Fashion Sense Is NOT Genetic

If left to her own devices, my daughter would proudly leave the house dressed like this:


Fortunately for her, she has a daddy who has been told on more than one occasion that he has enough fashion sense to be a gay man (no seriously).

One fateful Saturday morning, I climbed the stairs when I heard my wife finish her shower (as it was my turn). When I got up there I discovered the munchkin had dressed herself: emerald green socks (OK), forest/mint green, brown, and orange plaid shorts (meh...) and a white shirt with fuschia, teal and lime green stripes (ack!).

"Uh, did you see what she's wearing?" I asked my wife.

"Yep."

"Did you say anything?"

"Several times. She wouldn't listen. But you can try."

"OK," I said, and then turned to my daughter, "Munchkin?"

"Yes Daddy?"

"You know how some shirts are plain, and have nothing on them, just one colour?"

"Mmm hmm."

"Those are called solids."

"OK."

"And you see your shirt, and your shorts?"

"Yes. Don't I look adorable Daddy?"

"Well, uh, yes sweetheart, you're always adorable. But when you wear two different patterns, it doesn't look as nice. A good rule is to use one pattern, and one solid."

"Oh. OK. Let's go in my room and choose a different shirt, Daddy."

We went into her room, and she pulled out her shirts one at a time, asking, "Is this one OK Daddy?" until we found a good match.

She then went into the bedroom and said to my wife, "Look Mommy! Daddy helped me pick a shirt. Now I look adorable!"

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Ever since that day, she has been obsessed with matching, right down to her panties. When we go to ballet, she needs pink yoga pants over her tights because they're pink. When she's putting on a shirt that has more than one colour in it, one of those colours must be her pant colour. (We're still working on Daddy's concept that jeans go with everything.)

This post has been prepared as part of the Parent Bloggers Network blog blast entitled Mix 'n Match, Pop 'n Swap, on behalf of Polly Pocket Pop 'N Swap.