Toto, I've Got a Feeling We're Not in Gymboree Anymore

This was Laura two years ago, in her first-day-of-school outfit for first grade. It is exactly how I think little girls should dress. I mean, impeccable, right? (Dress is Gymboree Bon Voyage, Summer 2007 and shoes are the Cherry Pie line, for the Gymboholics among us.) Oh, Gymboree had me on their Gymbuck treadmill big time. I confess I even used to be a regular reader of one--okay, two--Gymboree discussion forums. I know. I kind of can't believe it either: a Gymboree discussion forum. We had a long and happy run with Gymboree, workin' the sales to get it super cheap, wearing it, then passing it along or reselling it on eBay.

But in the last year, I've been hearing rumblings from Laura about wanting to shop at Justice, which is apparently the racier sister of Limited Too? Today I finally caved. I hadn't bought her any new school clothes, because I'd bought ahead so much in seasons past. (She still has clothes she's never worn.) So I told her we could go to Justice and she could pick an outfit, but that we would have to agree on it.

I had never darkened the door of the place. And when we walked in, my first thought was that it looked like an explosion in a hooker factory. Spangles, tickity-tack, flirty skirts, lace everywhere, and neon (very on-trend for Fall). Another mom I was chatting with there peeked into the dressing room where her two daughters were trying on the outfits they had picked, and she turned around to me and slowly mouthed, "STREETWALKER." I nodded in sympathy.

I mean no offense to anyone who loves Justice. There were cute things in there, it turned out. But the overall impression upon walking in was just. . .not that little red sailor dress. I had a few minutes of culture shock. Little girls definitely need a guiding hand in there, in my opinion. Laura, however, was in heaven.

This is what we came away with. She fell hard for the peace sign motif. Actually, there were a LOT of peace symbols in there. I think this upcoming generation must be very dedicated to non-violent resolution of world problems. And they love Snoopy too. So, cool. Laura also picked a pair of pink jeans in the same color, and another, more traditional floral tunic top (that was at my subtle prompting). So she can make a few outfits out of that.

And you know, now that I look at her in the clothes, this outfit is perfectly girlish and cute, not too grown-up at all. I think it just had to be taken out of the context of the store, which honestly, did not look like high-end retail, and isn't meant to be, I know. A nun's habit would have looked tarty in there. This lace-trimmed cami gave me pause at first, but she won't wear it to school without the jacket. And she loves herself so much in it. She danced out of the dressing room in this, and the other mom said, "Oh, you'll be buying that." Then that woman, who totally got it, suggested that I might "get another year out of" the Children's Place as a transition from Gymbo to Justice. She might be right. Also, there's Crazy8, the older sibling of Gymboree. So we'll find our new fashion mode for this next phase. Matt is a good barometer, and he just thought she looked cute, so we're fine.

But I look at that picture of her in the red sailor dress, and I remember that I thought she was such a big kid then. I guess because I had baby Hank. But she was a baby herself, practically. And now she's rocking canvas wedges. I bet there is no chance I'll ever get her back in one of those striped Hanna Andersson playdresses. So for the second time this week, I must now go to my room and cry forever.