To step in regarding 7yo's clothing choices

[Ilovechocolate87]

DD (7) has rather a habit of bunging on random clothes together with a crazy mix of colours and patterns, often with lots or clashing going on.I have gently tried to guide her before into maybe putting plain top or bottoms with a patterned top or bottoms but haven't pushed the issue if she has seemed even abit reluctant and I've always tried to let her make her own clothing choices where possible, ever since she was a toddler and began having preferences.

I grew up with a very controlling dad and am keen to not be that sort of parent to my daughter.I have had the odd blip where I have got abit annoyed at her (for example the day a couple of years back when she was all set to go to a mermaid party in her Ariel costume accessories then at the last minute pulled it all off in favour of just plain clothes) but mostly have been fairly flexible.

However i know i probably shouldn't compare but it seems that everyone else's kids her age are always in quite well balanced/matched outfits colour/pattern wise.Not sure if the parents are pushing or guiding them alot with what they wear or if they just naturally happen to understand more about what clothes match others.

I just wonder now she is getting abit older if I should be taking abit more ownership over trying to influence her decisions abit more (not what to buy, just what to wear with what) as i'm also conscious that i don't want her to grow up like I did without any hint of fashion sense, or how to style my hair etc, as i wasn't taught those sort of things and ended up always looking abit odd compared to my peers.

What is everyone else doing/not doing?

Clashing patterns are quite fashionable.
Just leave her be.

I know, but I'd just go with 'it's only clothes' mentality. Don't compare her to her peers, she'll catch up soon.

My suggestions are met with quiet disdain by my teens. Then suddenly something non descript of mine and in my opinion quite granny ish becomes suddenly desirable and they nick it. The idea of imparting fashion wisdom is sweet but no kid over the age of 12 will listen. Or they will then will wear the opposite.

Most parents of teens I know consider clothes a small fry issue and certainly not a hill to die on.

But purple and red go together! No colourblindness required.

With my dds I would remove any clothing that was too small or damaged in some way and let them get on with it.

You control what enters her wardrobe anyway!

So much if life inclines strict dress codes and conformity. Let he be while it lasts x

I struggle with my DD's clothes choices, but I'm trying to just let her be. She's also 7.

She loves nothing more than the scruffiest of her brother's hand-me-downs (ideally frayed hoodies and boy's trousers with the knees a bit gone). She has plenty of her own clothes (without holes!) but apparently she thinks she looks 'cool' in worn out boy clothes.

I just leave her to it, even though I'm seldom a fan of her sartorial choices.

My 5 year old son is exactly the same and it makes him really happy so I'm happy for him to do it as long as he likes.

Minority here, but I’ve explained that usually we only wear one pattern at a time, so plain top with patterned legs and vice versa. I bite my tongue at bright colours! I do say if the colours clash really badly eg bright red and pink. I don’t like her looking silly!

Plenty of people still choose clothes each day for their 7yo.

Plenty of people let the children choose their clothes from toddlerhood.

As long as the clothes are appropriate for the activity/weather then personally I'd let her crack on with it.

You mean Silly like this from the Emmy’s red carpet?

this is what I mean when I say your idea of “silly” could be the next high fashion…

@Yogatoga1 To be fair I have no fashion sense and think that woman could have done with her mother intervening 😂

I honestly would not say that. I just leave it be. It might not match to you, but there is nothing wrong with exploring their own sense of style.

What is wrong with a pink spotty top, leopard leggings and green cross?

I bought my 6yo dd 2 dresses in a charity shop yesterday, I’d never heard of the brand so looked it up. I think the designer has done pretty well for herself with her bright colours!

https://www.agatharuizdelaprada.com/

Super pretty!

I would be curious how she chooses what to wear and I would enquire (not judgementally)

Maybe she just takes the next top and next bottoms from each drawer without any concern what they are

Maybe she chooses comfort

Maybe she is the next Vivienne Westwood

I would guide the day before if there is some appropriateness needed eg easy to change at swimming, something warm for the beach what ever

I might be tempted to influence the colour pallet and make sure there are sufficient plain things available so outfits might balance out a bit, not sure

I think that guidance is in order. Plus buy things that mix n match.

Why do YOU get to decide what looks silly or what the current trends/fashion rules are? Unless you work in the industry....

Exactly paperdolls totally agree. Most of us at a guess are presumably35 year old plus mums - what do we know about current teen fashion? Zilch. Our “advice” leads only to resentment and relationship damage. Bite your tongue.

I feel sorry for the kids who have to wear school uniforms all week and then their DMs dictate what patterns/colours they are allowed to mix on the weekends/in the holidays.

and yes my DD currently dresses only in different shades of pink, but as long as it’s weather appropriate I don’t care. I can always immediately find her in the playground at least 😂

The high sports socks over leggings or worse, sliders and socks really made my eye twitch because it was such a big no no in "my day".

Sorry but what teenage girl doesn't care what others think about their looks. Nice theory but it won't work. And also of course it does actually matter as clothing and style are a part of someone's impression. I think what you mean is help her feel confident in her fashion choices and enable her to find out what she likes and what suits her. 7 is too young but some parental encouragement is definitely a good idea around 10 ish. Not controlling what she wears but making some suggestions or taking her shopping to the right kind of shops, helping her get the right size etc. Some children won't need this perhaps, especially if they have older siblings. Some will learn the hard way that clothes and looks matter from unkind classmates.

@Ilovechocolate87 good for you to be curious about this and not repeat an unhelpful pattern (in the relationship sense - not dress sense!)

My DD6 is very decisive about clothes so Iet her get on with it, with some gentle guidance and suggestions. But ultimately its her decision, linking with autonomy over her decisions and body. If we are out somewhere and it's a particularly experimental look, I might say "she's picked her own outfit today".😆

Not necessarily true... A friend and I were were both clueless about clothes and I remember when I was 11 in secondary school and my friend's mum bought her some crop tops. My mum carried on sending me in in a vest. My friend's mum was on the ball there and was quite right. I got a lot of agro about those vests. A bit of guidance from my mum would have been most welcome. I really wish she had helped me out a bit with hair and fashion advice. No one else did. We didn't live near clothes shops and it was pre internet so difficult to acquire anything new.

She’s 7. Soon enough she will be far too interested in fashion and clothing, make up, etc. Leave her to it, she’s developing her own style and tastes.