The Dressing-Up Phenomenon

When I was a little girl, I didn't need an excuse to dress up, but Easter was when I especially went all-out. My mother even bought me an Easter hat occassionally, which I remember was donned with ruffles and ribbons and everything else girlie and splendid. I loved Easter, when I could prance around in a princess dress and Mary-Jane's, looking for my Easter basket and wearing my hair in curls.

My daughter Mia doesn't need a special occassion to dress up either, which is why I refer to her as an 'everyday diva'. Her wardrobe consists of more princess-gear than I ever owned as a kid, and I owned plenty myself. I was in the habit of changing outfits up to three times a day, and sometimes even slept in a party dress if I felt so inclined. My mom told me that I owned so many dresses that if I didn't put on three a day, I would've grown out of them before I even got a chance to wear them. So we were both pleased with my dressing-up obsession.

Sometimes I wonder if I might be depriving Mia of that extra-special feeling of getting dressed up for something extra-special, instead of just because it's a Tuesday. A special occassion deserves special attention, and what could be more attentive than getting all dolled up! But then I remember, my daughter is the product of my own dress-obsessed loins, so I can hardly deprive her of her own natural desire to dress up whenever she wants to.

It's all about accessorizing, knowing how to not overdress. For example, I am a strong supporter of girls wearing tutus to school, as long as they're dressed down enough, like with a pair of jeans underneath. Personally, I've been known to wear an evening gown with Doc Martens to school. Dressing up doesn't have to be saved for a special occassion - just a Tuesday can, and should, be special enough!

Mia is pretty lucky to have a seamstress for a mom, who can put together a dress fit for an everyday diva pretty much on demand. She only need knock on the door of my studio, pick out all the pink flowery fabrics she likes, wait a bit while I assemble them and voilà! She has a new frock, and I have a happy daughter. Like the new mialeentje patchwork dress - Mia chose all the bits of fabric, so I know she will love it. It's pretty enough for Easter and just about every other Spring day! And best of all, when Mia gets tired of it, I'll just put it up for sale on mialeentje!

So when Easter comes along, I won't need to go out of my way to make sure Mia gets dressed up. She takes care of that on her own. And I am happy to know that the days leading up to and following Easter are considered just as important to her. Every day is a special occassion, every day is to be celebrated, and every day is another excuse to dress-up (for us everyday divas, that is).