The Fairy-Unicorn-Rainbow Princess

Growing up, I was not exactly what you’d call a girly-girl.  I despised dresses almost as much as I loathed the lace tights that accompanied them.  My idea of style was pairing teal socks with teal shorts and a teal tee-shirt.  I would complete my monochromatic look with a teal windbreaker and four teal barrettes.  I wore my hair in two pigtails every day until the 6th grade, and I wore my pants pulled up so high that they were dual functioning; I was able to delay the purchase of a bra by a full year.  Lovely visual, yes?  [Picture of me in my Bra-nts to come if my parents can round one up...]

Things got slightly better for me with the re-invention of low-rise jeans (a godsend for the short-waisted) and a few months of access to TLC’s, “What not to Wear.”  My hair was eventually introduced to those mane taming essentials: the hair dryer, the curling iron and my personal favorite, the flat iron.  I learned a few make-up tricks, and my sister got me mostly up to speed on the importance of accessories.  With enough time and motivation, I can fake a sense of style for an evening or two, but mostly, I still rock the pony-tail-no-make-up-tee-shirt-and-jeans look that has been my signature style for the past twenty or so years.

Allie looking fierce in her chosen outfit.

You can imagine my surprise when my first daughter turned out to be Allison.  At 18 months old, she owned more purses than I did.  She was expressing strong opinions on her clothing before she turned two.  By the age of three, Allie had sworn off jeans in lieu of dresses (preferably pink or purple).  I recently discovered her in her room wearing a green tutu, a butterfly patterned tunic top and bright pink leggings.  “I bet you never thought of putting this outfit together!” she exclaimed proudly.

Allie’s favorite color is rainbow, and she wants to be a princess when she grows up.  Specifically, she hopes to be Princess Tiana.  I have caught her staring wistfully out her window on several occasions, whispering, “I wish I had a pet unicorn.”  She details the proper way her hair should be done, and is constantly seeking out new nail polish colors for her self performed manicures and pedicures.

Princess training.  Note the mani.

And she is more than happy to share her fashion knowledge with me, her poor style-stunted mother.  She brushes my hair and paints my nails, and is forever hoping to pick out my clothes.  Awkwardly, she gravitates towards the silky negligés that have been stashed in the back of my closet since Chris’ and my honeymoon six years ago, but she is usually placated with a casual dress and some jewelry.

My eldest daughter may be one of the girliest-girls I know, but she still has some not-so-girly interests.  She loves to dig in the garden with Chris and run barefoot in the back yard.  Her newly found love of He-man (thank you, Netflix) has made her more adept at playing super heroes: instead of whacking hulk with a sword while screaming, “piñata,” she now makes The Abomination skulk up to an opponent, and in her lowest register she growls, “You can’t handle me!”

I don’t know where life will lead Allison, but I am sure that wherever she goes, she will go in style.

Allie and her lady in waiting, going in style.