The tweenie clothing dilema- Bum wraps with studs or the twirl factor?

I'd been through this before! I scratched my head with a deep sigh and resigned myself to the unavoidable, why or why did Little Miss Mischief have to become a size 8; the clothing available for little girls this age is just a smaller replica of adult wear except on the worse side of yuk.
Behind me stood racks full of delightful, pretty clothing that stopped at size 7. In front of me stood a couple of dishevelled clothing racks, a mish, mash, mosh of  cast iron greys, blacks, dull greens and sickly looking blues. This is the appalling, dismal offer of clothing for little girls sized 8 to 12. Despite years of parent protests and the target market of the girls themselves, nothing has changed.

A mother standing next to me sighed in unison to my unspoken thoughts, I think she heard or saw the utter disappointment and frustration on my face. "When the public complain we sexualize our young children, its starts with the clothing that the designers put out! every where I have been the last week its the same stuff, boutiques and chain stores. All the same crap!! my daughter doesn't like to wear skinny tight black jeans or grey sloppy joes!" the mother blurted out. I agree, Little Miss Mischief doesn't like that type of clothing either, nor does it suit her. Little Miss Mischief, is a tall, willowy, fair headed, fair skinned, blue eyed little girl that has a sprinkling of sun kisses on her delicate elfin face. She also still believes in fairies, has 36 Barbie dolls and loves all the colour that comes with them; blacks, greys mixed with silver studded bum wrap skirts doesn't have a place in this picture.

OK! it seems that all the designers for children's clothing must have gone to the same design school, because the styles dramatically change from size 7  to 8. There's no transition at all anywhere. I voted with my purse and walked out having purchased nothing at all.

I might have made a statement by not buying anything at all from stores such as Pumpkin Patch, Target, Myer, Big W, Best & Less and I definitely didn't bother to hike to Kmart for my efforts, but the problem remained, Little Miss Mischief has grown out of her winter clothes and I just cant squeeze her in the size 7's anymore.
The one outfit I purchased the week before from our local boutique 'Bonnies' was a size 7L, which matched LMM's slender frame beautifully. The printed cord layered knee length skirt of apricots and baby blue floral was contrasted with matching stripe band and a long sleeve blouse to match. The colours looked divine on her, and most importantly of all, it passed the 'twirl' factor. It was the only clothing on offer.
No matter the generations, throughout the ages; all little girls love to twirl!. Watching my older daughter, 'Zip' now a young woman twirl in a new flowy dress she made, I think all women love to twirl!
 My older daughter 'Zip' as she is affectionately called, is a sewing guru, with a blooming label of her own, has made a lot of clothes for her little sister for a few years now. Some things like jeans are out of the question only because we don't have the machinery to perfect the job. I know there is a gorgeous double breasted hot pink cord jacket with a floral flannel lining on its way for winter for LMM, but with Zip's current workload and demand, we'd be lucky to get anything else more than that.
I couldn't help myself, but I just had to prove that little girls really do love to twirl. Here are 3 of my favourite photographs of LMM twirling in an outfit created by her older sister for summer in our backyard.
Its probably the most beautiful fairy dress ever created, but it isn't going to make winter a warm one.
What to do! What to do! I could look online, this too is fraught with danger. Little Miss Mischief's peculiar shaping, though not obvious has proven an obstacle too many times. Its a 'try on b4 u buy' job with anything LMM. She is also the worlds worst clothes shopper, except when it comes to shoes...... Emelda Marcos reincarnate.


Last week's effort was a reward of one outfit but the trip to Big W (our only other store locally) afterwards was traumatic for me. LMM screwed up her nose, she could like this perhaps, maybe, as she looked at a top which was a 2 tone grey with a weird splotch on the front. Blah she said and we left it. Hmmmm.... school holidays, a trip to Parramatta might be in order suggested Zip. Gulp - crowds.

We girls 3, had some serious shopping to do anyway. I just wanted new underwear that's all, Zip had a list a kilometre long, which included shoes, makeup, jeans, books and fingers crossed a new wardrobe for LMM. Having Zip along meant our options decreased, as she is the reigning wardrobe police. All items of apparel must pass her scrutiny, not a lot gets through.
The shopping trip was planned for  the day after my iron injection, I took an extra dose of vitamin B. I was good to go, I had energy.
Parramatta Westfield wasn't as busy as we were expecting, yay! Some of Zips items in bags already when we found the Kids Zone, all the kids stores in one central location- thank you Westfield.
 LMM is out of Cotton Kids sizing, so we bypassed that store. Perused Pumpkin Patch, but not one item of apparel passed Zip's strict standards of style. The colours of the clothing was OK she admitted, but the "underage teenager going to the club with an ef me look" was a no go zone. I didn't think it was that bad, but Zip stormed out with a very disdainful obvious huff!
LMM & I caught up to her in front of a store nearby called Gymboree. With a smile larger than life and a finger already pointed to its front doors "we are going in here!". I heard a very loud long "Woooooooooow coming from LMM's lips as she stood transfixed in awe. Zip & I headed in different directions in excitement forgetting  LMM, left still statuesque, with mouth wide open and eye's dancing over the front etalage of the store. Oops, I went back and dragged her in.
Within minutes we all had arms full of clothing for LMM to try on. Here was a store that had successfully bridged the gap from little, little girls to little girls to tweenie without any compromise on morals and ethics, needs and wants.
The colouring of the entire range from birth to 12 years is a breath of fresh vibrancy and happiness. Styles modern, contemporary yet age appropriate. Jeans with felt flowers on the hemline or down the leg, colourful cords, matching long sleeve t's with stripes and flowers. Dresses, tunics, coordinates, shoes, boots, hats, knitwear and much more to tantalise the eyes and feast the  wardrobe.
                                       A wondrous butterfly found amongst the fleet of dull, grey moths.

Though I am a very firm believer in buying Australian first, Gymboree is a US brand with the one store in Australia (more planned openings soon) I am a new huge fan. If an Australian childrens clothing company had catererd for the 'transitional' age such as Gymboree has done so effortlessly and simply, I would be the first to buy guaranteed.
Wake up Australian designers, get out there and research your the target market. You might just find out what all parents already know, little girls love to twirl, dress up, play and still be little girls.
Take a look at Gymboree by going to www.gymboree.com