Nickelodeon Adopts Fashion Focus

And now, a note from Faran…

Maybe this is dating me, but here’s a list of the Nickelodeon shows I watched religiously:

Hey, Dude!
Salute Your Shorts
Nick News with Linda Ellerbee
The Secret World of Alex Mack

None of these shows involved fashion, despite the fact that 11-year-old me was obsessed with W, Vogue, and Mademoiselle (again, maybe this is dating me).

But now it seems Nickelodeon is climbing off the horses and summer camp flagpoles, and onto the fashion bandwagon. After its announcement of Lily Collins as fashion news correspondent, and after its Unfabulous star Emma Roberts signed a campaign deal for Dooney + Bourke, they crafted a TV show about a fashion company called True Fashion that hires a teenage girl to run their juniors department.

The good news is that the girl will be played by Keke Palmer, the adorable star of Akeela and the Bee seen at left.

The bad news is that… well… maybe it’s not “bad” news, but do you want your 11-year-old daughter or sister having fantasies about working in fashion? That’s a loaded question, and I’m grateful and thrilled to actually work in the fashion industry, but still - worth discussing.

And for the record, here are the Nickelodeon shows I watch religiously now:

iCarly
Drake + Josh
The Backyardigans - I can’t explain it, I think the spooky cartoon hippo is amazing.

xo F.

posted by sarahchivonne

Jun 04, 2008 11:04AM

Nickelodeon shows I watched:
You Can't Do That on Television
David the Gnome (more the Nick Jr. days)
Pete & Pete
Are You Afraid of the Dark?

And hello!!! Ren & Stimpy.

I'm an old lady.

posted by Laia

Jun 04, 2008 11:16AM

No Clarissa explains it all? I so wanted her wardrobe and all her pairs of Doc Martens.

posted by kenya

Jun 04, 2008 11:21AM

hey dude and salute your shorts were great shows. donkey lips was an awesome character. dont forget about you cant do that on television although that show is pretty old but i do admit watching it. go young fashionistas!

posted by guest

Jun 04, 2008 11:28AM

i wanted to BE clarissa, in all of her fantastic outfits. she was like the carrie bradshaw of the early 90s tween set.

posted by Softel

Jun 04, 2008 11:43AM

I think it IS a pretty loaded question, and I kinda lean towards the notion that kids are being coerced into growing up too quickly when it comes to dolling up prepubescents a la the Bratz. Instead of playing dress up, kids really are dressing up... for REAL (sorry)... and it's pretty provocative-I-smell-like-a-baby-prostitute stuff. Having said that, I'm not sure if my worries will apply to this new show, and I hope it won't.

Keke's adorable and I can't see them trying to skeez her up.

But it is a worry on my part.

I feel so out of the loop. I didn't have Nickelodeon growin up.

Jun 04, 2008 11:55AM

ooh I love the backyardigans!

posted by etoilee8

Jun 04, 2008 12:22PM

I think I watched most of the ones listed in the above comments with a special love for Salute Your Shorts and Clarissa Explains It All. (Did anyone remember their brief stab at teen drama with "Fifteen". . . it was a bizarre show!) Now the only one I wattch if it's on is Yo Gabba Gabba. Weirdest, coolest dance party on television.

Jun 04, 2008 3:16PM

I watched the first four you mentioned... fun times.

posted by gumdropsdaily

Jun 04, 2008 3:34PM

Sigh.... I miss old school Nickelodeon. Linda Ellerbee taught me everything I need to know about life. I wonder where she is these days?

posted by marybelle

Jun 04, 2008 4:15PM

Ok - seriously I LOVED Clarissa - remember her pet aligator in the wading pool in her room?

And I agree with Softel - children should be children, not mini adults in mini skirts. I feel like the notion that children should be appreciated for who they are is lost on societies attempts to make materialism a value. In fact in one of my classes this sem we studied how children have become a material item themselves - makes sense in a way if you think about it.

posted by Modupe

Jun 04, 2008 7:48PM

i'm stuck on Ni Hao, Kai-Lan and the Backyardigans, Pablo the penguin is my fav.

and as far as young ppl stuck on fashion? i turned 15 last moth but i've been stuck on fashion since i was like 9 at wal mart and i discovered the magazine aisle

not really a big fan of keke palmer, i think logan browning, (sasha from the bratz movie)i had to see it while babysitting) could play the role better i only know her name because she used to go to the barbizon modeling school/agency my mom is trying to send me to

posted by textile_queen

Jun 04, 2008 9:12PM

lordy...I miss Mademoiselle.

Jun 05, 2008 7:07AM

i watched clarissa...you cant do that on television..double dare..loved it..GUTZ! (similar to double dare)...legends of the hidden temple..so great!

Jun 05, 2008 8:41AM

Hey Dude!, Alex Mack, and the fact that Alanis was on You Can't Do That On Television.... Nick has some creative genius back then! Oh my do I feel old!

Jun 05, 2008 1:28PM

I LOVED "Fifteen"! I had forgotten about that show...and yes, loved Clarissa Explains it All, You Can't Do That on Television & Hey Dude...thanks for bringing me back!

posted by kijjalyn

Jun 05, 2008 1:54PM

Fifteen was fantastic. Did you know that it starred a yound awkward Ryan Reynolds as Nick, Courtney's annoying little brother? Teenage soapy goodness! Thank you Canada for most of those great 80s Nickelodeon shows!

Jun 05, 2008 1:59PM

young*