Dressing Twins

When we lived in the San Francisco Bay area we used to visit “The City” (as San Francisco is referred to by the rest of the area’s population). One of our favorite places to visit was Union Square, with its beautiful shops and restaurants. For me part of the attraction was to see identical twin sisters, who were in their eighties at this time, dressed exactly alike and to the nines. They always wore hats and gloves. Their hairstyles were identical, and always perfect. We encountered these ladies almost every time we visited the area, and each time it was like meeting old friends, though I never spoke to them. They were such a curiosity that they were once featured on Parade Magazine. I never knew anything about them, but it was fun to see two seemingly identical beings walking down the street so elegantly and meticulously dressed.

I have since found that it is a great temptation to dress twins alike. It isn’t just the ease of picking outfits, but the idea of equity. But it is important to encourage individuality, even as the idea of a twin special bond is recognized.

The solutions that I have found is to have them coordinate, rather than match. When I buy anything for my granddaughters I try to have the items be slightly different. If it is a pair of earrings, I chose the same general style, but have one pair be tinny squares, while the other pair is tinny circles. When it comes to dresses, I will pick identical styles, but different colors, so that each one will have the dress that is most becoming to her. Other times I will chose outfits that come in the same fabric and color, but the styles are different.

I admit that it can be a hassle, since I don’t always find a coordinating outfit for a dress that I have fallen in love with, but it is worth the extra effort to see each girl as an individual, and yet encourage their special relationship.