Children and fashion don’t often go hand-in-hand, mostly because they end up growing out of their wardrobes so often it can be hard to keep up. Helping your child express themselves and look good, however, can be a crucial step towards building up their self-confidence and self-expression. Following fashion trends might seem like a waste of time for children, but the children’s trends are not like their adult counterparts. Rather than staple styles, children’s styles are more enduring, and are there to help your child grow and become an independent adult. That is why these fashion trends for children are here to stay:
- Androgynous Clothing
Gone are the days when girls must wear pink and dresses, and boys must wear jeans. Now we are moving towards a more gender-fluid wardrobe, and it’s for the better. This doesn’t mean your daughter cannot be girly or your son look cute in a button-down shirt and a tie. It simply places emphasis on durability and comfort so that children can do what they do best: play. Androgynous clothing further promises to help your children play as they want to, rather than in the gender roles they see in society.
- Comfort and Durability
If you can teach your children to value their clothes for as long as possible, you’ve taught them a good lesson. Compulsive shopping is a problem that many adults have, and their budget suffers as a result. That’s why you should always choose comfortable, durable items that will last well beyond your child. Donate them after your children grow out of their clothes and another family can have the opportunity to dress their children in great quality pieces.
- Flexibility
Children love to play around and have fun. Wearing clothes that do not allow them to run around is just begging for trouble. That’s why choosing dresses that have shorts incorporated into them (also known as playsuits) can be great for girls and especially during special occasions. Similarly, choosing flexible and breathable fabrics can help playtime be more fun.
- Healthy Living
Not every material will be appropriate for your children. Nickel in particular (a common metal found in most costume jewellery) causes skin irritation in many people around the world. Just because your daughter is allergic to nickel, however, doesn’t mean she cannot get her ears pierced. You can instead opt for earrings made of medical-grade plastic like these cute options offered at Blomdahl USA. Be open and communicate with your daughter why she has to have “special” jewellery, and she’ll be more conscious of the material and be safer as a result.
The shifting ideology towards children’s fashion is to not dress to impress, but to dress them so that they can play, have fun, learn and grow. Little girls shouldn’t have to be frustrated at their tights falling down and about being inappropriate, and little boys shouldn’t have to worry about being “too girly.” Instead, they should be allowed to express themselves, but more importantly, they should be dressed for what they want to do. The more comfortable they are in their clothes, the more comfortable they can be in their own skin.
Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.
