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CNN Live At Daybreak
Battle Over What to Wear Back to School
Aired August 20, 2001 - 07:39 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, it's back-to-school time and for some families that means disagreements over what's appropriate to wear to school. Beth Theodore (ph), an Atlanta attorney, and her 11- year-old daughter Christina (ph) are here to talk about their experience. And good morning to both of you.
BETH THEODORE, ATTORNEY: Good morning.
PHILLIPS: Now, mom, you said you love shopping together. Why is that?
B. THEODORE: It's just fun. I, it's almost like I don't have to buy clothes for myself now, I can transfer that joy over to buying them for my daughter. It's a lot of fun.
PHILLIPS: And is mom pretty hip? Does she have good choices?
CHRISTINA THEODORE, STUDENT: Yes.
PHILLIPS: Yes?
C. THEODORE: She lets me wear nice things.
PHILLIPS: Yes? You don't have a problem? She doesn't say what not to wear or what to wear?
C. THEODORE: We pretty much agree on most things.
PHILLIPS: Wow. Hey, you're a lucky woman.
B. THEODORE: So far we've been lucky.
PHILLIPS: All right, what we did is we got some magazines and some covers of some magazines and we're going to talk about these and I want to get your opinions on these fashions, OK, you guys?
B. THEODORE: Great.
PHILLIPS: All right, the first one coming up right here is going to be "Seventeen" magazine -- oh, OK, I thought it was going to come out on these. Actually, we'll be able to look right here.
B. THEODORE: OK.
PHILLIPS: See this monitor? This is from "Seventeen" magazine. As you know, this is Destiny's Child, isn't that right, Christina?
C. THEODORE: Yes.
PHILLIPS: OK, let me ask you, would you ever wear a top that's showing your belly like that?
C. THEODORE: No.
PHILLIPS: Why not?
C. THEODORE: Well, I just don't think it's appropriate really. It makes me feel just kind of naked, I don't know. It just doesn't make me feel good.
PHILLIPS: Wow. Now, where does she learn this?
B. THEODORE: Well, hopefully from me. I don't usually wear those sort of tops either. There's also a dress code at her school, which I think helps.
PHILLIPS: Do you think a dress code is good?
C. THEODORE: Yes.
PHILLIPS: Yes?
C. THEODORE: Not too strict, because I think people should be able to express themselves but I think that there should be some dress code.
PHILLIPS: Is there a borderline between being a classy young lady and maybe a little too flashy?
C. THEODORE: Yes. There is.
PHILLIPS: All right. Very good. Let's look at the next picture. I think the next one we have here, there was "Seventeen" -- all right, this one is the Levis super low jeans ad. Oh, no, that was what was before. This is actually the miniseries, from what I understand. This is from, what magazine is this from? This is from "Seventeen" magazine also. OK, this is the mini miniskirts, I understand. Is that the hip thing that's going on right now at school?
C. THEODORE: No.
PHILLIPS: No?
C. THEODORE: It's more pants and shorts.
PHILLIPS: So are you just saying this because mom's here?
C. THEODORE: No. I don't think anyone would want to wear that just...
PHILLIPS: What do you think of the miniskirts? I mean there was a time they were pretty hip, right, in the '70s?
B. THEODORE: Well, actually I like miniskirts.
PHILLIPS: Right.
B. THEODORE: I grew up during the miniskirt era.
PHILLIPS: Sure.
B. THEODORE: So I don't have much problem with miniskirts, as long as they aren't too mini. But she doesn't really wear skirts to school all that much. So that hasn't been an issue. I may be a little more liberal on the miniskirt issue than she is, actually.
PHILLIPS: So you don't have any miniskirts, any midriffs, any of this flashy stuff?
C. THEODORE: No.
PHILLIPS: Now what about these young superstars like Brittany Spears and these folks who are wearing very tight kind of skimpy clothes? Do you think it's good they're doing that?
C. THEODORE: No. I mean I don't really think it influences my friends a lot but I think their clothes are just too inappropriate. I don't really want to watch their music videos, you know?
PHILLIPS: All right, let's go to the "Teen Vogue" cover. Let's look at the "Teen Vogue" cover is what we're going to take a look at. All right, and then I guess we've got -- now, this is pretty conservative, obviously, because we're not seeing any clothes. What's the next picture? Let's go to the next one. OK. And there is all kinds of pictures, talking word tees. And I am not quite sure what that is. Do you want to explain that to me Brian? OK, well, we're going to talk about, I guess, a quiz that's coming up. But anyway, real quickly before we go, young boys, do you think it gives them the wrong idea when young ladies dress like that?
C. THEODORE: Yes.
PHILLIPS: So it's a pretty good thing to stick to a conservative look?
C. THEODORE: Yes.
PHILLIPS: OK, very good.
Well, it looks like you have raised a very good young daughter.
B. THEODORE: Well, so far she hasn't asked for a tattoo so that's good.
PHILLIPS: Thank goodness. And no belly rings or...
B. THEODORE: That's right. PHILLIPS: Very good. That's good to hear. Well, we're very impressed with you. Thank you both, Beth and Christina Theodore, for being with us.
C. THEODORE: Thank you.
B. THEODORE: Thank you.
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