Explain

Your Lunchbox Is So Last Season

Coleen McLoughlin.jpgMost ten-year-olds we’ve seen seem happy to run around in some combination of loose striped tops, sweat pants, plastic jewelry and baseball caps.


But apparently, at least some people feel that even kids need to up the ante on their personal style.

Footballer’s wife, U.K.-girl-about-town, and occasional model Coleen McLoughlin wrote a series of books called “Coleen Style Queen,” which will offer fashion and make-up advice for the pre-pre-teen set. Expect to see the first two editions this spring. (And if you’re sitting there thinking, “Who?”, keep in mind that footballer’s wives are style icons in the UK - in fact, Henry Holland’s first t-shirt was for Ms. McLoughlin.)

We can’t imagine what a book of style tips for fourth-graders should consist of - appropriate attire for recess? When and where hair clips are acceptable? The etiquette of friendship bracelets?

Young girls are already bombarded with the message that they should obsess over their appearance, watch their weight, and apply sparkly lip gloss whenever possible.

So do they really need to pay attention to fashion trends, too? Or do we desperately need another generation of Britneys?

—ALISON COOL

Comments

1

posted by rachael

Dec 11, 2007 2:38PM

There was a Bobbi Brown teenage makeup and beauty book that came out probably 10 years ago. It was a great book. It used real teens (I have a friend who was one of the girls in the book) and tought girls how to put on makeup correctly. I loved playing with my mom's makeup when I was younger, so a bit of direction was helpul. Although it wasn't directed to 4th graders, I'm sure pre-teen girls (age 12ish) had the book. I was probably 14 and loved. I feel like the older we get the harder it is to remember how we were as children/teenagers. Middle school aged girls love this sort of thing.

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2

posted by guest

Dec 11, 2007 3:22PM

But I think there's a difference between middle school girls (12-18) and primary school girls (10). Of course it's fun to start playing with make-up when you're 9 or 10, but I don't feel like girls should start reading for advice. They should be ostentatious and enjoy the fact that they haven't entered into the self-consciousness of adolescence yet.

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3

posted by guest

Dec 11, 2007 4:23PM

Yes, it's fun to play with makeup when you're young. But I think the fun part comes from the fact that you don't know about makeup rules. It's great to be able to be original and do whatever you think looks good, even if its not the "proper" way to apply it.

4

posted by hannah

Dec 11, 2007 7:07PM

Ten-year-olds should not be wearing makeup, period (except for dance recitals, when they can wear all the overly red blush and garish blue eyeshadow they want). I guess they can play around with it, but wear it regularly? At least wait until middle school. And while I'm sure there are some 10-year-olds who care about fashion, when I was 10 I didn't know what Chanel was and 5 years later... I'm pretty much obsessed. ;) But really, postpone the appearance obsession for as long as possible!

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posted by Rose

Dec 11, 2007 7:49PM

I really don't think girls under 12 should be wearing makeup other than sparkly lip gloss and other bonne belle products (and I thought that when I was under 12 too!). Or if they are...it should be fun, not as directed by a book. I shudder when I think of the pressure that would've added on me in elementary school (my friends were making out and wearing string bikini underwear at age 9), not to mention how disturbing it is to see tarted-up children.

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6

posted by guest

Dec 11, 2007 9:59PM

wow. making out at 9 years old? when i was in 5th grade, the most salacious thing that happened that year was a couple who went on a "date" and saw "space jam" at the movies.

anyway, i work with elementary-age kids back home and they do not need to be reading a book on how to dress. let them emulate hannah montana for a few more years. we should be glad britney isn't at the top of her game anymore.

i wasn't allowed to wear makeup until i started junior high, and didn't want my little sister to make the same mistakes i did (blue mascara and white shimmery lipstick) so i took her to target and bought her a compact powder, mascara, and blush and taught her how to put it all on.

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7

posted by guest

Dec 11, 2007 10:22PM

sorry... this whole idea is disgusting.
no wonder kids are growing up too fast.

the world is letting them.

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8

posted by guest

Dec 12, 2007 9:01AM

Books like this are why Paris Hilton is famous.

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9

posted by Lou

Dec 12, 2007 2:05PM

Collen is horrible, no wonder that a women that is only famous for dating that repulsive man, thought this was a good idea.

She she ask for tips herself not give them and leave the kids alone.

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