While many adults find it difficult to dress fashionably, consider the plight of the toddler. There's nothing but applesauce-stained synthetic fabrics in their closets, and until those chubby fingers learn to fasten their own buttons, little girls are at the mercy of Mom.
Now, worse news: Suri Cruise has upped the ante.
(AP)
(Courtesy)
Since she arrived on the celebrity circuit, Suri has been impeccably turned out in Armani, Juicy Couture, Ralph Lauren and Chloe. And rumor has it that Katie Holmes ordered a custom pair of Christian Louboutin shoes for $3,000.
Maybe that's why so many of her peers are drooling.
As the average age of parents gets higher, they seem to be spending more money on their children's clothes. Mothers who have never owned Burberry items are splurging on designer plaid kilts for their kids.
Cynthia Jamin, an actress who landed roles on "Friends" and "Don't Shoot Me," wanted even more glamor for her girls, Roxy, 6, and Lola, 4. Her TwirlyGirl creations are for funky princesses with $70 to burn.
The dresses reflect the new consumer mentality. "Every girl who wears a TwirlyGirl dress is unique," says Jamin. "I want the dress to be as extraordinary as she is."
Among TwirlyGirl's extraordinary fans: Brooke Shields' daughter Rowan, Gwyneth Paltrow's daughter Apple and Heather Locklear's daughter Ava.
Beware of getting carried away, though, says Pamela Paul, author of Parenting, Inc.: How We Are Sold on $800 Strollers, Fetal Education, Baby Sign Language, Sleeping Coaches, Toddler Couture, and Diaper Wipe Warmers -- and What It Means for Our Children. Designer clothes come at too great a price if they keep kids from playing in the mud.
"The message is that what you wear is really important," says Paul. "I do think there are repercussions, and psychologists who study the effects of money and branding culture on kids notice the same thing. Certainly in an era in which second-graders are incredibly brand conscious -- insisting on $100-plus jeans -- starting this at age 2 is not a good idea."
So explore options. While it's possible to spend $625 on an Easter Sunday dress from Posh Tots.com, there's one way to cut down on clothing costs: rental. Gagas.com offers a selection of thousands of formal kids' clothes, so you can spend just $15.99 on a size 3T silk shantung dress, and keep it for three weeks.
It might be a good idea to start saving. It's hard enough keeping up with Suri's wardrobe -- but just wait until Jennifer Lopez's daughter Emme gets a little older.
