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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

About character-emblazoned clothes?

186 replies

CrazyThursday · 10/12/2013 21:10

Disclaimer: no offence to those who like character clothes

DM asked me what DD would like for Xmas so I provided a list (to the other gp's too).

DM ignored list and texted to say she'd seen a "lovely" coat with a cartoon character on whixh she was going to get for DD. We have previously discussed how we both dislike character clothes and how I would never buy them for DD whilst she's little enough to wear what I put her in (she's 2). I texted DM back saying "hmmm really not a fan of character stuff, though I've seen a nice plain coat that would be nice instead, or failing that something from the list". The text back was "well I've bought it now".

She phoned the next day and said "if you really hate it I guess I'll put it on eBay but I though dd would love it". I said "I'm sure dd would like it but I'm afraid I can't stand the stuff which we'd both joked about in the past and until she asks to wear that kind if thing I plan to avoid it". This was last week.

Today DM and I were on the phone and she said "that coat is so cute, I'm so sure DD will love it. I think I'm going to keep it here and she can wear it on the days that I have her, she can start a CHARACTER NAME rebellion".

AIBU to be really riled by this? DM has undermined me on a few DD related things and I rarely say anything because it has, in the past, led to almighty rows and I'm slowly learning to pick my battles. In the great scheme of things it doesn't matter what DD wears, it's more my mum's attitude of "I don't care whether you like it or not". And what else would she be doing on the days that she has DD that I might not like??? Will she use that time she has with DD to get one up on mummy?

OP posts:
Heartbrokenmum73 · 12/12/2013 20:32

Great how many people are showing what ignorant twats they are on this thread by trotting out the word 'chavvy' in relation to children.

Just wonderful.

loveolives · 12/12/2013 20:37

Nobody needs to have a nosebleed over a strangers opinion on the tinternet. I couldn't care less where it's PC or not, my thoughts won't change. I'm sure there's a lot of things people judge me for but I just do not care!

Heartbrokenmum73 · 12/12/2013 20:38

Yep, I'm certainly doing some serious judging right now...

loveolives · 12/12/2013 20:40

Cool enjoy!

puntasticusername · 12/12/2013 20:42

loveolives you are Katie Hopkins, and I claim my five pounds Smile

loveolives · 12/12/2013 20:49

Haha I'm not honestly, she's a bit too mean. I am quite snobby but not as snobby as her. I quite enjoyed her blunt honesty at first but now she's just too inflammatory.

puntasticusername · 12/12/2013 20:55

At least you freely admit to being snobby Wink

DS loves his Bob the Builder t shirts and I wouldn't take them off him in a million years. I would love to see if the sight of him in his Gruffalo dressing gown melts your heart towards character clothing at all. It has a hood and ickle claws on the sleeves and everything...it is BEYOND CUTE...

Heartbrokenmum73 · 12/12/2013 20:58

Awww punt - they brought out the Gruffalo clothing just after DS2 was out of the age range for it. I was gutted - it's all very cute!

Today, though, at DS2's nativity, three children were in camel costumes. I told my Mum that I want one for Christmas - for me!

loveolives · 12/12/2013 21:02

I don't find all character embellished clothes tacky. My son loves Spider-Man and Spongebob feelfreetojudgemeforthatone so he does wear a full on Spider-Man costume sometimes and a range of Spongebob t shirts and the odd Bob the builder, and of course if he wants something desperately I would buy it for him. It's more all the Disney baby clothes I can't hack. Winnie the Pooh in particular. All the transfers etc, just no.

puntasticusername · 12/12/2013 21:53

Heart Aw, that's a shame! DS has just about outgrown the Gruffalo now but I can't bear to let it go, it's so cool. It won't hurt him to carry on wearing it until it only hits him at mid-thigh, will it?

Olives so it's not ALL characters? Duly noted. We'll win you over to the dark side yet Smile

loveolives · 12/12/2013 21:58

No not all, Disney really that's all!

ParenthoodJourney · 12/12/2013 23:21

I could be wrong but don't disney own the rights to Spider-Man now? So technically you do like disney embellished clothes hehe Wink

notsomuchroomattheinn · 13/12/2013 06:08

chavvy is an offensive term...
Only in the worthy, pearl clutching circles. In RL it is about as offensive as snobby or snooty.

loveolives Spider-Man is Disney these days Xmas Grin

loveolives · 13/12/2013 07:30

I meant Disney embellished clothes as in Winnie the Pooh, Minne and Mickey Mouse - that kind of thing. Bob the builder doesn't bother me :D

notsomuchroomattheinn · 13/12/2013 08:03

See I loathe Bob the Builder. My friend passed some Bob T-shirts on and they are only used for messing about in the garden. Same with Fireman Sam and Mike the brat Knight.

Disney Store clothes tend to be good quality and I don't mind them being worn out and about same with Debenhams Gruffalo stuff.

mewmeow · 13/12/2013 08:22

Am i the only one who doesn't see the difference between spiderman and Winnie the pooh in terms of which character is more 'chavvy'? Or which affiliation makes children most likely to glass their nan and set fire to a charity shop Hmm

ouryve · 13/12/2013 08:28

We rather like character clothes. The boys are past the TV characters now and have a few Angry Bords and lego things.

That said, I'd choose a coat because it keeps them warm and dry in all weathers, rather than because it has a character on it. It's one of those clothing items where i think that practicality needs to come first.

MrsDarylDixon · 13/12/2013 08:41

Meh. Your dd is a person, not a doll. You won't always get to choose what she wears or like half of it. Get used to it. Its only going to get worse!

Crowler · 13/12/2013 08:55

I hate them, have never allowed it. My kids don't seem to care.

They have received them as gifts a few times, I weed them out before they notice and give them to goodwill.

I find it strange when people think this is mean or controlling. If they want to wear character clothing when they're earning their own money, good luck and god bless (they're going to need it).

loveolives · 13/12/2013 09:34

Crowler, a woman after my own heart!

Bunbaker · 13/12/2013 09:38

I don't understand this hatred of character clothing. I think it is a bit OTT. As I said earlier, when they are teenagers they will wear what they want to wear not what you want them to. When DD was given character T-shirts when she was little she liked them and wanted to wear them. I didn't get all high and mighty and weed them out - how silly and controlling is that?

loveolives · 13/12/2013 09:52

While I have control over what they wear I will dress them how I like. My older child often decides what he wants to wear so I let him. His baby sister obviously doesn't have a clue.

Crowler · 13/12/2013 09:53

Well see, I don't like the implication that I'm "high and mighty". I only put my kids in clothes that I like. How hard is that to understand?

There's also the fact that it's easy. I have never been bombarded with character clothes as gifts OR multiple requests for them from my kids. I think there were probably, say, five times that I took my kids shopping with me and they said: "Can I have that?", and I said: "No", and it was fine.

I can concede that if I had a daughter and let's say, an accomplice grandparent willing to source the clothes, it may have been a bigger battle but I still would have won.

Heartbrokenmum73 · 13/12/2013 09:54

chavvy is an offensive term...
Only in the worthy, pearl clutching circles. In RL it is about as offensive as snobby or snooty.

Erm, no. Have you read 'Chavs: the demonization of the working class' by Owen Jones? It might open a few eyes to see why that term is utterly fucking offensive.

My dc are polite, well-mannered kids who work hard at school and get complimented everywhere we go. Wearing a Mickey Mouse t-shirt (and yes, DS2 has one) does not make my child a chav.

And it's not just 'words' on the internet. It's spiteful, and you wouldn't say it reality so it's also cowardly to post it anonymously online.

You're talking about a 5 year-old child here. My 5 year-old child. To have him dismissed like this on the basis of a t-shirt is extremely offensive.

mewmeow · 13/12/2013 09:57

Exactly bunbaker.

It's going to be hilarious when the children of said control freaks rebel Grin

I might seem a bit too involved in this, but I actually think its important because for a brief stage in childhood the views of the parents get passed to their children. This doesn't help in the fight against bullying when children get teased for what they wear! It's no wonder some become bullies when their parents are so bloody picky and nasty about certain clothes.