Dear Corporate Headquarters Brand Development Gurus:
My 19 month old and I took a trip to the mall this afternoon. While this is not usually my favorite location for a post-nap excursion, my daughter got a mess of pink Gap brand items this holiday, and I finally got off my butt about exchanging them for something (anything) else.
While we were at Baby Gap, I saw that you are selling skinny jeans... for babies. At first I thought I'd seen things wrong, perhaps something got misplaced, and these were just jeans for older girls mixed in with the toddler clothes. But I double checked, and found skinny jeans in toddler sizes 2T and 3T (and I'm sure you make them in 4T too, but the store must be sold out of those). I can not express exactly how horrified this makes me. I'll admit to thinking that skinny jeans are a bad idea for anyone, much less for children. How can a style that looks good on no one be so popular? But that aside, because a consenting adult can embarrass herself in public if that's her thing. But children? Toddlers, especially? Such a "body conscious" style is just not meant for children, especially ones at an age where round bellies and roly-poly shapes are the norm.
While I'm never buying my toddler skinny jeans, I guess you've done your research and have found that parents across the continent are clamoring for this look for their short ones. So maybe I can't fairly complain to you, but I do wish you'd held back from this one, allowing kids to run and play, rather than encouraging them to slouch and pose.
Yours,
Nonlinear Girl
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Open letter to Baby Gap
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how would they even go on over chubby little dimple legs?
ReplyDeletesounds nasty.
we had a big thing over here a few months ago about stores selling lace type underwear for 4/5 year olds.
euch!
I see that the Gap has them on sale. You're not the only one who sees the insanity in skinny jeans on toddlers.
ReplyDeleteThe only reason that I could see a parent buying these for a child is if they are living vicariously through them.
ugh. amen.
ReplyDeleteOk, I hate to be the devils advocate here. I fully understand how it's fundamentally sickening, but I do have to admit that my daughter is so darn skinny that I can hardly find jeans that will stay up on her hips. I have to buy jeans and roll the tops over just to keep them up. By the time the waist fits they are highwaters.
ReplyDeleteSo, while the name makes me nauseous, I can actually see the need for them.
If only they could come up with a more toddler appropriate name.
I'm disgusted, but hope that they were one sale because nobody would buy them. I just hope they don't go one step further and start selling chicken cutlet bra inserts for infants.
ReplyDeleteLong live the toddler tummy!
I agree with you......
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way about bikinis for babies and toddlers. In my opinion its not appropriate.
Down with skinny jeans! (I hope we're not eating our words and wearing them next year. Remember how you felt the first time you saw low rise jeans years ago?)
Gosh, I haven't seen the skinny jeans there. My toddler did get a pair for Christmas that appears to have faux bullet holes in them, though. I thought that was weird enough!
ReplyDeletethank you for that. just knowing this information makes me a bit ill. marketing at its finest, quite sad.
ReplyDeleteBlech...However, I would love to see Ada and B in a pair just for one tiny second...the thought makes me puke and giggle all at once (and that is not easy).
ReplyDeleteMy daughter is a string bean so I have been looking for something I don't have to adjust, or cut and sew back together, and I wish somebody would continually create a product like this, but to call them "skinny" jeans???? I would no more put my 3 year old in a strapless dress! Love the comment about the bra by the way- genius!
ReplyDeleteI acually was hoping someone would sell skinny jeans for toddlers! Just because your body type is not flattered in this style doesnt mean nobody else can "rock the look" and make them look great!!
ReplyDeleteGirls have the rest of their lives to wear uncomfortable clothes. Why start now?
ReplyDeleteMy dd eats 3 meals a day plus one to 2 snacks and must have a high metabolism because she will be 4 next month and is only 29 lbs naked. So I look for brands that run slim or the pants/jeans fall off of her. For my dds body type skinny jeans are just right for her. So for me I am glad Gap is making jeans that will fit my child. Thank you Gap for meeting the need of slim toddlers.
ReplyDeleteChristeen in texas
My daughter is 22 months, 23 pounds and 34 inches tall. She is a beanpole. The Gap jeans are the only jeans, let alone pants that fit her. The skinny jeans even have the expandable/tighten waist, which are a godsend for a skinny child. Most pants don't fit my daughter, and these are perfect.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter (12 months) lives in her skinny jeans. They are from Old Navy and are made with a stretchy material and appear to be very comfortable. I put them under dresses or Baby Doll style tops with Mary Janes. She gets lots of compliments. I don't see what the big deal is.
ReplyDeleteThe "skinny" refers to the leg opening... My daughter has a pair from ON and Gap and they are not super low rise, they are just tapered from the knee down. No big deal.
ReplyDeleteThank you Monica for your comment. This is so true, "skinny" does only refer to the tapering of the leg from the knee down. I don't know what the big deal is to those of you putting down such a great jean. Of course everyone is entitled to their own fashion opinion, but everyone has a different body type, including kids and toddlers. Fashion is all about dressing your body type, and just because it doesn't work for you or your child, doesn't mean that it shouldn't exist. Gap was doing many of us mom's a favor by creating those jeans. Thank you Gap!
ReplyDeleteMy 2 year old is tall and very skinny. I can not find ANYTHING to fit her right, and so i am VERY Thankful for the skinny jean, which fits her nicely and doesn't droop or hang on her and look sloppy. I wonder why so many parents are "offended" by the skinny jean? I certainly couldn't wear them, and nor would I, but i am Thankful for them for my daughters shape!
ReplyDeleteI have the same thing to add that a few others have already said. My little girl has always been really thin but long. So shopping for pants is always a nightmare. We can't ever find any that are long enough that fit. So skinny jeans are the perfect fit for her. They are just more narrow in the leg. We buy them in her size so they aren't TIGHT, they just FIT. Its not a big deal.
ReplyDeleteWOW!! I can't believe the big deal over the "skinny jeans". I have 3 girls, the youngest wearing a 4T and I am looking for a pair for her. They are cute and great for tucking into boots! She also gets to look like her big sisters! Yes, I let my 6 & 7 year olds wear skinny jeans! Bad mommy!!LOL!! Let's forget the name and remember that there are some relly slim girls out there (like mine) that they fit perfectly!
ReplyDeleteMy 14 month daughter looks amazing in her skinny jeans. And I think they are a cute and wonderful look for babies and children. My daughter does not have big chubby dipply legs and skinny jeans fit her long slim legs perfectly! They may not be for all children or all people but my daughter has 4 pairs and I think she is beyond adorable in them. You wouldnt buy them for yourself but wouldnt write a letter about it, why difference does it make if there are styles that are out there not fit for mass consumption?! I give the gap Kudos for staying current on the latest fashions, and well they do I will continue to shop there. ;)
ReplyDeleteI perfer hipper fashions then "winny the pooh" for my daughter anyday.
Not all styles are for everyone but it's nice to see variety for babies and toddlers out there!
Mom with a fashion sense.
Thanks for letting me know where I can find new "skinny jeans"for my 2 year old.. ADORABLE!!! Just like leggings you freaks!!!!
ReplyDeleteWOw this post is like 2 years old and so funny......Ummm i agree they are sooooo cute!!!!!! My daughter has tons of them and i just recently saw them in gap ....my baby is 18 months old and they are comfortable because they are NOT skin tight at all. they are just tapered at the leg which is great because she can wear sandals and the pants wont drag on the ground and get dirty and she also wont trip on them .......and to all of you who love them ......also check out crazy8.com they are called straight leg but they are the same ....and super adorable
ReplyDeleteI have a 5 and a half year old who weighs only 24 pounds. What I wouldn't give to have every pants manufacturer make slim toddlers pants! Even the skinny jeans at gap are too big for her or if I get them skinny enough, they are too short. Any other ideas to get skinny or slim pants in a 3T are greatly appreciated. Some of use cannot help having a skinny child who wants to dress like a 5 year old and not a baby
ReplyDelete