There’s just something about pink and sparkles and frills and princesses. These things have a nearly universal appeal amongst little girls of a certain age and much as I may be baffled by the phenomenon, it’s pretty undeniable when I look at my 4-year-old daughter and her interests.
The thing is, I never pushed the pink/sparkles/frills/princess thing. If anything it was quite the opposite. When Fern was a baby, I would shop in the boys section for her clothes just as often as I shopped in the girls. I bought all the neutral things – instead of dolls, she got blocks and trucks and little woodland animal figurines.
But as time went on and Fern grew into her own person with her own opinions and interests, it became pretty clear that pink princess-y things were totally her jam. She found it on her own despite my best efforts and at that point I decided to just throw up my hands and embrace it. Who am I to begrudge her something so simple that makes her little heart so truly happy?
So nowadays I let her do her thing when it comes to the clothes and toys she picks, but that doesn’t mean I don’t encourage her to step outside of the “princess box” occasionally or that I don’t get excited when the stars align and our aesthetics actually overlap. Such was the case with these amazing pieces from Age to Come Apparel.
My friend Michele is the co-founder of this children’s clothing company and has put her heart and soul into it and it shows. The pieces are just so beautifully made and the black/grey/white color scheme is absolutely swoon-worthy. It is a perfect example of style, quality and function in children’s clothing. But, I wasn’t so sure Fern would be able to truly appreciate the minimalist aesthetic, soft fabrics and perfect tailoring in the same way that I did. I was completely wrong though.
Not long before this ensemble arrived, Fern had discovered a new series of short chapter books (they’re perfect for 4-6 year olds and emerging readers!) called The Princess in Black. The four book series is all about a princess who moonlights as an all-black wearing super hero and I love that it’s a departure from the typical damsel-in-distress type. The fact that we had read them so recently meant that Fern was elated when her all-black duds showed up.
“Mom! I can be the REAL Princess in Black now!”
She was so excited! Sometimes getting her to pose for photos solicits quite a few eye rolls, but she was all about this photo shoot. She happily raced around, in true super hero fashion, showing off all the leaps and fancy footwork in her repertoire. It was almost as though the outfit transformed her – suddenly causing her to believe that maybe, just maybe, she really could be a super hero and a princess…that maybe she didn’t have to choose just one or the other. 
And that’s when I realized what my hang-up with princesses had been all along. I didn’t want my daughter to look to them and feel like she had to fit into this one small box. I didn’t want her to believe the lie that her worth is found in her looks or that she has to wait around for a rescuer. I want her to know that she can wear pretty dresses and pink, sparkle nail polish and still be the one doing the rescuing. She can be sweet and strong. She can be a loving and compassionate friend and also a leader who stands up for herself. There are no limits.
It’s almost as though there was an underlying symbolism in this lovely reversible cape (a cape Fern was completely obsessed with by the way) – the duality of who my daughter can be and the beauty of that was not lost on me. 
Strong girl, sweet girl, whoever she wants to be girl. That is exactly what I want for my Fernie Winter. Thankful for little moments like these that inspire her…and me.
Outfit: c/o Age to Come Apparel
xo
Lauren
Loved your article Lauren! Our sentiments exactly! So glad Fern is enjoying the clothes! xo