Parents of well dressed kids - tell me your secrets!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 5 yo dd gets a lot of compliments on her clothes. (Which gives me mixed feelings about liking dressing her well but not wanting that to be what people remember about her, but that's off topic.)

For her, I picked things that seemed to suit her as I know her and in colors that would complement her tone and cuts that complement her shape. She prefers wearing dresses, so I get her only dresses but with leggings for school days. She doesn't have a ton of clothes, but the ones she does have tend to look quite old-fashioned - no waist cotton dresses in solid colors or simple prints, sailor dresses, eyelet lace, with a few frilly pieces in there too like a peach tulle dress that has withstood paint, playgrounds, etc. These days she likes to mix it up on her own and will wear something like a punk rock souveneir tshirt with a tutu. I haven't made it a focus of our time or anything - we tend to be an artistic family and it makes us happy to be in clothes that reflect our aesthetic. I get most of her stuff on zulily and etsy. Love the mix there and have never needed anything so urgently that the wait was a problem.

But I don't think that would be every kid's look though. I think that for people who are interested in how their kids look in clothes, the best thing to do is dress for that child's personality and coloring. I hate preppy clothes on myself and look like a ghoul in yellow, but they look great on other people. I think it's hard to apply a general look to all people - thank goodness there are choices to suit everyone!

I think we must be the same person. This is basically how I do it too, though DD and I have a rule about too much pink and things with characters that are not PJs. Left to her own devices, she would probably wear nothing but bubble gum.

As for the hair, she used to have long curly hair and it was a torturous ordeal for both of us, so I got it cut into a mid-length bob with bangs. Every time she whines about brushing her hair, I remind her that if she would like to have short hair and skip the drama, I will make an appointment. So far, she hasn't taken me up on it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Whenever I see a consistently well dressed elementary school aged child I think that that he/she must have a mother with misplaced priorities who is squashing their kid's creativity and independence.

I really think it is better if kids choose their own clothes each morning no matter how wacky. It really doesn't matter what they wear and it is a good area to let them have some control over their lives.

So sanctimonious! There's a happy medium, you know - it's not either/or. You don't have to let your kid look like a mess OR be a narcissistic control freak.

So for example...I pick my toddler's clothes. I also let her choose the dress of the day. Or if it's separates day, I choose the bottom and let her pick which top (prescreened by me for basic coordination). She's happy because she got to choose, I'm happy because she basically matches, and we had fun dressing her together. Otherwise she'd be walking out the door in her favorite bathing suit, last fall's Halloween costume, her baby brother's bib plus a tutu, or my shoes and my husband's visor and nothing else. Super cute, but...!

[Anonymous]

Kelly's Kids is another clothing brand that's good quality in my experience. If you like the preppy look check it out.

[Anonymous]

I haven't read all these replies, but I've been letting my children pick out their own clothes since they were 3. I'm surprised how many of you care so much about what your children wear. I only say no if it's completely inappropriate, like shorts in the winter or if it is picture day. I want them to develop their own style.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I haven't read all these replies, but I've been letting my children pick out their own clothes since they were 3. I'm surprised how many of you care so much about what your children wear. I only say no if it's completely inappropriate, like shorts in the winter or if it is picture day. I want them to develop their own style.

And one more thing, I love that both DD and DS usually pick out athletic clothes for preschool and elem school. They are practical, wash well and let them freely run during playtime and recess.

[Anonymous]

For me it's a few things. I have an elementary aged daughter and a preschool aged son and both have strong opinions on what they wear. I let them pick their clothes because I think, as others have said, that it's important for them to express themselves and have some measure of control and independence. I'm careful about what I buy, though, both that it's their preferred style and that I approve of it so they can pick it freely. My rules:

1. No logos, words, or characters on clothes worn out of the house unless to sports practice

2. No sweatpants or athletic pants unless it's to sports practice

3. Leggings aren't pants; they require a tunic-length shirt or a dress

4. Different occasions have different dress codes

5. No hair in their eyes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:sales on old navy. buy a bunch of classic pieces. i've never had a problem with their stuff.

Their tights gave my 4 year old daughter a rash. When I returned them, the cashier said that it happened all the time. I still buy their other stuff - you can't beat their prices - but I won't purchase tights there again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 5 yo dd gets a lot of compliments on her clothes. (Which gives me mixed feelings about liking dressing her well but not wanting that to be what people remember about her, but that's off topic.)

For her, I picked things that seemed to suit her as I know her and in colors that would complement her tone and cuts that complement her shape. She prefers wearing dresses, so I get her only dresses but with leggings for school days. She doesn't have a ton of clothes, but the ones she does have tend to look quite old-fashioned - no waist cotton dresses in solid colors or simple prints, sailor dresses, eyelet lace, with a few frilly pieces in there too like a peach tulle dress that has withstood paint, playgrounds, etc. These days she likes to mix it up on her own and will wear something like a punk rock souveneir tshirt with a tutu. I haven't made it a focus of our time or anything - we tend to be an artistic family and it makes us happy to be in clothes that reflect our aesthetic. I get most of her stuff on zulily and etsy. Love the mix there and have never needed anything so urgently that the wait was a problem.

But I don't think that would be every kid's look though. I think that for people who are interested in how their kids look in clothes, the best thing to do is dress for that child's personality and coloring. I hate preppy clothes on myself and look like a ghoul in yellow, but they look great on other people. I think it's hard to apply a general look to all people - thank goodness there are choices to suit everyone!

Do you pick out her clothes? Sounds like she dresses like she's from another time (and that wasn't an insult).

[Anonymous]

My child is loud and has a big personality. We dress her to fit her style and personality.

Nothing like seeing a quiet child in big, bold colors - or a really loud, out going athletic child in frilly lace.

As an adult, your clothes match who you are, why should your child be any different?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I haven't read all these replies, but I've been letting my children pick out their own clothes since they were 3. I'm surprised how many of you care so much about what your children wear. I only say no if it's completely inappropriate, like shorts in the winter or if it is picture day. I want them to develop their own style.

style is learned. wearing random crap is not style.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I haven't read all these replies, but I've been letting my children pick out their own clothes since they were 3. I'm surprised how many of you care so much about what your children wear. I only say no if it's completely inappropriate, like shorts in the winter or if it is picture day. I want them to develop their own style.

style is learned. wearing random crap is not style.

It's not random to the person who picked the clothes out, even if the person is 3.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I haven't read all these replies, but I've been letting my children pick out their own clothes since they were 3. I'm surprised how many of you care so much about what your children wear. I only say no if it's completely inappropriate, like shorts in the winter or if it is picture day. I want them to develop their own style.

style is learned. wearing random crap is not style.

It's not random to the person who picked the clothes out, even if the person is 3.

Oh please.

[Anonymous]

I mostly pick my kid's clothes, because she's still really young, but if she expresses a preference for something, we go with that. I usually offer her a choice of two outfits in the morning, but sometimes she takes the initiative and asks to wear something specific. Even if she wants to wear a sundress in the winter--we just layer it with a long-sleeved shirt and leggings. I try to buy mostly neutral bottoms (skirts, pants, leggings) so that most tops work with any bottom. But as long as she's dressed for the weather and occasion, I don't really care what she wears. She's little--she should enjoy the freedom!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I haven't read all these replies, but I've been letting my children pick out their own clothes since they were 3. I'm surprised how many of you care so much about what your children wear. I only say no if it's completely inappropriate, like shorts in the winter or if it is picture day. I want them to develop their own style.

style is learned. wearing random crap is not style.

It's not random to the person who picked the clothes out, even if the person is 3.

Oh please.

How old does a person have to be before it's "style" vs. "clothes that don't go", in your opinion? I'm asking sincerely. Evidently three-year-olds are too young to have their own style; how about eight-year-olds? Or 12-year-olds? Or 20-year-olds?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I haven't read all these replies, but I've been letting my children pick out their own clothes since they were 3. I'm surprised how many of you care so much about what your children wear. I only say no if it's completely inappropriate, like shorts in the winter or if it is picture day. I want them to develop their own style.

Do you let them pick their daily outfit, or what to buy at the store? I do the former, not the latter. Thus, their choices have been at least somewhat pre-determined by me. It's a happy medium.