Back to School Wardrobe: The Fantasy Edition

Okay, after weeks of being practical, and picking clothes that are durable and adorable and affordable, I am done. Done, people. Because I am living this every day. Every day I am arguing with Eva who thinks anything shy of a maxi is too short, and I am close to depositing her in Amish country so she can wear long dresses to her heart’s content. And Lola, who flatly told me that she would not wear “that hard stuff” (referring to denim), and never met a stretch pant she didn’t like. I deal with the fact that stores try to sell my babies short shorts that defy any attempt at modesty (not to mention school dress codes) and t-shirts with sassy slogans. Oh, and what’s the deal with lumping 7 year-old clothing with 16-year-old clothing in one, hodgepodge section of the store? Since when do 7-year-olds and 16-year-olds wear the same stuff? Anyway, I am pretty much over it.

And another thing. Don’t judge my fashion sense too harshly based on what my girls are wearing. I know that outfit doesn’t match, exactly. And the hair needs a brush. And much as I try to make sure we all emerge from the house looking pretty and pulled together, some days, the whole plan gets derailed. For church last week, the girls wore adorable matching dresses. Their hair was done. And, on our way out the door, I turn my back for a second and Eva puts on dirty, unmatching shoes. Of course, I didn’t spot them until we were halfway to church. Getting two girls dressed and brushed and bathed every day is hard because they have opinions. Opinions that they feel the need to express. Regularly and loudly. It was so much easier before they could talk.

I need a serious dose of fantasy. Gorgeous, expensive, matching outfits, without a stretch pant in sight. The clothes are perfection, with no regard for the idiosyncratic preferences of my girls. The prices range from steep-ish to downright splurgey. They are classic and still fashion-y and exactly the kinds of clothes I dreamed my kids would be wearing, before I had them. What does your fantasy back to school wardrobe look like?