Girl clothes

We've borrowed baby girl clothes from two different families, so you'd think we would have everything we need. But somehow we ended up with 30 short-sleeved onesies, but only three pairs of pants. We have six sleeveless dresses, but no sweaters. And we only have two pairs of footed pajamas. Here's a tip: if you are expecting a baby in January, you should make friends with people whose children were born in the winter!

So this weekend we went shopping for baby girl clothes at my favorite second-hand store. With Isaac we waited until after he was born to buy any clothes; since we received so many gifts, there wasn't much we needed. (Also, he was born in the heat of late summer and didn't need to wear much!) I don't think we'll get many presents with a second child, however, and I felt uneasy having next to nothing that could keep a new baby warm.

Ever since we announced we were expecting a girl this time, people have been telling me how much more fun I was going to have dressing a girl. I absolutely did not believe them. I had really enjoyed little boys' clothes, for one. Furthermore, I resent having no choice but pink, I dislike gratuitous bows and ruffles, and I find glitter and rhinestones excessive. I have problems with the symbolism of little girls' clothes, including the emphasis on frivolity, ornamentation, and preciousness. Can't a little girl be something other than silly, vain, and cute?

But you know what? There actually are a lot of really cool clothes for girls. In fact, when I started shopping I found it was hard to limit myself. I mostly bought practical stuff in size 0-3 months to keep the baby warm: two pairs of leggings, two pairs of pajamas, a hooded sweater, a sweatsuit. But I also couldn't resist a few unnecessary items for size 3-6 months, including a blue-and-black checked dress with smocking and a pair of jeans with apples embroidered on the knees.

Upon consideration, I realized that boys' clothes also have stylistic pitfalls, including sports and military themes that emphasize aggression and toughness, and we successfully avoided those. It just takes careful shopping.

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And when children of either sex get old enough to choose their own clothes, all this careful consideration of the semiotics of their wardrobe goes out the window. I don't hate clothing with vehicles on it, for instance, but it wouldn't be my first choice for my offspring. But Isaac loves his many vehicle t-shirts. Now that he has his own opinion, it's time for me to step back and let him make his own choices.

At least I'll be able to choose the clothes for this baby girl for a while yet, right?