It isn't the thought of bats and spiders making me cringe this Halloween.
Nope.
It's the plethora (see, I do use this word!) of ridiculously inappropriate costumes for young girls at the local go-to store for Halloween get-ups.
Don't get me wrong. I don't think every little girl has to dress like a Pilgrim to be okay. 
Although I do think dressing like a Pilgrim is kind of a cute idea, I don't think it's the sole appropriate costume choice. I think, however, I would rather see M1 as a pilgrim 
than as a pirate hooker which is, apparently, a completely lovely get-up some little girls will be donning this Halloween season. Granted, the wee pirate hooker's body parts are covered more than if she wore a Princess Jasmine costume (belly buttons, anyone?) but there is just something about boots and faux leather with skulls and swords that says, "No...um, NO." But, you know, if you have this black pirate hooker dress for your younger daughter and you need something for your size 10-12 or 12-14 daughter, why not buy her an outfit so the family can have a theme?! And, no, I'm not talking about anything as creative as a parrot or even Captain Hook. I'm talking a
"Mentor Pirate Hooker" costume. It's important that all new street walkers have an older girl to show them the ropes. And, with this costume, an older sister could do just that! And, I bet if we look hard enough on this site, we could locate some trashy pirate garb for Mom too. And, before you ask...it makes absolutely ZILCHO difference to me that she's wearing see-through tights under her non-existent skirt.
Not even American icons are safe from sluttification.
Exhibit A: Midwestern Kansan, Dorothy Gale, no longer in a tea-length, gingham print dress looking for the way home. This street-wise, tarted up version of Dorothy (available in sizes 4-6,
8-10, and 10-12) is sure to set every perverted old man in the neighborhood's heart to racing when the "yellow brick road" is his driveway on trick-or-treat night. What mother in her right mind would put her daughter in this get up?! M1 went through a Dorothy phase just prior to M2's birth and was Dorothy for Halloween in the fall following M2's summer birth. She wore a real deal Dorothy costume I bought for her while in Vegas at the MGM Grand. I just don't understand why, if you want to dress as Dorothy, you don't just dress as Dorothy instead of her slutty cousin from the city, Delilah?! Seriously. Does this outfit NOT remind you of the ones dancers wear when they go to visit naughty, naughty boys for a bachelor party?!
If that weren't enough, we have the Devil Grrrl (their name for it, not mine) costume which this 
manufacturer thinks is perfect for your size 10-12 or 12-14 daughter. And, don't worry. Your little darling's faux leather red dress comes complete with devil wings, leggings, glovelettes, horns, tail and a mini pitchfork. Thank goodness! Whatever would we do without all those accessories?! Again, no. The see-through tights do not make a whit of difference to me. This is completely and wholly inappropriate attire
for any kind of thing my 10-14 year old daughter would need to do to celebrate Halloween. Good grief! Of course, if you have three daughters that range in size from 4 to 14, you could dress them all alike with this "Red Hot Devil" costume. Again, their name for it, not mine. Do you really need your 4-year-old to be dressed in anything "red hot"? If you do, you may want to seek professional help. Yes, I see that the pants are full length, but do you also see the halter top and her belly hanging out? I would bet there is ZERO coverage in the back of that top.
M2 has always picked her own costume. This year she wanted to be a giraffe. I will post a photo when I take some because posting a photo without her in this costume would not do it justice.
M1 asked to be a vampiress. Where this idea came from, I have not the slightest. It's a break from the princess she's been every time except her first (she was a pumpkin) and given the costume choices, we could have found ourselves in trouble. However, we looked over the entire brochure from the costume place and found a few, acceptable choices. Once we saw the larger photos at the store, we settled on Spiderella.
She is completely covered and perfectly spooky. We even picked up a black, long wig at the store for her to wear if she wants. She won't for school, so for that we'll have to do something spooky with her hair (thinking of putting it up and finding some of those plastic spider rings to hook on her blond locks). She really likes the costume and I was happy to hear her say that she found very many of the things we were looking at inappropriate.
She'll be a big hit at her Halloween gatherings, I'm sure.
I still can't get over that some mother, somewhere will be dressing her daughters in the costumes above or worse.
That's scary.
(Photos from the Party America advertisement)
Those costumes are AWFUL. Not your kids, I mean, the whore of babylon get ups that some parents are buying.
I just don't get those parents. I don't.
Posted by: airforcewife | 05 October 2007 at 08:38 AM
A 'plethora' of usage examples... I bow before you oh Goddess of the English language. **grin**
Good thing you chose the right field to excel in.
As for costumes, I still make most of the kids costumes. I have been lucky in past years that this has never been a problem. This year, however, our eldest, who I taught to sew, wants to make an inappropriate costume. Want to guess one of the reasons for my high blood pressure this week?
Ack!!!
Can't wait to see your daughters costumes. I'm really liking the vampire one. :o)
Posted by: Lemon Stand | 05 October 2007 at 08:45 AM
OK GW, I have been dying to do this post...
dying, but I swear you did it better than I could have...
why anyone would want to do this...
Posted by: armywifetoddlermom | 05 October 2007 at 08:49 AM
What a coincidence. Radio station here just did 2 hours on costumes for girls yesterday. Thankfully most of the reaction was just like mine and yours. Not a chance am I putting my daughter in most of those costumes. Send the wrong message entirely!
Managed to find a costume that made me think of Mulan in a ceremonial dress. My daughter will be covered from neck to toes and it is loose as well. Definitely not skin tight. Much better than all the costumes that make me think of the trashy stuff that Spears girl wears!
Of course, Halloween isn't my thing anyway . . .
Posted by: Nina | 05 October 2007 at 01:13 PM
Nina-
We may live around each other b/c a morning show I typically listen to talked about this as well & I realized they were referencing the advertisement I had in the car at the time. Made me realize I was NOT crazy. Also kept it on my mind long enough for me to blog about it.
Posted by: Guard Wife | 05 October 2007 at 02:11 PM
Glad I don't have a little one anymore to have to deal with this mess.
It was good to get to chat with you last night.
Posted by: stacy Lee | 05 October 2007 at 04:45 PM
My oldest is 13 and we were just discussing costumes. I'm thinking she's too old to trick or treat, and when she told me about what her friends are dressing up as I think I'm going to stick with my no-trick-or-treating stance....
Posted by: wendy | 05 October 2007 at 08:37 PM
OMG, I started this on AWTM's blog and I was like Slutty Dorothy? You have to be kidding me...
But here I come over to read this and there it is! Why on earth would they turn a character from Wizard of Oz into this? And then the devil costumes?
It is shocking the clothing out for young girls now a days.
Posted by: Kasey | 05 October 2007 at 09:49 PM
what ever happened to an old pair of pants and flannel shirt, hobo beard with a burnt piece of cork?
or a sheet over your head with eye holes (ok, now over the neck with a white mask??)
crayola crayon?? (black leotard & tights and a piece of black rolled poster board for a body (and a cone of black construction paper on my head)...
an M&M?? stretched material around a hoola hoop to the neck... a television out of an out cardboard box with tin foil antennae?
and 5 of us went in black and white striped pj's (they were white flannel and we colored the stripes on with black markers) with a rope wrapped around us as a chain gang...
and my children were only allowed to trick or treat to age 13... although they went in street clothes the next year trick or treating for UNICEF (do they still do that??)
Posted by: Some Soldier's Mom | 05 October 2007 at 10:19 PM
You said it perfectly!
I really don't understand what parents are thinking when they dress their little girls in outfits like these, costumes or everyday clothing. I did see the "red hot devil" costume on two 6 yr olds last year...disturbing.
I was lazy this year and ordered costumes from Disney. Roxie's Tinkerbell costume is a bit revealing, but she's spayed.
Posted by: TripleE | 06 October 2007 at 03:46 AM
Guard Wife, could be! It was an afternoon show in the Rocky Mountain area. Had to shake my head at a few of the callers. Strange thing happened after that. Went to the mall after picking up a normal costume for my daughter. Stopped at Limited Too to find a few long sleeve shirts due to cold front coming in. Told my daughter that the halter dress showing all cleavage was not appropriate. Asst Manager opened her mouth and told MY daughter that she thought it would be a great dress for an 8 1/2 year old to wear!
I immediately got her attention and informed her that I am the parent and I am the one making the decisions as to what is or isn't appropriate for my daughter and that she was out of line. Not only that, but I have the money! She backed off REAL quick!
Posted by: Nina | 09 October 2007 at 12:06 PM
Nope. Different radio program so it WAS a coincidence!
Good for you for telling the Asst. Manager to slow her roll. You're WAY more tactful than I. I only imagine my response would have been much less dignified.
Posted by: Guard Wife | 09 October 2007 at 05:31 PM
Funny coincidence! I think it was the major glare accompanying my very cold tone of voice . . . hmmm maybe I should practice it more!
Oh BTW - try this website for costumes www.costumeexpress.com A lot of them are decent.
Same company that does that does birthday stuff www.birthdayexpress.com
Off to practice my glare!
Posted by: Nina | 09 October 2007 at 05:54 PM