Monday, August 9, 2010

Pregnancy Inspiration: Boy Frocks

My vision of Baby Billie & Big Sister Coco in gender appropriate frocks

Since discovering the gender of my Billie Belly seven days past, I've been attempting to assemble little Mister's layette.  Sadly, its been a disappointing effort.  I suppose I appreciate dinosaur t-shirts and khakis as much as the next mother, but why have we imposed such a finite range on our miniature males?  

Coordinating trousers are an option, if I can accessorize with a cap
While Miss Coco spends most of her days in rompers and dresses, she, and all women subsequent WWII, can don trousers when a rigorous crawl or a chilly afternoon walk warrants the fashion.

So why can't Baby Billie wear a one-piece, open-bottom frock?  I will not use the "d" word because I strongly wish to avoid fashion androgyny.  This garment would not include feminine accouterments such as ruffles, pointelle collars, lace trimmed hems, or gender confusion. I appreciate the distinct natures of men and women,and I do not aspire to blur the distinguishing line through fashion.

The perambulator too please
Prior to the 1900s, baby apparel avoided gender specificity.  And it was only in the last 300 years that the trouser entered the world of apparel at all: Roman skirts, Jewish robes, Scottish kilts, Pacific sulus, Indonesian Sarongs, and Indian caftans have seen far more years on life's runway than have trousers.  And modern days haven't seen the complete and universal male adoption of the double opening bottom.  Formal occasion and ceremonial costume, particularly those religious and educational, still favor the freedom and elegance of an unfastened understructure. 

Universally becoming to tiny males and females
Personally, I believe male frocks are something outgrown around the age of potty training.  Like footed pajamas, they have a maturation expiration.
The male frock as exemplified by John Jr.

But for diaper changing practicality, natural ventilation, and the love of chubby cherub legs, can we accept frocks on gentleman infants?  I promise to add short pants underneath if necessary.

Please amend your own thoughts and arguments in the comments.

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This message is not Mr. Bagley approved.  He has in fact vehemently threatened to misuse my blogger credentials in order to remove said post. 

I disobey the adamant warnings of my dear one, on behalf of Baby Billie, and his little baby boy cohorts everywhere.

21 comments:

  1. I agree. I always thought the picture of my grandpa as a baby in a little white gown was so cute and have often wondered if it would be acceptable for a future baby boy of mine to wear for a blessing outfit. I saw one baby boy wear one for a blessing once and thought it was adorable. I also really like the baby gowns for infants, like leg-less pajamas.

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  2. I understand your thoughts on dinosaur shirts and khakis. My favorite kind of thing to put my baby boy in is gowns for newborn infants and one piece rompers after that. They are not constricting and super comfy and so cute on their little roly poly bodies. I LOVE Kicky Pants. That's pretty much all my baby wore the first year and still wears a lot. They are SO soft and comfy. I'm all about the comfort! And they are cute too and without the crazy pictures distracting from my baby's perfect face.

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  3. Ha! My husband and I had this very same discussion...especially when it came time to bless our little mancub. My husband refused to even slightly entertain the idea of blessing our son in a boy gown. Sigh.
    I love little boys in old fashioned rompers and hats. Especially sailor suits. Adorable.

    And what's with the trend of dressing our children in the ugliest possible clothes? Seriously, the obnoxious colors, not cute appliques, and hideous cuts!!? It's a terrible shame that if you want to find anything decent, you have to pay an arm and leg for it and you can only find it online. And it goes for both girls and boys. I'm sorry that I don't want to dress my children in Kobe jerseys and Hannah Montana garb{age}.

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  4. Oh, and I love dressing my baby boy in the night gowns with the elastic on the bottom...that's how I get away with dressing him in the hated d-word. :)

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  5. Oh, and definitely no jeans on babies!!! Why would you torture your poor child that way?

    Sorry...my rant is over.

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  6. My sister is an excellent heirloom seamstress and sewed beautiful frocks like the ones you spoke of for all 3 of her boys who are now 15, 11 and 9 years old. They were wonderful outfits and her babies still looked liked boys. I am a mother of 4 boys and some of my favorite outfits of my sons are the ones my sister has made them. Dress that Baby Boy Bagley how you'd like, even if the Mister has something to say about it. Congrats on the pregnancy!

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  7. Grandma thinks a pair of levis and a t-shirt make an adorable outfit. I agree with Andrew.

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  8. Having my own darling baby boy I have noticed that there are no clothing stores for baby boys. Plenty for baby girls, but none for boys. Also, when a blog does a baby clothing giveaway 99% of the time it is for girls only.

    If you could highlight any places that have cute boys clothes I would absolutely appreciate it.

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  9. My 3 month old boy lives in gowns. I looove them. No waistbands digging into soft round tummies and easy diaper access. I make them myself since they're difficult to find and try to use more masculine fabrics (like heavy stripes) and it works just dandy.

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  10. I better comment before Andrew erases it. . . I love old fashioned baby clothes- I am determined to avoid character clothing at all costs. I love the little overalls and jumpers on baby boys. And of course the little bum-snap pajamas. Baby gowns are practical and charming- they work for both boys and girls.

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  11. Both of my boys wore gowns but when they outgrew them, their non-pant days were over. Thus sayth Mr. Thompson.

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  12. I would just Andrew that if Baby Billy cant wear, then he will have to...so its either il bambino or Andrew Thomas. Take your pic.

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  13. I normally agree with you full-heartedly, but on this topic I must admit that I agree with your husband. Aside from the very functional nightgowns, I do not think that a frock is suitable for a modern baby boy.

    I will be the first to admit that it is hard to dress a boy, the selection is very limited and the choices tend to be much less sophisticated than girls clothes. I have always had luck at The Childrens Place, particularly for dress clothes. They always have great linen and corduroy pants.

    When your little guy is small rompers are the way to go. I also like overalls, even jean overalls.

    I blessed all of my boys in the same outfit, a beautiful white hand-knit romper. It was simple, elegant, and comfortable for my babies.

    (Isn't that picture of John Jr. just an overcoat? I'll bet he had some short pants underneath)

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  14. I would go for a blessing gown over those awful satin baby-tuxedos that everyone uses. Sorry if I am offending anyone, but come on! Dressing your son like Liberace is just a bad idea.

    And ya- JFK Jr is wearing a coat over a little short-pant outfit. It is shown in other pictures of the funeral day, however the blue coat was adorable.

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  15. I detest clothing featuring characters on children of any age, but especially on infants. I personally adore the elastic-ended night gowns for newborns and one-piece rompers for infants of either gender. I can't imagine however, that my two older sons (or dear husband) would ever let our baby boy B don a "frock."

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  16. I don't really like the idea of boys in dresses or "frocks" at any age. I think back in the olden days people couldn't afford individual wardrobes which meant that the boys wore what the parents had to put on them. I do agree though that little boys clothes are far behind in the world of desirable fashion. Good luck on your quest :)

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  17. I too am in the minority and agree with Mr. Bagley. I think that there are very appropriate and comfortable character free clothing for boys that allow them the comfort and freedom of the "d" words and allow our little men to look like little men.

    I too share the disdain for "character" clothing, but admit that William does have a few play t shirts that shamefully promote T-Rex, Monkey's etc... and it's ok because he's a sweet two year old BOY! Who will get dirty, wet and they are practical.

    Every day for his life is not a fashion show, I want him comfortable, happy, able to play, jump, and splash w/o me cringing that it will take me ages to remove those stains from his white frocks...

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  18. They wouldn't be dresses, more like long...shirts. With onesies or a cute soaker (which isn't a soaker if you use disposable diapers, but whatever!) underneath. Totally appropriate.
    There has to be a modern interpretation that can be done of this, surely...

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  19. I love this idea. Boy clothes are very limited. The first thing everyone said to me when I told them I was having a girl was 'oh you can dress her up!' I hope you find something.

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  20. newborn gowns for boys: pro
    fancy baptism gowns for boys: pro
    other gowns/frocks/dresses for boys: I'm with Mr. Bagley.

    also, I'm a little confused by people's anti-character stance. I am anti-licensed-character, as in, I don't think kids need to be plastered with Dora or Mickey or SpongeBob on their clothing. However, I'm not opposed to the tasteful use of dinosaurs, robots, or whatever as the design on a piece of clothing. Because while boys' clothing may be more limited than girls', one thing that I think is a shame is just dressing them up like miniature adults. Sometimes it's really cute, but sometimes it just looks like, oh no! Your two year old looks like a little frat boy! Know what I mean?

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  21. Babies under a year old, in the nighttime, it's okay for them to wear the "gowns" and for a baby blessing, you should put him in what you want and like.
    But that said, I agree that there are plenty of clothes for boys that are adorable and comfortable~ like Mini Boden.
    Good luck, though in getting you husband to agree with you...
    I always tried to do mowhawks on my boys and my husband absolutely refused!

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