What Is with All the Skulls on Boys' Clothing?

"it was so hard to find cute clothes without skulls on them"

Okay, I know the skulls are trendy but there are a LOT of clothes at Target without skulls, in fact they are just a small portion of many, many items.
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I was in the Target boys dept. just last week buying an outfit for my 3 year old nephew and there were plenty of other options!

Honestly if you don't like a certain logo or style just don't buy it. But to claim something so small is "snatching away their innocence" seems really, really extreme :(

I think they're kind of cute! Also each store works in collections, which means that a lot of the clothes will have similar color paletes as well as graphics, so maybe try a different store, although maybe skulls are just hot right now. Also, remember that it's getting close to Halloween, so it could really just be a marketing ploy too. The more stuff that can transition between "normal" clothes and holiday themed clothes probably sell better! Or maybe these designers have gone skull crazy, I don't know! ;)

I find it completely bizarre myself. I'm wondering how and why this became the 'in' thing. I've seen it in the girls' section too. Oddly enough I can't say I have ever seen anyone wearing it. Someone must be buying it!

I actually think skulls can be cute, depending on the theme. They have been "in" in general for several years now.

If you don't want skulls on clothes, try going to Gymboree or Children's Place. I always troll the sales racks there. There were also a lot of trucks and dinosaurs on clothes for boys at JCPenny.

Everybody has their hot-button point. I personally have more issues with girl clothes - the sexy stuff at 3. The high heels in a 5. Etc.

I have a 6 yr old . I don't have a problem with the skulls.
They look cool not "bad-assed"
The current line with skulls at target is the sean white collection.
They do have some that don't have skulls.
Try Kohls , if you have them there, they have a nice collection of boys clothes without skulls.

http://www.bodenusa.com/en-US/Boys-Tops-T-shirts.html &
http://www.bodenusa.com/en-US/Clearance/Boys-Tops-T-shirt...

If you haven't ordered from them before ONLY order 1 thing. Then you get an account and get all the specials they run. Like buy 3 get 1 for a dollar plus free shipping/returns, or 20-30% off plus freeshipping/returns. Order big, because the clothes are so well made they last through 2+ years of HARD wearing. ((We have shirts that are in their 3rd kid & 6th year of being worn, still looking new))

((2 have skull & crossbones on them, out of about 30 or 40 total shirts/designs))

I have two boys, one is 21 months and the older is 37 months. The older just had a birthday, and I received two skull items. I was kind of curious about them, since most of my kids clothes are hand-me-downs, and though there were a variety of themes, and some with mature legends (that go right back into the boxes) I don't see the relevence in three year-old's clothing. I am really disappointed that boy's clothing must always have writing or themes on it -- and now the writings and themes are becoming less and less innocent. Even the colors for boys (and often girls too) seem to range from black and other dark colors, to gray. I'd love to buy from Hannah Andersson, but could never afford it. (Wish I could get some hand-me-downs from there!) I hate to have them advertising some bizarre trend or movie theme, every time they go out the door! And now skulls? Are the kids' clothing designers proposing death?

little girl clothes too. I don't get it either

I don't know, but I think you are on to something with the innocence point! We've got little girls wearing suggestive clothes - baby bikinis and ridiculous sayings across their butts. Did you see the JCPenney shirt for girls that said something about having her brother do her homework because she can't be pretty AND smart? I think it was pulled due to public outcry.

So I say, complain to the stores about the worst stuff, and write to the corporate offices. Put it on Facebook and Mamapedia, and maybe if enough of us complain to the head honchos, this nonsense will stop.

Hate the skulls!! I won't buy them. I don't care if they ARE in style.

boys clothes?....what about the girls clothes and accessories.?...it has skulls with bows!

i am wanting this trend to go away soon

Because its boy clothing! Most of my 5 year clothing is skulls, tapout, superheros, or angry birds. I pretty much let him pick his own stuff out when we shop. I don't think boys should have "pretty" clothing.

I think it's just like finding some tiarra's, "princess" or "diva" writing on girl shirts. It seems like every time I turn around I am seeing some kind of DIVA nearby.

For the same reason that girl's clothing has "sassy" messaging on it. I also don't like how hard it is to find a plan t-shirt for my DD, nowadays.

Ugh. I mentioned the same thing to my husband when I started shopping in the boys section. It's not just the skulls, the shirts with sayings are really obnoxious or the graphics are in your face. My husband said they're called "attitude tees." I've started buying him plainer shirts and not shopping at Target and Old Navy for the boys shirts and opting for Carter's, Gymboree, etc.

I know. It's so annoying. It's more expensive but this is why I like Lands End, LL Bean and Children's Place. Our son has a mix of clothes. He loves the non-innocent stuff unfortunately (skateboard themed shirt for example). Sigh.

They're even on baby clothes. I think it's gotten ridiculous. You know, a friend I graduated with went on to art school, and you know what he's doing now? Designing kids t-shirts and tablecloths for Target. So here's a 30 year old male, who went to art school, designing little girls and boys t-shirts. Maybe that could help explain things.

I don't know why it's become so trendy, but it's not just clothes, it's the whole style It's like a mix of 80s and goth, and I can't wait until the industry moves on to something else.

I hate a lot of the kids clothes that have been coming out.
Don't even get me started about inappropriate Halloween costumes.
If you don't buy them, they'll eventually learn not to produce them.
That's why I did a lot of Hanna Andersson's when my son was young.
Now I do Lands End and LL Bean if I can't find enough acceptable polo shirts at Target.

I am completely w/ you.
It's on baby boy stuff too. :(
I am also sick of peace signs on every piece of girls clothing. :p
I am still in mourning that my DD has outgrown the toddler girls section at Target. :(

I have a 15 yr old son and a 4 yr old son, my 4 yr old sees what my 15 yr old wears and wants to have some clothes that look like his brothers....my 15 yr old thinks it is a hoot. I do not mind him having a couple of things that have skulls on them, I do not seem to have any trouble finding clothes for Alex. We shop at a variety of places...Kohls is great about having affordable solid colored polo shirts and cute t shirts. JC Penneys, Walmart, The Children's Place, Target...I have to say if anything I have a difficult time finding Dress clothes for my 4 year old.

I hate the skulls too. I can't wait for this stupid trend to pass!

I can completly relate. The ONLY store that was affordable and I had luck at this fall was H&M.

Love them. But yeah just not enough choices for boys. It gives the kids a little edge. Girls can get away with all kind os cutesy design, put you boy in something cutesy, is well, not so cute on a boy.
I just wish this style was out when my son was younger. All I could find was trucks and superheros on stuff.

It bugs me too! I want the cool surfer/skater stuff without the skull garb for my 6 year old. Target has the tendency to have some REALLY great stuff. Then you take it off the rack to check it out and 90% of the time there is a lame graphic. We are in "surf city" and the skulls are slowly finding their way back out!

That's one good thing about shopping at thrift stores, more variety. It's probably a trend, I've seen it on the girls stuff too.

I'm with you, Mama! I just want to find what he enjoys -- animals and trains! Instead, I have to sift through totgoth, rock star, and attitude shirts. Ugh! But, I feel like parents of girls have it 'way worse! I second the second-hand option! My favorite find -- a toddler tee with the words "Drink Coca Cola" in Italian.

Because people purchase it.

It is a trend. Younger kids want to look like the older kids they see looking "cool" (in their own minds)and skulls have been around for years. Surfers, skate boarders, Graffiti..

Pirates of the Caribbean is when it started way back when, but like I always taught our daughter. "If it is in fashion at Target and Wal Mart, it is old hat for people really into fashion." These companies are not trend setters, they are trend followers. Usually 2 years late.

I agree to purchase as many basics as possible. Kids out grow and wear out clothing so fast, if they do have one skull shirt to wear in October, they will out grow it during the Christmas holidays anyway.

There are some young girls that like the "shiny fashions" Heck check out the adult females.. Shiny shoes (yes I am guilty), tops, sweaters etc.

They will always be around, but if our daughter wanted something like that Or was given a gift like that, I might purchase a few things, but I told her those were not "school clothes"....They were "weekend clothes".

Shiny clothes for shiny personalities! Ha!