Tips for Picking Children’s Clothing

We are deep into the season of photo shooting, whether that is professional photos for family Christmas cards or candid snapshots in Thanksgiving dinner.

Of course, I need the women to look cute for those items, but I also need them to be comfier because nothing appears less dull or candy about your kid tugging at itchy clothes or yelling about labels.

My preference for children’s clothes has gotten better over the years (with every infant, I have weeded out more and more stuff from the first days of dressing little girls), and because we are in hand-me-down paradise here with almost four women, I have learned some lessons on what works for all their small wardrobes.

HOW TO SHOP FOR KIDS CLOTHES
1. Decide on an overall color scheme. Since the women all seem somewhat distinct and have different coloring, so many things I purchased for Ella do not look that good on Ani. Through time, I have found that I actually enjoy all three of these in whites, blues, and reds (and I enjoy that those colors too tend to work nicely yearlong and for several significant holidays), so I pick the vast majority of their clothes in those colors to ensure things work nicely together and enhance the upcoming little sister that receives the hand-me-downs, and it’s simple to bring a couple of things in different colors as those appear. Plus, whenever there are family photos, it is rather simple to coordinate everybody since the vast majority of the cupboards are in similar color schemes.

2. Choose fabrics that will hold up for years of washing and wearing. I understand that all of the clothes I buy for Ella (and even Ani) is destined to acquire a long term with just two or three more small sisters to wear it, so I want something which will keep looking great over dozens of runs throughout the washing machine along with essential encounters with all the bleach pen. I have discovered that t-shirt fabrics do not hold up nicely and never look that great after a couple of washes (occasionally even then very first scrub, which can be so unsatisfactory), so that I always opt for non-stretchy cotton, even if this means a fast trip with the iron, twills, soft denim and chambrays, and sweater fabrics. I adore this tiny chambray blouse that Ella’s wearing since I know that it’ll still seem just as darling in five years after Sister #4 is still sporting it.

3. Pick classic shapes and layouts with interesting details. I try to not select too trendy items so they don’t date immediately (I recall my mother advising us about this when we chose outfits for our mature photos back in high school), but I particularly search for things with a fun bit extra that makes it specific. A fundamental navy and white blouse is not anything out of the ordinary, but the tiny red bow on the trunk and also the eyelet trim on the floor make this blouse so ridiculously darling. And ballet apartments are as normal as it receives, but the tiny kitty face on these is simply too enjoyable. I feel as that is really where OshKosh B’gosh KILLS it — they sell so many fundamentals but with very pretty details that lift them a great deal.

4. Know about what it is that they prefer to wear. Ella is my own skirt-lover. She will select a skirt, particularly a twirly one, virtually every day of this week. Ani, on the other hand, dwells for “comfy trousers” so she’s a lot of jeggings and leggings. Though I really care about what my women wear, I do not care enough to make it a large struggle, so I attempt to be certain they have sufficient clothes they are pleased to wear which still fits in the classes I enjoy also.

5. Be sensible about what events and weather you are searching for. I really like chunky little sweaters or fur-lined boots, but I understand that I am only preparing the women to melt Arizona weather in that. I truly love that OshKosh B’gosh has festive clothes in all kinds of seasonal weights — that small skirt Ella is sporting can be layered with tights and boots when we lived someplace chilly, but when it is 85 degrees on Thanksgiving Day, bare legs and ballet flats seem equally as great by it. And Ani’s sweater is lightweight therefore that it’s ideal for our warmer winter, but also narrow enough to layer under a coat and not roast your kid when they are within an over-heated home while snow falls outside. And Star’s small plaid blouse is excellent for the entire autumn and winter because it is not overly heavy. In the same way, if your vacation parties are for the most part very casual, select festive items that are not too fancy — it may be tempting to choose that super floofy Christmas apparel, but when everybody else is wearing jeans into Christmas dinner, then select something holiday-ish that is more laid-back.