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Hey roshke, thanks! The approach that I usually try to take is to, as you say, subtly guide them in a direction, and then let them take it from there. For example, after I bought those first sets of jeans and shirts, my D was the one to say to me, “MOM! I can’t BELIEVE that I was so worried about what SIZE the tag said last year! These clothes FEEL so much better and LOOK so much better…I can’t believe that I did what I did last year!” So, yep, after the initial move, she took over and has been making great clothing choices since then! </p>
<p>It sounds like you have a great system down pat with your D too! I think the hardest part is figuring out the best approach for each individual child. Some of mine respond to one thing, others to different things…the ONLY thing they all have in common is the same independent streak that YOUR D has!!! :D</p>
<p>MagsMom~</p>
<p>Thanks for your good thoughts for my D and also for your vote of confidence for me, though I must admit, I’ve take my fashion cues from my D…just tweaked them a bit to suit them to HER! Had to laugh at this:
I certainly never would have gotten that award at her age either…though by college, I had pretty much figured out my own personal style. Some of us are late bloomers, I guess. 
This particular D??? She was changing clothes about every 30 minutes as a THREE-YEAR-OLD!!! And hasn’t quit since…<em>sigh</em></p>
<p>~berurah</p>