How to make sure your pre-teen doesn’t dress like Miley Cyrus
(When your teen asks what’s wrong with revealing clothing — be prepared to come with a good answer. Tell them it could distract from their great traits, like their brains).
(Yikes! What happened to Hannah Montana?)
What happened to sweet, innocent Hannah Montana?
That’s been the collective, philosophical question of parents on Twitter and Facebook following the scandalous performance of Miley Cyrus at Sunday night’s Video Music Awards. We take it lots of moms out there were covering their daughter’s eyes during portions of the show.
It’s an age-old battle: Setting the limits on what your pre-teen can wear to school, what the rules are for make-up all while letting her express her own style and individuality. And don’t get us started on how the kids these days are wearing such short shorts. We’re begging for the grunge years to come back — with those baggy flannels that don’t reveal skin.
When idols for teenagers start showing a wild side, it can intensify this wardrobe war.
In the aftermath of Miley’s PG-13 rated performance, we’ve come up with a few ways to set wardrobe boundaries that are fair to both the parental units and young women.
Introduce make-up slowly: Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide when it’s OK to let your daughter start wearing make-up. Maybe she’s pleading with you because everybody at school is already wearing make-up. The thing is — you probably don’t want your daughter to learn how to apply make-up from a fellow middle-schooler who hasn’t yet mastered the technique of “less is more.” Start with lip glosses. Then, during those years when hormones start wreaking havoc on complexions, graduate to foundation and blush — and any good face-washing tips you’ve learned. Save eyeliners and eyeshadows for the later years.
Tip: Consider taking your daughter to a department store or make-up store where a make-up artist can help find palettes and styles that are age-appropriate.
Stress the importance of finding your own style: In these crucial coming-of-age years, peer pressure can be stifling. Encourage your daughter to find her own style — one that’s not just what her friends are wearing or what she’s seeing on television. To help, maybe get her a gift — like The Power of Style: Everything you need to know before you get dressed tomorrow, a book that goes beyond what colors and fits are flattering and helps young women find their own styles. (Save with Cash Back offers at Books A Million)
Allow your teen to experiment: But set some boundaries. If you’re providing cash for the shopping, you are a bit like an investor who can give some spending stipulations. Make sure the school clothes comply with dress codes at the very least. State some of your rules — like, for example, “you can’t buy any apparel that has inappropriate or profane expressions on it.” Remember, just because you don’t love what she picks out — you should still respect her personal style choices. If she gives you grief about not being able to wear clothing you’ve deemed too revealing, be ready to give a compelling reason — for example, wearing too skimpy of clothes detracts puts too much focus on her body and can detract from her other assets — like her personality, brains and heart.
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