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Angel
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| Posted: Dec 10 2008 at 1:57pm | IP Logged
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I'm thinking in terms of numbers.
How many skirts? How many dresses? Sweaters/shirts? Slips? Boots? Shoes?
She's my only dd, and it seems like I can never keep up with her clothes. This year has been like one extended growth spurt for her, and she's gotten into those sizes of jeans which seem to constantly be falling down, shirts constantly too short... etc. We are a sort of half and half skirt/pants family, mostly due to my lack of decisiveness on the issue. During the summer with lots of outside work, ticks, etc. we wear gauchos/capris, but in the winter, I think it is definitely going to have to be skirts/dresses. I've started wearing skirts almost exclusively, but I'm still a little unsure of how to approach her wardrobe. Right now she just doesn't have enough of the right kinds of clothes, I think.
Anyway, lots of rambling, but if anyone can give me what they consider the basics of a 9 yo girl's wardrobe and/or advice on how to approach the modesty issue with a 9 yo girl who can get a bit defensive sometimes, it would be appreciated. 
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Angela
Mom to 9, 7 boys and 2 girls
Three Plus Two
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: Dec 10 2008 at 2:17pm | IP Logged
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ok we wear pants and skirts.. and I'm not a real minimalist on clothes.
2 pair jeans
1 pair sweats and sweatshirt (sometimes used as jammies, sometimes just as a cozy warm thing to put on after sledding sometimes to wear under snowpants) I especially like these for long trips where we have to leave early. comphy for being in the car long hours
a couple of simple knit dresses (casual)
a couple of casual skirts usually at least one in denim
a couple of church outfits.. plus a nicer one for Christmas.
5 tee shirts
5 longsleeve shirts
tights (4-6 pair depending on how much use they get.. I usually have 2 pair black ones and one pair of other colors.. maybe 2 pair white.. just depends on how much they use them)
socks (depends on the type of sock you use.. we have smartwool socks and everyone has 6 pair)
undies (depends on frequency of laundry and if there's any bedwetting problems)
a couple of nightgowns and a couple pair of jammie pants (they were a normal tee or long sleeve top with those)
oh and 2 pair long underwear.. also can be used for jammies or under clothes.. they've even on warmer days used just their long undie pants under the snowpants and slip on a skirt when they come in over the long undies.
a pair of church shoes
a pair of athletic shoes
a pair of rain and/or snow boots
a pair of hiking boots
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Jodie, wife to Dave
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: Dec 10 2008 at 2:21pm | IP Logged
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as far as the modesty.. I forgot that part. I started with "no belly showing" when they were little and have showed them when something is too low in the neck or if sleeveless to open on the arm.. and then we get around some of that with undershirts that can be tucked in and so stay down while the pretty but short top isn't tucked.. no belly shows and it works.. or the top is too low but a nice looking undershirt (can be a camisole or undershirt or just a teeshirt) can fill in the neckline.
and belts.. and pants that have adjustable waists.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
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MrsM
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| Posted: Dec 10 2008 at 2:34pm | IP Logged
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As far as modesty goes, I'd say you need to make a firm rule about what is and isn't allowed, and then stick to it. This is not something I'd open up for debate, especially with a 9yo. If you don't settle this issue now, when she's so young, you may be in for some trouble when she's a teenager.
Although we aren't a dresses-only family, these are good places to find modest clothing for girls, and they (usually) have lovely dresses:
1. Lands End (I get great clearance prices by purchasing for next year at the end of season sales)
2. LL Bean
3. Hanna Andersson (expensive, but they ocassionally have good sales)
I always buy pants with an adjustable waiste, which helps when dd or ds is very slender.
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Lynn in California
Homeschooling dd13, dd11, ds10, and ds8
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MarieC
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I agree with all the tips above. One way to keep up the skirts/pants that are falling down is to use this elastic.
I know some clothing comes with it, but on items that don't....and need it....we've added it to the garment. My mom has often helped me. Sometimes she's just put a slit (vertical) on the inside of the waistband (she used some fray check stuff and it has washed well) and added buttons another time she added sewed a ribbon to the inside of the waistband which created a casing she could run the elastic through.
So often it seems like when I find something that's long enough to be modest on my (beanpole of a  ) daughter it's way too big in the waist.
Good luck! We've had some of our best luck in resale shops....I think things were a little more modest and cute a few years back.
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Marie
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dds-98, 00, 02 and 09 & dss-03 and 06
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Mackfam
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| Posted: Dec 10 2008 at 3:16pm | IP Logged
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Here is what is in our dd's closet right now....
4 skirts
2 church dresses
4 shirts
3 undershirts
3 tights
2 cream/white/neutral color sweater
1 favorite red velour sweatsuit outfit
1 pair of very good athletic shoes
1 pair of brown leather everyday shoes
1 pair of black patent church shoes
1 pair of outside shoes/boots
I'm sure I don't need to tell you that laundry is accomplished...or at least attempted...often around here.
I allow S. to choose her own clothes, but we have discussed issues of modesty for our family and she understands and accepts what her dad and I find appropriate. We review the rules that her dad and I have for clothing and modesty before we go in to shop. I have final say, but this allows her to make her own selections and begin the practice of making prudent and modest decisions when shopping for herself. I would much rather shop for her online, but around the age of 10 she began really desiring to have more say. Allowing her to choose in the store has given her some responsibility and freedom within reason. It has worked out so far. We shop at a favorite consignment store, occasionally at a thrift store nearby. I have taught her that a skirt may be adjusted in the waist with a small dart in the waistband to accomodate for her small waist size. This allows her to look at length and cut of fabric in the women's section without being restricted by the smaller selection in the juniors section (she's really tall too, so a woman's size fits her in length better). She chooses fairly simple, neutral color skirts and likes to choose more trendy, fashionable options for her shirt. It's a good compromise.
I like boy's undershirts as they are vastly longer, but she doesn't...'cause they're boy's undershirts. I guess I can't blame her. The cut of girl's undershirts matches the cut of girl's shirts today which doesn't work if you're trying to use the undershirt to provide coverage....so....we choose larger sizes in undershirts, add a small stitch to the straps in order to make them shorter and the neckline higher and this has worked. Plain white t-shirts work well as undershirts, too.
So, a bit of sewing involved, but not too bad. HTH, Angela.
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Jen Mackintosh
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Mackfam
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| Posted: Dec 10 2008 at 3:20pm | IP Logged
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I forgot to say -
2 pair long underwear that is worn under skirts in the winter.
2 sets of warm pj's
1 fleecy robe
...and a partridge in a pear tree. 
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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sewcrazy
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What clothes are "needed" for a 9 yo dd? Well way, way less than we have.  I too have only 1 girl, 9 years old also. She is also the only granddaughter.
We make her everyday clothes. We take a tee shirt and sew a gathered length of fabric on them for the skirt. Super quick, easy and cheap. And it eliminated the problem of skirts hanging too low, or tops creeping to high. I let her pick out funkier fabric for the skirt and then we go to Hobby Lobby or Walmart for tee shirts, long or short sleeved depending on the season.
We laid out clothing rules a few years ago. She does wear pants/capris occasionally, but no short skirts, sleeveless shirts, bare belly, hip huggers etc. As long as a garment follows the rules, I will let her wear her choice.
Good luck! Girls are such a different adventure than the boys!
LeeAnn
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LeeAnn
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crusermom
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How about no slogans on the bottom of the pants! Grandma has a fondness for buying these for my DDs and I get them in hand me downs from my sister. Yikes!
I buy lots of camis at Old Navy for them to wear under their shirts. They provide extra coverage.
I wish I could find nicer patterns for this age to sew. Most of the cute ones only go up to an 8 - and then it is the trashy look. I would like more affordable and classic looks.
mary
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SuzanneG
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DH also draws the line at "flared sleeves" ...he thinks it's absolutely gross what kids can get on regular sleeves, let alone ones that hang down.
I'd say our inventory for our 8yo dd is pretty much the same as Jodie's. I also have a skinny girl, so the fit for jeans/khakis are a problem. Thankfully, we get hand-me-downs from another skinny girl. DD also has 2-3 hooded fleece sweatshirts and a fleece vest for warmth in the winter.
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Mom of 7 (Girls - 14, 12, 11, 9, 7 and Boys - 4, 1)
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guitarnan
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We have fewer skirts and more comfy pants (1 pair sweats, 1 pair jeans, 3 pairs knit pants with elastic waists). Dd dances, so her bottom half is muscular and her top half is slender - safety pins are our friends. She has a couple of long-length, long-sleeved pretty sweaters for church, plus 3 long-sleeved fancy tops (for church, co-op, etc.). Two hooded sweatshirt pullovers, one fleece and one jacket(outgrown, sigh) fill casual clothes out. She has a Christmas dress, a skirt or two, and tons of t-shirts.
Two sets of pj's, one bathrobe, one bathing suit...some sports gear, three pairs of shorts and tops for dance class (Irish).
In reality, we need way fewer t-shirts. I refuse to buy them, now - grandparents send them, dd buys them at dance competitions with her own money...not my job. I could outfit a family of 12 with dd's t-shirts because she has her own and her brother's outgrown shirts.
We pretty much buy one dressy pants outfit for Thanksgiving, a dressy dress for Christmas, dance gear, a couple of sundresses, and the rest is knit pants/shorts and the dreaded and justifiably feared t-shirt collection...
Note: We are not a skirts-only family, so dressy trousers or gauchos are okay for Mass. This makes a big difference. So does altar serving, which camouflages last week's outfit!
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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Paula in MN
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sewcrazy wrote:
| We take a tee shirt and sew a gathered length of fabric on them for the skirt. Super quick, easy and cheap. LeeAnn |
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I love this idea, but I am sewing-challenged. Can you give a few more details, like how much fabric would I need, and how do I gather it?
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Paula
A Catholic Harvest
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sewcrazy
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Paula, its super easy.
I have Laura put the shirt on. I then measure from the bottom of the skirt down to the length we want. I add 2 inches to that measurement for the top seam and bottom hem.
Then I measure around the bottom hem of the shirt. We then add 1/2 again that measure for the width of the skirt. So if the shirt is 34 inches around, I would use a piece of fabric 34 + 17 = 51 inches wide. (You can make it fuller, up to double the width. My daughter doesn't like them that full)
Use a basting stitch to gather the fabric, pin it to the shirt and stitch together. I like the look of pinning the fabric laying flat behind shirt and stitch along the hem line on the shirt. I then hem the bottom of the fabric. 1/2 inch hem usually.
I buy the shirts a size bigger than she normally wears, and they usually last us 2 years. Average cost $4 per dress.
We usually make head bands out of extra skirt fabric. And if we are feeling ambitious, I will add details to the shirt using fabric scraps.
Clear as mud I am afraid. I am a very visual person, and stink at writing out instructions.
LeeAnn
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LeeAnn
Wife of David, mom to Ben, Dennis, Alex, Laura, Philip and our little souls in heaven we have yet to meet
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juststartn
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Lots. But we're on a farm...a small one...but we have pigs, chickens, ducks, geese, plus the usual "stuff" to do outside.
We are currently low on clothes (I am in the midst of the change of seasons clothing swap out, and this year it is taking FOREVER cause we moved, and all of the stuff for the younger two girls is mostly packed up, and the stuff I bought too large a year or so ago, is in a box in the shop/storage area, and I need to go find it. UGH).
ANYYYWAAAY.
I am making some skirts for the winter wear. I found an eassssy pattern online at angry chicken's blogsite. I need to order the fold-over elastic...but I digress.
Skirts--I'm planning on at least 3-5 each dd. A couple of flannel backed satin underskirts for warmth (OK winds get C-O-L-D!!!!). A couple of regular underskirts with eyelet trim. Tights. LOTS of tights (Target has had some good ones--cotton knit), a couple of pairs of shoes (boots, as well as tennis and dress shoes), long underwear...at least two pairs each. Some socks (not that many, really, since the girls wear tights most of the time)...the usual underthing requirements. We do have undershirts for my oldest (8 1/2) because there are some small signs of development in that area 
Trying to think. I do solid color tops, for the most part, or ones with colors that I know will "go" with the things that they already have/I am making them...
Rachel
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4Real Forums : Mothering and Family Life
Topic: basic modest wardrobe for 9 yo girl?
