Brand New
April 19, 2010 by nina
Filed under Featured, Mommy Monday
In the span of about six months my child has gone from this:
to this:
And it’s all my fault!
Last November I had a mystery shop at Aeropostale. Prior to that, I hadn’t stepped foot in that store and couldn’t tell you what they sold. It was one of those jobs where they don’t pay you a shop fee, but reimburses for the required purchase – in this case, a shirt. Kali wanted to tag along because the store was very popular with the kids in her class.
First, we had to deal with the little matter of how to pronounce the damn name. My father called it AIR-O-PO-STAL-LAY – all fancy, like he’s Madonna or something. Kali insisted that wasn’t right. I called it AIR-O-POS-TELL (rhymes with Aristotle.) Kali insisted THAT wasn’t right either.
So, I’m doing the shop and realize that I enjoy food way too much to fit anything in that store. Also, the clothing seemed to be catered towards people that actually left the house once in awhile. After holding up a few XS tees to Kali, I decided I’d make the required purchase for her and picked out a super cute orange T-shirt with AEROPOSTALE obnoxiously plastered down the side.
As we’re checking out, Kali nudges me. “Ask him!” she stage whispers.
I look at the young man ringing up the shirt. He’s wearing a tight plaid shirt with the sleeves rolled up and jeans made to look like they’re dirty when they’re really not.
“My daughter wants to ask you something.”
If looks could kill they’d have been cleaning up a Nina-sized stain off the Aeropostale floor.
“How do you pronounce the name of this store?”
“AIR-O-PO-STAL” (Stal like Stalin.)
So, Kali was right.
He then flips his head, tossing back hair cut in one of those uber-trendy styles that only white boys can pull off, and says, “But we just call it Aero.”
Oh, well, excuse the fuck outta me.
And that was all it took. It’s been Aero this and Aero that ever since. I feel like pulling out one of my mother’s old standards and asking, “You got Aero money?”
For her birthday we took her to pick out some shirts. I was very happy to see the “ALL TOPS 50% OFF” sign in the window. I didn’t want to spend more than $50. We got two t-shirts, a plaid button down, and a white hoodie for just under $50 (everything was either 50% or 70% off.)
It’ a little weird watching her style change and some of it frightens me. I mean, come on! Look at that ad again. Those kids are an eating disorder and one roofy experience away from being an Abercrombie and Fitch ad!
You know I'm right.
Yeah, that's how I want my daughter hanging at the pool.
But as long as I am in charge of picking out and paying for the clothes, this shouldn’t be a problem. The style may be older, but we’ll always remain appropriate.
And I’m already putting the brakes on this idea that only one name brand is suitable. She wanted Aeropostale flip-flops, but they were $10.
“Girl, we can go to Old Navy and get you some flip-flops.”
“But these are better.”
“Why?”
“Because they say Aeropostale!”
“Yeah, across the bottom where no one will see it. Let’s go.”
On the bright side, when she’s old enough for a part-time job, I know where to send her.
Nina is a 34-year-old mother, wife and writer who spends her days blogging, studying, changing diapers and watching ridiculous amounts of TV. She currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband, two children and three TiVos.
I totally understand exactly where you are coming from -- but my kids are worse. It's not Aero they want. It's Abercrombie for the boys and my daughter who is only 8 years old wants D&G Junior. D&G, as in Dolce and Gabanna. God help me.
To make matters worse, my step-kids are coming to live with us (which I am very happy about) but their mother never took care of them and I know they are going to need a full wardrobe when they get out here. So I will be clothes shopping for my 3 kids and my 2 step-children in the next few weeks and if ANY of them think that we'll be bringing home anything with a D&G label on it, they are in for a rude awakening. Old Navy, here we come!
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LikeVery interesting blog post thank you for sharing I just added your website to my bookmarks and will check back.
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LikeWhat I wanna know is... where is that pool?
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LikePatti - I remember deeming such stores "trendy" as well in the 90's (I was a flannel-wearing grunge kid), but I also remember begging my mother for a $180 pair of Doc Martens. She said that if I came up with $90 of my own money, she would come up with the other half, but only on the condition that that was my ONLY pair of shoes for the entire year.
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LikeDoc Martins are worth it though... Mine cost $250, I got them when I was 16 and wore them EVERYDAY to school... I still wear them! My work shoes are DMs also, and I've been wearing them for 5 years now, almost everyday.
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Likesee...i TOLD you that Dei was going to be that weirdo kid...she doesnt want to get any clothes from any of the stores listed above...she likes Target for her staples ( tshirts, bras etc ) and she says all she wants otherwise are VINTAGE clothes...how many 11 year olds shop at thrift stores? She is already plotting what tattoos to get!
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LikeMy mom wouldn't let me wear brand names until I got a job and bought them myself. And then I bought some expensive-ass shit. However, I never set foot in a Aerowhatever or a Gap or an Abercrombie and Whatever. My peeps and I, we deemed them "trendy" and refused to enter. Ahhh, the late 90s.
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LikeTHANK GOODNESS
Shelby is 14 and could still care less about name brands.
Now James (who is 11) will only wear Levi Skinny Jeans and some stupid name brand hoodie (I don't buy the hoodies)
Both boys are super picky about their shoes. James will only wear Worlds and Truman will only wear Sketchers. I DO NOT replace shoes unless they have grown out of them so they take care of them.
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LikeTell me that isn't an actual A & F ad.
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LikeIt's an ad for A&F's "cheeky sister company," Gilly Hicks.
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Likeanother reason Catholic School education is superior...
Uniforms.
We didn't know who was rich or poor. No one was dressed better than the other. AND... we didn't have to decide what to wear each morning. :o)
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LikeI am SO glad right now I have a boy. A boy that plays video games and will probably want to forever live in my basement, but a boy nonetheless.
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LikeHollister is next Nina....lol
Hold your breathe when you go into that store, the frangrances will give you a migraine but I'm a big fan of their hoodies and t-shirts. My "uniform" for the winter is usually straight jeans with Uggs and my Hollister or Aero hoodie,in the summer I switch to the t-shits and flip flops (from Old Navy).
With Aero and Holister, they can be pricy but their sales are great, which is when I do my shopping in there. The after x-mas sale is the best. I made out like a bandit in Aero the day after x-mas, with two long sleeve shirts and a sweater for $20.
I heard a nasty little rumor that Aero & Hollister only hire pretty people. If that's true of course Kali would have no problem getting work there :)
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LikeI did a shop for a store we may or may not have mentioned in this thread and that was one of the things they were judged on - if the employees fit the "type" shown in some sample photos I was given. All the people in the photos were gorgeous.
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LikeLol!!! Good answer Stephanie. I have to use that one.
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LikeThey have really cute flip flops at Payless. I am so thankful that I have a few years to go before my daughter gets all concerned with name brands. Although she does occasionally ask for Skechers. My favorite was one day last summer, we had just gotten Ice cream from the ice cream truck the day before, my daughter comes home from her friends house telling me, "for my next sneakers I want Skechers." I told her they cost too much for as often as her feet grow. She responds with, "Emily's mom buys her Skechers." I said, "Yeah, well remember yesterday when Em and her sister were crying because they couldn't get Ice cream from the truck?" She says "yeah." I respond with, "well that's because they spend all their money on SKECHERS." I told her when her feet stop growing so fast I might get her skechers. But at $45 a pop, there is no way I am buying them when she seems to need new ones every three months.
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LikeBe glad you dont live in Australia... everything is twice as much here... I thought $45 sketchers was great!!! Try $80 here!!! Shorts that cost $55 here, cost me $30 there! Loved it!
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LikeDang she is all teenagerish now. Be happy that Aero is cheap. My son only wears clothes from the Buckle.
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LikeWe have an outlet mall w/ Hollister, Aeropostal, and Abercrombie outlets there. I makea trip there once every 6 months or so to pick up jeans for my 18 year old sister. Also, if you sign up for the aeropostal mailing they'll email ou cupons for more off of your purchases.. :)
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LikeOld Navy flip flops are great, and they're cheap. She will get over the fact that they don't say Aero ;)
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LikeAero is the business. I get clothes from there (for Gavin) all the time. I find them to be cheap. Another great store like Aero is Hollister's. It's the dark that sprayed way to much cologne inside the store. They have the coolest tee's. Go Kali! She got flavor.
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LikeThe "dark store". I left out store.
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Like"It’s the dark that sprayed way to much cologne inside the store" Isn't that Abercrombie and Fitch? Oh well, it's all the same parent company. As well as Gilly Hicks, but she's way too young for that.
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LikeOh and don't forget Ruehl.
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LikeI felt the same way when Zoe graduated from Children's Place to Justice.
For Kali, I'm sure Hollister's right around the corner! Good luck with that.
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