In fashion, the big old debate of choosing style over comfort has been on for a while. As consumerism continues to rise, so those the functionality and style continue to merge in some areas and grow further apart in others. And this remains true also when it comes to kids clothes, shoes, and accessories.
By the 1940s, girls of all ages wore pants outfits at home and for casual public events, but they were still expected-if not required to wear dresses and skirts for school, church, parties, and even for shopping. In some societies, this is still an expectation even in modern societies like the US where the girls are expected to wear a dress to church for Easter Sunday for example. Today, girls can wear pants outfits in nearly every social situation. Many of these pant styles and elaborate outfits are not necessarily as comfortable as commonly used baby clothes like onesies or pyjama like soft clothes.
These days, the way kids dress has gone beyond any old rules or expectations. Kids clothes are now increasingly starting to look like adult clothes and with this similarity comes the sometimes inconvenience. For example, in the case of hair products for kids, hair accessories for one are a prime example, as they now function with a dual purpose: a practical way to keep your kids hair tidy, and with the variety of styles and colors available now they also act as a way to elevate your kids outfit or even be the focal point. Kids shoes, belts, backpacks or even the Perfect Baby Loafers can serve great functions but also serve as fashion items to your kids. Yes, shoes were originally made to protect our feet from harsh extremities and they still do that but they have become one of the most recognized fashion pieces and accessories in terms of style and fashion statements both for adults and for kids. Entire companies are dedicated to making shoes not for the sake of its function but for the sake of its fashionability. This has resulted in entire stores becoming devoted to selling them.
Belts
Belts are another clothing accessory with an original purpose of functionality that now also serves as a fashion item. Belts are of course quite useful in ensuring your kid’s pants don’t end up around their ankles and even though their base design and function can’t really be altered too much, people have found ways to customize them and make them high fashion. You have designers belts like Hermes costing up to one thousand dollars. Also, belts are a great way to accessorize your boy child. They don’t have as many options as girls but a nice colorful belt just like a nice pair of sneakers can do a lot to elevate their outfit and make it more fashionable.
Dresses
This is an obvious no-brainer. We need dresses to cover our nakedness and protect us from harsh weather and environmental conditions. In fashion, dresses are often held close to the wearer’s body, worn to accentuate a woman’s hips or the design of her clothes. For baby girls, dresses are one of the cutest things that make your baby or toddler look just heavenly and precious. And besides their original function dresses are a major way to make a fashion statement and hold so much meaning in the world we live in today. A public figure like a princess or celebrity’s choice of dress can influence an entire generation and decades of fashion movement. They can send a message and communicate intentions in politics and social issues. The beloved Princess Diana used her choice of dresses to communicate and shape her image. Dresses have become works of art kept in museums or auctioned off at expensive rates. They are also ways that our little baby girls can play pretend to be their favorite princesses or superheroes which helps them form a strong identity in who they are.
All in all, though clothing items have a primary function, the role they play in society, in showing our personality, fashion sense, status, class etc is also an important role. Finding a way to balance comfort with fashionability gives you the chance to rip both benefits. When shopping for your kids be it for fashion pieces of strictly for functionality, keep this helpful tips in mind.
For diapers
The right sizes that end in T stand for “toddler,” with extra room in the backside for diapers. Size 2T is intended to fit a 2-year-old, 3T a 3-year-old, and so on, although your child may be ahead of or behind the curve so look at your child’s weight and height before you buy.
Easy on, easy off
When your toddler’s running around like crazy as always, you need stretchy clothes that don’t require much cooperation for getting on. Plus when he’s ready to dress himself, they’ll make the task doable.
Get pants with adjustable elastic bands
They allow you to customize the fit so they grow with your child, and ensure at a skinny toddler pants don’t fall down or a kid with a thicker middle isn’t squeezed too tightly.
Buy Clothes with strong stain resistance: Kids make a mess all the time, it’s weird in their DNA so avoid any clothing that’s too delicate or precious like cashmere or silk, lest you not be able to give it a thorough scrubbing. Also, look for reversible pieces; after a kid gets messy at the playground, you flip the outfit inside out and head straight to lunch. You’ll also find plenty of cute smocks and pullover bibs to cover kids during feeding and playtime and keep whatever’s underneath clean.
Workhorse pieces
If your child will be wearing a thick, puffy coat or waterproof boots regularly from November through April, it’s well worth it to buy the best quality you can afford. The right materials will keep your toddler warmer and more comfortable, and the clothing will last longer and will be resistant to easy wear and tear.
