Does your mommy dress you?

We were at a playground this week with a group of people, and someone complimented the sundress of a little girl about Isaac's age. It was a pretty cute dress -- white cotton with ruffles, patterned with lots of bright pink and lime green butterflies and flowers.

"Thanks," said her mother, who was wearing solids in muted colors. "It's the first time I've bought her something because it seemed like she'd like it. It really fits her personality -- all the bright colors."

This made me wonder if I should be feeling guilty. I don't think about what Isaac might like when I buy his clothes, nor do I select them based on his personality. My only criteria is whether I like them!

So what do I like Isaac to wear? I like him to look California cool and casual -- a little bit preppy but a little bit skater, a little bit nerdy but a little bit hipster, and I like him to wear fishing hats like a little old man.

For a long time now I've liked his clothes to look like they could belong to someone much older, so I've avoided juvenile styles (such as rompers and overalls) and motifs (like ducks and teddy bears). I'm opposed to huge logos of all sorts (be it Polo or Gap) as well as licensed characters. In fact, I don't like most clothing with pictures or themes, especially sports, aggressive animals, vehicles, or camouflage. (To digress: for some reason I can't find un-themed summer pajamas, so these days Isaac is wearing pajamas with sharks and construction equipment (not on the same pair of pajamas).)

What would Isaac like to wear? Oh, let's be honest -- he would love vehicle-themed clothing. A pair of his cool-weather pajamas has (inexplicably) something that resembles a tiny 1967 Dodge Dart embroidered on one breast, and he never fails to point it out. He would love "Bob the Builder" sneakers with excavators and flashing red lights, but instead he got the outer-space print Vans you see above. (Those are his new shoes, size 7 1/2.)

Hey, he'll be choosing his own clothes soon enough. I might as well enjoy dressing him while I can.