Pink and brown; I do love those colors together and lucky me, it seems to be the ubiquitous color palette of choice for little girls room decor and clothing these days. I was also thinking how that color combo seems to represent our toddler Vivian’s emerging personality perfectly. Pink and brown = princess and dirt.

One moment she’ll take a running jump, try and tackle her big brother and then settle down in the sand to dig with bulldozers. In the next moment she’s fashioning Fisher Price stacking rings into bangles up and down her arm while walking around on her tippy toes, a Lightning McQueen lunch box becomes her jaunty handbag.

Her princess, girly-girl side is a whole new world to me. I grew up a tomboy in the 70’s. I didn’t take dance, play with dolls or dress-up. I was at a store not to long ago digging through the sales rack and found some shirts for Vivian. The woman at the checkout held up one smiled and said, “Oh do you want to get the matching tutu for this one?” I looked at her bemused and confused. I just didn’t get it. I was thinking, tutus are scratchy, too poofy to play in, and definitely not practical for the playground. “A tutu? Where would she wear that?” She raised her eyebrows and looked at Vivian. “Oh, I’m sure she’ll figure it out.”

Well, figure it out she did. I didn’t purchase the tutu that day but her auntie and cousins came bearing girly gifts last weekend. Miss Vivian just ate it up: a tutu, a boa, sunglasses and bracelets. Her diva mode immediately switched to the “on” position. She sashayed around the room wrist cocked in the air twirling around in her skirt. She had instant attitude and sass. Later we went on a hike in the woods with the pack of cousins. She trudged along the dirt path and climbed piles of rocks with one hand held high in the air to keep her bracelets she insisted on wearing from falling off.

Our gritty girly-girl is both fearless and frilly. And I love every minute of watching our little steel magnolia (wait, what would the Minnesota version of steel magnolia be?) iron daisy (?) begin to blossom.

On a related note: Just saw this essay on babble.com Grit-Glamour: Yoga Pants, Diva Daughters. Another non-girly-girl mom writes on the topic from a different angle. She asks the question: Are moms dressing their daughters better than themselves? And are they projecting who they wish they were/used to be on their daughters?

Vintage style isn’t just for adults. And at these recession-friendly prices - you can’t go wrong. Here are two golden opportunities for you to get retro-duds for your little ones this weekend.

1) Make it a fun outing - not only is it the Edina Art Fair - there is also a vintage kids clothing sale at Fashion Avenue near 50th & France - Sara Glassman has details here:

2) There is a yard sale from the former owner of “Oh Cool Baby” a vintage kid’s clothing store in NE Mpls that sadly closed up shop.

She is clearing out her old inventory, so you have a second chance on these second hand items. (I used to shop there and I guarantee you’ll find treasures.)
If you’re on Facebook - you can view details and images here.
Otherwise the details are below:
There are literally thousands of pre-90s pieces of vintage clothing for boys and girls, ages newborn to 12yr. Clean, unique, amazing and CHEAP!!
This Friday and Saturday, June 5 and 6, starting at 10am.
2535 McKinley Street NE Mpls.

“Remember to hold your skirt up so you don’t trip when you’re walking,” I told Zoe, almost 5, as she sashayed out of the house in her Halloween finery.

“It’s not a skirt. It’s a tail,” she replied.

Ah, yes. After years of gently steering our two girls away from all things princess, this year, we conceded defeat. Zoe is Ariel, the Little Mermaid (thanks to Target’s contract manufacturers in China). Maya is Beauty, she who loves the Beast (thanks to Once Upon a Child).

And they are soooo happy. They could hardly sleep last night, they were so excited.

We knew the day would come. Last year, Maya was a frog and Zoe was a witch. As it turned out, Zoe was also the only witch in her preschool class. Every other little girl was a Disney Princess of some variety.

For Cribsheeters who remember my Anti-Halloween rant from two years ago, let me just say I am a changed woman. Defeated. Beaten down. Dare I say, even slightly enjoying it.

My mother in Malaysia mailed us two packs of fake cobwebs and spiders to spread around the house before the kids get home from school. (The American Halloween is now a global phenomenon…)

And yes, we’re handing out candy later, not healthy snacks.

“You’re not a grown-up,” my 2-year-old says, gravely. “You’re a mama.”

Hmmm. She’s right. I do seem to have regressed socially and intellectually since I had Kid No.1 four years ago. I no longer have the attention span to read anything over 100 pages. I yawn like a kitten if I’m still out after 10pm. And we haven’t even mentioned the daily candy cravings.

But there’s one thing I’m not doing…yet….and that’s to start dressing in little girl clothes.

You know the women I’m talking about. They’re everywhere. The moms in the flouncy knee-length skirts. With hair pulled in two bunches, the way they wore it at least two - more like three - decades ago. Some actually look cute. But mama mia - what are they thinking?

The closest I’ve got is buying black leggings in a fit of nostalgia at the return of that 80’s fashion staple. They reminded me of my teenage years. But two months after the splurge - a Simply Vera sale at Kohl’s! - they sit, still in their cardboard band, in my closet.

No, I haven’t got a link to a smart analysis in the New York Times style section for you. Or any sage fashion advice from our own newly resuscitated Variety section. But I wish I did.

Cribsheeters? Are you dressing like your preschooler?