At what age will clothing style matter to Abby?

Taytee · February 2012

I know it's probably different for every kid but approximately what grade or age will any kind of style matter? Abby already needs new jeans this year and when I first put 5's on her in October they seemed a little too long. Now her socks are showing. I'm guessing she's going to need ALL new clothes for kindergarten. I dress my kids sort of like I dress myself - basics and plain . Jeans. T-Shirt. etc. I do let Abby pick out patterned skirts and dresses etc. I guess I'm wondering if I need to take into consideration what other kids will be wearing or if I have a few years.

Keep in mind I grew up with my dad until about the 3rd grade. And we were dirt poor. Then when he remarried, I pretty much only had hand-me downs until I was 13 and started making my own money babysitting. I was always very insecure about my clothes compared to what was "in". I never had Guess jeans and I'm scarred for life Crying . I could afford Keds though.

mcgee · February 2012

I am not exaggerating when I say that at SIX MONTHS OLD, I could push Meredith through Babies R Us, and she'd pull clothes off the racks if she saw something she liked. Tongue Tied She is massively opinionated, and her sense of style is usually much hipper, funkier, and edgier than I would choose. If we were both clothing designers, I'd be more of a Ralph Lauren type, and she'd be a Betsey Johnson. Stick out tongue

When it comes to buying clothes for her, I refuse to spend a lot because she's messy. I usually have certain requirements - she needs at least one pair of jeans in colder weather, and she has to have things that mix and match because it just makes life easier. I'll usually give her a few options, and let her pick from those. My mom will buy her stuff from Gymboree, and I'll get her stuff from Target, Old Navy, Justice for Girls, etc. Now that she's in "big girl" sizes, I have to provide a bit more guidance to make sure that she's not choosing anything inappropriate for her age.

Mainer-in-Texas · February 2012

mcgee:
I am not exaggerating when I say that at SIX MONTHS OLD, I could push Meredith through Babies R Us, and she'd pull clothes off the racks if she saw something she liked.

LOL. This is my daughter, too. When I read the OP, I was like "I doesn't always start from birth???"

bluestreet · February 2012

I can relate Taytee. I never had a pair of Guess jeans in elementary, and it sucked! I don't want the girls to be materialistic, but I don't want to deny them the occassional trendy item. L is in 3rd grade, and she is particular about cuts and styles, but she doesn't care about brands or specific shoe types yet. I get the girls' clothes almost exusively at Target, and the girls always have classmates wearing the same thing. That satisfies any concern I'd have that the girls don't feel too out of step with their peers.

SaraLouiseBride08 · February 2012

It really, really varies. Olivia still lets me dress her, but if she decides she doesn't like something (usually because of texture or fabric) she'll take it off and never let me put it on her at all.

My mother says I let her dress me until about 1st grade. My sister refused to let my mother dress her before she was 2.

Id go with thins that can mix and match, and if it starts soon, she'll. Still somewhat match.

Taytee · February 2012

bluestreet:
I get the girls' clothes almost exusively at Target, and the girls always have classmates wearing the same thing. That satisfies any concern I'd have that the girls don't feel too out of step with their peers.

I think it helps we live in Texas. And Austin at that. There's not as much pressure to be "in style". When I lived in California, it was very different. Even at 13, I wouldn't have dreamed of going to the store in shorts. Shorts were a HUGE no-no. It was all about skirts etc.

Abinormal · February 2012

Taytee:

bluestreet:
I get the girls' clothes almost exusively at Target, and the girls always have classmates wearing the same thing. That satisfies any concern I'd have that the girls don't feel too out of step with their peers.

I think it helps we live in Texas. And Austin at that. There's not as much pressure to be "in style". When I lived in California, it was very different. Even at 13, I wouldn't have dreamed of going to the store in shorts. Shorts were a HUGE no-no. It was all about skirts etc.

I don't know about that... I teach elementary school and there's definitely a "style" that kids adopt, especially in the older grades. However, I once asked my class of first graders (out of pure curiosity) who picked out there clothes. About half of them said they picked out their clothes and the other half said that their parents pick out their clothes. I'd say take Abby with you and let her pick out the things that she likes. Help her to get the basics and a couple of cuter outfits that speak to her. As long as you're shopping in the basic stores (Children's Place, Old Navy, Target, etc.) you shouldn't have an issue with being in "style" with the other kids.

FWIW, I do have lots of first graders who still wear clothes from Carters, Osh Kosh, etc. I don't think that most kids REALLY pay attention to what other kids are wearing until 3rd grade. As long as it fits correctly and is cute, you shouldn't run into any issues.

SarahPLiz · February 2012

Abby may turn out like me and fashion will never really matter. I never owned anything white and the boys in my K class didn't know I was a girl until mom made me wear a dress for picture day. I did save up for that one pair of Girbaud jeans in middle school, but they got stolen while I was at basketball practice the 2nd time I wore them. My mom made a ton of my clothes and I got to pick the fabric, but this was big baseball shirts and jams so it didn't really matter.

Basics should be fine for K I think. Some sparkly shoes wouldn't hurt.

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