Strange comment from couple re children’s clothes.

[Uptheapplesandpearstobed]

I’ve always taken pride in my children’s outfits. Always ironed, Boden etc.

I was at the local tea shop yesterday when an elderly man said to my two young children ‘ooo dressed for a wedding are we’ and his wife snapped at him saying ‘no, just a parent who dresses them properly’

I felt quite uncomfortable that he felt my children were going to a wedding because they were in a dress.

You can’t imagine anything worse?

Ah the sheltered lives of mumsnetters

Well then if that's the worse thing, then this is not so bad is it? This demented autistic old man with the mean wife, only thought they were going to a wedding in the park.

(Have to say, I do like the debate posters are having about how Boden isn't weddingy enough. I think MN needs to create a guide to clothes, so we know Boden is neither wedding or park attire. This is why I've never shopped there, too confusing.)

Boden isn't weddingy enough. I think MN needs to create a guide to clothes, so we know Boden is neither wedding or park attire. This is why I've never shopped there, too confusing.)

You'll find something suitable for a wedding for women at Boden, but they no longer do the 'occasion' range (lots of tulle and net) now for children, but you can probably buy it second hand.

Can you show us a picture of the dress.
Then we can give our opinions.

I think where the OP actually went wrong was taking her kids to a tea shop………….. people are a lot less judgemental in Nando’s.

This is why I've never shopped there, too confusing

God yes, me too 😂

These were the dresses.

I’d think you stupid for taking girls to the park in a white dress. My children go to the park to run round, have fun, climb etc and a white dress isn’t really suitable.
that dress could be from matalan, primark, boden or mayoral, I’d still think you were stupid regardless.

Christ that’s a monstrosity 🤣

But yes, it looks more “on the way to a wedding” than “on the way to the park”.

Although more than either it looks more “on the way to a prairie church service in 1842”.

He didn’t think they were going to a wedding simply because they were in a dress. He thought it because they were in frou frou “my child is a doll” attire.

Oh, you didn’t say you had been to your children’s christening…….

In that particular dress, particularly if they were matching, I would also assume you were on your way to special occasion.

If your AIBU is 'are they overdressed for the park?' then it's a definite yes from me. A white, frilly, embroidered Boden dress would be wedding territory in my house.

Were they in identical outfits? I'm afraid I rather do see the gentleman's confusion.

On another note, does it bother you if they get the dresses dirty at the park? For someone who 'can't think of anything worse' than crumpled looking children, I can't imagine you would be very relaxed about letting them play properly and get mucky. And crumpled too obviously. Or is crumpled-looking only so bad before the park??

Personally I love pretty dresses and will not be responsible for your opinions.

I also have no complaints if the items get dirty or soiled. Due to the quality of Boden items, they can handle a hot enough wash to remove soiling. Another win.

😬 I wouldn't judge, I would assume it was a special occasion and think you are very brave for taking them out to the park in white dresses... I assume you don't care if they get dirty then? Pretty dresses are fine provided your children are allowed to be children whilst wearing them and you don't care if they get dirty/ripped. If you DO care about the clothes, then maybe the park isn't the best place to wear them.

What happens if the clothes get crumpled during the day? It must be very stressful for you if you like them looking unrumpled.

Yeah anyone looking at that dress is gonna wonder who died.

But you probably know that

Who are you addressing? 😕

But what about crumpled?

They're not very practical dresses for playing in the park and possibly dangerous to wear doing something like climbing and using park apparatus, so that's not very sensible of you in my opinion.

Though they'd probably be fine for some weddings, I think.

You might want to work on your imagination!

A hot wash isn't going to get grass stains, mud stains and blood stains etc. out of a white dress (although it is possible to get those things out of white clothes - even cheap primark white clothes 😁) and even Boden dresses still rip, as my eldest found out much to her dismay. I don't know many people who think white is a good idea for the park.

Tbh I just let my toddler choose what she wants to wear so if it gets stains it gets stained. She'll grow out of clothes soon enough