Style Conflicts

CC Charlotte top and Parker Pants shorts–she likes it!!!!  I love the Confederate jasmine in bloom.  The scent is heavenly.

I doubt I’m the only Nana who has issues with what I want to sew and what a child wants to wear. My passion for sewing for my grandchildren and the fashion preferences of 4 yo Vivian have been at odds more and more frequently as she grows.  Even at a very early age she had strong preferences for her outer wear.  As you can tell from the name of my blog, I am an old fashioned Nana.  Vivi is a modern child, 2 generations removed.

enjoying Butterbeer at Harry Potter World

This bunny play set was begun with hopes that she would wear it to a lovely Saturday morning Easter egg hunt at the home of a church member.  With enough Cadbury eggs and jelly beans, I hoped to be able to convince her to don this outfit.

But as Friday night wore on into early Saturday morning and Charlotte still needed buttons and buttonholes, I conceded that Vivian would be appropriately dressed in her Penny, by Petite Poche.  At least bribery would not be needed.  Penny is one of the few garments I have made her which received the Vivian Rose stamp of approval.

Vivian Rose in Swiss pique and Liberty print Penny from Petite Poche.

And yet, when it was time to dress, she latched on to this unfinished outfit and said she wanted to wear that!  Sigh…

It was finished after Easter, after she and her family went home.   Oh well, bunnies are good for any season in Florida.  It’s in the mail to her now.

As a child, Vivi’s mother loved wearing smocked and heirloom clothes. Once, she  wanted to wear an especially lovely, lacy hand embroidered heirloom dress to a birthday party at Chucky Cheese.  I vetoed that.   But Vivian is of a different mind set.

Where could she be going? The picture came to me with no caption.

I have no idea where she was headed, though it looks like she’s off to a ballet class on the moon.  Or a tea party with the Queen of Hearts.  This little gal is adorable in whatever she wears. Such style–it looks like ear muffs, several hair bows,  bouncy ball, a backpack of et cetera and lunch.

She choose an eclectic look for Grandparents’ Day at her preschool–ruffed dress, navy novelty socks and her fast running shoes.

Vivi running to her beloved NanNan

Vivi’s style

Nana’s style–she ran around barefoot all afternoon, playing with the puppies and the cats, but kept the dress relatively clean and intact.

So my goal is to make more contemporary clothing for her but with a little classic styling.  This will be a challenge.

And that’s why I love Children’s Corner’s Charlotte pattern and all their others.  They can be interpreted so many ways, but still have a classic style.

It was just the look I wanted for the pique bunny fabric paired with deep rose gingham.   Some time ago I had used Charlotte  pattern for this back-to-school outfit.

I’m going through my patterns and fabrics trying to design  a compromise as I  continue my quest to make garments that please both of us.  I am happy that she is such an independent thinker, not swayed by public or peer opinions.  That will put her in good stead as she grows older.

But surely I am not the only one with this style dilemma.  I’d love to hear from readers who have dealt with this same problem.

NANA FUN

This just came in from her mother.

Vivi learning about gymnastics chalk from her friend from Zumba class, Frankie. They played together all afternoon. When talking about gymnastics at dinner, her mother told  brother Alastair that Vivi was dazzled by Frankie. Vivian explained that no, she wasn’t dazzled. She said it was love.