Is a good sense of fashion innate, or acquired? Nature vs nurture? I ask because I sometimes feel whatever nascent fashion sense I may have had was squished in childhood–can’t count the number of times I had no option but to wear the detestable white blouse with puffy sleeves and bows and skirts that were always, always, hemmed at the knee. (I wanted ankle-length). By the time I was allowed to choose my own clothes I was no longer particularly interested, and now I’m afraid I qualify for “fashion-impaired.” But I have come to accept that.

Now I have a 3 yr old girl. How do I help her develop a sense of dressing well? Not trendy, not expensive, certainly not trashy, just an appreciation of presenting herself well and expressing her personality through her style? Thoughts?

To this day I march to my own very individual percussion section, clothing-wise, but I never, ever doubt my sartorial choices. And I still own some batshit crazy – but awesomely glorious – outfits.

Every child should have the chance to dress like a total mooncalf. It adds a touch of the unexpected to life and allows them to learn what they truly do and don’t like. If we spoonfeed them everything, they have no reason to explore and learn and grow. Let children dress themselves. As long as they don’t try to go out in the snow wearing nothing but a pair of underpants and a Burger King crown, chances are it won’t do anyone any harm, and it will help them develop their sense of self in a big way.