Have we spoken about Party City's Toddler Cop costume

[Skyesthelimit1212]

Party City didn't like the scolding it got and PC has yet to respond because they seem to be sulking in the corner. 

www.hotmomsclub.com/mom-gets-shunned-by-party-city-after-slamming-sexy-cop-costume-for-girls/#sthash.vbz5U7e9.dpbs

When I was a little girl, the only costumes we had for Halloween were the horrible, poor quality plastic ones that came with masks that were terribly hard to see or breathe from. Our costumes looked nothing like the incredibly detailed and creative ones you see today.

Unfortunately though, some costumes can get a little TOO creative and adult themed, like the sexy police officer one for little girls below. In case you’re wondering, it’s sold at Party City.




Upon seeing the costume, one mother named Lin Kramer took matters into her owns hands and SLAMMED Party City for selling the costume, but unfortunately the company shunned her by silencing her open letter on their Facebook page. Here’s what she wrote:



Dear Party City,

Having just finished perusing your website for Halloween costumes for my three-year-old daughter, I am writing in the hopes that you will reconsider some of the content on your website and the antiquated views such content communicates about your company’s beliefs. In order to understand my concerns, please direct your attention to the ‘toddler costumes’ portion of your website. Compare, for instance, the ‘classic’ costumes offered for boys and girls.

As you can see, the classic costumes for boys include 53 assorted options, ranging from traditional vampire attire to a ‘rascal pirate’ to 16 costumes relating to possible occupations. Meanwhile, the classic costumes for girls include 45 options, ranging from a ‘vampire queen’ to a ‘precious pirate’ to three costumes relating to possible occupations. (It is worth noting that I have generously included in this number the ‘cheerleader’ as a possible occupation, despite it being well known that even NFL cheerleaders are not paid well enough for this to be their only source of income, as well as the ‘cowgirl,’ although, unlike the ‘cowboy,’ she is clearly not appropriately dressed to be employed on any sort of working ranch). To be clear, that means 30% of the costumes you market to boys are based on occupations, while just under 7% of the costumes you market to girls are based on occupations.


If the nature of my concern is not already abundantly clear, please now take the opportunity to compare the girl costume representing the occupation of a police officer to the same occupation costumes marketed for boys (see lead image above). Are you beginning to see why this might be concerning to your customers, and, well, society as a whole?

When you look around at the police officers in your city or neighborhood, the uniforms they wear are probably substantially similar to the costumes you have elected to offer for boys. However, the same cannot be said of the costume you market to girls. Generally speaking, real life uniformed female police officers do not wear short skirts and low cut shirts, but instead wear exactly the same slacks and shirts as their male counterparts. Further, while your choice to market these different costumes to different genders is remarkable in and of itself, it is worth noting that this disparate treatment was apparently at least somewhat conscious on the part of your business. I invite you, and anyone else reading this letter, to review the description of the costumes. When describing the girl costume, your marketing team elected to use language like “cute cop” and “sassy and sweet,” while for the boy costume, they chose to note the “realistic scaled-down police shirt” and assert that “this protector of the peace has it all under control!”


I am absolutely appalled that your business reinterprets girls’ innocent and well-intentioned dreams into this costume.

While Halloween costumes are undoubtedly about “make-believe,” it is unfathomable that toddler girls and boys who might be interested in dressing up as police officers are seeking to imagine themselves in the incongruent way your business apparently imagines them. Toddler girls are not imagining and hoping that they will grow up to become a ‘sexy cop’ — which is clearly what your girl costume suggests; rather, young girls, just as young boys, see and admire their family members and neighbors offering service to their communities and delight in the idea of doing the same. I am absolutely appalled that your business reinterprets girls’ innocent and well-intentioned dreams into this costume.

Finally, the thing that I would maybe most like to point out to you is this: Your company could EASILY include many, if not all, of the costumes you have in the boys’ section as options in the girls’ section as well! And in so doing, you would not only improve the message you are sending to society, but you might actually help your bottom line by selling more costumes (since little girls shopping with their parents would be more likely to see these options)! Even if you insist (and

I really hope you don’t) on offering the sexualized version of costumes for little girls, you could *also* offer girls the realistic option of the same costume.

f

[Deleted]

I remember this outrage from last year.

I guess they decided to keep selling it. Interesting choice.

[WanderingWinoZ]

she looks like a hooker who is trying to dress up like a cop...

[WanderingWinoZ]

TBH- i don't think most of the costume is that bad. It's the combo of the fingerless gloves (WTF?), the go go boots, (ETA) and hte hand cuffs, and the sexy pose.
I could totally see this being an innocent outfit, except that cops don't ever wear dresses as a uniform (maybe on formal occasions?)

[Skyesthelimit1212]

Sept 25, 2015 12:39:16 GMT -5 WanderingWinoZ said:

TBH- i don't think most of the costume is that bad. It's the combo of the fingerless gloves (WTF?), the go go boots, (ETA) and hte hand cuffs, and the sexy pose.
I could totally see this being an innocent outfit, except that cops don't ever wear dresses as a uniform (maybe on formal occasions?)

That's part of the point the of the letter writer.  Why does the little girl get the dress and boots, but the boy gets an actual realistic uniform.  Female cops wear the same uniform as their male counterparts.  

[meshaliuknits]

I don't mind the skirt. Yes, it's not really reflective of an accurate uniform, but I don't hate it. Well, I kind of hate the neckline.

If I dressed the little girl officer, I'd have given her the dress, the boy's belt/holster, the standard hat and Mary Janes. If I were redoing the dress, I'd give it more of a button up shirt neckline and a tie. Because ties on little girls are adorable.

The gloves are a total no-go for me. I hope they don't come with the costume.

[ska]

I thought your title said CUP costume. I was expecting to see a kid dressed as a red Solo cup.

[meshaliuknits]

Sept 25, 2015 13:19:02 GMT -5 Dig Ophelia said:

Sept 25, 2015 12:43:10 GMT -5 Skyesthelimit1212 said:

That's part of the point the of the letter writer.  Why does the little girl get the dress and boots, but the boy gets an actual realistic uniform.  Female cops wear the same uniform as their male counterparts.  

Yeah, this was what I first noticed, too.  Women LEOs don't wear "cop dresses".  So putting a little girl, who wants to play a LEO, in a dress, is a complete gender stereotype and not at all a realistic option for a uniform.  A nurse?  Okay, there are nurse uniforms that are dresses and uniforms that are pants.  Not the same.

Then the boots are ridiculous, because again, not the same type as the boy's shoes and not realistic.  

It's like a girl wanting to dress as a firefighter and then handing her a yellow dress with kicky go-go boots...no.    

I didn't see yellow.



Really, though, I would give my kid pants because that looks like just a jacket to me.

[meshaliuknits]

Sept 25, 2015 13:05:19 GMT -5 ska said:

I thought your title said CUP costume. I was expecting to see a kid dressed as a red Solo cup.

I want you to know that this is indeed a thing and that it also comes in sexy.

[meshaliuknits]

Sept 25, 2015 13:26:09 GMT -5 Dig Ophelia said:

Sept 25, 2015 13:22:38 GMT -5 meshaliuknits said:

I didn't see yellow.



Really, though, I would give my kid pants because that looks like just a jacket to me.

LOL  Yeah, where the hell are her pants?  

That damn leggings as pants trend has infected the children now, too!   Won't someone think of THE CHILDREN??!!!!11

Man, those aren't even leggings. Those are tights.

[Skyesthelimit1212]

Sept 25, 2015 13:22:38 GMT -5 meshaliuknits said:

Sept 25, 2015 13:19:02 GMT -5 Dig Ophelia said:

Yeah, this was what I first noticed, too.  Women LEOs don't wear "cop dresses".  So putting a little girl, who wants to play a LEO, in a dress, is a complete gender stereotype and not at all a realistic option for a uniform.  A nurse?  Okay, there are nurse uniforms that are dresses and uniforms that are pants.  Not the same.

Then the boots are ridiculous, because again, not the same type as the boy's shoes and not realistic.  

It's like a girl wanting to dress as a firefighter and then handing her a yellow dress with kicky go-go boots...no.    

I didn't see yellow.



Really, though, I would give my kid pants because that looks like just a jacket to me.

This is basically a thin, red colored tarp, with reflective tape on it, lol. 

[Skyesthelimit1212]

Sept 25, 2015 13:05:19 GMT -5 ska said:

I thought your title said CUP costume. I was expecting to see a kid dressed as a red Solo cup.

I couldn't find a toddler Solo Cup picture, so I give you this Poor Choice in Parenting instead.....

[debatethis]

I think this one is much worse.
www.amazon.com/Wizard-Oz-Dorothy-Dress-Costume/dp/B007ZC21PS/ref=sr_1_213?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1443125147&sr=1-213&refinements=p_n_age_range%3A165890011%2Cp_72%3A1248963011

[karinothing]

I really hate this trend of turning costumes into strange semi sexy dresses. Like cat costumes for girls are like tiger stripped tutus and tights with something sparkly. SINCE WHEN IS THAT A CAT? I don't get it.

Also I am annoyed that pottery barn sent out their halloween catalogue (which we got last weekend) and the costume DS wanted is already sold out. How about make sure you have costumes before you send out the catalogue. 

[saz]

I don't have a problem with sexy costumes, I was an extremely sexy cat one year, but I'm NOT ok with them for children. I hate that this is a thing.

[KateAggie]

Sept 25, 2015 13:38:25 GMT -5 Skyesthelimit1212 said:

Sept 25, 2015 13:05:19 GMT -5 ska said:

I thought your title said CUP costume. I was expecting to see a kid dressed as a red Solo cup.

I couldn't find a toddler Solo Cup picture, so I give you this Poor Choice in Parenting instead.....

That shirt is hilarious. The costumes? Not so much.

We were at PC yesterday. I can only recall one costume for girls (off the top of my head) with pants.

[meshaliuknits]

Sept 25, 2015 13:48:58 GMT -5 KateAggie said:

Sept 25, 2015 13:38:25 GMT -5 Skyesthelimit1212 said:

I couldn't find a toddler Solo Cup picture, so I give you this Poor Choice in Parenting instead.....

That shirt is hilarious. The costumes? Not so much.

We were at PC yesterday. I can only recall one costume for girls (off the top of my head) with pants.

Which one was that?

[meshaliuknits]

Sept 25, 2015 13:49:13 GMT -5 saz said:

I don't have a problem with sexy costumes, I was an extremely sexy cat one year, but I'm NOT ok with them for children. I hate that this is a thing.

The sexy costumes annoy me because there isn't usually a non-sexy option.

[KateAggie]

Sept 25, 2015 13:50:47 GMT -5 meshaliuknits said:

Sept 25, 2015 13:48:58 GMT -5 KateAggie said:

That shirt is hilarious. The costumes? Not so much.

We were at PC yesterday. I can only recall one costume for girls (off the top of my head) with pants.

Which one was that?

"Groovy Girl", with tie-dye pants.

[meshaliuknits]

Sept 25, 2015 13:56:42 GMT -5 KateAggie said:

Sept 25, 2015 13:50:47 GMT -5 meshaliuknits said:

Which one was that?

"Groovy Girl", with tie-dye pants.

Hippies hate pants. lol

[rootbeerfloat]

DD initially wanted us to wear these matching costumes this Halloween:



The adult version is actually titled "crayon box sexy costume" on Amazon. (The kid one is just "crayon box dress.") They actually have box costumes and individual crayon costumes and adult t-shirts and tanks, but she, of course, liked the tutu dress. She has, thankfully, changed her mind.

[karinothing]

Sept 25, 2015 13:59:33 GMT -5 @majorwife said:

Sept 25, 2015 13:49:10 GMT -5 karinothing said:

I really hate this trend of turning costumes into strange semi sexy dresses. Like cat costumes for girls are like tiger stripped tutus and tights with something sparkly. SINCE WHEN IS THAT A CAT? I don't get it.

Also I am annoyed that pottery barn sent out their halloween catalogue (which we got last weekend) and the costume DS wanted is already sold out. How about make sure you have costumes before you send out the catalogue. 

LB was a frog one year. it was a tutu and a headband with frog eyes.

a tutu and headband is as easy AF homemade costume to make. i cant hate

look at my schmoopie

She is adorable! I like that her tutu is made to look more like the body of the frog vs. just a skirt. Compare to this. I mean cats aren't pink and they don't have weirdo front corsets. 

[leeba25]

That mom needs a lesson in writing a concise letter. Am I reading the article right though, that she sent it to Party City and they posted it on their FB page? That's an odd response from them.

[Skyesthelimit1212]

@majorwife, she's toooooooo cute for words.

[meshaliuknits]

Sept 25, 2015 14:20:08 GMT -5 karinothing said:

Sept 25, 2015 13:59:33 GMT -5 @majorwife said:

LB was a frog one year. it was a tutu and a headband with frog eyes.

a tutu and headband is as easy AF homemade costume to make. i cant hate

look at my schmoopie

She is adorable! I like that her tutu is made to look more like the body of the frog vs. just a skirt. Compare to this. I mean cats aren't pink and they don't have weirdo front corsets. 

At least one of my cats has worn a corset like thing. Amongst other things.

It's a wonder I'm still alive, really.

[karinothing]

Sept 25, 2015 14:56:15 GMT -5 meshaliuknits said:

Sept 25, 2015 14:20:08 GMT -5 karinothing said:

She is adorable! I like that her tutu is made to look more like the body of the frog vs. just a skirt. Compare to this. I mean cats aren't pink and they don't have weirdo front corsets. 

At least one of my cats has worn a corset like thing. Amongst other things.

It's a wonder I'm still alive, really.

You can't say this without posting a picture!

[meshaliuknits]

Sept 25, 2015 14:58:13 GMT -5 karinothing said:

Sept 25, 2015 14:56:15 GMT -5 meshaliuknits said:

At least one of my cats has worn a corset like thing. Amongst other things.

It's a wonder I'm still alive, really.

You can't say this without posting a picture!

I looked, I can't find it. I think it was on our computer that died.

In it's stead please enjoy this poorly Photoshopped picture of the Supurrrr Friends.

[CrazyLucky]

I don't think the costume is horrible. My three year old will definitely choose anything with a dress over anything without. But I do like her bigger point. Why aren't costumes like doctors or ball players or scientists available under the girl section. It's dumb.

[karinothing]

Sept 25, 2015 15:02:39 GMT -5 meshaliuknits said:

Sept 25, 2015 14:58:13 GMT -5 karinothing said:

You can't say this without posting a picture!

I looked, I can't find it. I think it was on our computer that died.

In it's stead please enjoy this poorly Photoshopped picture of the Supurrrr Friends.

ha ha. Your cats must really love you. 

[meshaliuknits]

Sept 25, 2015 15:09:39 GMT -5 karinothing said:

Sept 25, 2015 15:02:39 GMT -5 meshaliuknits said:

I looked, I can't find it. I think it was on our computer that died.

In it's stead please enjoy this poorly Photoshopped picture of the Supurrrr Friends.

ha ha. Your cats must really love you. 

I have not yet outlived my usefulness.