Parents of well dressed kids - tell me your secrets!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I know this is true but my 3-year-old SCREAMS when I brush her hair and pulls out every kind of clip, ponytail, headband I try. I am hoping that it will change as she gets older but for now, I have this raggamuffin little girl that I know looks like a mess. But I have to pick my battles.

Make sure you use detangler and a tangle free brush.

Short hair is also an option for girls.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Clean shirt, new shoes
Silk suit, black tie
Gold watch, diamond ring
Cufflinks, stick pin
Top coat, top hat
Black shades, white gloves

Mr Peanut, is that you?

No, it's ZZ Top.

[Anonymous]

Black coat
Black shoes
Black hat
Cadillac

[Anonymous]

I have multiple kids and like to pass down clothes, so I shop for good quality plain basics (about 2/3 of wardrobe) like Old Navy and LL Bean and then throw in a few trendy items (1/3 of wardrobe) from Target, H&M, Gymboree etc.

[Anonymous]

No claims to chic perfectionism here. However, these are my fashion guidelines for my kids:


1. Rock-n-roll haircut that is kind to messy hair -- a bit of follicular muss adds to the "hipness" of the look. Godsend for making a messy kid look more intentional. Also helps that we live in the PNW where this kind of look is considered cool and normal rather than counter-cultural.

2. Several really good and durable basics that you can layer layer layer. I don't mind spending a little more $$ on pants that otherwise would get scuffed and ripped. Again, we tend to go for "cool" rather than precious. For this, www.peekkids.com or www.zarakids.com . To layer with less expensive options, we go for H&M and sometimes Gap. Sequins are the t-shirt embellishment of choice for my preschool and almost third grade girls--layer, layer, layer: leggings + skirt; long sleeve shirt under short sleeved T; dress + blazer. That sort of thing.

3. Let your kid mix and match wacky patterns that make your eyes bleed. They're young: they make it work. Funny how "wearing all my favorite things at once" can make a great statement when you're ages 4-10. Hell, it works for women in their 60s too: Think Betsey Johnson!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I know this is true but my 3-year-old SCREAMS when I brush her hair and pulls out every kind of clip, ponytail, headband I try. I am hoping that it will change as she gets older but for now, I have this raggamuffin little girl that I know looks like a mess. But I have to pick my battles.

Make sure you use detangler and a tangle free brush.

Short hair is also an option for girls.

This is why my daughter has a short bob. Looks adorable on her, and no screams involved!

And in general answer to the OP, I go with a strategy of mostly neutral bottoms so that most tops match most bottoms. If Lands End or Hanna Andersson or someone is having a sale, I try to buy mix-and-match items so that I have several outfits. And I don't sweat it too much, since kids can pull off looks that adults can't. And all clothes are clean and in good repair.

[Anonymous]

I don't like loud prints; I teach my son and daughter color harmony, and that the presence of a collar takes things up a notch. They pick their outfits in the morning and usually come down with appropriate outfits (they are 5 and 10).

I buy Petit Bateau and Jacadi, as well as some of the more tasteful Janie&Jack, Mini Boden, and Tea Collection on eBay or in consignment stores. This way I get good quality, lovely, clothing for no more than a new one at Target.

[Anonymous]

I use zulily and Gilt a lot. I hate shopping in stores.

[Anonymous]

I think it's easier with boys. Almost all of DS' s shirts look good with navy shorts and tan shorts, through no effort on our part.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find Boden to be tricky because it's all made to kind be crazy patterns together. I can never replicate the look myself!!

I think what makes it easy is if you grab a top and bottom in remotely coordinating colors, it works! DD wore a lot of boden before she started preschool and we also got compliments and I would seriously just grab stuff. A onesie, leggings, and little jumper all in different prints, but all the same base yellow. That was on of my favorites.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Clean shirt, new shoes
Silk suit, black tie
Gold watch, diamond ring
Cufflinks, stick pin
Top coat, top hat
Black shades, white gloves

Mr Peanut, is that you?

No, it's ZZ Top.

Don't matter cause my wallet's fat!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Polo has a 70% off sale going on right now. I like their stuff for little boys, and the shirts last forever.

+1

They never change the color palettes, so you can mix and match seasons if you catch a great deal on a larger size.


It wears like iron. I pass it from my oldest, to my youngest, to a friend.

[Anonymous]

I feel like 2 yo DS looks more put together than his 5 yo sister. Mostly because boys' clothes are easier to mix and match. With girls, there are almost too many options out there! Also, DD likes to put together strange combinations and I typically let her unless it's totally inappropriate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, here's what you do. Do NOT buy 5 separate coordinating outfits. Rather, make everything go with everything.

Get each child 5 pairs of solid-color jeans and/or knit pants, as plain as possible. Then pick a few colors to be "their colors" for the time being, with either black or navy as the neutral. So, like, your son might have navy, dark green, light blue, red, and gray. Your daughter might have purple, navy, light blue, pink, and gray. Then just make sure most of the tee shirts, sweaters/sweatshirts, socks, and shoes are in the appropriate colors and so that they go with most things. So that is your basic wardrobe.

Try to keep the colors in mind when shopping, and don't buy things that clash with the colors. That way you don't have to plan every outfit specifically-- it all mostly goes together because it's all the same subset of colors. Then, whatever else people give you or you choose for fun will probably go with the solid-color pants, and at least one of the other colors in their wardrobe.

I do this as well and as I shop I take pictures with my phone when I get hom (all the shirts I purchased or all the bottoms etc). So when I go out and shop the next time I can refer back to what she already has and I won't buy one cute yellow skirt that goes with absolutely nothing. Or if I do buy the yellow skirt, I at least try to make sure she has a handful of shirts/ cardigans that go with it and a few other of her jeans/skirts. Otherwise I end up with a lot of random stuff that doesn't make good outfits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Clean shirt, new shoes
Silk suit, black tie
Gold watch, diamond ring
Cufflinks, stick pin
Top coat, top hat
Black shades, white gloves

Every girl will be crazy about this look!