As busy parents, often, the last thing on our minds is making our kids look ‘cool’.
At least, it wasn’t on my parents’ minds: if I look back at old photos of myself and my younger brother taken in our brown-linoed, wallpapered 1980s home, we were far from stylish growing up. Dungarees and overalls were the outfit of choice, it would seem, and our naturally curly hair was always a mess – probably from running around the garden barefoot.
But if you are someone who cares about fashion, it’s only natural that you would consider dressing your little ones as an extension of your own style.
If you’re nodding your head, this article is for you: stay with us as we give you our tips for dressing your children in style.
Matching Sets: Twinning with Your Mini Me
If you’re anything like me, you dream of the day you have a little girl of your own, a tiny best friend you can dress up in cute little outfits (until the day she becomes a bratty teen who wants to choose her own clothes – the horror.)
The cherry on top of dressing your little fashionista, while you still can? Matching with your mini me. It’s a trend that’s truly taken off in social media land: also known as ‘mini-me dressing’, viral scenes of fashion-forward mamas and daughters twinning in colour-coordinated outfits, perfectly styled to suit each of them, have taken over many of our algorithms.
But before you scoff and say these fashion mums are using their babies as another accessory on their arm, just picture the vibe: a classic little black dress and pearls for mum, complete with red stilettos; matched with an age-appropriate LBD for bub, and sweet little ruby-hued ballet flats for her tiny feet. Iconic!
The best part? If you take enough pictures, your grown-up daughter can look back on your twinning fashion moments in years to come, reliving the love and effort her stylish mum put into those impeccable matching looks.
Something Extra: Fancy ’fits for Special Occasions
Whether it’s a birthday party, a glitzy quinceañera, graduation day, or a bar mitzvah, when it comes to a special occasion, your little one needs a special outfit – one that’s a little more fancy than their usual garb.
So, what to dress your kids in for these types of events? Of course, the temptation can be to kit them out in something totally over-the-top. But in reality, not every event calls for ballgowns and tiaras, even if your offspring are little princesses. No, the key is to keep it simple, and also, both event and age-appropriate.
A daytime affair? Opt for a chic, classic dress for your little girl, and simple shorts paired with collared shirts for the boys. Of course, footwear is also important: good-quality shoes complete an outfit. If the event is in the evening, keep things cool with tailored children’s suiting. If your child is determined to turn heads, don’t be afraid to add some sparkle in the form of costume jewellery.
‘Cool Kid’ Accessories: The Icing on the Cake
So, you’ve got their outfits sorted. But don’t forget the accessories!
Complementing your child’s outfit with thoughtful, considered add-ons (like an adorable little bow-tie, a sweet hair ribbon, or trendy kids polarised sunglasses) can really elevate your little one’s look.
Our tip? Don’t be afraid to ask your kids what extra additions they think would make their outfit pop. Sometimes, our children are more creative than we give them credit for, and they may have styling ideas we haven’t considered.
Take my younger brother, for instance. Growing up, his kindergarten ‘girlfriend’ – let’s call her Clara – would wear her ponytail tied up in a bow. Although my brother’s hair wasn’t as long as her’s was, he insisted to my mother that he wanted a bow, “just like Clara’s”. Giving in to his insistence, my mother was surprised to admit that his curls looked adorable tied back from his face, albeit a little more feminine than his usual unruly mop.
–
Styling your kids doesn’t have to be a chore.
No, dressing them up in fun, creative outfits and accessories allows you – and them – to express your own unique sense of style, and also teaches your kids to develop an appreciation for the effort it takes to look good.
The best part? The memories you’ll create in the pictures you’ll fondly look back on with your children. With any luck, your kids will be grateful for the love you put into dressing them – and making all of their outfits look iconic.
