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Rachel Renée Russell

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Dork Diaries Book 14

Dork Diaries

#1 New York Times Bestselling Series

JUST FOR YOU!!
Miss Know-it-All's Advice
HOW TO:
Virtual PJ Party
Part 1

HOW TO:
Virtual PJ Party
Part 2

February 19, 2020

I HATE WEARING DRESSES!!!

Dear Nikki,

I don’t know what to do!!! My parents make me wear a dress almost every day. Not just for church or dinner at grandma’s house, but even to school! I just want to wear hoodies and jeans like everyone else!! My mom says I look too “boyish” when I wear jeans. Help!!!

Dress Mess

Hi Dress Mess,

Okay, WOW. There are definitely days when my mom’ll say, “You’re wearing THAT?” and I’m like, “Well it IS on my body, so looks like I am!” I think we all have battles with our parents about clothes sometimes.

But only dresses all the time?! That’s hardcore! 

My first recommendation in situations like this is to explain to your parents HOW you feel and WHY, but do NOT under any circumstances use the phrase “everybody else.” As in “everybody else wears jeans!” or “everybody else’s parents let them wear what they want!” or “everybody else is NOT wearing dresses!”

That “everybody else” thing is like a blazing alarm that make parents LOSE IT. Again, I repeat—AVOID IT AT ALL COSTS!

Instead, tell them how you feel and why. I don’t know exactly how you feel, but here are some things I would probably feel in your situation:

I would feel different from everyone else. (LOL, there’s that “everyone else” thing again—another way to put it is, “I would feel like the dresses made me stand out in a bad way.”) Parents often tell us not to be a sheep and go along with the crowd, but it’s like they’ve forgotten when they were our age and how much they just wanted to blend in sometimes.

I might feel uncomfortable in dresses all the time. Like, physically uncomfortable. If we’re talking elementary school recess, SO many activities would be hard to do. If we’re talking middle school, it would be awkward to sit on the ground, and to step over the benches at cafeteria tables.

I would want some control over how I look, because that’s just a normal part of getting older. It’s fine for parents to pick out their baby or toddler’s clothes. But even preschoolers have favorite outfits! Clothes are one of the first ways we have to express ourselves to the world!

If your parents are willing to listen, here are some suggestions you could make:

  1. Start slow. Maybe they would agree to jeans on Fridays, for example. Or maybe you could start with pants that aren’t jeans. Some flowy wide-leg pants are almost like a skirt? You could try some black pants or khakis that would seem more dressed-up too. They might also be open to a cute skirt + leggings with a hoodie.
  2. Pair jeans with a nice top. This is on the same theme as above—jumping straight to jeans and a hoodie might give your parents a heart attack. Instead, maybe try jeans and a nicer sweater or flowy top. You could also ease them into the hoodie by pairing it with dresses! 
  3. Don’t give up on dresses. Make a point of looking really nice for non-school occasions like church or family gatherings, so they don’t think you’re going to live in jeans and hoodies from now on.

Do your parents like picking out your clothes? How do you handle it? What sorts of clothes do you like to wear? Tell us in the comments!

Category: Ask Nikki Tags: beautynikki

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Comments

  1. this has happened and im sorry says

    March 4, 2020 at 5:58 pm

    Nikki has this happened to you before and how do you know what to do u have little experience ur only fifteen

  2. this has happened and im sorry says

    March 4, 2020 at 5:54 pm

    hi if u don’t like wearing dresses just try to sneak some pants and a hoodie. I have to wear pants but always get away with shorts. I mean, it’s not like we have to wear dresses. idk what world ur mom is living in but it’s definitely not the 1800’s lol

  3. Future_Broadway _Newsie says

    March 4, 2020 at 5:38 pm

    I would always get really mad when my mom would tell me what to wear and eventually I just started to wear what I wanted and my parents just went along with it. Try just talking to them.

  4. gossipgirl says

    March 4, 2020 at 4:54 pm

    If your parents wont let u choose to wear then they suck and why do your like parents choose you clothes to where what are you five? You need like some real help here!!!

  5. emmaprisha_bffs says

    March 4, 2020 at 2:26 pm

    what should i wear to be you on world book day

  6. Anonymous says

    March 4, 2020 at 2:00 pm

    My Mom used pick out my clothes and I was happy with that because it meant less work and she was better than me in picking clothes but now she says i need to choose my own clothes.

  7. drama queen says

    March 4, 2020 at 1:02 pm

    Dress Mess
    tell your parents how you feel and hopefully they will listen

  8. Pumpkin says

    March 4, 2020 at 11:30 am

    Double trouble
    I just don’t know why some times I have to wear a dress to a particular church it just feels weird

  9. #DORKY GIRL 300 says

    March 4, 2020 at 11:19 am

    TALK TO YOUR PARENTS ABOUT THIS, THEY ARE SURE TO UNDERSTAND. IY DID FOR ME

  10. Anonymous says

    March 4, 2020 at 11:17 am

    I know how you feel

  11. #DORKYGIRL2.0 says

    March 4, 2020 at 10:54 am

    TELL YOUR PARENTS HOW YOU FEEL. THEY WILL SURELY UNDERSTAND.[I HAVE DONE THE SAME. IT WILL WORK]

  12. Kyllex265 says

    March 4, 2020 at 12:09 am

    Hi, Nikki me and my best friend has the same crush and i just cant live with i said to her she can have him but she says no but both of them looks so cute with eachother and there both close and i just NoTHING!!!!
    nikki pls helpp me

  13. Girl Stuff 101 says

    March 4, 2020 at 12:04 am

    Dress Mess,
    Just tell your parents how you feel, and they’ll listen.
    Good luck!

  14. #ilovenikki says

    March 3, 2020 at 9:45 pm

    Try to tell your parents that you don’t like dresses. Tell them what you really like what you want to wear and that jeans are nice and you like them.

  15. Dorky Dork Lover says

    March 3, 2020 at 9:13 pm

    I have the exact same problem! You can just talk to your mom about it throughly that you just HATE wearing dresses and just tell her that you are more of a tomboy. Try to tell your mom that you are more responsible than she thinks and urge her to stop giving you dresses. Or else…… ummmm… try sulking?

  16. Dork Diaries Fan says

    March 3, 2020 at 7:05 pm

    My mom makes me wear dresses. I hate them!!!

  17. DorkDiaries#1fan says

    March 3, 2020 at 5:42 pm

    Hey Niki i feel the same with dresses i HATE HATE HATE them not to be rude.and thx Niki you gave me advice:)

  18. dorky!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! says

    March 3, 2020 at 3:16 pm

    nikki, I love your books!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  19. Sungirl says

    March 3, 2020 at 1:07 pm

    For the school uniform thing just saying that in England you have to wear uniform(I’m English that’s why I know) so it doesn’t definitely mean they are from a private school <3

  20. Girl like many says

    March 3, 2020 at 10:49 am

    I have really similar problem wear i’m not aloud to wear jeans to school and i have to wear trousers or skirts, Sometimes i just nag, and nag, and nag and they just scream at me and say “FINE WEAR WHAT YOU WANT!!!” and storm out of the room. so that is an option.

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