much peer pressure not to be modest these days, and it's easy to think that modesty is boring. Showing them how they can still be trendy yet age-appropriate would be good. Making it fun is important!

How many sessions are there?

Anonymous

I like Queenie's ideas. Of course, I was going to suggest you talk about not dressing like a ho. Queenie put it much more tactfully.

Louise

Veteran

I like the idea of an accessory swap x

Steph

Veteran

I think this sounds like fun. As a 12 year old who was very chesty and very embarrassed about it, I don't know how I would have taken a discussion about body type. I was absolutely obsessed with my weight and body type at that age, and a lot of my friends were as well, so it might be a very sensitive topic for some of those girls. If you decide to go that route, tread very lightly, regardless of how sensitive/innocuous you think you are being. I just remember that age as horribly awkward and miserable for me when it came to body image.

I think that the ideas mentioned about color and patterns are great ones and less likely to hit a nerve. I bet they would love something on what colors work best with their coloring, and you could take swatches of fabric with you for them to hold up to their faces to determine if they look better in white or cream, if they are warm or cool-toned, etc.

I also like the accessory swap idea, or any discussions about how to use accessories/shoes as part of your outfit would be good.

Taffy

THanks everyone for your ideas.... I'll let you know how it goes!

stringy

Veteran

If you're going to have a few of these events, it might be worth checking out the book "Real Gorgeous" by Kaz Cooke. It's aimed at young teen girls and is about creating a healthy body image for yourself, in spite of all the weird messages you get from the media and some adults. It's very funny, illustrated with cartoons not photos, and I wish I'd had it when I was 12, *before* I had to deal with all that stuff by myself.

There's tips on eating healthy without obsessively dieting, exercise, hair care, hair removal (so mystifying to me at that age!), makeup, fashion, body shape (I particularly remember one line "boobs come in all different shapes, so unless yours look like question marks then they are just fine the way they are"), and how to deal with people who put you down. And none of it assumes that a girl will necessarily want to have a certain look, just that if she does, it could be a lot of fun.

Taffy

That's sounds like it's worth a look Stringy...thanks. I was talking to a friend who owns a kids consignment clothing shop, and she's going to let me borrow all of her 10-14 girl clothes that I want. It was a fortuitous visit! But I have to ask....size 10-14...that is still going by age and they are not yet into Jrs, right? I think Jrs are odd # sizes. So will the 10-14 only fit the younger girls?

And I stumbled across an old post of Angie's on not matching your outfit pieces, but making them go together. Gold mine for me, forget the young girls!

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Yes Taffy- supposedly 10-14 corresponds with age and is smaller than JR. sizes. My just turned 11 year old (who is tall and long torsoed, but not big) is sizing out of many of these lines, though. It would not fit girls up to age 18, that's for sure.

Taffy

hmm...maybe it wouldn't be that helpful then...and we'll just keep the shopping trip for a second installment. THanks Chewy!

Anonymous

I suspect the majority of your girls will be out of girls' sizes and into Juniors at least. Don't most girls reach their adult height by about 13 (when starting periods?) I know I did. If they aren't out of Girls' sizes they probably want to be. The 7th and 8th grade girls I know are bigger than I am.

Taffy

THanks for the second opion Joyce...that would have been a lot of effort to drag them there for very little benefit...onto the next idea!

Becky

Veteran

I love the ideas of teaching them how to choose colors that work for them, dressing modestly yet youthfully, healthy body image, etc. How much time do you have? If you have a lot of time, maybe a church member who is a makeup consultant could show/tell how to apply makeup in order to enhance natural beauty rather than look "made up," a hair stylist could talk about styling techniques, etc.