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Original poster

Who at H&M kids gave the green light to this?!

66 replies

Shallow07 · 10/06/2021 17:52

Looking for summer clothes for nursery and running around in the garden with my 17 mo DD, I found this fake leather mini skater skirt complete with chunky metal zip today in H&M available from 18 months to 10 years.

I asked to speak to the manager who gave me their Head Office number, which I will definitely be calling. Who the fuck thought this was a good idea?

It made me feel sad and angry to see this- childhood is so short and our girls deserve better. How can any kid run and climb and play in this? Why would you want to dress your toddler like she's about to go on a night out? It would be so easy for delicate toddler skin to be caught in this zip Sad

I'm looking forward to hearing their justification for selling this. I know there must be a market for it but blimey, can't we let our kids enjoy their childhoods in fun and appropriate clothes that aren't restricting and adult?

It's just another example of the sexualisation of girls, beginning in their babyhood. It's so sad Sad I seem to remember Mumsnet running/promoting a campaign years ago about this issue, holding retailers to account- does anyone know if it's still going?

Who at H&M kids gave the green light to this?!
OP posts:
Nonmaquillee · 10/06/2021 18:38

It’s very nasty and very adult and inappropriate for a child. 18 months 😳

drpet49 · 10/06/2021 18:44

Nasty. Who would buy that for their baby?

hopsalong · 10/06/2021 18:44

You make a good point. I only have boys but was thinking idly last week when in the shoe section, walking past the girls' shelf, how does a five year old need gold metallic straps gladiator sandals. Flat, admittedly, but otherwise much fancier than anything I'd wear on a night out.

Possibly it's always been a bit like this? Now I think about it I bought a very tarty short witch's dress (age 13) for myself a couple of years ago because it was cheaper than the adult equivalent. It was completely inappropriate for someone of that age, however. And I don't even have a cleavage.

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Clothing
BlatantlyNameChanged · 10/06/2021 18:45

Crop tops and bikinis for young children can be made in an age appropriate way though, both my DDs have got cropped tops and two piece swimming costumes that aren't remotely sexual.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 10/06/2021 18:45

It's a hideous skirt but:-

  1. All skirts and dresses would be impractical if this one is they all are.
  2. Zips appear on lots of clothes - do they all pose a risk? I dont buy zip clothes for toddlers but I dont get affected if I see them
  3. Toddlers wearing skirts is not "sexualising" them. If you find anything remotely sexual about the idea of a 3yo running around in a skirt you may need to speak to a professional.
  4. Stores supply a wide range of clothing for people to choose to purchase or choose to leave in the store. Dont like the item, dont buy it.

I assume the main crux of your dislike comes from the fact it is leather. Otherwise all skirts and all zippered clothing would give you the rage.

So you are against leather clothing on young children - I dont think many people will actually buy this product, or if they do, will buy it at an age their children may have chosen the item.

I think if the skirt was worn over some chunky tights with a pair of DMs and a top would look lovely. But more for school disco so older by chance.

BlatantlyNameChanged · 10/06/2021 18:48

I would put the skirt of 10yo DD, who chooses her own clothes, she would be styled similarly to how @BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz describes only her tights would be rainbow and she's have some sort of neon, flouncy type top because half the time she dresses like she lives in an anime but I wouldn't put it on younger DD as I don't think it's appropriate or practical for her age.

ChestyLaRue21 · 10/06/2021 18:54

I think you’re being a hysterical and OTT complaining to management, head office etc. This absolutely isn’t to my taste and I’d never buy it but if I did I could see it paired with some leggings, a chunky jumper and ankle boots for the winter. I wouldn’t consider this ‘sexy’ at all.

Original poster
Shallow07 · 10/06/2021 18:57

Definitely not ok with some of the derogatory labels here- I don't feel it's right to label anyone as slutty or tarty. And obviously I think adults should wear whatever they like. It goes without saying that no outfit invites sexual assault or harassment.

I'm not going to respond directly to the person who suggested that I see a professional as I might find a child in a skirt sexual other than with a massive fuck you- I'm a survivor of CSA and you can get in the bin. Maybe that why this bothers me so much. Childhood is so short and I feel clothes like this for literal babies that look uncomfortable and adult take away their freedom of movement and inhibit them from enjoying their too short childhoods. I don't know.

OP posts:
Newnormal99 · 10/06/2021 19:01

My 9yo has a leather skirt from H&M. She wears it with ugh style boots, thick tights and a checked shirt.

It does not look slutty in the slightest.

PicturesOfLily · 10/06/2021 19:02

I don’t like it at all. I have a very tall dd who is nearly 4 but wears age 6-7 and I’ve found a lot of clothes are just too grown up (e.g. cropped tops/jumpers) in the ranges that go from age 4/5 upwards but can’t imagine putting a toddler in this!

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 10/06/2021 19:05

But then all skirts must be unsuitable for little kids. If this skirt is impractical, they all are. There is nothing about this particular skirt that makes it more impractical than any other skirt.

Whatthefucculent · 10/06/2021 19:05

My daughter has something similar. She wears it with leggings & high tops. She can run around, climb & skateboard no problem

Grellbunt · 10/06/2021 19:06

We need to be able to have conversations about how the norms of our environment do influence people's perception without immediately jumping to "you are victim-blaming" "you are a paedo yourself if you think this is sexualising kids". It's about the Overton Window. We have seen it with the normalising of porn and nudes and the rise of sexual harassment in schools and online among teens - we NEED to talk about this. This skirt is one end of a continuum.

Original poster
Shallow07 · 10/06/2021 19:08

@Grellbunt you said it better than I could have done as I'm too pissed off. Thank you.

OP posts:
Itgetsthehoseagain · 10/06/2021 19:11

Yeah - leather and zips have a bit of a rep, so not good unless seriously dressed down. Like some of the style ideas on here (chunky boots etc) - but it's still leather and zip...

MeadowHay · 10/06/2021 19:14

@Grellbunt

We need to be able to have conversations about how the norms of our environment do influence people's perception without immediately jumping to "you are victim-blaming" "you are a paedo yourself if you think this is sexualising kids". It's about the Overton Window. We have seen it with the normalising of porn and nudes and the rise of sexual harassment in schools and online among teens - we NEED to talk about this. This skirt is one end of a continuum.
Agree with this 100 per cent and it's really worrying that so many people can't understand this.
IsThePopeCatholic · 10/06/2021 19:16

Looks like an S & M skirt for toddlers. Disgraceful and inappropriate.

HannaHat · 10/06/2021 19:18

I wouldn’t have put it on my daughter, that’s for sure 😬
I can’t believe the words tarty and slutty have been bandied about 🙄

Grellbunt · 10/06/2021 19:19

Chunky boots and hi tops on an 18 month old?

As we say in Scotland.... Aye, right.....

There is just no need. This is harmful and if you deny it you are part of the problem.

Eatingsoupwithafork · 10/06/2021 19:23

If you’re shocked by this then you should definitely avoid River Island they sell much worse clothes than H&M

Grellbunt · 10/06/2021 19:26

And does that make it ok? Am I not allowed to object just because it is all over the place? So we just let things get worse and worse, and we just shrug our shoulders and say it's the "new normal", get over it? We just let ourselves get boiled like frogs?

LoveNote · 10/06/2021 19:29

i don't see how a skirt can stop a kid playing....skirts have been worn for years, the style doesn't look restrictive at all!!

choli · 10/06/2021 19:35

@Shallow07

Definitely not ok with some of the derogatory labels here- I don't feel it's right to label anyone as slutty or tarty. And obviously I think adults should wear whatever they like. It goes without saying that no outfit invites sexual assault or harassment.

I'm not going to respond directly to the person who suggested that I see a professional as I might find a child in a skirt sexual other than with a massive fuck you- I'm a survivor of CSA and you can get in the bin. Maybe that why this bothers me so much. Childhood is so short and I feel clothes like this for literal babies that look uncomfortable and adult take away their freedom of movement and inhibit them from enjoying their too short childhoods. I don't know.

You are ascribing an awful lot of power to a piece of clothing. Do you feel the same about tutu style skirts for kids?
Grellbunt · 10/06/2021 19:40

People are being deliberately obtuse here.

BlatantlyNameChanged · 10/06/2021 19:50

But then all skirts must be unsuitable for little kids. If this skirt is impractical, they all are. There is nothing about this particular skirt that makes it more impractical than any other skirt.

Based purely on my own younger DD, if she has a zip she will open it. Then close it. Then open it. Then close it. Then whinge that she's nipped her fingers. Repeat. So not practical from that point of view. It's also not practical from my side as it can't be thrown in the washing machine followed by the tumble dryer because it would melt.