Curating Your Kid’s Wardrobe around a Designer Dress

Curating Your Kid’s Wardrobe around a Designer Dress

Here on the blog, we recently talked about creating a capsule wardrobe for adults as a way to save time and money, as well as look better. But did you know the capsule wardrobe concept works wonders for our little ones as well? Think about it… Surely I’m not the only one whose growing daughters want to wear the exact same (often somewhat ridiculous) outfit every single morning of the week?

So what if you offered them the opportunity to do just that, with a few key pieces that match perfectly with one another, and all of it revolving around a princess-like designer dress that can be dressed up or down for any occasion?

• Setting the Ground Rules

Many parents find themselves in the situation where there’s a small war every morning when the time comes to put clothes on for the day. What are your options? A tug of war that will inevitably end in tears, or let your child dress like it’s Mardi Gras? With some careful planning and organising, it need not be either.

Firstly, take into consideration certain conventions, like messy days, for example. This will make it easier to say no to certain outfits that should remain within the realm of “play time” — while kids are undoubtedly good at getting into a mess at the best of times, the last thing you want is to get a stain on a gorgeous dress because you let your little one wear it while she’s painting!

Keeping everything neatly stored can also help set boundaries. Everything that isn’t suitable for everyday wear, like dress up shoes or fancy dress makeup, should remain stored away from sight in boxes. Beware, however, not to be too strict. The essential thing here is to listen, advise and let your child develop their autonomy and sense of style. Be sure to offer playful options too — stay open. If your child is into it, consider curating her wardrobe around a designer dress for kids.

• Capsule Wardrobe Basics

If you are not familiar with the term, a capsule wardrobe is a minimalist collection of items that are all meant to match with one another. The wardrobe should consist of well-made basics that won’t go out of shape or style before the next season hits. The aim is to create as many possible combinations with as few items as possible. Sounds like a fun game already, doesn’t it?

The capsule wardrobe was invented by Susie Faux, a London-based shop owner, in the 1970s. This concept was then popularised over time, notably by Donna Karan in the 1980s, when she created her own capsule wardrobe collection composed of seven interchangeable pieces. The original concept by Faux recommended having two pairs of trousers, a skirt or a dress, a coat, a sweater, two pairs of shoes and a few accessories. Nowadays, though, this concept has evolved a bit. A capsule wardrobe should comprise of about 30 items, including at least one more exciting and colourful piece.

• The Case for Girls’ Designer Dresses

So why let your child dress in a designer dress on the daily? Well, to let kids be kids — it’s that simple. My daughters love to dress as princesses, and I want to support their blossoming creativity by providing them with something comfortable to play with each day.

And now that I’ve provided them with several neutral basics to dress up or down that gorgeous gown, getting dressed in the morning should be a no-brainer. Of course, the dress will be worn as is for some special events here and there, such as birthday parties and family get-togethers, but what is most amazing with this concept is that your child will be able to continue wearing the dress any other day too.

Make sure your capsule wardrobe contains a chunky knit or a zipped hoodie in a neutral shade, some cotton tights and even a pair of wellies — why not? — Those items will magically transform a special occasion outfit into a fun daytime one. The fashionistas have said it all along: tune down the sparkles with neutrals to instantly recycle a special occasion piece into a daytime classic. Play with textures and colours, and let your kids be their own fashion stylist — unsupervised!

Guest Article.