According to Ellen Hamilton Latzen who was the child lead in the 1987 Family Ties Christmas episode Miracle in Columbus (I'm still not sure if her character is Michelle Davis or Michelle Davies), the Family Ties costume designer had a thing up their bottom about putting girls in really girly clothes... hence the fancy green go-see Santa number with the lace trim. Apparently, Ellen's mom said "who dresses their kid like that to go to the mall Santa?!"
Does anyone know of any other examples?