How much input should parents have into the type of clothing their youngsters wear? What if you don’t approve of some of the current styles?  What if your kids want brands of clothing that cost more than your budget allows?  Suppose they want to wear something that has what you call inappropriate logos.

Since I substitute teach in grades K-12 and work with young adults in business, I see all types of dress (and undress).  I’m pleased my teenage granddaughter, of her choosing, wants to dress modestly and not advertise .  Yes, her clothing generally consists of jeans or khakis and t-shirts and sweatshirts, not skirts and dresses unless required for job or college interviews.  But, her clothing is not suggestive.

I wonder if young women and men realize the impression they make with the suggestive clothing and lack of cover up.  Do they realize the signals they give out…or don’t they care?

How does one guide youngsters in suitable dress?

Set an example yourself - what you wear sets an example for your youngsters.  Do you dress modestly, appropriately for the occasion, and stay within your budget?  Look at what you’re teaching your children.

Begin appropriate dress when youngsters are young. I’ve seen kindergarteners dressed in clothing emulating celebrities who aren’t known for their modest dress.  What examples are they following, even though some might think this is “cute” at that age?

Learn what the logos mean on clothing out there for youngsters and adults to wear.  What does it say or emulate?  Discuss with youngsters why you prefer they don’t wear this.

Realize that habits taught young will carry through when they want to get jobs, make favorable impressions, set examples for their own children.

How do you guide your youngsters when it comes to the clothing they choose and wear?

Congratulations to Diane! She is the winner of our giveaway for the Love Brings Out the Child tee shirt. This shirt is too adorable for words, I know she’s going to love it.

Speaking of maternity tees, I was just reading an interesting fact that one out of every five searches on Yahoo for the words “maternity clothes” were conducted by men. Interesting… but how’d they figure out men were behind the search? It’s not like they can tell what gender we are by our computer alone. Right? Then again, with all the technology in the world, perhaps they can!

Another interesting fact? “July through October are the months when most Americans are born.”

Image: sxc.hu.

Deborah responded to my Memory Fabric for Quilts and Clothing post with an interesting comment:

I have every patten I ever sewed (40+ years). I WISH I had every pattern that my mother had ever used to sew for me. But what I really regret is that I did not save a fabric swatch to go along with the pattern. That would have been a great memory. But I can describe the fabrics

Image: sxc.hu

I thought, What a wonderful idea…saving fabric swatches to attach to a pattern.  Or if you don’t have the swatches, create a Memory Fabric Journal.

Describe your fabrics and attach that to your patterns or ones your mother used. Or start a Memory Fabric Journal with photo copy or sketch of the pattern cover and description of the fabric, why you made the item, and when you wore or used it.

This can be somewhat literary or of scrapbook design.  It’s open to your imagination.  But it will be fun to refer to and bring back memories of “sewing and quilting times” in your life.  Your descendants would enjoy it, too.

As I look at this picture, the red fabric with larger floral design reminds me of the first apron and skirt I made when I was 7-years old.  My 4-H Club leader was teaching me to sew on her treadle sewing machine and chose easy patterns.

Image: sxc.hu

The fabric came from feed sacks my aunt had given me.  There was enough to make a drawstring apron as well as a skirt with a casing and drawstring to gather it around my waist.  I was so proud of these and wore the skirt in the Dutchess County 4-H fashion show our club participated in.

In fact, I still have the skirt.  I must get it out of the box of memorabilia and compare the fabric to that in this photo.

Do you have memory fabrics from earlier quilts and clothing?

For a comfortable flight, especially when flying a long distance, consider wearing a dress instead of pants or a skirt.  By opting for a relatively loose fitting, longer length, you’ll eliminate the discomfort often caused by wearing a fitted waist or a short hem.

A longer dress can still keep you warm, you can wear with hose or without, and if you make it sleeveless or short sleeves, it will give you versatility into warmer weather.  Wear a jacket or sweater if it’s cold, take a scarf or wrap “just in case” and wear it alone if the weather is hot.

This asymmetrical jersey black dress would be a perfect travel dress, and could then be worn in any number of ways when you get to your vacation destination.  And, it’s polyspandex, so it’ll be comfortable when sitting.  Just pack a few accessories, a sweater or jacket, and you’ve got a versatile core wardrobe piece that will take up no room at all.

I’d wear this dress on the plane, for visiting a museum or gallery, for a day of shopping, or out for lunch.  Dress it up with jewelry and heels, and it will take your through an evening out or a dressier event.

Available from TravelSmith, it sells for $78.  Many travel companies will offer dresses that meet these requirements, or shop at your local department or specialty store.  Just keep in mind a basic color, loose fit, easy care fabric, and something that you can accessorize.

Photo credit: TravelSmith

Despite my fear of sounding like my grandmother, I have to wonder what is going on with the dress codes at school and home these days? I had to make a run to the local high school this week, and almost choked on my gum when I saw what the kids were parading around in. When I was in high school, a midriff shirt got a person sent home. Shorts and skirts had to be a certain length and the proctors would measure if they thought that the garment did not meet the school’s standards. Now, even the cheerleaders’ uniforms are midriff styles. Girls are sporting cheek peeking shorts and getting away with it. Some of the shorts are sooooo short that you cannot even see them under the long, tunic style tops. It looks like the girls are walking around in a micro mini dress, emphasis on micro.

Then, while browsing Internet news, I see Miss Miley Cyrus wrapped only in a sheet. WTFarfegnugen? Is she trying to be a role model for kids, or the next Playboy centerfold? The girl is all of fifteen years old and posing topless for Vanity Fair? To make matters even more appalling, her parents accompanied her to the shoot! If I were Billy Ray, she would have been fully clothed or yanked off of the photo shoot faster than you can say “Achey, Breaky Heart.” I shake my finger at you, Billy Ray. Not a good parenting choice, in my opinion. What kind of message are you and Miley sending teens and tweens about modesty and self respect? Super star or not, Miley is still a child and should be treated as such.

No wonder kids these days are wearing less, showing more and have such a high rate of promiscuity. Hellooooo? It is like Dave Chappelle said in one of his stand up acts, do not dress like a police officer and then get offended if someone asks you to arrest a criminal. Teens need to dress according to how they want to be treated and perceived. In addition, parents need to take control of what their children are buying and wearing out. In my house, if my mother saw something skimpy in our closets, we had a choice, give it away or throw it away. I never would have been allowed out in public with anything skimpy on. If my mom heard that we changed outfits at school or a party, we were grounded. Of course, my mom was very involved, so she had spies friends everywhere who would rat us out.

Parents can still assert some control over what their teens are wearing if they are willing to lay down the law, take the time to be consistent in enforcing the law and enlist some good spies friends to help keep an eye out. Oh…and maybe take them clothes shopping so you have a say in what gets purchsed. I knew that my mom did what she did because she loves us. She knew that what we wore, reflected on what we were seen as. All three of her daughters wore modest clothing, whether we liked it or not. I may not have like it at the time, but now I love her for it. Maybe Billy Ray and some other parents should take lessons from my mama!