Getting the most out of your little girl's wardrobe
Maintaining a stylish wardrobe for little ones can seem 'easier said than done' during the ages of baby to toddler to little girl, when little bodies grow and grow. Here, we share a few tips that we have discovered since becoming mums ourselves and that have become embedded into the design philosophy of Chloé and Amélie.
Tip 1. Mix and match statement pieces with everyday basic pieces that you probably already have. In high summer, pair basic singlets with statement bloomers or skirts. Pair those same bloomers and skirts with a basic long sleeve top and tights in the cooler months.
When the Wind Blows Jumpsuit - Spot paired with a basic white tee.
The World Top - Dollhouse paired with white jeans.
Sleeveless white bodysuit paired with So Shortie Shorts. Styled with Saltwater sandals.
Came Out to Play Jacket styled with Far Away Short and a basic white singlet
Sleeveless white bodysuit paired with Ran Away Skirt - Spot
Tip 2. Look for quality pieces and silhouettes that will grow with your little girl as much as possible. Think:
- looser fitting dresses that can be worn as a top once too short to wear as a dress.
- pants, shorts, overalls with a wider leg.
- pieces with adjustable waist ties or waists with stretchy elastic to fit changing waist sizes.
- garments with adjustable strap lengths.
Twinkle Twinkle Dress - Buttercup (styled here as a top) paired with Far Away Short - Peachy Perfect
One Day Top (with self tying, fully adjustable straps) paired with Rock a Bye Baby Short (with elasticated waist at the back and adjustable tie at front).
When the Wind Blows Jumpsuit - Spot with fully adjustable self tie straps.
Tip 3. Make it easy by sticking to colour palettes and/or patterns that go with each other and that you love on your little girl. That way you will never go wrong throwing outfits together.
Don't be afraid to have some fun with mixing and matching prints. For a more fashion forward look, we love to wear our black and white Spot pieces clashed with our Dollhouse print.
Does your little one assert her independence by choosing what she wears? Curating her choices to items that look good together (and are of course weather appropriate) may help to kerb some of those morning battles.
Of course, there may be times when in her mind, the only appropriate outfit is one from the dress-up box... and that's ok too ;)
Pieces from Chloé and Amélie's Dollhouse Days and Pretty in Pastels Collections
Tip 4. Don’t be afraid to ‘dress down’ dressier pieces you might already have in her wardrobe for every-day.
Avoid having a moment where you realise that the beautiful dress that you were waiting to pull out for a special occasion no longer fits and she only wore it once.
Childhood is so fleeting. We think it’s a cause for celebration every day. Why not be a little dressed up for the park or a play date.
Came Out to Play Jacket paired with a lace and tulle dress, navy tights and silver boots.
Tip 5. Ok, so we admit... this is really a combination of Tip 1 and 2. But if you do follow tip 2 and look for longevity in pieces, then your little girl can continue to wear summery pieces into the cooler months, layered up with winter basics like cardigans, skivvies, knee high socks and warm opaque or knit tights.
When the weather cools off, we love to pair a summer romper with a skivvy or cotton/wool long sleeve spencer, wool tights and boots for a more fashion forward look.
Over The Hill Dress - Dollhouse paired with a pink cardigan
White long sleeve wool spencer paired with Ran Away Skirt - Spot
Over the Hill Dress - Peachy Perfect paired with a cream long sleeve spencer, cream opaque tights and silver boots
What You Are Playsuit - Dollhouse , paired with a white skivvy, and white patterned opaque tights
But above all, fashion for little ones should be fun and easy for them to wear and play in and eventually help them to learn independence.
We like the sentiment behind Anne Klein's famous quote, that we paraphrased just a little ;-)
"Clothes aren’t going to change the world... but the little girls who wear them just might."
