"I'm not a girl, not yet a woman..."
Favorite brands for dressing girls in the (pre)tween years
The minute I found out I was pregnant with Josephine, I knew it was a girl. Call it mother’s intuition—or maybe just wishful thinking. I immediately started dreaming of hand-smocked bishop dresses. My mom happily fueled the fantasy, sending monogrammed bows, bubble rompers, and anything else with piping and pintucks. I’ve always been drawn to timeless, heirloom-inspired childrenswear—the kind that nods to tradition and (ideally) can be passed down.
Dressing my girls has become one of my favorite creative outlets. Scrolling the latest La Coqueta drop or hunting vintage finds on Etsy is one of the few things that can keep me awake past my 8pm bedtime.
But now Josephine is eight, and we’re entering new territory. Cue Britney Spears: “I’m not a girl, not yet a woman…” Honestly, if I played this for her, I think I’d catch her singing it softly to herself while staring out the window. Our household is not short on drama.
Summer is here and we’re in need of new play clothes. Since Josephine wears a uniform to school, I’ve mostly had the luxury of dressing her in occasion pieces—or costumes (the girl has range). But now she’s requesting “crop tops, sequins, and maybe even high heels.” Girl, what.
Not one to stifle her creative spirit, we spent last Sunday bonding over Amazon searches for “Taylor Swift concert outfits.” I’m doing the best I can here.
And while I can appreciate that she’s growing up, I’ve made it my personal mission to find clothes that work for this in-between stretch—where she feels stylish and expressive, and every outfit change doesn’t turn into a negotiation. If you’re willing to do some heavy sifting, Zara and Mango actually have some solid options. I’ve also discovered several go-to brands through Danrie and MyTheresa—both have excellent edits of stylish, age-appropriate pieces.
But if you're not in the mood to dig, here are a few brands I’m currently loving (with notes!) as we navigate this in-between era!
Retta Jane - Discovered at a Hampden pop-up a few years ago, this luxury ready-to wear brand nails the balance of timeless design and thoughtful construction. Slow fashion at its best. Designed for ages 8-16, but I want everything for myself.
Pleat - A new find made for the in-between years. The styles are elevated yet playful, and most importantly, made for actual movement and play. Sizes run 7–16.
The New Society - A European brand that hits the sweet spot between polished and on-trend—soft fabrics, great prints, and pieces that feel cool but still like childhood. Josephine recently wore one of their crochet knit sets and said, “Mom, I love my outfit.” Same, girl. Bonus: they also make baby and womenswear.
And a few more worth bookmarking:
I’m actively on the hunt for clothes that work for these in-between years. We’ve got a long road ahead of us :) Please send any favorites my way (or drop them in the comments)!
x Jasmine
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best dressed 8 year old!
I love seeing the girls dressed so pretty!