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?

Or your mum thought vests were more appropriate, and didn’t like the crop tops?

maybe she thought she was helping you out- I know my mum gave me well meaning advice on what she thought was “classy”, which was staid and middle aged and yes, I got a lot of stick for. She also insisted I had a fringe and kept my hair short when the fashion was for the feathered layers at the front.

this is the exact point about mums giving fashion advice. As well meaning as it is, chances are it goes against current trends.

I had my hair in a pageboy cut until I was about 12 because my mother and granny thought it looked “neat”. I was mistaken for a boy on a weekly basis. Back off! And yes dd2 has pushed our boundaries! Dh reached his limit when she went to a party basically in two bits of rag.

Few examples of similar aged daughters choices. Sometimes the patterns are a bit of a crazy clash but so what. She thinks she looks cool and she’s happy.

I don't mean teaching her about trendy teen fashion- she is 7.I am talking about teaching her the basics such as which colours or patterns go together or not.

Although it's not hard to notice what the fashionable trends and current styles whatever age you are, if you are that way inclined.

I know lots of parents who still put out their kids clothes and the kids just wear whatever is out, so some 'put together' kids possibly have no say.
Our ds 15 has NO interest in clothes, doesn't like to shop, doesn't like bright colours, wont weat branded clothes , likes to be comfortable.and those are his criteria. So basically black/dark. joggers/shorts is his whole.wardrobe!

Love this - you can tell by her pose in the last photo that she is chuffed to bits with herself, and rightly so! 🥰

Could you go shopping together and buy things in outfits. Or discuss what looks nice together with what. Those jeans would like nice with these tops for example.That’s what I’ve done with my dd who’s just turned 8 and she usually manages to put together outfits that go nicely together

Quite fitting today.

Ah, the memories.

It’s amazing how many different shades of pink one child can wear isn’t it 😂

Oh please!, who cares? Let her wear what she wants, it does not need to be coordinated! Don't put that kind of pressure on her for something so irrelevant. As long as the clothes are appropriate for the weather just let her choose.

I must say I'm pleasantly surprised by the majority of this thread. I genuinely thought people would berate @Ilovechocolate87 for even considering allowing her child to choose their own outfits. My child is still a toddler, but any time I've approached the subject of choice with others they seem horrified at the idea that I would allow our child to go out in public having obviously dressed themselves?! 🤯 Genuinely thought I was the weird one but, for once, MN has made me feel otherwise!

I met a friend once. DD, who was a toddler, was wearing a clashing ensemble she had chosen. My friend had a baby and said she would insist on matching clothes and not let her choose when she got bigger. I did feel a bit judged.

To make matters worse, my DD genuinely barely feels the cold. So will go out in a sleeveless dress, cardigan and socks when it is actually freezing. She hasn't worn a winter coat this year, only a rain mac when I have insisted. So not only are her clothes clashing, she also appears to be inappropriately dressed for the weather too!

My DD4 loves to dress herself, and will often wear a mishmash of all sorts!

DS15 wants everything to have labels on. Very unnecessary and a pain in the arse!

I wish I could be more like DD. Kids have a lifetime to conform and worry about their wardrobes.

Sounds a good idea :) Thanks x

Haha! 😂

I wish I had this problem!

DD7 has huge sensory issues and pretty much hates clothes. She spent most of today (we didn't go out) with none on.

She refuses to dress herself, and won't wear anything too 'tight', or anything else too 'uncomfortable'. It's a huge battle trying to identify something she will wear and will often go through various items, causing massive meltdowns, before she's happy. And then it's only jogging bottoms and a t-shirt.

She likes the idea of 'girly' clothes and dresses and does wear loose ones in the summer (well, has done, we shall see about this year!), but tights are a no no, so has to be warm enough to wear without.

So yeah, pick your battles.

My dd wears leggings and long sleeve tops under everything. She has terrible eczema which she will scratch if uncovered she also won’t put cream on her skin the feeling of it makes her scream the house down, so her base uniform is baggy leggings and baggy long sleeve top with what ever she chooses to put on over it, including sumner dresses, nighties…

My daughter who is now a pre teen used to choose the most eclectic outfits, she used to have tutus over leggings and a tartan shirt, another favourite was pink leggings, orange flowy skirt with blue stars and an orangey red fluffy zip up, I honestly remember that with so much fondness 💞

I give my 4yo choices but I do insist on her looking somewhat presentable. She mostly wears dresses so I'll give her a choice of 2 or 3 dresses and then tell her which tights/shorts/cardigan go with the one she's chosen, or in winter with pinafore dresses I put the top that goes with it on the hanger so she can choose the whole outfit. She's got quite a good understanding of what colours and patterns go together now.