Pudd’ng is becoming a dedicated fashionista

Wedge heels are our daughter’s newest BFF. Two months ago, Tenderoni bought Pudd’ng a pair of black faux suede wedges. That purchase cranked up her fashion sense notches higher.

Lately, Pudd’ng has been particular about her looks, insisting, except school uniform, on what she’ll wear. Much of this evolution, I reckon, has to do with age and what she’s watching. 

Ten-plus years ago, as I pursued this creating dream, I used to sell second-hand clothes. Part of being street smart meant capitalising on fashion trends before they became “uniforms”. I remember selling wedges. That was then.

And now? This old school cat is learning “new” trends from his eight-year-old daughter, who doesn’t know that there’s no new trend. I wish she knew that after politicking, fashion is the next cyclical beast. 

I recently told Pudd’ng that as little boys, we hardly wore shoes. Not because we were dirt poor, it was just the way it was those days.

“Your soles weren’t hurt by stuff?” Pudd’ng asked, eyeballs bouncing on the floor.

Shoes, which were ordered from Oloo Fundi Woche, the bald shoemaker, were for going to school, church and visiting relatives. The shoes’ outer covering were made of real leather, while the soles were custom cut from airplane tyres.

I told Pudd’ng about our parents’ shoes plan. How that one “bespoke” pair was expanded by Oloo to accommodate your growing feet.

And that’s how, beautiful people, the cat got Pudd’ng’s tongue.

Remembrance heels

Sometime late last year, as Tenderoni and I worked out our issues, she dropped by the crib, as she usually did. For a strange reason, baby girl stuck to a pair of suede heels with chain detail on the ankles, claiming mama had gifted her.

These stilettos have a sentimental history. I bought them for Tenderoni three years ago. She killed it with a sexy number when we went to celebrate our seventh anniversary. After Tenderoni left, I found the heels in Pudd’ng’s bedroom and returned them to ours.

Minutes later, who do I find in the bedroom, fighting back tears?

“You took the heels that mama left me to remember her with,” Pudd’ng whimpered, when I asked what the waterworks were for.

That taught me this. Never touch girls’ stuff without asking. Twice. Twice for the avoidance of all doubt. 

Girl see, girl do

“Do you know why your daughter has pulled up her skirt and is strutting around in those shoes?” Tenderoni asked me last Saturday.

But I thought it was strange that, though Pudd’ng was indoors all day long, she refused to remove the black wedges. 

“Nope. I didn’t get the memo,” I replied. 

Tenderoni let me in on the open secret. The high-waist skirt, wedges and walking style was baby girl’s attempt at, Tenderoni snitched, pulling Jennifer Hudsonesque moves. Which, I was made to understand, the cute copycat spotted on TV.

I’m forewarned. Next time I see Pudd’ng walking and dressed, like we used to say in that nursery rhyme, “crooked style”, I’ll keep my peace.  

Impulse buying

It’s raining wedges. I think. A week later, Tenderoni surprised baby girl with a pair of white sporty wedges. They must have cost her a pretty penny. It’s just like mama to throw her budget in the shredder when she stumbles on a number that fits baby girl’s bill.

Tenderoni is not alone, though. I have realised that I buy Pudd’ng’s clothes and shoes on impulse; then I readjust my budget as I go along. With baby girl’s legs growing longer each night, it means there’s no time to plan for shoes. 

Fundi 911

Weekends or holidays, even if she is indoors, glued to the TV, Pudd’ng alternates between black and white wedges. When I’m tempted to laugh at her choice of outfits to go with the wedges, I shut my big mouth… and learn a little somethin’ somethin’. 

As long as it’s not a firetrap, I gave up causing Pudd’ng grief because of the clutter in her bedroom. But there’s one condition: keep this “self-expression” in her bedroom. Still, this has not stopped her from “trespassing”. Severally, I have found her wedges under my orthopaedic seat. That’s hallowed ground. It’s where I create. 

I know just what to make Pudd’ng style up. I’ll warn her that if I find her wedges in my space, I’ll call Oloo Fundi Woche.

Impulse:

I buy Pudd’ng’s clothes and shoes on impulse. With baby girl’s legs growing longer each night, there’s no time to plan for shoes.