Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.

I went Halloween shopping with my 12 year old tonight.  I’ve been home for half an hour and I still haven’t gotten my blood pressure back down to normal.  What the ever-loving HELL is up with girl’s costumes???  We’ve almost always made our own costumes, cats, princesses, rabbits, puppies, etc.  Cute, warm, costumes that don’t show skin.  Now I’m not a prude, by any means.  But I also don’t think it’s cute to dress little Suzie as a pole dancer.  One….We’re in Maine.  Exposed skin will get frostbite here on October 31.  Two…I don’t need my kid thinking that she has to show skin just because that’s the accepted norm nowadays.

The kid has decided she’d like to be Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz.

photo IMDb

photo IMDb

 

Cute costume, below knee-length dress to hide sweatpants and long underwear.  She can wear a few layers under the dress, and is OK with Dorothy wearing a turtle neck and tights as well.  Maybe throw on a red cape to match the shoes..perfect.  Warm, age appropriate, cute.  This is the kid’s last year trick-or-treating, I’d like her to enjoy her costume.  So off to Hellmart we go.  Dorothy, Dorothy, Dorothy, Oh!  Here it is!  Hey, wait..where’s the rest of the dress?  Is it a two piece or something?  This can’t be the whole thing.

photo walmart.com

photo walmart.com

OK, LIES.  Take away about 3 inches of the hem and that’s what the outfit looked like in the store.  There was literally about 6 inches of material from the waistline to the hem.  It really did look like a top that was missing the skirt.  I was speechless and you KNOW that doesn’t happen often.  How did below the knee turn into just below the crotch?  I mean, I know Dorothy’s family didn’t have a lot of money, but last I heard Girlfriend wasn’t turning tricks on a street corner to get money for Milkbones for Toto.

And it was pretty much the same, row after row.  Above the knee.  Way above the knee.  See-through.  Vampish.  Since when did we accept the slutting-up of our kid’s costumes?  Why is this OK?  This isn’t some naughty nurse type of thing beloved by college coeds across the country that I’m looking for.  This is a kid’s costume.  Not to say that I haven’t found even worse Dorothy’s for kids online.

photo halloweencostumes.com

photo halloweencostumes.com

St. Paulie Girl, Dorothy, same thing….Jeeeeeeeze.   I’m not saying that every little girl has to be Frida Kahlo, Rosie the Riveter or a tiny Gloria Steinem.  If your daughter wants to be a Monster High girl, or a Hello Kitty princess, go for it.  There’s nothing wrong with pink and sparkley.  But there is something wrong with sexualizing girl’s clothing and costumes.  You’re telling me that the companies making this crap can’t tack on a few more inches of fabric and charge an extra couple of bucks?  Look, I’m not looking to dress my kid like a Duggar.  But I am going to keep her from looking like she’s ready for amateur night at a strip club.

Costume hunt to be continued….

Allyson Sorenson

About Allyson Sorenson

Bangor mom. BDN blogger. Volvo lover. Coffee drinker.