Dear shops, please stop shrinking girls’ clothes as sizes go up

"There needs to be more thought for the nine-year-old girl shopping in the same section as the 15-year-old!"

No one warned me how dire it is shopping for an 8-year-old.

We’ve grown out of the junior section and next aisle over is tiny, cropped, blah everything!

The moment you birth a girl, you will not be able to escape the endless fashion options for your darling tot. Your favourite retailers have aisle after aisle of pink, tulle, and sparkles. Well-meaning friends throw adorable matching sets and sandals at you. And you’ll thank the algorithm for showing you her new birthday outfit, before you even think about it. From newborn to Kindy, you’re set.

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The differences spotted at Target. Image: Supplied

What's going on with tween girls' clothing? 

But something happens around the age of eight or nine.

Your daughter, who is still young in mind and spirit, has outgrown the junior section and needs to shop from the ‘youth’ sizes, usually 8 to 16.

I’ve just hit this stage. And why did no one warn me how dire it is?

A quick browse at Westfield for winter basics for my daughter ended in zero dollars spent, which is no easy feat. Both senior girl sections of Target and Kmart were a confused mesh of mini teen outfits, jumpers chopped in half and turtlenecks better fitting for a dog than a second grader.

The sizes were outrageously small

Not only were the styles for this early tween stage, around eight to ten years, unappealing by her standards, but the sizes were tiny.

And not by a little bit. Jumpers, button cardigans and shirts, all cut to skim belly buttons. My daughter is sizing out of an 8 in the junior section, but a 9 or 10 in the senior size looked more suited to a toddler

Thinking my eyes were deceiving me, I grabbed shirts from both sections to compare. Finding similar styles was difficult because nearly every senior style – even plain black and white T-shirts – were midriffs.

In Kmart, a cropped size 10 T-shirt was shorter than a size 7. While a size 6 long-sleeve was bigger in every way than an 8. It was worse at Target. In one style, a size 16 T-shirt was identical to an 8. Two ribbed styles side by side showed an 8, nearly 10cm longer than a size 10.

I understand tweens and teens want cropped everything - but can’t there be options for kids who want to play without the bellies freezing? Or can’t children who want short and tight, go down a size?

What is going on here? The smaller sizes are for OLDER girls. Image: Supplied

It’s not me who isn’t a fan

I know, I know. I sound like my grandma who never understood my iconic ripped denim 20 years ago. (“Why do you have so many holes in your pants?”)

I think crops are cute. My daughter doesn’t. She has dressed herself since she was three. She doesn’t care for my fashion opinions. She’s an eight-year-old who loves a maxi skirt moment, or a Mary Jane and tights look for a pub lunch.

She asked for long sleeves that don’t creep up. I couldn’t find one. I’m aware winter stock is being pushed for a new season – but from what was available – few options screamed ‘wear me for a handstand, dance or monkey barrace’.

It’s a privileged, first-person problem for sure, adding to a kid’s wardrobe. But as parents of primary kids, do we really need to be digging through tables, and running between shops for a cheap full-length shirt for Harmony Day or a Colour Run?

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Target size 7 vs size 10. Image: Supplied

Are the younger tweens being catered to?

Sharing on my social media, my DMs flooded with mums relating to the same dilemma.

“Someone needs to start an 8-12 girl clothing range. I can’t find anything for my 12-year-old who still wants to dress in cute dresses, and still be a little girl,” one mum wrote.

Another replied saying, “Isn’t it ridiculous? I buy my daughter one or two sizes up in everything because they’re all so short.”

I understand the demand for kids’ fast fashion means the same style is being pumped out by Aussie retailers in massive quantities and sizes. But there needs to be more thought for the nine-year-old girl shopping in the same section as the 15-year-old. Or for even younger girls who are taller than their peers.

Pre-tween girls might barely be out of the princess stage, and many want clothes that fit them comfortably, without digging or riding up, as they run, skate, and twirl.

H&M (left) and Ghanda (right) has the older girls sorted. Image: Supplied

RELATED: Mum slams Kmart girls’ clothing

Your favourite shops for young girls

Asking school mums and my DMs, for their favourite kids’ brands – the same names were repeated, but disappointingly, most are not Australian.

Swedish brand, H&M, was mentioned the most, as having the best range for this 8 to 12-year group at an affordable price. The brand ships within Australia. A tip for mums who can never find a shirt for a colour day – they have a 5-pack of Tees for $40.

Another popular choice was British label, Next, for quality girls’ clothes. It has a lot of dress choices for girls who like a ‘going out outfit’ but want more choice than tulle or slinky silk.

Locally, Ghanda and Cotton On Kids were in the most replies - especially for the active girls who like clothes that move with them, or a casual or beachy vibe.

Kidspot has contacted Target and Kmart for comment.

Originally published as Dear shops, please stop shrinking girls’ clothes as sizes go up