This is a collaborative post
Clothing isn’t usually on the forefront of a parent’s mind. School runs, extracurricular and meal preparation may overshadow the importance of styling your kids. But as mum and dads will know, clothing is an important part of their children lives.
What your child wears can impact them in more ways than you may think. From their confidence, to how comfortable they are, down to their sense of personal identity. Just like adults, kids do want to stay on trend, especially when they start to grow older. Whether their ideal style is the latest slim fit cargo jeans or graphic tees from their favourite films or artists, they will have their own personal preference on fashion.
In this article, we look at tips to keep your kids on trend that can help you stay on budget too. Read on to find out what they are.
Get the basics right
Much like most things in life, getting the basics right is always an important step, this will also count for your child’s wardrobe. Building a base of versatile pieces of clothing, from jackets to t-shirts, sweaters, jeans and trainers can give your kids the foundation to mix and match different looks from the same items.
There is one way to really expand on this versatility, it is by choosing clothes that pair well with others. Avoid patterns where you can and choose solid colours, or plain items of clothing. You’d be surprised with how many outfits you can create together with just a few staples!
Shop smarter, not more
Children grow out of their clothing quite quickly, which is why paying full price for items can often feel like a waste of money. How many wears can they possibly get before needing a new size?
That’s why many parents are turning to thrift stores and online marketplaces like eBay, Vinted and Depop to purchase and sell their children’s clothing, as you can get high quality items for much less than if they were bought new in a store or online.
Utilise layers
Layering is another way to get more wear out of different items of clothing, especially as the seasons change. Your child could wear a cardigan over top a light summer dress for the cooler months or create a streetwear skater vibe with a long sleeve shirt underneath their favourite t-shirt.
Layers are also in style, so it’s worth jumping on the trend now to get the most out of the items that your child already owns at home!
Always accessorise
You don’t need to buy a new item of clothing every time your child is looking for a fresh look. With the right accessory you can transform their staple items into a new ensemble. Scarves, hats, different colour socks and jewellery are all relatively inexpensive items that can transform their wardrobe.
Let them choose their own and they’ll be more likely to buy into accessorising as a way to save (and have fun too!). It’s just another way to help them express their personality and feel good about themselves in the clothing that they wear — without having to purchase new ones every time the trends change.
Do your research
It may be easy to go shopping and pick up the easiest and most available item of clothing, but those last minute shops aren’t always the most ideal. Do your research before shopping, whether that’s just scrolling through clothing sites on your dinner at work or when commuting home on the train or bus. Spending time researching sales and how to be thrifty about the latest trends can help you save in the long haul.
Creating a specific budget for their clothing can also prevent you from overspending. If they’re old enough, allowing them to know what the budget is – and make choices towards where it goes – can also teach them valuable money-saving tips that will stay with them for life!
Listen to what they love and reflect that in your next clothing shop.
Disclosure: This is a collaborative post