Anonymous wrote:We live in McLean and my daughter wears almost exclusively All In Motion from Target, Old Navy, Athleta Girls, and H&M. She plays lacrosse, she has a lot of friends, she's always out doing something, so I guess her childish wardrobe has not hurt her socially as some of these crazy mothers would like you to think.

Most of the advice here has not been crazy. OP asked for advice on 7th grade girl clothing staples and many people provided examples. Lots of people also noted their kids don’t like cropped shirts, too short shorts, etc. but gave the items of clothing their kids do wear. I hate the vibe some people are giving that a 7th grade girl who wants to wear some variation of “the uniform” is a mean girl or too mature, etc. These are kids, snarking about the girls that want to wear “the uniform” is no better than snarking about the ones that don’t.

Going from flip sequin shirts and native shoes to buying the basic teen uniform paired with a Stanley cup is going from one extreme to the other. I get why OP does not want her DD to continue wearing flip sequin shirts with kitty cats. Unless a flip sequin shirt is worn by a hyper-confident and unconventional leader type, this of clothing might attract too much negative attention from the mean girls, even if her friend group is fine with it. On the other hand, I doubt her real friends, if they are actually nice girls, care if she is wearing converse/nike/crocs vs some other sneaker. Nor will they exclude her for what type of band shirt she decides to wear. OP just let her pick within reason. It is okay to be cost aware. I would praise my kid for this, not discourage it. Target has the "art class" line that is more geared towards older girls. Old navy and gap also have plenty of tween/teen options in their kids line. Hello Franki is very good for that age as well and they have great sales. She can take a look at more expensive teen clothing catalogs for inspiration even if you don't shop at those stores due to size/cost. But definitely don't pressure her into being too fashion conscious if she doesn't care about that stuff.

My daughter who is just wrapping up 6th grade is starting to transition her wardrobe away from Cat & Jack graphic tees.

I just followed her lead. She had a pair of flowy pants that I bought her for her 5th grade graduation, she asked for another pair about a month ago. I also noticed she was wearing the one solid top she owned really often, so I picked up a few non-graphic shirts at Target for her and let her choose what she wanted to keep.

It helped to give her some choices without having it be a whole thing, and it helped me to get a sense of what she wants to wear.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op, I help my kid with fashion. It’s cruel not to and to pretend what you wear doesn’t matter. My seven year old wears sequined shirts, my middle school child does not.

Start with shoes. Nike or converse are good pics. Yes to white sneakers by Nike. Black conserve work. Crocs are a good second choice. Don’t care that she’s price conscious - that is coming from you because she learned it - throw the ratty, ill fitting clothes out. Uggs might work but my kid seems to be over them so idk.

Jeans are pretty easy. You can go to the Gap, my kid is skinny and tall. Target sometimes has jeans. Madewell has nice clothing generally.

Band tees are ok. Look at urban outfitters and similar to see what’s in. I just got an Olivia Rodrigo tee. Don’t let your husband’s musical taste guide too much here. He can wear his own tees.

Abercrombie has nice stuff. They have great winter coats that usually go on a good sale. Simple and stylish. You can supplement with Target but get a few nicer things would be my recommendation. Make sure her water bottle is Stanley or the like. No unicorns, etc.

You want your daughter to feel confident and mature. Get her the clothing to match.

Oh we all know exactly what type of person you are based just on this. Striver.

+1 The real cruelty would be giving a kid who couldn’t care less in an Olivia Rodrigo tee and a Stanley water bottle and telling her it’s going to make her more appealing.

And I can’t help but laugh at Madewell. That’s for middle aged women trying to look hip but non-threatening.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op, I help my kid with fashion. It’s cruel not to and to pretend what you wear doesn’t matter. My seven year old wears sequined shirts, my middle school child does not.

Start with shoes. Nike or converse are good pics. Yes to white sneakers by Nike. Black conserve work. Crocs are a good second choice. Don’t care that she’s price conscious - that is coming from you because she learned it - throw the ratty, ill fitting clothes out. Uggs might work but my kid seems to be over them so idk.

Jeans are pretty easy. You can go to the Gap, my kid is skinny and tall. Target sometimes has jeans. Madewell has nice clothing generally.

Band tees are ok. Look at urban outfitters and similar to see what’s in. I just got an Olivia Rodrigo tee. Don’t let your husband’s musical taste guide too much here. He can wear his own tees.

Abercrombie has nice stuff. They have great winter coats that usually go on a good sale. Simple and stylish. You can supplement with Target but get a few nicer things would be my recommendation. Make sure her water bottle is Stanley or the like. No unicorns, etc.

You want your daughter to feel confident and mature. Get her the clothing to match.

Oh we all know exactly what type of person you are based just on this. Striver.

That word has never been a negative to me, though I know DCUM has a different opinion.
NP

We live in McLean and my daughter wears almost exclusively All In Motion from Target, Old Navy, Athleta Girls, and H&M. She plays lacrosse, she has a lot of friends, she's always out doing something, so I guess her childish wardrobe has not hurt her socially as some of these crazy mothers would like you to think.

Anonymous wrote:Op, I help my kid with fashion. It’s cruel not to and to pretend what you wear doesn’t matter. My seven year old wears sequined shirts, my middle school child does not.

Start with shoes. Nike or converse are good pics. Yes to white sneakers by Nike. Black conserve work. Crocs are a good second choice. Don’t care that she’s price conscious - that is coming from you because she learned it - throw the ratty, ill fitting clothes out. Uggs might work but my kid seems to be over them so idk.

Jeans are pretty easy. You can go to the Gap, my kid is skinny and tall. Target sometimes has jeans. Madewell has nice clothing generally.

Band tees are ok. Look at urban outfitters and similar to see what’s in. I just got an Olivia Rodrigo tee. Don’t let your husband’s musical taste guide too much here. He can wear his own tees.

Abercrombie has nice stuff. They have great winter coats that usually go on a good sale. Simple and stylish. You can supplement with Target but get a few nicer things would be my recommendation. Make sure her water bottle is Stanley or the like. No unicorns, etc.

You want your daughter to feel confident and mature. Get her the clothing to match.

Oh we all know exactly what type of person you are based just on this. Striver.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She is old enough that you should take her shopping and let her pick out what she likes.

This. In the 7th grade, my DD would have never worn short shorts or fitted tops. It was boxy tees, joggers and Jordans. She finishing up the 8th grade she’s starting to branch out a bit. Cargos or 4 inch shorts, crop or fitted tops, still wearing Jordans.

Take her shopping and let her pick out her own things. Don’t push what’s popular or things out of her comfort zone.

The boys in MS like it when girls wear short shorts and fitted tops. Don’t you want her to be popular?

OP you don’t need to rush this. PPs have suggested a lot of brands that are popular among middle schoolers, but it might not be as homogeneous as PPs describe. It may depend on the school. My DD is finishing 7th grade at an academically strong and diverse FCPS middle school and I really don’t see that there is a “uniform” that all the popular girls wear. My DD has Kendra Scott, Lululemon, crocs, an old Fjallraven backpack, VEJA shoes, etc etc but her daily look is basically random baggy T shirts and AE shorts (not the super short ones) She has plenty of friends and doesn’t look try-hard, vain, or immodest. Her school has a lot of immigrant families and DD is friends with girls whose families I believe would not be OK with their daughters wearing crop tops and super short shorts, and that makes life easier for me

What is your DDs school demographic like? I would avoid overcommitting to a certain wardrobe based on what the “popular” girls are wearing. Buy a couple of things at a time, and maybe do most of the shopping after the first week of school. Let your DD take the lead.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She is old enough that you should take her shopping and let her pick out what she likes.

This. In the 7th grade, my DD would have never worn short shorts or fitted tops. It was boxy tees, joggers and Jordans. She finishing up the 8th grade she’s starting to branch out a bit. Cargos or 4 inch shorts, crop or fitted tops, still wearing Jordans.

Take her shopping and let her pick out her own things. Don’t push what’s popular or things out of her comfort zone.

Agree.

They have gym class 4-5x a week and are not changing into gym suits yet so everyone wears athletic wear every day.

Fine with me.

We bought the Lulu, Nike, aviator, golden hinge skirts stuff and now she’s focused, not worried/doesn’t care about it, got into gifted & talented, and does her swim team practices 3x a week and other rec sports 1x a week.

She also knows she’s isn’t getting a smartphone until 7th or 8th grade.

Our public school families signed a contract in that and got a huge critical mass to do so.

Lol.

Do you actually have something to add?

I actually have teenagers; unlike you. And I’ve already given my thoughts to OP.

I have teens. Don't know why you would think otherwise? And I'm NP. Sounds like the previous posters has teens too.

So lol was just a burp of some sort since you claim you have given OP advice already

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She is old enough that you should take her shopping and let her pick out what she likes.

This. In the 7th grade, my DD would have never worn short shorts or fitted tops. It was boxy tees, joggers and Jordans. She finishing up the 8th grade she’s starting to branch out a bit. Cargos or 4 inch shorts, crop or fitted tops, still wearing Jordans.

Take her shopping and let her pick out her own things. Don’t push what’s popular or things out of her comfort zone.

Agree.

They have gym class 4-5x a week and are not changing into gym suits yet so everyone wears athletic wear every day.

Fine with me.

We bought the Lulu, Nike, aviator, golden hinge skirts stuff and now she’s focused, not worried/doesn’t care about it, got into gifted & talented, and does her swim team practices 3x a week and other rec sports 1x a week.

She also knows she’s isn’t getting a smartphone until 7th or 8th grade.

Our public school families signed a contract in that and got a huge critical mass to do so.

Lol.

Do you actually have something to add?

I actually have teenagers; unlike you. And I’ve already given my thoughts to OP.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She is old enough that you should take her shopping and let her pick out what she likes.

This. In the 7th grade, my DD would have never worn short shorts or fitted tops. It was boxy tees, joggers and Jordans. She finishing up the 8th grade she’s starting to branch out a bit. Cargos or 4 inch shorts, crop or fitted tops, still wearing Jordans.

Take her shopping and let her pick out her own things. Don’t push what’s popular or things out of her comfort zone.

Agree.

They have gym class 4-5x a week and are not changing into gym suits yet so everyone wears athletic wear every day.

Fine with me.

We bought the Lulu, Nike, aviator, golden hinge skirts stuff and now she’s focused, not worried/doesn’t care about it, got into gifted & talented, and does her swim team practices 3x a week and other rec sports 1x a week.

She also knows she’s isn’t getting a smartphone until 7th or 8th grade.

Our public school families signed a contract in that and got a huge critical mass to do so.

Lol.

Do you actually have something to add?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She is old enough that you should take her shopping and let her pick out what she likes.

This. In the 7th grade, my DD would have never worn short shorts or fitted tops. It was boxy tees, joggers and Jordans. She finishing up the 8th grade she’s starting to branch out a bit. Cargos or 4 inch shorts, crop or fitted tops, still wearing Jordans.

Take her shopping and let her pick out her own things. Don’t push what’s popular or things out of her comfort zone.

Agree.

They have gym class 4-5x a week and are not changing into gym suits yet so everyone wears athletic wear every day.

Fine with me.

We bought the Lulu, Nike, aviator, golden hinge skirts stuff and now she’s focused, not worried/doesn’t care about it, got into gifted & talented, and does her swim team practices 3x a week and other rec sports 1x a week.

She also knows she’s isn’t getting a smartphone until 7th or 8th grade.

Our public school families signed a contract in that and got a huge critical mass to do so.

Lol.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To start off stop calling clothing “ pieces”
Take her shopping over the summer to pick out a few things but then wait til school starts again because tastes change along with friend groups.

OP again.

You are right - I take back "pieces."

She really hates shopping - she will come along if I make her but if I do that I would hope it would be a onetime type thing to get her through the year. How often do you all go clothes shopping?! And where do you go? We have always just gone to Target. She also is super price sensitive. She has 8 pair of Green soffee shorts from camp last summer- she would never agree to let me buy her a pair of shorts, since those still fit. But if things just show up in her drawer, she will wear them. She still uses her same backpack from the first day of Kindergarten. I think she could use a small push to branch out.

I’m confused.

What is SHE asking for or to buy?

If she isn’t asking for certain lines or clothes they don’t worry about it.

She might not care. And her real friends might not care either.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She is old enough that you should take her shopping and let her pick out what she likes.

This. In the 7th grade, my DD would have never worn short shorts or fitted tops. It was boxy tees, joggers and Jordans. She finishing up the 8th grade she’s starting to branch out a bit. Cargos or 4 inch shorts, crop or fitted tops, still wearing Jordans.

Take her shopping and let her pick out her own things. Don’t push what’s popular or things out of her comfort zone.

Agree.

They have gym class 4-5x a week and are not changing into gym suits yet so everyone wears athletic wear every day.

Fine with me.

We bought the Lulu, Nike, aviator, golden hinge skirts stuff and now she’s focused, not worried/doesn’t care about it, got into gifted & talented, and does her swim team practices 3x a week and other rec sports 1x a week.

She also knows she’s isn’t getting a smartphone until 7th or 8th grade.

Our public school families signed a contract in that and got a huge critical mass to do so.