What Has Your Child Taught You About Fashion?

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FANCY!

This weekend, I am attending a Fancy Event. A friend invited my husband and me to a black tie gala.

I haven't been to a really dressy event in a few years and when I tried on my standby gown, it clearly had seen better days. And so this morning, my 6-year-old daughter and I went shopping at the mall for a new dress.

The first dress I tried on was perfect -- black, structured, and body hugging, with classic ruching that hid any minor imperfections. I put the dress on hold and Punky and I went on to Macy's.

And that's where it happened ...

I found another beautiful long gown with a diamond neckline. It looked great when I put it on, I'll admit.

"Ooh, I love it!" my daughter squealed.

"It is really pretty," I agreed.

Yet I stood before the mirror with a frown on my face, turning this way and that. The problem was that it was strapless. I hate strapless. I'm obsessed with whether there's any "boob fat" hanging out over a strapless neckline. There wasn't with this one, but only if I stood this way. Or that way. If I stood this way, though, I could maybe see a tiny bit of boob fat on each side of the neckline. Maybe if I tugged it up like this? Or pushed it down like that? I stood in front of the mirror for a good five minutes while my daughter watched quietly from her seat behind me.

"It's a maybe," I said, not wanting to disappoint my daughter.

"It's a no," she said crisply. I raised my eyebrows in surprise.

"It's important to be comfortable and fashiony," she said. "So if it's a maybe, then it's a no."

I couldn't help but laugh. SHE NAILED IT.

"You are exactly right," I said. "Let's go back to Dillard's and get that other dress."

My daughter reminded me of an important fashion reality. Thanks to her, I realized I would have spent all of that evening constantly tugging on the neckline of my strapless dress and positioning my body to avoid the appearance of boob fat!

When buying a fancy dress, IT'S IMPORTANT TO FIND ONE THAT'S COMFORTABLE.

Otherwise, you won't have any fun!

What fashion lessons has your child reminded you of over the years? I can think of another one right off the bat ...

ALWAYS GO WITH CLOTHES THAT ARE MACHINE WASHABLE.

What about you?

Image via Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires/Flickr