Boys in dresses. Yes or no?

[spidermama]

My DS (3.5) loves dresses and butterfly tops and glittery sparkley fairy type stuff. I have no objection. I even bought him a couple of dresses of his own to stop him raiding long-sufferine DD's wardrobe. My only slight worry is teasing from other kids. He wants to wear a dress to pre-school today. What do you think?

My 3 yr old (when he had just turned 3, he's now just over 3.5) went through a phase of wanting to dress up in his sister's princess dresses. I think a lot of it was sparked by her dressing up stuff being so much nicer than his (even I must admit, most boys dressing up stuff is pretty horrid).

For his first couple of weeks, he went to pre-school but once he was there he changed almost straight away into a princess dress - there's even a photo of him on the wall that one of the helper's took because he was so pleased and happy. I never made any overly negative comments (other than comments like that dress was really made for a girl but it's ok if you want to play princesses etc.) because I thought it was just a phase (which it was).

Then one day, one of the older boys at pre-school took him aside and told him that boys didn't wear dresses. Ds was a bit mortified and I think quite sad and to this day, he hasn't put a girl's dress on again. I don't think it harmed him in anyway and I think he listened so much more because it came from one of his peers rather than me (I have a feeling if I had put my foot down, he would have played up and carried on wearing them).

So no, I see no harm in it but you have to be prepared for the backlash if another child comments (which they are very likely to do).

Yes Fox I agree. But my son has already encountered many comments from peers but think they are missing the point. He doesn't seem to care. Good for him. I wouldn't have been so confident at his age. I was desperate to fit in.

You may change your mind when he's doing it at 17

How fantastic to be so confident at 3. I was a tomboy so was never into dresses at all (am still not now really) but I think I was probably quite shy and wouldn't have made such a dress statement either!

I wouldn't at all soupdragon. He is who he is and I'll love him whatever. But then I don't believe anyone should be stopped from wearing what they like, whatever age.

I had DS desparate to wear a cassowary last week. Couldn't make head nor tail of what he was on about, until I remembered that someonme had been teaching him a little ditty -
If I were a cassowary
In the wilds of Timbuctoo
I would eat a missionary
Skin and bones and 'ymn book too.

He has heard it as 'if I wear a cassowary', and wanted to wear one - without having the least idea what it is. If it can be worn, DS wants to give it a try!

I havent read the rest of this but ds went through this phase as well. I wouldnt send him to preschool just because he would get teased but I think it's a shame I'd feel like that.

As an addition to this v interesting thread - ds has just come home from an afternoon with one of his very boisterous friends (they are both 4) with nail varnish on. The other child's nanny said they insisted that's what they wanted, after a couple of hours cahsing each other round the garden with a watering can. I was quite surprised and a bit taken aback, but mainly because I don't like nail varnish on kids, girls or boys (but then, I am old fashioned and would have him in a tank top every day if I could ). As I have no nail varnish remover, am just debating whether to run to the shop, or let him go to nursery with it on tomorrow.

Oh, he's obsessed with Angelina Ballerina too. If there were a tutu in the house, he'd be in it, but I doubt I'd let him out in it now he's older. BTW, Ikea do quite a glam rock knights costume with a sparkly silver headpiece as a more interesting boys' dress up outfit.

no

Leninist

at least she spelt it right.

The thing is, I have been having a battle with myself this week.

DS wears specially suplied and made orthotic shoes. It has taken a very time consuming battle to get the NHS to agree that we can have more than one pair of shoes at any one time. Nightmare - puddles, fear of loss, they get so scruffy, etc etc.

Eventually, they have agreed. DP took DS to last appointment. And allowed him to choose, as his second pair of shoes, a MAUVE pair! I admit to being exasperated. And i think DS will look ridicuous, so to all intents and purpposes, we're back to one pair - or dyeing.

Or should I stick to my principles and let him wear mauve shoes?

it offends my sense of taste - i hate mauve, and it will look ridiculous when he is wearing his 'ordinary' boys clothing.

Will go well with ladyboy look though.

Am I a hypocrite?

yes. let him wear mauve.

when you say mauve tho, do you mean lilac/purple or blue rinse old lady colour

Mauve shoes. Cool. He and Spiderboy should get together.

hey Blu, my dd has the MAUVE ones they have a little bit of crocodile skin patent on them?

Oh no! Patent?

I haven't seen them yet. DS told me proudly he was having purple shoes. DS said 'well actually they are more like mauve'. They choose them from the picture in the catalogue. DP would be far to oblivious to notice a patent crocodile patch.

WE're picking them up in two weeks.

Foi - what colour is the sole?

Spot on, batters, it really is MN at it's best, this thread. Because I started off reading and thinking 'Hmmmm, at home yes, outside, noooo' and by the time I got to the end I was thinking 'How can I get ds into a kaftan tomorrow?'

See how easily I am swayed?

And Marina's post was a classic, imo!

And I love spiderboy's 'I know - I'm a boy pretending to be a princess'.

mauve is too reddish - worrying puce/magenta tendencies. Violet now, that could be good!
Not a big Beckham fan as a rule...but his outlandish dress sense and dandyism I do like

I think with shoe colour - the sky's the limit. An ordinary outfit can be jazzed up substantially by an off-the-beaten-track shoe colour. My Father In Law always dresses very straight, apart from funky shoes. It works for me.

Fio
is it the ones under 'stability', on the r hand side if you scroll down, product code 2579-20?