I think it's ridiculous too but that's the culture we live in where society is constantly pushing kids to look, dress, and act like adults 

Me ex partners 11 yo had the audacity to ask for some lululemons for her birthday 

I was wh tf would you even entertain this given the fact this kid will ether destroy those pants or lose them within a week. His kids were horrible at taking good care of things. May as well just roll down the window on the interstate and let 100 ones fall out of it. 

I do not see what is wrong with a 14 year old wanting some SKIMS products. I also looked at their website and while there are things there that are clearly for older women, there are also lots of things that would appeal to teens. It is normal for teens to ask for name brand items, it doesn't mean anyone has to buy them. I know there are lots of issues with your SD, but this seems like a pretty normal teen "want" list.

My daughter is 17 and has never asked for SKIMs.  Or Lululemon.  Or anything meant for grown women.  If she wanted expensive name brands at this point I'd tell her to keep applying for jobs until she was hired somewhere, and buy it herself. 

WTF is SKIMS?  I am married to a queen of the fashionista-glamazons and I have never heard of this SKIMS.

Though I get the drive for trendy name brand clothing in teens.  I was a preppy Polo, LACOSTE, top siders guy in my late-mid teens on.  I still gravitate to mid to high brands quality clothing. It is the best value for the dollar.  I have shirts that I have had for decades that are still nearly pristine. I also have some that are worn so thin that they are silk-like in softness. I wear those on weekends with jeans and boots.  A bit worn, classic, and comfy.

A classic  quality brand piece that is $150 and lasts for a decade+ of regular wear is a far better choice than a trendy brand of the moment that does not hold up well to wear, laundering, or cyclical fashion shifts.  Classic, is classic. Always is and always will be.  Generally speaking.

When we started our relationship my DW was interested in trendy brands. Some worked great for her very tall, curvy physique. Most did not.  I started suggesting classic fitted designs for her fairly early in our relationship.  It took awhile but eventually she landed on what works for her.  She would grouse at me that "I am not in my 30s, I am barely in my 20s!". Nearly everything I liked and recommended she would get countless complements on.  It wrinkled her brow, but.... she wore it because of how amazing it is on her.  I still get to provide fashion stylist advice..... occassionally.

That the stuff I like gets a ton of compliments when she wears it is still the case, but.... she picks beautiful classic stuff these days.  She does occassionally add new quality designers to her repertoire that have a distinct edge that they bring to classic stuff.

She is a "girl" so she tends to test ruching, ruffles, etc.... Nope.  Though In her mind this covers and hides her broad shoulders, hips, intermittently present tummy, and breasts (reality is... she has "hooters", not massive, but undoubtedly present).  She is 5'10"+ and currently size 10+/- depending on brand and type of clothing. Some stuff is an 8, some stuff is a 12.  I am sure that most women experience the crapshoot of sizing depending on jeans, slacks, dresses, skirts, tops, etc.... 

I am a man.  I have worn the same brand/model of jeans since I was 16, though of various sizes.  When I transition between sizes it is only in the waist. My length stays the same. Though in slacks I wear a 2" shorter inseam than in jeans.  I also tend to wear the same brand of slacks that I have worn for a couple of decades though ... it seems to be likely discontinued. Fortunately, I have a shopper bride and have a decent supply of various, sizes, shades and cloth styles of my favorite brand.

As a man, I go in, get what I went to the store for, and I leave. I do not meander around trying stuff on, touching it, putting it back, picking it up again, putting it back, buying something else, then going home and harping on the thing that I did not buy, the going back and getting it when (I) say. "just go get it!!!".  Then maybe, it is still at the store then comes to live in our home.

If I need a pair of slacks, or a suit/sport jacket, dress socks, a fresh belt, etc... It is quick, in, out, and done.  I generally buy off of the rack but some stuff needs tailoring to fit right.  When I get a new style of shoe, etc.... it is DW that gets it for me.  Hense, why I am currently sporting 

Even underwear, I wear the same thing... for decades.  So much so that my DW buys me underwear. I would not buy my DW clothing... ever.  I value my life too much to screw up sizes, brands, designs, etc....  Yes, I was that "mom buys underwear for Christmas every year guy".  JC Penney Tidy Whities....

Then I found boxer briefs and my life improved exponentially.  DW demanded "colors" and now... once again I do not get to buy my own skivvies. 

Though I only wear one brand and model..... Duluth Trading Company boxer briefs, the long ones. I know, TMI.

I recall how excited DW was when she bought the first set of matching bra/panties she ever owned.  My mom took her shopping before we married.  My ILs were borderline poverty earners so clothes were usually off of the seconds rack. DW had to be very diligent in her shopping as a preteen and teen to get the looks she was after.  On that shopping trip my future DW got her first matching lingerie, her first notable quality skin care/make up, and some beautiful clothing.  

She is a brilliant, hard working, educated, successful professional. She makes me so much better than I am otherwise.  I am proud that we can provide a nice life together and that she can sow a bit of her fashion diva tendencies upon occassion. Though I am usually the one that goes over the top when I shop for her special occassions gifts. Which then relases the shopping Kraken for a bit.

My bad.  Though I never admit it. I blame my mom and that first matching lingerie, skin care shopping trip.

Update:  I read my DW this entire thread. She has heard of SKIMs and offered that SKIMs tends to offer control wear undergarments so the SD-14 may be a bit fluffy and have reason to ask for this stuff.

But yet again, I digress.

Ugh. I need a job!

From what I'm seeing on tiktok.. this is actually fairly normal...lol.  I also think it's not that unusual for some kids to not have a real concept of value of a dolllar...esp at 14 when she likely hasn't ever had a job.

At that age.. my OSD was very brand conscious.. and always needed to buy the EXACT item in vogue.. the powder blue north face on sale for 50?  NO  It MUST be the BLACK that is full price over a hundred.. MUST be the exact style and color of sperry bluefish shoes (for a girl wearing size 10's.. not an easy feat to track those down).  She would rather it be the wrong size.. than the wrong thing (now she is 30.. and her materialistic ways have been part of her downfall).

I remember we went to a sporting goods store to get that sainted north face.. and her grandparents were there.. and we were there.. we told her that we wouldn't be buying it.. but she had her christmas money.. so she could get it.  

she spent 30 minutes or more.. fingering the jacket.. stroking the fleece.. trying it on.. twirling.. and stealing glances to dad and grandparents.. hoping someone would pony up and just buy it.  When it came down to her spending her own money?  NOPE.. not worth it.  but you bet she would have taken it if we had offered to pay.

Since her "wants" are getting high end.. what I would suggest is one of two things.. .. after your budget is set.. give it to her and have her give you an item in that price range to buy.. OR.. just gift her the cash.. maybe a small stocking stuffer to open up..otherwise.. 

She wants what she sees girls she idolizes showing off on social media.. on TV.. maybe influenced by peers.. older girls at school or her mom.. but asking and getting are two diff things.  

i wouldn't be overly concerned with the initial pie in the sky list.. her dad needs to go back and either get more realistic items.. or just give her the money to spend as she wishes.

Spawn was very brand conscious for clothing so her Christmas wish list always consisted of name brand items that were popular at that time.  My BS is into computers and building things so his Christmas wish list has always been equipment heavy, usually more expensive than brand named clothes honestly.  My BD is very in to limited edition dolls or collectibles, again sometimes more expensive than brand name clothing items.  Really a Christmas wish list is just that, what they wish for.  Your SD14 is very obviously into fashion and all the items that entails, but it sounds like you have decided that a Sephora gift card is the best way to go.   

But these kids go to school.  What are the the other kids wearing.?  I bet not Walmart clothes.  Name brand is a big thing.  The cost more means you are not poor I quest 

FWIW, one of my daughters was very brand oriented at that age. She satisfied her yearnings by saving all her money to buy the occasional brand item second hand. She would then sell it when she wanted something else so she could buy that. I have to say that I was most impressed by the way she handled her wants. She's now 21 and there are fewer expensive things on her wishlist. 

She managed to live within her limits. 

I've found the happy medium is figuring out what's trending and what has a great dupe(knock off).