This Is the World That We Live In
James Poulos, Ed. ·
Aug 13, 2010 at 9:14pm
"She's not skinny, so I wouldn't have necessarily thought to buy skinny jeans but I was inspired by the display," says Ms. Coffey. It featured a mannequin clad in gray skinny jeans, a striped tunic, plum-colored cardigan and silver ballet flats. Ms. Coffey bought the entire outfit. She does not wear skinny jeans herself. -- WSJ on skinny jeans for babies
And now, your late night musical accompaniment:
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Jul '10
Re: This Is the World That We Live In
James Poulos, Ed.
"This Is the World That We Live In"
Indeed.
I was particularly encouraged that Ms. Coffey didn't declare her infant would be placed on a diet, for the jeans.
Making sure you're baby has quality Jeggings: $40. Having the best accoutred infant at the 40-something-parents designer-kid show: $70. Knowing that "The children's department is "a safe place for the mom to start the trend on her child," where "She can vicariously live through that child:" priceless.
Re: This Is the World That We Live In
You know, that article was written to give everyone the oh-no, what is this world coming to, we're sexualizing children and giving them eating disorders at the age of ten months message, but look at the photo: that's just a cute, chubby baby in perfectly appropriate baby-wear that just happens to be snug around her chubby ankles--big deal. As the article stresses, these jeans are built to accommodate diapers and to be suitable for crawling around the sandbox. Jon Benet Ramseywear, they're not. I'll reserve the moral panic for now and be glad someone's making money in the recession.
Aug '10
Re: This Is the World That We Live In
When our car was stolen, my husband and I bought an old beater to replace it. From the crayon marks and the half-eaten lollipop stuck to the floor, the previous owners were evidently a family with at least one small child.
We also found a Spanish-language copy of the Qur'an in the trunk, but that wasn't the weirdest item. No, the weirdest item was:
A pair of DKNY baby shoes. Designer shoes. For a baby too small to even walk -- who'll outgrow them in a matter of months!
My mama dressed us in cast-offs (oh, I'm sorry, "vintage clothing") a few sizes too large "because you'll grow into them soon enough". We complained bitterly at the time, since other kids made fun of us (I at least was stupid enough to admit to other kids that my clothing was used). But I sure see the sense of it now. Kids grow too fast. Better to put the money into a college fund or use it to buy them good books, a musical instrument, art supplies, or a chemistry kit. Give 'em something special to do, not wear.
Aug '10
Re: This Is the World That We Live In
An interesting thing about that old beater with the designer baby shoes in it is that the family who had owned it before us was almost certainly poor.
I've noticed this when I tutor inner-city kids: the conspicuous consumption of upmarket goods is more important to many of them than it its to the tutors, who usually come from a middle-class background. Some examples:
A girl came to me exhausted, complaining how she couldn't get her homework done working two part-time jobs. I asked if her family could afford to have her quit one of those jobs. She said, "No, it's not for my family. This is the only way I can save up for the prom outfit I want."
When we were giving a talk on ways to save money in college, I mentioned that one way to save on food was to shop at ALDI. One guy called out from the back of the room, "Aldi's? Thats only for food stamps, for people who are really poor!" The room -- full of poor kids -- erupted in laughter. ALDI was too poor for their blood.
May '10
Re: This Is the World That We Live In
That's why eBay is so great. I let other people pay the crazy prices.
When I was visiting my parents in Iowa the other day I was waiting at Papa Murphy's for my pizza. The woman in front of me paid using her Food Stamp card. But she had to set her iPhone down first...you know, the phone that has the mandatory crazy expensive monthly service plan. Curious, I watched her walk to her car...a very nice, new-looking Pontiac sedan. I guess she doesn't want to spend her hard-earned money on food.
Re: This Is the World That We Live In
Midget Faded Rattlesnake:
. Give 'em something special to do, not wear. · Aug 14 at 9:40am
Couldn't agree more. All of my kids wear hand-me-downs that have already been worn by at least 2 children and then they get sent down to North Carolina for at least one more wear. Your standard Old Navy skirt can be worn by four different children. Kids wear things for *one* season, so they are in excellent condition after use. Also, they mention this in the article, but *comfort* is the name of the game. Unless it's for a wedding or funeral, clothes have to be able to go from the sandbox to the bicycle to Walmart to the play ground. A 1-year-old can't really say, "This is digging into my tummy, can you unbutton me?"