I was sitting at a large sofa at one of the malls here, talking about styling and designs with some of my friends, when few minutes later came two people sat right next to our sofas. I didn't really pay attention on what they were talking about since I was having a hot conversation with my friends.

It was about 15 - 20 minutes later, when the lady suddenly asked me, "Excuse me. Are you a fashion stylist?", I then noticed them. Few minutes later, I knew that the one who asked me was a young mother, and the one sat right next to her was her young daughter.

Apparently, her young daughter was a fashion-concious young girl, age 12 years old, and well...just read our conversation.

Mom: "Excuse me. Are you a fashion stylist?"

Me: "Um, you could say so. Why?"

Mom: "Sorry, didn't mean to interrupt you. Unintended to eavesdropping, but I could hear your conversation from my place and it seems you know a lot about fashion. I need a little 'fashion' help from a stylist."

Me: "Oh......, o-k-a-y. What can I do to help you?"

Mom: "My daughter insisted to buy the blouse from Kate Moss's Collection at TopShop. I think that the blouse was too old for her, it just didn't suit her age and her look." *whispering*

Me: "Have you told her about this?" *lowering my voice*

Mom: "Yes, and I'm kinda frustrated. She won't listen to me."

Me: "And why do you think she would listen to me?"

Mom: "She asked me to asked you about this. She listened to your conversation too."

Me: ........... o-k-a-y......... well, let's see what I can do.

 

I tell my friends the summarize, promising them to catch the conversation later on. Then I move to sit closer to the daughter.

 

Me: So, your mom told me that you would like my opinion about the blouse that you want.

Daughter: Yes. I want that Kate Moss blouse very much and she just disagree with me for a dull reason.

Mom: It is not dull. It is definitely too old for you.

Daughter: See?

Me: o-k-a-y. How if we go to the TopShop again and let me see which blouse that you guys mean. And maybe you can have a try and let me have a look at it?

Both of them: Sure.

 

So, all of us went to the TopShop once more and they showed me the blouse that the daughter wanted. In 3 seconds, I know what her mother means. It is not a blouse. It is a tube. And she wants to wear it with the mini hot pants. It is not too old, it is just too sexy for her age, which doesn't look sexy at all.

I understand her mom's feeling about this issue, but I also don't want to be such a bitch to her daughter. I know it is just not right to be worn by her, but I should give her a logical reason more than just saying too old, etc.

 

Daughter: What do you think?

Me: Why do you like this tube?

Daughter: Tube?

Me: That's what it called. Tops have different kinds and different names too. This one is a tube.

Daughter: Oh, ok. I like it cause it is cool.

Me: Cool?

Daughter: Yea. Kate looks cool on it. I saw one pictures with her on it.

Me: You like Kate so much huh?

Daughter: Yea. Mom loves her, too. She had a strict diet to look as thin as Kate.

Me: *Looking at her mom with a raised eyebrow* - She gets what I mean and looks like she felt a bit guilty.

Daughter: So?

Me: Well, do you wanna dress like your mom?

Daughter: No way! It is too old for me!

Me: Then, why would you dress like Kate Moss?

Daughter: Huh?

Me: She is 30-something, in case you didn't notice.

Daughter: Huh?

Me: Kate Moss. She is 30 years old. 30 something, and if I were not wrong, more than 32 years old. How old is your mom?

Daughter: ......... *my guess, her mom is younger than Kate Moss.*

Me: See?

Daughter: But Kate looks cool, and mom is not.

Me: So if your mom looks cool, you'll dress like her too?

Daughter: No wa...erm.....

Me: Well, spell it out.

Daughter: ....no...

Me: So? I can tell your mom if you still want that tube, but if I can give a suggestion, you will look charming and extremely cool by being yourself. And I can help you out now, as soon as we've made the decision about this tube.

Daughter: How much should I pay you for that service? *geez...now young girls know money more than me*

Me: For you, free of charge.

Daughter: Ok, I don't want this tube. *geez....so fast.*

Me: Allrite. Put on your clothes and let's find something cool for you. I'll tell your mom."

Shortly, we go around the shops and find her a cool yet appropriate shirt at Debenhams, to be paired with a knee length shaggy pants and cropped jacket bought at TopShop. Her mother said thank you, and I reminded her about teenagers are influenced easily by the peer pressures, media, friends, and parent's behaviour. The last question that I asked her was, "And why would you dressed like an older woman?" Btw, she was just 29 years old. Phew.

I went back to my friends who have moved to one cafe around there, and told them the whole story. Just when I finished my story, one of them said.. "Hm...you were rite. Why would we dressed up like an older woman? For God's sake we were just 20-something!"

Well, enjoy your fashion life, gals. You can still be 30 something later on.

---------------------------------------------------------------

Thinking about how parent's behaviour, media, and peer pressure could really affect youngster, I was wondering about what our daughter will be 10 years later, where fashion were all about brand and status, make up are about stage looks and celeb looks, cosmetic surgery becomes one of the alternatives for easy touch up, and when everyone look at fashion as a glamour dream that dillutes their reality and their natural existence in such an unhealthy and illogical way.

You think Britney Spears and Paris Hilton are social and fashion trash? Wait until you see your daughters become one of them. (Lucky enough if your daughters also have as much money and gold as they had).

If it is not us who made the changes on our (fashion) world, who else?

PS: This post didn't mean to diminish 30-something ladies. I believe fashion is about choices, and everyone at any stage of age should be able to take it gracefully and choose wisely on their own fashion look, including not trying to look and behave younger than you are.

Picture taken from: dkimages.com