Dressing girls up like porcelain dolls?

[Abbafabs]

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?

I specifically said in my OP that yes I'm aware this may be a class thing etc etc but I'm not here to talk about that, hoping to make it clear that I'm not getting into those conversations as that's not the point of my post.

I wanted to know about the trend and its origins. I have now found out that it is a 'Spanish clothing' trend. So I will do some more research into that. Thanks!

Also @uglybettty why should I be concerned about hoop earrings or makeup? Nothing to do with me about how parents want to dress their children, like you say.

If it's not part of 'the point', you don't need to make a point of mentioning class at all...

Oh ok so now you're not concerned about 1-4 year old girls wearing make up and 'big chunky gold hoops'. Because your thread didn't go the way you wanted it to.

@Mrsjayy in my post I mentioned the Spanish thing which is what I’m sure the OP is referring to. It’s a specific look different to just the usual frills and bows.

I used to live among a Mediterranean community where little girls were dressed up every afternoon - clean dresses, white socks etc.,- and had to stay clean.

It’s was ages ago but I still think of the poor little girl who came to visit with her mother (it wasn’t a party of anything) but she was in the statutory pretty dress, white socks, etc. My dds and one or two others were having a whale of a time in a big paddling pool - this child just had to sit still on a chair - not allowed to do anything else because, ‘She’s had her bath!’ - and might get dirty.😥

I think it is problematic, as its treating little girls as dolls rather than dressing them so they can play and explore.

Keeping the clothes clean and smart becomes overly important and the kids are taught to focus far too much on their appearance.

So as someone with an interest in child development the OP would of course be interested.

That's a common style amongst the English and Irish traveller communities. It's also a look that some areas of Eastern Europe go for.

Terries are still used. I used them and they were brilliant. Dried much faster than pre-folds or all-in-ones etc. We loved a bloomer over them! Personally hate frilly ribbons and impractical clothing though for normal play wear.

This. How sad to think sitting around in pretty dresses is becoming a thing again. My youngest DD is 10 now and we always had a few nice dresses for occasions but the majority of kids clothing should be comfortable and easy to wash.

I hate this type of dress for babies and toddlers. Comfort should be key, and ease of movement. Poor girls.

It's very common in the NE Scotland. Where it's also permanently freezing but mums dress little girls in bizarre frilly knickers with nothing else (no tights, no dress!). The saddest thing is the terribly unsupportive footwear all for the sake of a giant bow. I saw a toddler wearing literal heeled strappy sandals the other day, her ankle kept sliding to the side causing her to face plant the ground.

Bloomers are just shorts really

Seems like you are describing Italy from the 70s to 90s/noughties (that are at least the areas I am personally familiar with), Italy, particularly on Sunday / for church.

Fashion is cyclical, I suppose.

The hair style is pretty hellish if you have voluminous / wavy and or curly hair. I still dislike fine-tooth combs.