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Original poster

Dressing girls up like porcelain dolls?

64 replies

Abbafabs · 22/07/2023 10:36

Yes, this is probably a class thing but I would like to understand the context.

I work in child healthcare and recently seeing a lot of very young girls (aged 1-4) coming in dressed up like those old style (slightly creepy) porcelain dolls? Wearing sort of frilly old-fashioned dolls dresses, very tightly pulled back pig tails with big ribbon bows, long knee length socks, and chunky gold hoop earrings. Painted nails and makeup on some.

Where does this look come from? May a TV show or/influencer? And why is it so popular? Surely it can't be very comfortable for the kids or easy to maintain?

OP posts:
SunnieShine · 22/07/2023 10:37

Traveller children?

ComeTheFckOnBridget · 22/07/2023 10:41

Never seen little girls with chunky hoops and make up but they do look pretty cute in old fashioned dresses and socks.

shadowchancesassy · 22/07/2023 10:44

Why are you so bothered how others dress their children?

Jellycatrabbit · 22/07/2023 10:45

Yes I see this a lot at soft play and it puzzles me. Just looks so uncomfortable and fussy and odd. The bloomers and long socks and so much ribbon.

Don't know where it comes from though sorry!

Dinofuror · 22/07/2023 10:46

Can't say I've seen any children dressed like this myself, but I guess it's just a trend or just how some people want to dress their children?

gogomoto · 22/07/2023 10:47

Never seen it, perhaps it's regional? Here kids are dressed casually mostly as it's by the beach. We get tons of tourists so if it was a common trend we would see it

Cas112 · 22/07/2023 10:48

Not seen one child dressed like this

Original poster
Abbafabs · 22/07/2023 10:48

Jellycatrabbit · 22/07/2023 10:45

Yes I see this a lot at soft play and it puzzles me. Just looks so uncomfortable and fussy and odd. The bloomers and long socks and so much ribbon.

Don't know where it comes from though sorry!

Yes forgot to add about the bloomers! Very curious.

OP posts:
DatumTarum · 22/07/2023 10:48

It's a weirdly restrictive thing to do to a child.

It's batshit to impede them so young.

PonyPatter44 · 22/07/2023 10:48

If its a very recent thing, maybe there is a Traveller event happening locally and lots of families have rocked up. Traveller mums do often dress their young children in very recognisable ways, and the "doll" description sounds familiar. Are you in Leicestershire, by any chance? There is a big church event at Market Harborough this weekend, lots of Traveller families have come for that.

Original poster
Abbafabs · 22/07/2023 10:49

SunnieShine · 22/07/2023 10:37

Traveller children?

No

OP posts:
Thesearmsofmine · 22/07/2023 10:49

The traditional Spanish clothes are a definitely a thing for some groups right now. Often goes with coach built prams.

loveisanopensore · 22/07/2023 10:52

There was a girl dressed like this at my daughter's reception.
I know it was her mother's choice but it just seemed so restrictive. The nursery encouraged outside play with regular trips to the nearby woods. Maintaining ribbons and knee high white socks must have been a nightmare.

WhoWants2Know · 22/07/2023 10:52

It's a point of pride in some cultures that their children (esp girls) wear handmade clothing and are well presented. It's tradition.

jhgu · 22/07/2023 10:55

It's traditional Spanish children's wear. My DC (part Spanish) have worn a few of this type of outfit when babies. At one time there were loads of stores selling them on Instagram which may be why they became very popular.

Not sure about the hoop earrings though - I don't know many young children with piercings these days.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 22/07/2023 10:56

I see more boys dressed like this- like Victorian dolls- there’s a particular towie cast member who does this to her son- awful!

howmanytimesagain · 22/07/2023 10:56

A quick google would have made it clear to you that different cultures have different ways of dress

Toothiepegg · 22/07/2023 11:15

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 22/07/2023 10:56

I see more boys dressed like this- like Victorian dolls- there’s a particular towie cast member who does this to her son- awful!

Would you mind telling me which Towie cast member this is please.

QueenoftheNimbleFlyingCat · 22/07/2023 11:18

I know a woman who does this (minus the hoops) and although the daughter can look cute, it can't be comfortable to play in? Although she probably thinks I can't be bothered as my children look feral half the time. Each to their own I guess .

Mrsjayy · 22/07/2023 11:21

Thesearmsofmine · 22/07/2023 10:49

The traditional Spanish clothes are a definitely a thing for some groups right now. Often goes with coach built prams.

This. My friend works in a children's clothes shop and most of the clothes are this style .

Mrsjayy · 22/07/2023 11:25

I think the Royal babies are/were dressed "traditionally " and I think the trend is from them. The boys seem to be dressed in shorts and long socks while the girls are in dresses which i don't think are that restrictive

x2boys · 22/07/2023 11:29

I can't say I have noticed but really does it matter how parents choose to.dress their children
As long as they are clean and not neglected its nobody else's buissness🙄

Jellycatrabbit · 22/07/2023 12:33

PonyPatter44 · 22/07/2023 10:48

If its a very recent thing, maybe there is a Traveller event happening locally and lots of families have rocked up. Traveller mums do often dress their young children in very recognisable ways, and the "doll" description sounds familiar. Are you in Leicestershire, by any chance? There is a big church event at Market Harborough this weekend, lots of Traveller families have come for that.

I'm in the North East, and these are locals - not settled travellers or anything, just local lasses' kids. Know some of the mums from school etc. Here it seems to be a trend rather than cultural.

SuffolkUnicorn · 22/07/2023 12:36

It’s Spanish clothing I’ve seen it on tiktok not my taste but I prefer the scandi clothes in children

SoGiveMeCoffeeAndTV · 22/07/2023 12:39

There was a little girl dressed like this in the playground the other day. It had been raining and my son was in a puddlesuit happily splashing in a muddle puddle. Little girl dressed in a frilly dress, tights, patent shoes, massive bow in her hair toddles over, her dad grabbed her and said don’t even think about it and carried her away. What on earth is the point of dressing a child like that and taking them to a playground!