This story reminded me of when Bethenny Frankel wore her 4-year-old daughter’s pajamas, so I couldn’t resist talking about these pictures even though they’re a few days old. Nicole Richie attended a Baby2Baby event and Instagrammed a few pics. She added this caption: “Thanks for letting me borrow your jacket Harlow.” Harlow is Nicole’s 6-year-old daughter, and this is Nicole’s subtle way of letting us know she fits into elementary-aged clothing.
Is this shocking? I’m not surprised that Nic fits into Harlow’s clothes. This jacket fits her very well, unlike when Bethenny stretched out her daugther’s Hello Kitty pjs. It sort of feels like Nicole was showing off, but maybe she was simply trying to be funny. She has a really offbeat, self-deprecating sense of humor. The tabloids regularly fill us in on bogus stories about Nicole’s weight, and she could be playing along for fun. Or maybe she just likes this jacket a lot. It’s a little shocking that Nic wears the same size jacket as a kindergartener, but Nicole is tiny by nature. She carried around a little more weight during The Simple Life at the age when a “freshman 15” is commonplace. That was ages ago.
I’m also including a photo of Nicole with her dad, Lionel Richie. They’re wearing beekeeper outfits. Eeeeek.
Photos courtesy of Nicole Richie on Instagram, Fame/Flynet & WENN
I’m sorry but Bethany Frankel got slammed for wearing her child’s pjs and just because this fits Nicole better doesn’t mean it’s any more appropriate. It’s just wrong.
I was going to say the same. Bethany was called out harshly. I don’t think we will see the same with Nicole. Different people get treated differently for doing the same things. Such is life.
I think she wanted people to know. Otherwise why promote it. Nobody would have known. It looks like it could belong to a child; looking at the sleeves. But why do it and why tell everyone? Attention or wanting to create a stir.
Yep. “Look-at-me-I-am-so-thin-I-can-fit-into-child’s-clothing” vibes all over that caption/picture.
Sigh. But I kind of get it and I won’t judge her; even after years of being out of ED territory, I still have the urge to fake-complain and subtly brag when, for one reason or another, I manage to not eat for a whole day: I know it’s wrong, but I can’t help but feeling a tiny, tiny bit proud. It never really leaves your mind completely, but aside from that Nicole seems to have her act together (for the most part).
I’m more disturbed by the tone of the article, to be honest. We are now pretending that Nicole never had an ED? I’m all for letting her move on and not bringing up this history. The problem is, the article implies that when Nicole was at a healthier weight, it was just “freshman 15”, and stories about her weight issues are “bogus”. Nicole was at that heavier weight for years, and may very well be “normal” for her.
I have no idea how Nicole is doing these days, but it is possible to enable someone with an ED into their grave. Either don’t discuss the issue at all, or do it honestly.
Totally agree with mayamae. I see little difference between Nicole’s actions and Bethanny’s. So Harlow’s going think is normal for her mom to be able to wear her clothes? That’s crazy!
RocketMerry- I get that. I was 90 pounds of bone and muscle my last two years of college. I knew I looked terrible to others but I’d never felt better about exercising my willpower. It was intoxicating.
I like when people compliment my 120 pound frame (I’ve been +/- 5 for the past 16 years) but unlike Nicole, I don’t appreciate when people draw too much attention to it. I have a couple family members that don’t know when to stop and I’ve had to ask them to kindly lay off. I’m confident but juuust self conscious enough to not want to hear it repeatedly, else I’ll start looking at myself as parts to be improved rather than feeling grateful that I’m whole and healthy.
Nicole can brag all she wants and eh. I don’t condone it but I understand that it’s still part of her deal because she’ll always be enmeshed with body obsessed, narcissistic Hollywood where thinness = power. I agree, she seems to have settled into a stable life. Good on her. It could be so much worse.
For others that have commented, Frankel is in an entirely different position. I don’t follow her but everything I’ve come across on CB speaks to desperate, tacky and tasteless attention wh*ring. Both women have (or had?) ED’s but there’s a difference between the two and people judge accordingly.
The fact that an adult woman can fit in the sleeves and shoulders of a child’s jacket is disturbing. An imo, Nicole isn’t this tiny by nature.
“disturbing” is the perfect way to put it.
Agree with everything you said,MG!
Nicole is definitely tiny by nature. She is my height 5’1, which target weight I believe is between 95 and 120. When I was thinner (had a baby, now about 150) I could easily wear children’s clothes 8/10, as a matter a fact even at my weight I can still wear 12/14 shirts and sweaters. So if you figure she bought it a size bigger for her daughter, it would be an 8 and she could easily wear it. All that said, why tell anyone, unless it was donated to a children’s charity.
@elo,
Yes, some can. My fitness instructor (who teaches yoga & spin) wears girls’ jackets, adult smalls are too big, however; she wears regular women’s sizes on the lower body, in fact says she always has to get denims altered to fit her muscular legs (and they are muscular). Every body is different.
That said, Nicole has looked frighteningly gaunt in more than one period in her life- to me that shouts ED, and I think the humble brag effort to let people know this is a kid’s jacket supports that supposition.
Two women ( Nicole, Bethanny- the latter has admitted her hx of ED, I believe) with a history of what clearly appears to be an ED, both showing they fit into children’s clothing. Interesting.
Yup, second both points.
I so agree.
Target for kids in a size 14 is like a ladies size 7. Seriously, I’m not a thin obsessed celebrity, but when I shop for my son I check out pants in a size 14. They are cheaper and I’m small framed. What I’m saying is this doesn’t reflect an eating disorder or being inappropriate; as a mom, I”m either in a hurry or thrifty or both. Bethanny Frankel purposely posted a selfie in kids pajamas that looked sexy because they were too tight and it was weird. This lady was at an event where she was photographed anyway and probably threw on her kid’s coat beforehand. (I have worn my 8yr old son’s hoodies in a pinch); there is a difference between BF antics and this lady’s. Granted my son is mortified if I wear anything of his, and I’ve only done it once when I was cold etc- all moms should have boundaries.
I totally agree. It’s gross, and as Sixer says below, it is a perfect example of what’s wrong with the world
Totally agree!! Nicole shouldn’t get a pass. Let’s not wear our kids’ clothes, mmmkay?
+1 boasting about it on social networks it’s what makes it so wrong.
That doesn’t look like a child’s jacket at all, I think Nicole was making a joke. Because I sincerely doubt she *actually* showed up at an event for her charity in her 6 year old’s clothing.
I have no beef with this. The jacket is cute. It fits her. Big deal.
You forgot the third option: cute; show-off; perfect example of what’s wrong with the world.
Did she donate it?
Yep. And claimed the tax back.
I was wondering what event might want her, she isn’t exactly A-list. But if she attention-whored for a cause, then it’s better than the typical crap reality stars pull, at least.
Is it really her daughter’s jacket? It looks big to belong to a 6 year old. Also Nicole is very small, both height and weight. I wouldn’t be surprised if she could wear some clothes.
Yeah, I thought the jacket looked kind of big to fit a 6 year old. I wouldn’t have been able to tell it was meant for a kid so maybe that’s why she had to tell us.
Yes, Louise, I’m not buying it. I kept scrolling up and down to find the jacket that is supposedly that of her 6 year old, but I’m not convinced. As a kindergarten teacher, im forever picking up their jackets, jumpers etc. A couple of my colleagues are also positively tiny, yet there’s no way they’d fit into kindy clothes. If we’re talking about the jacket in the top pic, it looks quite loose, and I don’t recall her daughter being big enough to fit into it. So, not buying it.
I agree. There is NO WAY that jacket belongs to a 6 year old. I’m 5’2″ and 100 pounds (Isn’t that Nicole’s height? I don’t know how much she weighs but I would guess between 95 – 100). I know for me, there is NO WAY I could fit into a jacket that belongs to a 6-8 year old. I can fit into tween clothing if it’s the larger sizes, but none of it is flattering as it’s not cut for an adult woman’s body. (and I’m not even curvy as my build is more “boyish.”) I don’t like or dislike Nicole, but I think she may have been saying this tongue in cheek, whereas Bethany obviously was trying to brag.
That doesn’t look like a kids jacket, it’s entirely possible she was making a joke.
So is this going to be the new status symbol — being able to share clothes with your toddler? Creepy.
Awesome because my daughter has a pair of sparkly red ballet flats that I have really been eyeing – I just have to figure out how to fold my foot in half first.
Bwahaha! You made my day!
Pathetically show off!!
Six is hardly a toddler, more importantly, unlike Bethany whose outfit was way too tight, short, and showed lots of skin—this is just a jacket *kanye shrug*
NOTE: there’s nothing wrong with wearing anything tight, short, or that shows skin–there IS something inherently creepy when the outfit you’re wearing is actually your daughter’s sleep attire 😒
Something about that just doesn’t sit right with me at all.
The jacket actually looks too big to be her daughter’s, I hope it isn’t really hers given Nicole’s history of ED.
Nicole is not naturally tiny, imo. Her body on the Simple Life is her, now she’s underweight, imo.
Didn’t she stop drinking and eating junk food after Simple Life was done? I use to be an alcoholic and it ballooned me up to 170. I stopped drinking (and I have one soda a week) and I dropped 40 pounds in the course of a month and a half from not drinking. I don’t know what her body was prior to Simple Life (nor am I opposed to believing she got some help either surgically or chemically to lose the weight) but cutting out alcohol probably helped her drop some of that weight.
*Hugs Dommy*
They began filming right after she got out of rehab for a nasty heroin addiction. She’d gained weight while in treatment and then lost it again when she began over exercising and undereating.
She openly admitted having stomach surgery after Simple Life to get slim, does anybody remember? Proves she’s still in the midset of “can’t ever be too thin”
Stomach surgery? A doctor actually did that? How disturbing. I’d love to hear what a psychiatrist has to say about trying to make yourself disappear by denying yourself food when you’re already thin.
We got the message to us – but what message does this send to the child? Mommy likes wearing your clothes because –?
I think we’re talking tummy tuck, not a bariatric option. But I could be wrong.
Nobody would do a bariatric on her at the weight she was at…..well…..let me rephrase that. Nobody should. ethics.
The jacket is butt-ugly and ratty. I have no idea why she would wear it out in public other than to amuse/indulge her child.
Being small and having an eating disorder are 2 different things. I mean it’s not cute to look frail.
To me this says Nicole belongs in a hospital because this woman has an eating disorder. I wonder how people can get through the day when they starve themselves to look like they just walked out of a prison camp. Get help Nicole if not for you then for you children.
I was always a big kid with a small mother. Parents used to wear costumes to my primary school on the last day before Halloween and when I was 6 my Mum wore my uniform in as her costume…she was 30-odd at this point. It still kinda bugs me, though I didn’t know why at the time. Sorry, celebitchy impromptu therapy sesh!
Don’t apologize! I think it’s useful because it shows what the impact is on the kids, and won’t someone please think of the children???? I was also a large kid with a thin mom, and my mom would NEVER have done that even though she could have. My mom wasn’t perfect, but she always made to avoid giving me a complex about my size.
Thanks for sharing. I think your comments show why it’s wrong for Bethenny and Nicole to do this, even if they can “fit” into the clothes. IMO, it sends a damaging message to the child and is all about vanity and showing off for the mom.
That is so lame, I’m sorry she pulled that stunt. I don’t get how a parent could feel kosher about putting their kid through that. O/T but your name is awesome, that movie is everything to me.
Both my mom and sister could fit into a 6 year olds clothes. They are not disgusting nor do they need any psychological help. They are just small women. Both are barely 5 ft tall and weigh less than 100 pounds. Its just how they are built. I took Nicoles post as being humorous, poking fun at herself for wearing a childs coat to an event.
Thank you so much! I’m 5 feet tall and 95 pounds, and horrified to see people posting that it’s “disturbing” that an adult woman can fit into a child’s clothes. Sorry I’m not tall enough for all the posters here…
At five feet tall and 100 pounds, I wrote a children’s size 14 pants because they fit without being altered. No way could I get into a kids size anything on top, because- shoulders. My point being if that fits her it was way big on the little girl. Although I’m fat now, I do fondly remember purchasing the same brands in kids for way cheaper. I don’t think she had the issue with money and she surely had access to a talented tailor so this is odd.
That’s funny. I’m the opposite. I often wear a girls’ size 12 on top, but I could never wear kids’ stuff on the bottom because – hips and tush. If I had boobs I wouldn’t be able to do the kids’ tops either, but I’m not super big in the bra department. 😉 I do love being able to buy clothes at a fraction of the price of adult clothes, but I have to have EVERYTHING altered, so it’s probably a wash.
I’m big. I want to be really judge here, but I am not feeling it. It looks like it’s more of a loose trench on a kid, and it’s more cardigan like on Nicole. It could even be a wrap originally, meaning there’s more fabric. There’s a difference between this and a solid front garment like Frankel’s kids pjs. It’s possible that’s for a kid, but the fit totally changes on a different person.
Nothing says eating disorder faster than wearing your six year old’s clothes.
What gets me about these -obviously underweight [because they’re not naturally thin really, they are bobble heads because they starve, compare to a naturally thin person who is in proportion] – is that they pass themselves off as being healthy.
When I was 24 I had a bad reaction to a prescription. I’m 5 foot 5 and went from 105 to 80 real fast. Absolutely awful. I wore little girls shorts from Old Navy. Back to my 108 now. Not everyone is what their weight is supposed to be. I have no eating problem. I hate when people assume all thin people do. She could be natural and she never looked big. The sweater didn’t look like it was a tiny one. She’s not an infant
It was Wallis Simpson who said “you can never be too thin or too rich” and it appears that statement has filtered its way into our society in the most malevolent way. Eating disorders are rampant in the world now. Young women can’t cope with the societal pressure to confirm to an unattainable ideal and women like Nicole Richie and Bethany Frankel perpetuate the pressure by humble bragging about their ability to fit into kids clothing. My sister died of eating disorders. After years of anorexia and bulimia her heart gave out at 41. So yes, I feel very strongly that this was a horrible, insensitive statement to make and she should be called out for it.
I’m 5’9 125 pounds and I can (and do) wear children’s clothes. do you see how cute (and cheap) girl and boy clothing is?
LOL – I have quite a few of those cartoon character ‘collectibles’ kids t-shirts from old navy myself!
Going to Old Navy today. I’ll shop in the kids and adults. Love the kids t shirts
Yup, I am 5’9″, 140 lbs, and I do occasionally pick up items from the kids racks. Mostly technical shirts at REI–those things always start to smell after a while so why drop $40-70 when I can get the kids version for $25???
Exactly! This falls into the “the public can tell women what to wear and how to feel about their bodies” category— on the innocent side, I also buy a girls’ Tee or two because
1. They are far more lively and cute, and I like a bit of personality but most of all:
2. THEY DONT CUT CLEAVAGE INTO THE SHIRTS that go down to my navel. I am tired of every shirt/blouse for a woman being cut in such a way, as if I want to expose my chest all the time, and I noticed, tops for younger girls dont assume this (yet!?!?)
I only have 1 at the moment, becuase I wear work bloues otherwise, but its a lovely 3/4 tee with a print of a girl on it and a bit of sprakle– I adore it. And the neck line is high up. I feel free in it. And I had to buy the biggest size possible to fit it, so its not about showing off how ‘small’ I am– Im not small (5’7″, 150+ lbs). Its about choice and taste. And I should be free to wear something that is actually more innocent and decent than what is expected of for adult women….
“If the shoe fits, wear it”. !!
Double agree with you guys! Crying “show off” for her borrowing an item of clothing she thinks is cute (I agree) tells us more about how her accusers feel about themselves than what is probably actually transpiring. She’s in the fashion world. Shopping in kids departments is nothing new. Borrow From anywhere that strikes your fancy…that is how a lot of unique dressers operate. So she “bragged” about it on social media….I brag about my thrift store finds on social media and my blog all. The. Time.
And to think were getting all worked up over a kids cardi coat. Sheesh.
Oh my.
I think she just put on her daughter’s coat.
That’s all she did.
Move on.
Totally agree… I’m not sure why this is an issue. It’s just obnoxious in the same way that leann rimes posting the picture of her abs on social media was. Actresses are attention whores and this is just another example!
Because it’s easier to see a thin person and weight shame them. I know women that are tiny in height and build the same way Nicole is (even after having 2-3 kids). One of them wears junior clothes because the adult sizes are baggy and don’t fit (plus cheaper than adult sizes). From the outrage on here, from others, I should let her know that she’s doing it for attention and should be wearing adult sized clothes, even if they don’t fit her properly. Because apparently wearing clothes that fit (even if they aren’t adult size) is disturbing and there must be something wrong with her.
It’s an issue because young girls and women are ill and dying of anorexia. Fat shaming is a much larger issue than accusing thin women of deliberately starving themselves. You are in the minority and we aren’t going after you because of your particular body type, we’re going after the media, fashion and celebrity world for proudly proclaiming that they can fit into children’s clothing. Nicole Richie has had very well-known issues with anorexia. Most young women aren’t the naturally thin body type but there is an enormous pressure on them to be an unattainable body type, that’s what we’re trying to say. When you have suffered a death in your family, like I did, due to eating disorders you see the horrible truth behind society’s vision of what’s beautiful and acceptable, and any media celebrity who proudly proclaims on social media that they can fit into their 6 year old’s clothing is very, VERY messed up.
Look, anorexia is a problem, but speaking strictly as a scientist, it’s not anorexia that is eating-away at the waistlines, the health, and the healthcare costs of the current generation, it’s obesity. Over 60 percent of the population is now overweight. This is a story about a cardigan coat.
Sigh…remember when we saw pictures of girls wearing their mom’s high heels and pearls with lipstick, because she wanted to look just like Momma??
Those were the days.
I’m going to give her the benefit of the doubt that it is not actually a child’s jacket and she just joked about how it fit. I made a joke the other day about how if the shirt I just bought was washed one more time it might shrink enough to fit my daughter. She is 6 months, so it was very obviously a joke and not actually anything she could legitimately wear. Wearing your elementary-age daughter’s clothing does have that stink of narcissistic competitiveness.
I’m guessing she was just joking.
I think adults should wear adult clothing. If you can’t find adult clothes to fit you, you are likely underweight. That is not shaming it’s just a matter of BMI. I suppose some items may work but your whole wardrobe should not be from Gymboree.
I once bought a children’s halloween costume because it was cheaper. I don’t think the issue is that she can fit children’s or may find them convenient to wear. It is that a woman with a known history of eating disorders is broadcasting that she is wearing not just kids clothes but clothes belonging to her kid. It does seem rediculously competitive and a new twisted standard of thin.
@Nayru, Nicole obviously can find adult clothes that fit her. She’s rarely pictured in anything but adult clothing, most of which is designer (and thus is already cut to fit a smaller frame).
And as to the other ladies on this thread talking about being able to wear children’s clothing, I don’t think any of them said they absolutely ONLY shop in the kid’s department. Furthermore, these days, vanity sizing is rampant and most brands are making larger clothes to fit the average American person. As a petite person, I understand the other women who say they sometimes can’t fit into adult clothing. Case in point, I used to be able to buy work clothes at Ann Taylor 7 or 8 years ago. Now, with vanity sizing, I can’t even fit into their 00 because it’s just too big. This doesn’t mean adult clothing doesn’t fit me, because there are many that do. It means I can’t shop in certain stores anymore because the clothes there are too large. Likewise, kid’s clothing is also being made bigger because there is an obesity epidemic amongst kids and adults alike in our country. Saying adults should wear adult clothing is pretty closed-minded.
@get it together, I absolutely see it like you. Some like@Nayru don’t see that it’s one sweater not her entire wardrobe. Finding clothes is work because different brands sizes are different from others. Getting jeans especially because of the different cuts takes a lot of trying on. Just bought Levi’s without trying on in the same size of a pair of Gap jeans and they are too big. There is no age limit on kids clothes. We should all wear what fits
I was addressing the comments about it being thin shaming to say adults should wear adult clothes. It is not in my opinion. A few basic items is fine but claiming you can’t find any adult clothes seems far fetched. An entire child based wardrobe would likely by unprofessional and inappropriate.
I never said there was anything wrong with having several items of children’s. So really we aren’t in disagreement. You should wear what fits, but if your entire wardrobe is from kids store that is concerning. My point is just to draw a line with the wear what fits idea.
It’s one thing to wear children’s clothing (whatevs), it’s another to brag about it on twitter (attentionwhore!)
Get over yourself!
Lots of people on this site are making a big issue of something that isn’t. Big deal if she fits into her daughter’s clothes. Stop putting a label on her and shaming her. Vent your anger at others that deserve it.
Are you replying to Magpie? Like you stated, she wrote that she doesn’t care that Nicole actually fits or wears children’s clothing. Magpie is right, the problem lies in declaring it over social media. That is a big issue and she deserves to be shamed for her arrogant folly. Magpie’s comment was not soapboxy, but she is completely right and I am confused why you wrote “get over yourself.”
its clear after the criticism she received during her reality show with paris that she developed an eating disorder. people who have body image issues see the ability to wear kids clothing as a positive thing-of course bethany wouldn’t see anything wrong with wearing her daughter’s clothing. her excuse was that her daughter told her to do it, oh so if you daughter said she didn’t want to nap today and instead wanted ice cream for dinner you’d do it because ‘she asked me to?’ i remember when christina ricci took instagram/facebook pics of herself in tiny spaces saying it was a thing her friends were doing-she’s had a history with eating disorders too so i’m not surprised she’d enjoy seeing the tiny places she can fit into
Just so sad when women think this is what their worth is and are obsessed by it. Sad.
I remember reading in an interview that Nicole was hired for the Simple Life straight out of rehab where she’d been treated for her heroin addiction, hence the weight gain. I always thought her face was more attractive with more weight but it’s her body and her choice. A bit weird to wear her kid’s clothes and mention it but whatever.
She clearly still suffers from anorexia. She’s got the frail, wasted old lady look all anorexics eventually get.
I’m naturally very thin. I’m also a recovering anorexic. The difference between me now, eating 2500 calories a day and me 5 years ago, eating maybe 500 calories on a good day, is about 7lbs. But I look like a completely different person. There’s just such an obvious difference between naturally thin people and people who are starving themselves, even when there’s barely any difference in actual weight.
yeah, all these naturally thin people without eating disorders are getting upset. but to me, it’s obvious nicole has an ED. some people naturally have petite frames like she is now but Nicole is naturally curvier. yes, she was a little overweight on simple life, but she is way underweight for her body here. she needs to be somewhere in the middle. to me, her face is the tipoff, looks gaunt to me
If it was a joke, I didn’t find it remotely funny