One of the most buzzed-about stories on the web yesterday was the N.Y. Post’s feature on super-skimpy prom dresses. My son’s onesies use more fabric than some of these designs.

It’s often mortifying being a mom of a young daughter these days. Can the Girls Gone Wild culture get any wilder? Some jaded folks will dismiss the Post story as an exaggeration. But any parent who has been to the local mall lately has probably seen enough exposed flesh to make Vincent Gallo blush. Ok, I exaggerate. A little.

Witness kiddie thongs.
Ultra-low riders.
Little Miss Hooters.
Pimp and ho kids.

The answer to this excess is not more government regulation, but more parental regulation. I’m disgusted when I see a pre-teen with her butt crack hanging out of her low-riders at the store. But I’m even more disgusted when I see her mom with her butt crack hanging out of a matching pair of low-riders. Grow up already and stop shopping at Forever 21!

What others are saying:

Ace of Spades says parental apathy is a terrible thing.
A Small Victory is relieved her daughter prefers baggy styles.
Kim Swygert writes: “My first reaction was, ‘No way in HELL would a daughter of mine wear this.’ And I don’t even have a daughter.”
Palm Tree Pundit wonders where the dads are.

Related: Wittenberg Gate blogger Dory’s excellent essay on feminine modesty is here. Her final thought:

As in many things, we must walk that line between legalism or pietism on the one hand and licentiousness on the other. I think the best way to do that in regards to modesty is to ask the question, “What am I communicating?” and if we are to err, err on the side of caution.

Words to live by.

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