What DD Wore, thanks to YLF

Last night was my daughter's 8th grade graduation. 

She gave the valedictory speech to an audience of a couple of hundred people. I will post a bit in off-topic about that in the happy moments thread. But I hope it is okay to show what she wore here, because it is ALL courtesy of my closet, and all, in turn, courtesy of YLF. 

The event was a family BBQ, followed by the presentations. It was not formal, but graduates had been asked to dress nicely. 

My daughter is the definition of a tomboy. She usually wears very baggy boyfriend jeans and loose Ts. And getting her to dress up or even try on different silhouettes is a major pain. 

But last night, she knew exactly what she wanted to wear. And she put it on without a minute's hesitation. 

For the dinner: My linen shirt, my white jeans, my white Cons. 

For her presentation: The Equipment kitty shirt, my white jeans, my white Cons. 

1. Pictured in blue with her teacher. 

2. In kitty shirt, with her other teacher and a classmate who is hamming it up. (Funny, but without any prediscussion, all the girls in her class wore black and white outfits!!)

3. Giving her speech. 

4. With proud parents and teacher. 

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This post is also published in the youlookfab forum. You can read and reply to it in either place. All replies will appear in both places.

72 Comments

  • ClaraT replied 10 years ago

    Wow--she looks great, and what an honor. She has a lovely complexion that is beautiful with the lighter colors. Lucky her to have you as a style consultant! Congratulations to you both.

  • replied 10 years ago

    OH my GOODNESS she looks so grown up! What perfect items for her to borrow from your fabulous closet. She looks stunning, and she was the Valedictorian? You and DH must be incredibly proud! And how is it that she seems to be built exactly like you??? A good looking bunch, all of you. 

  • replied 10 years ago

    She's gorgeous, Suz! And completely herself (via you! :))

    Congratulations to her.

  • Mona replied 10 years ago

    Your daughter can wear your clothes and shoes, how awesome is that? and what an honour that she was the valedictorian. She looks so happy and confident is these pics. Congrats to all of you! 

  • Echo replied 10 years ago

    Oh, you must be so proud! She not only looks fantastic, but what an honor to give the valedictory speech! Congratulations!

  • Isis replied 10 years ago

    Wow, your daughter is gorgeous!  She looks like your clothes were made for her!  

    You must be very proud of her speech and graduation from 8th grade.  Congratulations!

  • MNsara replied 10 years ago

    What an honor!  Tell her congratulations :-)

    She's lucky to have your closet to shop from too.  She chose well!  polished, yet not frilly.  Looks very natural on her, and with what you say is her tomboy bent. 

    Maybe this will whet her appetite for her own urban princeliness. . .

    (had to say that in pic #1, I thought DD must be fairly tall.  Seeing pic #5, I realize teacher must be VERY petite!!)

  • Debbie replied 10 years ago

    Oh Suz she is beautiful. You have a beautiful family.

  • Angie replied 10 years ago

    I'm off for the day, but had to chime in to say WOW!!! DD is stunning, just like her Mama. She wears your Urban Princely looks to killer perfection! How fun that you can share a closet :)

    Suz, you look sensational in your peplum. Congrats! xo

  • Nanabear replied 10 years ago

    Your daughter looks amazing, Suz, and you look so proud and happy :)  Congrats to her and she's gonna grow up to be one stylish lady.

  • Beth Ann replied 10 years ago

    Beautiful daughter, and a proud moment!  She looks great in your well-chosen clothing items, but I particularly notice how the photos seem to capture a young girl comfortable in her clothes and in her own "skin." 

    My own DD, also from China, turns 12 in August.  Getting her in a dress would take major bribery.   I know the struggle to balance individuality with consideration for others!  Maia is already 5'4".  She can't wear my clothes (she's a size 3 to 5), but she can wear my shoes!

  • Diana replied 10 years ago

    Oh, wow!  DD looks great, and how awesome is it that she can dress out of your closet?!?  She wears the urban prince look very well, but then again she does have the best role model.

    Congrats to her and to you!

  • texstyle replied 10 years ago

    So beautiful! - and what a great bonus for her that she can wear your clothes! 

  • kkards replied 10 years ago

    congrats to both you and her. what a lovely family you are!

  • replied 10 years ago

    Suz, what a proud moment for you! DD looks fab! Congratulations to her :)

  • Suz replied 10 years ago

    Okay...I want to thank each and every one of you for your lovely comments, but I just have to give a shout out to Beth Ann. I knew we were artistic soul sisters, but the plot just thickened. Not only do we both have daughters from China. But we both have daughters from China who are preteens, who are tomboys, and whose name is Maia, SPELLED like that??????

    Whoa. I need a strong cup of Pu'erh Ginger to figure out how the universe alligns like that. 

  • replied 10 years ago

    Ok I saw that too and did a double take :)

  • MsMary replied 10 years ago

    Wow!  What a beautiful young woman you are rearing, Suz!!

  • krishnidoux replied 10 years ago

    Congratulations! She is beautiful too! You must be bursting with pride. She wears your jeans differently but just as nicely as you!

  • Beth Ann replied 10 years ago

    I love connections like this!  Better than playing 6 Degrees of Kevin Bacon!
    I grew up with a Scandinavian "Maija," but knew that no one could handle that spelling.  DH and I just couldn't take the "anti-phonics" of Maya, even though it's more common.  BTW --- my daughter is from Qingyuan, in Guangdong province.  You don't suppose........  Oh, and I know from personal experience that the Chinese will rule the world, and I'm good with that!

  • Suz replied 10 years ago

    Hehehehe.....you are so right about the world domination bit, Beth Ann! 

    Well, they share a name, but our girls are from different provinces. Mine comes from Hangzhou, in Zhejiang Province. 

  • Mary Beth (formerly LBD) replied 10 years ago

    SLF!!!  (She looks fab!)    And how great of a mom are you, to let your daughter raid your closet!

  • kellygirl replied 10 years ago

    Gorgeous! She is hands down, the most well dressed 8th grader I have seen ever! DD's 8th grade graduates looked nothing like her! Great family photo too!

  • cciele replied 10 years ago

    What an accomplished young lady! Congratz Suz. Also, how wonderful she knew exactly what pieces she wanted to wear from your wardrobe. 

  • rachylou replied 10 years ago

    Gorgeous!

    Ya, sorry Suz, you're gonna have to turn over the cons, jeans, and kitty shirt to DD. That's what mom's are there for. To take their stuff.

    Hey! It's always better when it's been mom's! You can have it back when she's outgrown them and they're out of fashion, lol ;>

  • Thistle replied 10 years ago

    She looks so amazing!  Polished and put together but not overly fussy. Feminine but not too girly.  Urban Price just like her lovely Momma!

  • Peri replied 10 years ago

    Wow...on so many levels! Top of her class and looking great of course, but what has me floored is an 8th grader wanting to borrow and be seen in her mother's clothes!!! That may be unprecedented!

  • Suz replied 10 years ago

    Well, Peri...given the choice between a silk shirt and a dress, she was going to take the silk shirt for sure, LOL! No dresses for this kid. But she IS being authentic, and that's the main thing. 

  • Glory replied 10 years ago

    She looks wonderful. And congrats on the grade 8. I attended my DDs grade 8 graduation on Tuesday and I won't lie that I did shed a few tears on a great milestone. 

  • Astrid replied 10 years ago

    She looks wonderful and true to herself! And how awesome is it that you're the same size (even in the shoes) and she can play in your closet like that. You look wonderful too. :)

  • Suz replied 10 years ago

    She is about an inch and a half shorter and five pounds heavier than me at the moment. But yes, we wear the same size. It is so funny; when they put her in my arms for the first time (at 10 months) I said, "She is going to be my size, more or less." Mother's intuition. 

  • pil replied 10 years ago

    OK, so now I really have to get your book so I can read more about Maia.
    She, well the entire family, looks wonderful, Suz. A very sophisticated 8th grader to be sure. Now on to high school!

    The only time I borrowed my mother's clothes was for fifties dress up day at school.

  • Irene replied 10 years ago

    WOW, Congratulations! I understand a veledictorian is the best student in the class? That's just great! :)

  • cobaltblue replied 10 years ago

    Wow, Suz! Congratulations to you all! She looks confident and beautiful. It's a wonderful thing to share a closet with Mom - I'm pretty sure mine has worn my 8th grade graduation outfit. :)

  • donnat replied 10 years ago

    Congratulations! You must be so proud. My daughter still wears my clothes, once they start...... It's mom can i borrow.....

  • Caro in Oz replied 10 years ago

    Fab photos. She looks so happy & relaxed which is lovely to see. Such a lucky girl to be able to wear your fantastic clothes :) I got the goose bumps reading your response to Beth Ann how amazing.

  • nancylee replied 10 years ago

    Wow!  Your daughter looks so grown-up, confident, and lovely, Suz.  Big congratulations to her for being the valedictorian of her class...and to her parents for their (obvious!) support.  What a big accomplishment.  

    She looks lovely and poised..just like mom!

  • Jaime replied 10 years ago

    I am blown away with how DD can borrow your clothes and make them totally fab her own way. She take after you with her sense of style Suz! The last picture with the family (including proud teacher) is worth a million words (well my words anyway). You all look super fab and I can feel your pride from here. Thanks for sharing!

  • Nicole D replied 10 years ago

    Agree with Shevia, DD has made those pieces her own!  She looks radiant AND comfortable in her skin.  Savour the moment!

  • bj1111 replied 10 years ago

    she looks so fab.  congrats to you both.  i can't stand how adorable your family looks.  it's killing me.  really...see me dying bit by bit by all the fabulosity?

  • Suz replied 10 years ago

    Bj, please don't expire, or I will expire myself for want of great links like Altfit! 

    She got quite a kick from all these comments, by the way. At first she asked me not to post. (Actually, I wasn't planning to.) But then she said she wanted me to post! Because she was involved in taking my WIW photos for so long, she feels as if she knows YLF by association already. And she knows how comfortable I feel here. 

    Meanwhile, guess what she said after reading your remarks? 

    "I might start getting into this fashion thing a little bit after all." 

    <Pause for us all to weigh the possibility that in matters of fashion, at least, the discredited "trickle down" theory may in fact have some merit.> 

    Also, never underestimate the lure of real silk. She put that shirt on last night and went bug-eyed.

    If it takes a silk shirt to persuade her to enjoy fashion, that seems like a small cost. 

  • Eliza replied 10 years ago

    Suz- your daughter looks great, well dressed for sure, but also comfortable. How fun to share a wardrobe and each wear it in your own way.

    I must say that this post made my night for reasons only vaguely connected to fashion. Super happy for your family!

  • Sveta replied 10 years ago

    This brought back memories how my sister and I shared my mom's closet...:-)
    Your DD is so grown up, Suz and so pretty. Isn't it fun how tomboy can fit into Urban Prince territory perfectly?:-)
    Congratulations to both of you!

  • Sylvie replied 10 years ago

    Congratulations to smart and beautiful Maia!  Also, congratulations to you and your husband Suz, for raising your daughter.  I don't think parents get enough credit for the work they do.

    Also, how nice that you can share a closet (ok, maybe not so much for you because now you have to buy doubles of everything).  Your daughter has good taste - there's nothing quite like the feel of silk.

  • amiable replied 10 years ago

    *happy sigh*  This is perfection!  I know you're beaming with satisfaction and pride for such a beautiful young lady you've raised!

  • replied 10 years ago

    You have a beautiful and talented daughter. Wow valedictorian! Congratulations Suz!

  • Nicola replied 10 years ago

    Congratulations. A wonderful post, a lovely family and (more than one) fab outfit.

  • Caro in Oz replied 10 years ago

    Also, never underestimate the lure of real silk.

    Never, I promise :)

  • DonnaF replied 10 years ago

    Congratulations to DD!  She's really grown up in the last year or two and now really looks like a high school student.  I am so impressed and amazed that she knew exactly what she wanted to wear and that it was perfect and perfectly appropriate; most kids would just know what they DIDN'T want to wear.  Valedictorian in more ways than one?

    And congrats to you for not forcing her into a dress!  But um, it gets dangerou$ when a high school kid gets a taste for silk Equipment shirts.  I will confess I gave my thrifted one to my 19 year old when I decided it fit her better than me.  And to have see the difference between that and what she gets at Forever 21.  Be careful what you wish for. . . .<gr> 

  • Joy replied 10 years ago

    Suz, this post made my day. Maia is smart and beautiful like her mom and her gorgeous smile must light up a room.

  • goldenpig replied 10 years ago

    Congrats to your smart and lovely daughter! That kitty shirt was made for her, and the white jeans and Cons are perfect on her. How fab that you can share clothes and shoes and that she wants to borrow your clothes! It's no wonder when she has such a super stylish mom!

  • Deborah replied 10 years ago

    Congratulations to you DD Suz.  She looks beautiful.  And what a lovely mum you are sharing your wardrobe (I don't know if i would be so generous lol).  You look fab too.

  • Lyn D. replied 10 years ago

    What a fantastic day, and how brave your DD is to speak in front of so many!
    Is the end of year 8 a milestone in Canada?
    In Australia we have 'Primary School'-  prep. to grade 6 then 'Secondary School'-  year 7 to 12. A bit different I think.
    I have a year 9 girl and a year 11 girl, and my older one is shorter than me but we share the same size shoes too.

  • Krista replied 10 years ago

    Awesome, Suz! What an honor for your daughter to be Valedictorian; I know you are very proud!  And I love love love both outfits - the Cons are the perfect extra touch. YLF to both of you!

  • Hil replied 10 years ago

    Wow Suz- what a fabulous post! Your daughter looks so grown up - it's quite odd to think that in just a few years I will have a preteen daughter! May she be as stylish as your lovely daughter!

  • lyn67 replied 10 years ago

    Plonk!:-) What???? An 8th grader wanting to borrow and be seen in her mother's clothes!!! That may be indeed unprecedented, Suz!
    DD is as beautiful as You, and wears your clothes so well!!! She has a strong personality I see! Congrats, and you all look terriffic in the family photo!

  • Sarah A replied 10 years ago

    You whole family is so beautiful... I love how Maia wears the white and blue looking so comfortable and fresh. What a proud moment for you to see her giving the valedictorian speech! Of course you look amazing in your peplum (of course!). I love the lure of real silk :) My DD (4) yesterday asked what I thought of her "partial tuck" on her T... trickle down indeed! CONGRATS again on a lovely and smart girl!

  • Inge replied 10 years ago

    I'm tearing up here Suz__ Your daughter is beautiful, and she looked absolutely fantastic in both outfits. That shade of blue is so flattering on her, and so fresh with the white. The silk kitty blouse was such an excellent choice too, a little sophistication and then the playful touch with the Converse. (love her short fringe too).  I think she has inherited your sense of style! Love the photo with the proud parents too (you look gorgeous as well, Suz).

    Big congrats to the entire family! And do keep us posted about future mother and daughter fashion adventures?

  • CocoLion replied 10 years ago

    Congratulations! You have every reason to take pride in your smart and beautiful daughter.

  • Suz replied 10 years ago

    Thank you again, everyone. What a supportive place this is. Your comments really gave her a huge boost. 

  • tarzy replied 10 years ago

    Adding my congrats to the pile! She looks fab! (But we're not really surprised, are we?)

  • replied 10 years ago

    Awww, she looks wonderful!!!  That kitty shirt is beyond fab on her!  Beautiful girl!!!

  • velvetychocolate replied 10 years ago

    Congratulations! Your daughter is just beautiful, and I can already tell she has her own fabulous sense of style. I just love how she borrowed a few things from you and turned them into brand-new outfits that look amazing on her.

    Reminds me of some of the "How I Wore My___________" series that I've seen on fashion blogs. How you can take one piece or a few pieces and totally make it your own. Your daughter is so stylish and very fab!

    Here's hoping you three have a wonderful Canada Day long weekend!

  • Transcona Shannon replied 10 years ago

    I apologize for being so late to get to this thread Suz.

    Your daughter looks positively stunning and is rocking her own style and being true to herself. I love that!

    You have obviously been a very positive influence on her, not only with style, but more importantly, in helping to build the confidence required to stand up and address her peers.

    Congratulations to her and to your whole family :)

  • Lantana replied 10 years ago

    Suz, thank you for sharing this occasion; a family celebrating warms my heart.
    Congratulations to all of you.

  • catgirl replied 10 years ago

    So late here, but how fab she looks, and so impressed that she both can and wants to wear your amazing clothes as a teenage girl!  I bet there are not many her age sporting Equipment shirts. :)

  • Scarlet replied 10 years ago

    How funny that she can wear all your clothes! She looks perfect, you proud mama! Yay for Suz and DD!

  • Elizabeth P replied 10 years ago

    She looks wonderful Suz, you must be so proud! Although I must say I'm not sure I'd want my daughters to be raiding my closet for my silk shirts... :).

  • ManidipaM replied 10 years ago

    I haven't been around for a while, but just had to say i just found this and it brought tears to my eyes and made my heart sing...

  • harmonica replied 10 years ago

    Wonderful DD and congrats! Take well care of the last pic, it is a growing treasure.

  • Karie replied 10 years ago

    Suz, congrats to your daughter! She looks fantastic, and so do you.

  • Vicki replied 10 years ago

    Thank you for sharing this momentous event in your family's life, Suz.  Your DD is gorgeous and how spectacular that you both can wear the same size and style.

    Congratulations, DD!!

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