Angelina Jolie: Shiloh Loves Dressing Like a Boy

By The Editors of StyleList Posted Aug 16th 2010 09:30AM

Angelina Jolie is sick and tired of the media criticizing her daughter's tomboy look, admitting little Shiloh Jolie-Pitt likes to wear boys' clothing and even wanted a short hair cut because "she thinks she's one of the brothers."

In a new interview with UK magazine Stylist, the 'Salt' star insists Shiloh calls the shots when it comes to her attire, and that's just fine with Jolie.

"It's not my choice," Jolie, 35, says of Shiloh's wardrobe, which includes polo shirts, cargo pants, hoodies and boys' swim trunks.

"I have a very strong-willed four-year-old girl who tells me what she wants to wear and I let her be who she is."

That includes letting her lop off her locks into a super-short style. "Shiloh cried and said, 'Please cut my hair off, I don't want to have long hair,'" explains the actress. "I'm not going to leave it long because somebody thinks I should."

Jolie, who is also the mother of Maddox, 9, Pax, 6, Zahara, 5, and 2-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne, extends the same freedom to all her children. "My other daughter Zahara dresses very much like a girl, very pink and flowery, very feminine," she notes.

As for Shiloh, don't expect her to trade in her vests and neckties for frilly frocks anytime soon. "I want to do what's in her heart and what's in her heart is to dress like that. I think it's beautiful," Jolie says of Shiloh's style.

Tags: angelina jolie

Comments

(66)

Monday 16 August

By tony

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THIS KID IS NOT JUST DRESSING LIKE HER SIBILINGS....SHE HAS SISTERS AND SHE IS NOT FOLLOWING THEIR DRESS CODE....I AM NOT A PROFESSIONAL BUT WHAT I DO SEE IS A CHILD WITH IDENITY PROBLEMS AND NO ONE TO GUIDE HER...BUT THEN AGAIN LOOK WHAT SHE HAS TO LOOK TO FOR GUIDANCE...MAYBE SHILOH WILL GROW UP AND KISS HER BROTHERS ON THE MOUTH ON NATIONAL TV...I AM SURE MOMMY WILL THINK ITS JUST ACCEPTABLE...BUT THEN MOM IS AC/DC TO SO WHAT THE HELL DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE...

By Dany

Only white parents do that, let their child tell them how they want to dress, i'm sorry.......but it's true.....

By JEB BUCKINGHAM

Who's in control here, Angie? YOU, or your cross-dressing little 4 year old?

By TONI

I WONDER WHY THE JOB OF PARENTS IS TO GUIDE AND PROTECT THEIR CHILDREN..BUT I GUESS IF SHILOH WANTED TO PLAY WITH AN AXE OR RAZOR BLADES IT WOULD BE OK ALSO BECAUSE SHE IS EXPRESSING HERSELF...WHO KNOWS SHE MIGHT ONE DAY WANT TO BE A LUMBERJACK...PARENTS WHO GREW UP WITHOUT ANY ROLE MODELS OR MORALS SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO REPRODUCE OR TO RENT OTHER PEOPLES KIDS....THIS ANGIE WAS BORN A MENTAL CASE...

By Mari

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Honestly, I don't think Angelina should have addressed it because it's nobodys business and she doesn't need to defend it. There is nothing wrong with letting her 4YO daughter pick her own clothes. They are normal clothes, just not frilly, overly feminine. Big deal!

By Anne

I never saw a problem with wearing boys' clothes as a little kid. I was a tomboy myself and would play sports with the boys at recess, tearing the dresses that my mom put me in until she finally bought me jeans and t-shirts. I dressed like a boy until middle school, when I became interested in boys and wanted to be more feminine so I wouldn't be seen as one of the guys anymore. Shiloh will leave the phase as well in her own time. Angie's doing right by letting her choose her own clothes.

By Mel

I think everyone needs to calm down a little!! I have a six year old who wanted short hair, so she got it - it's just hair it will grow back!! - and I let her choose what she wants to wear and her taste leaves much to be desired at times, but she loves it and it giver her confidence in who she is!! She is exploring her personality and what difference does it make if she does it at 6 or 16 one way or the other she will dress the way she she wants to! We have to let our kids explore who they are, just like we all did at some point.

By JR

Really if Shiloh wants to dress up like a boy then let her it's not a big deal. If it makes her happy then that's fine. At least her parents are opened minded unlike some of you people.

By DIANA

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AS A PARENT... YES, WE WANT OUR CHILDREN TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES TO DEVELOP THEIR OWN SENSE OF WHO THEY ARE AND ALLOWING THEM TO CHOOSE THEIR OWN TOYS, CLOTHES, ETC IS ALL FINE. BUT AT SOME POINT, WE DO HAVE TO STEP IN AND GUIDE THEM... IF MY CHILD WANTED TO WEAR HIS/HER SHOES ON THE WRONG FOOT... WOULDN'T I CORRECT THEM OR GUIDE THEM TO PROPERLY APPLY THEM? OR WOULD I SAY... SURE GO AHEAD, IT'S WHAT YOU WANT. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH ALLOWING YOUR CHILD TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES...BUT AS A PARENT WE HAVE TO SET GUIDELINES AND BOUNDARIES. THERE ARE "CUTE" GIRLIE SHORT HAIRCUTS, GIRLIE SHORT PANTS & TOPS (THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE PINK OR FLOWERY) AND THEY DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO PLAY WITH DOLLS... BUT SHE IS INDEED A LITTLE GIRL AND JOLIE SIMPLY NEEDS TO INTRODUCE THAT ASPECT OF FEMININITY TO HER 4 YEAR OLD...STILL ALLOWING SHILOH TO MAKE HER OWN FASHION DECISIONS....WITH THE HELP OF "MOMMY"

By me

Wow. While everyone's opinion is valid, why not make your opinions based on education? A valid, reliable, and large body of research shows us that it is normal for children in this age group to "try on" different identities. We only know what the media portrays about this family...none of us know them personally. I prefer to believe that these are normal parents who love their kids dearly and are encouring their individuality. Thank God there are rich celebrities willing to spend their respources on adopting and raising children with a world-view. More power to them.

By jenny

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wow JR, you really opened my eyes. i see a whole new world now, thanks to you.

By babywheeler

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Alia,

I am the mother of a beautiful little girl from China. Please help me, I am confused. Am I supposed to love her more than if she were biological because I "bought" her? Eye roll.

By Gary

If Shiloh wanted to do something dangerous, I'm sure her parents wouldn't let her. Clothing is no big deal. Even the critics of Angelina here let their kids call the shots on clothes, whether they want to admit it or not! How many of them buy Hannah Montana or Disney Princess clothes for their kids because the child wants them?! Get real. You have to pick and chose your battles with your children, and at that age: clothing is a minor battle. I had a tom-boy who even wanted to be called "Bob." She cried if we put her in "princess" clothing. Now that she is 16...we can't get her away from make-up and stilettos! Making a big deal about being a Tom-Boy at that young age makes it a bigger deal (and plants the seed that something "is wrong" with the child) that is way more destructive that wearing boy's clothing.

By sapphire

"she thinks she's one of the brothers."
Why would'nt her mother tell her she is not she is their sister .

By Silo

Why is everyone blaming Angie??? Shilo is Brad Pitt's kid too!! Everyone needs to get over Shilo is a tomboy - she could turn 13 and totally change into a princess. Let the child be a kid for God sakes!

By Colleen

"It's not my choice," Jolie, 35, says of Shiloh's wardrobe, which includes polo shirts, cargo pants, hoodies and boys' swim trunks.
What about when its mini skirts up to "there" and thong underwear under low riders and oh, I don't know smoking, drinking, and drugging?
Will it be her choice then or will she have any control at all?

Brad Pitt isn't the one saying "its not up to me"....Angelina is.

Wednesday 18 August

By Caring Kate

Jolie needs to add learning about the human brain and how it develops to her list of things to learn. Shiloh, for the most part, is a blank slate waiting for impressions. Those impressions are dependent upon the input given to her by, hopefully, intelligent, mentally healthy people. Angelina is simply putting into Shiloh's brain Angelina's adult traumas and impressions that were sick, sick, sick. Doesn't Angelina get that? All kids pretend to be EVERYTHING they admire or are fascinated with. Their reality depends on the adults to nurture and foster. Angelina, learn MORE!!!!!!!!!!!! Don't fall into line with the rest of your family to squash your daughter! Maybe she'll be a big boned, imaginative and WONDERFUL woman. Here's a clue to you, Angelina, she was BORN A GIRL. GUIDE HER. Don't feel intimidated or jealous of her! Lead her to be who she WAS BORN TO BE.

Monday 30 August

By galadrial

really?!?!?!?!?!leave these people alone - its none of our business how someone else's child dresses. you cant MAKE someone into a lesbian(c3momma).and somehow, i am sure that brangelina's daughter knows which sex she is.get a life - and remember - before trying to remove the flaws from your neighbor, make sure your own are repaired first. i let my children express themselves in the way of clothing and hairstyle - maybe if they are allowed to be themselves at a young age they will not try to "find" themselves with booze and drugs later on in life.

Wednesday 01 September

By jill

Angelina Jolie is a crack ot. I can't stand her or Brad Pitt. They have dressed that child like a boy all her life and acted as if she didn't exsits. Then along came the twins, and where is Shiloh? They are nuts. Brad needs to be a man and a parent and quit letting that wack job raise those kids by herself.

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