Is character clothing tacky?

[OhOkayThenx]

I have a 'friend' who hasn't spoken to me since I had DC. There was a picture of my DC who is 17 months old in a character top.
This friend spoke to me just to say how tacky character clothing is and she'd never dress her kids in them.
I was a bit taken back by the rudeness to start with and just replied simply with 'okay'. Her kids are always in Ralph Lauren, Nike etc. That's her personal choice.
Are they really that tacky? DC is young and loves the character clothing and throughly enjoys picking one out everyday. Also almost every pjs are character.
I thought they were cute!

Obviously I don't want DC to look 'tacky' feel like just blocking her or at least hiding my posts from her now.

Do people really think they look horrible?

Yes it’s tacky - but so are a lot of things to do with young children.

I hope you’re feeling sorry for your ‘friend’, OP - who doesn’t speak to someone for two years, and then rears their ugly head to tell them their child is dressed badly?!

That is too embarrassing - I am cringing hard for her.

At that age my dd was head to toe in Peppa Pig clothing. Your ex friend was very rude. It’s none of her business.

I'm 37 and have just bought myself a Minions t-shirt. I don't feel tacky!

DD is starting to get an opinion on her clothes but I'm still steering towards a capsule wardrobe that is practical and hand down-able.

My face genuinely looked like when I read this post. Toddlers in capsule wardrobes?

@HmmSureJan

DD is starting to get an opinion on her clothes but I'm still steering towards a capsule wardrobe that is practical and hand down-able.

My face genuinely looked like when I read this post. Toddlers in capsule wardrobes?

Tbh, I think it probably is a bit tacky. But who cares? If you like it then do it.

It's far less tacky than dressing your children in expensive designer wear.

You choose your child's clothes based on what you think looks cute.

She dresses hers based on wanting other people to know how much money she has.

I know which is tackier

Clothes is just clothes. How rude of this 'friend'.

Personally I agree and find them very tacky and would never dress my kids in them. BUT the ultimate in tacky is telling someone that!!! So she has trumped you!! So rude.

Branded designer clothes often much more tacky than characters clothes. Ignore.

Dressing children in brands like that speaks volumes of her rather than you.

What a rude person! Who actually does that?

My criteria for clothing my DC is based more on fabric than anything else, so it it’s 100% cotton they can have it. I must admit I’m not a fan of the Minecraft pyjamas my DS wanted but they were cotton and they fit him so he got them. Equally, DD is partial to a unicorn or three so loads of her clothes have a unicorn on somewhere - not always my cup of tea but she always looks fantastic and I like them to choose their clothes.

Not if you like them. They are kids' clothes for goodness' sake.

What an awful thing to say!
I am not massively keen on character clothing but it’s not tacky. I’d say names like Nike etc are horribly tacky though! But I’d never comment on anyone’s choices.

I’m sure DD will like all sorts of hideous stuff when she’s older and I think it’s lovely for them to choose.

For me it depends on the character and how garish the clothing is? I originally tried to avoid character clothing for DD but gradually it's found its way into the wardrobe 🤣 To be honest dressing a baby in Nike is a bit tacky too so not sure why your friend is judging when she dresses her child in that?

There's no definitive answer to this, it's a matter of opinion, no right or wrong.

I think they're awful but I wouldn't comment on someone's choice to them, as a PP has said this thread divides opionon every time and I agree that there is a bit of a class divide.

To be clear, wearing them doesn't make you MC or WC but you don't see UMC/UC wearing them

Very rude and unnecessary thing to say. Some people have extremely strong opinions on baby and toddler clothing for some reason.

It's not for me but each to their own. She shouldn't have been rude about it though

My kids loved character clothing when they were under five - it made them happy so it made me happy. The question is - are you dressing kids for their comfort and enjoyment or your friends? A good friend shouldn’t really comment in that way, or at least just say it isn’t for them- there’s no need to be rude.

At 17 months old, are they really going to do anything over than drool, puke and spill drink down their top. So long as they are warm, dress them in whatever you want.

Personally I think an obsession with dressing young kids in labels like Nike and Ralph Lauren is actually pretty tragic. Young kids should not be paraded as fashion accessories.

I think character clothing can often be tacky, but can also be fine and some is very good quality - Boden have a Harry Potter range, and M&S have Roald Dahl themed clothes. I have bought some better quality Peppa and Gruffalo stuff from Sainsbury's too. I don't buy a lot of character stuff, but the DCs love it so they often have a few bits even if just accessories. I see it as comparable to adults wearing band T-shirts (which I like depending on the band/design).

Brands like Nike always look naff on anyone who isn't in the gym babies and small children, and Ralph Lauren is very try-hard IMO. I would judge those brands far more than character clothing, but would never actually vocalise it! Your acquaintance was very rude.

Strange "friend" I find designer labels for kids tacky myself. I personally never bought character or slogan clothes but that's choice, mostly from supermarkets and chains

I don't mind the odd bit of Peppa Pig etc, but am not a fan of putting children in 'labels.' Each to their own. As long as they are clean clothes it doesn't really matter.

Personally i think toddlers in designer wardrobes and mini me adult clothing look tacky.

But as long as it's suitable for the activity and isn't restricting play it's up to the parents. Mine were usually in garish leggings and tops, or sundresses when we lived in the Med.

I think it's tacky but the dc love it so I indulge them just a little. It's incredibly rude to comment, she sounds quite tacky herself dressing her kids in logos and thinking she's above everyone.

I don't like characters or logo clothing but character clothing is far less tacky and far more understandable for kids than Ralph Lauren and Nike. I'd buy unbranded stuff from there but not branded in a million years.

Mini designer stuff is worse than character clothing

My DCs have had plenty of t-shirts with pictures of what they're into, we're now at the minecraft stage. If the image was too plasticy, I'd swerve because it can't feel nice for a young child to have a stiff, plastic, unbreathable panel on their top. But I've never refused them images of what they like just on principle. DS's absolute favourites have included Thomas the Tank Engine, Fireman Sam, Lego and Minecraft.

A toddler in Nike just seems try-hard. The toddler is not exactly aspiring to be the next Olympic star. I'd rather they were trashing the knees of cheaper jogging bottoms and I see nothing to gain from paying out considerably more. (But then I'd rather buy good value running gear at Decathlon ot distinctive leggings from the smaller brands like Tikiboo, rather than the over-priced boring stuff of the main labels)

Plenty of time for kids to find an interest in over-priced brands when they get older...

Anyway she was bitchy to randomly say it. You're better off without her.