STYLING KIDS FOR FALL + WINTER

Styling kids in general is tough but styling for seasons can be hard too. Dressing them cute but still functional and in things that they like but that you like too is such an ordeal… The struggle can be real.

Here’s a few tips for styling kids and coordinating siblings, whether you’re matching them for family photos or simply want them to look cute while you’re out and about, here’s my top tips for dressing little ones.

Tip 1: Identify what your kids like about their favorite clothing… this has been important as my kids have gotten older, I know Ev likes dresses, especially ones that spin and I know that Easton likes to wear the color green, he doesn’t even care what shade but just really likes that color. Knowing this makes it easy to plan their wardrobe. For fall and winter, I buy Ev long sleeve dresses or cardigans that can go over her summer dresses. For Easton, he gets a lot of green long sleeve tops and a fleece!

Tip 2: Buy clothes that will stand the test of time and will get good wear… while clothes are meant to be worn and children are messy, I do still want the clothes to last, even if it’s $4.00 leggings or $50.00 dresses. I shop with this in mind and I don’t buy special clothes for occasions, I try to make sure our everyday clothes work for special occasions too. I always shop with the mindset of how many different ways can this one item be worn so I make sure we wear it often enough. This goes for seasonal clothes too. I think about what I’m buying for holidays so that it can be worn more than just that one holiday.

Tip 3: Choose your fabrics and colors wisely – When shopping, I think to myself how easily will it be to get a stain out and how easy is this to wash. I hang dry all the kids clothing to make sure it doesn’t shrink and doesn’t get too thin with over drying. White can actually be great for kids… bleach and sun bleaching can get just about any stain out. Linen is misleading because it actually lets stains go very easily despite it’s fussy reputation. Dark patterns hide stains well and muted floral patterns disguise stains as part of the pattern too. 100% cotton is easiest to wash for stains and holds it’s feeling longer. Fleece is a great material for winter for kids, it’s easy to wash and stains come out well. I really like corduroy for fall and winter too.

Tip 4: For those with siblings who want to coordinate… my number one tip is to pick one color and make sure it’s in both outfits, in these pictures, you can see the green of Easton’s shirt matches the green in the floral print of Everly’s dress. Even though the prints are different, the matching colors brings them together.

Tip 5: For Fall and Winter, Layer. Especially if you’re in a warmer or mild climate. I find sweaters that are neutral enough that both kids can wear and also cardigans that work well over sweaters for the extra cold days and over dresses and tank tops for the mild days. Layering with ribbed leggings and tights is another great style tip for fall because it makes summer dresses and rompers last longer and through season changes. For Easton, I try to find a cute bomber jacket and a lot of soft sweaters that can be layered over tank tops and tees.

Tip 6: Shoes… shoes can be so tough and is probably where I over shop a little. I buy the kids one of each kind so total they have 6 pairs of shoes. Running/rough stuff shoes- they wear these every day to school and then for bike riding or hiking; Cowboy Boots – they wear these a lot too. Ev wears them with dresses and tights all season long; Rain Boots – these are great for colder days with warm socks too; Casual slip on shoes for errands, events and church; Sandals for warmer days with tights and one “nice” shoe for church like a mary jane or suede boots. Pictured here are the most adorable leather shoes that the babes wear to church and to nicer functions. This is my only exception to the rule of not buying special occasion items because kids are hardest on their shoes so having one nice pair makes sense.

Tip 7: Buy things that go together, I never buy shoes that only match one dress that can only go with one pair of tights. I try to stick to one color scheme, simple patterns like plaid and muted florals, neutral shoes (no lime green tennis shoes or light up shoes), and solid color pants. This makes dressing easy for the kids and ensures that most pieces in their wardrobe can be worn together for layering through the fall and winter season.