Does anyone else have a complete ban on character clothing and accessories?

[backonthewagon]

Or would you buy items like umbrellas, bags, towels, hats, sunglasses, gloves, scarves, pants, vests, socks, pjs, dressing gown, swimwear, raincoats, puddlesuits, wellies, slippers etc with tv characters on?

[NerrSnerr]

Lolasmiles would you put your child's taste first though? If they ask for a PJ Masks jumper would you let them have it because it's what they like?

[JustaScratcj]

DD is 6 now, so she has a few things like this. I'm not mad keen on it tbh, but pick your battles, I say. I don't really like slogan tees either.

[coconuttelegraph]

I totally agree with LolaSmiles , how odd too assume that a dislike of something is somehow snobbery based.

Also the assumption that children who don't get to wear character clothes are sad or deprived in some way, where is that coming from?

[NerrSnerr]

I just think the idea of 'banning' a type of clothes is strange.

My mum was very particular on what we wore as children and it was certainly because she didn't want to be seen as common I still want a Naff Co jacket. It was ridiculous.

I can't see why some posters allow character pyjamas and pants but not 'outside' clothes if the motivation isn't what other people think.

[HoppyHop]

I wouldn't wear it myself but have no problem with kids wearing them. Why does it matter? Am I missing something?

[Lindy2]

Are those that don't like character clothes happy to wear "designer" labels? That's just another type of branding really. As it's likely to be viewed as posher though, I assume it would be viewed as good.

[LolaSmiles]

For me nerr im quite cynical on the characters to push sales to kids but if they wanted a pair of pyjamas then they're lounge clothes, just like my comfies are house clothes and I wouldn't go to the shop in them.

I'm also not a fan of t shirts with large designer labels plastered on the front etc either, but that's neither here nor there. It's personal preference.

I also think character clothing is prone to fads and what's in one moment is out the next and I don't want to have the battle of why a jumper that was pester powered months ago is now not ok to wear because the trend has moved on. I saw something on TV a while ago about how character branding day to day products was an easy way of increasing profits because the children (and increasingly adults) have already bought into the characters from TV and that means half the advertising has been done for them. Cynically I feel the marketing of character trends is another part of hype up the fast fashion trend, get as many sold as possible then put the next character thing out. If they want something character based then at least they can enjoy it with their pyjamas and then if (when) it falls out of trend then they've got perfectly decent pyjamas to still wear and I don't have to go buying more themed clothing.

Which is why I object to people making lazy assumptions that people who don't like character clothing are totally wrapped up in what others think of their image. It's a lazy dismissal of alternative views.

[TulipsTulipsTulips]

My DD has some branded stuff that was given to her. I hadn’t thought about this consciously before but l do avoid buying it. A lot of the branded clothes are poor quality or not to my taste. I guess I have been imposing my preferences there, although my DD isn’t particularly bothered about the branded items she was given.

[Ginfordinner]

Goodness. I don't understand the snobbery about character clothing. DD likes Harry Potter and has an HP duvet set, pyjamas and a Slytherin scarf.
She is 19

She also has several band T-shirts.

[Temeraire]

Absolutely won’t wear anything with store or designer branding beyond a single small stamp on my handbags which is pretty unavoidable - I made an exception for a couple of very good quality charity shop Ralph Lauren shirts with a little polo player. I suspect that Lindy has misjudged the vibe and most of the anti-character people feel the same.

[Livpool]

I have never heard of this being a 'thing'.

My DS is 4 and loves anything with his favourite characters on - so we buy it 🤷🏼‍♀️

[NerrSnerr]

Lola The trend thing doesn't affect my children and I can imagine they won't be wearing much character clothes when they're at an age it does. My children mainly wear hand me downs and charity shop clothes and they've worn the clothes with Thomas, Peppa, PJ Masks for as long as they've fitted and then they've been donated or given to the next person. No fast fashion here.

[LolaSmiles]

nerr some hand me downs wouldn't bother me as much. I don't like the clothes but wouldn't have an issue with that.

I think marketing targets kids from a young age and if they're old enough to be pester powering for specific characters then they're old enough to end up pester powering for a different character as trends and characters change.

I do think there's really lazy arguments on here accusing people of being snobby or image obsessed or more concerned with what other people think than their child's happiness etc (as if a child's happiness rests on being able to wear a t shirt in their character of choice).

[Velveteenfruitbowl]

I’ve had done tasteful stuff for my kids which other people have bought but it’s hard to come by. Generally I just don’t buy it.

[Velveteenfruitbowl]

@Lindy2 visible designer labels definitely aren’t ‘posh’ either.

[Ginfordinner]

I did refuse to buy DD a Gap hoodie and told her I was not prepared to pay to advertise a shop.

[Apolloanddaphne]

Mt DDs are adults now but as children they were allowed all the character clothing they wanted. DD1 had Pocahontas on everything. Even as an adult she has a Frozen t shirt. DD2 was obsessed with Harry Potter.

I'm not actually sure what the problem with this is tbh. I also allowed them all the pink/lilac glittery shit they liked. They have both grown into strong, confident, independent women who still wear whatever they want.

[Ginfordinner]

"I'm not actually sure what the problem with this is tbh. I also allowed them all the pink/lilac glittery shit they liked. They have both grown into strong, confident, independent women who still wear whatever they want."

I agree with this ^^

[evilharpy]

I don’t tend to buy them myself but have no problem with my daughter wearing them if other people buy them for her. If she asked for them I would buy them but she’s more interested in unicorns, sparkly crap and flowery things.

I wouldn’t wear character clothes myself but then again I’m not five. I do wear band t shirts though.

[EveryFlightBeginsWithAFall]

I don't mind, we have lots of Minecraft clothing . I have a fair few TWD tops myself

[galvantula]

I don't mind character stuff at all, the DC love to have stuff with their favourite characters on. Even oldest still likes his Minecraft/HP/Pokémon t-shirts.

I think totally banning character stuff seems a tiny bit snobby tbh.

I do really hate some of the slogan stuff other people have bought them though. I may have hidden DD's "it's so exhausting being a princess" pink shirt that her granny got her. The slogans on girls stuff seen much more prevalent. Even baby stuff has cute, pretty, I love clothes n shoes or princess bollocks on it

I think some character stuff is nicer than others in fairness.

[Nosquit]

I’m in my mid 30’s and have loads of character clothing of my own and will not change for anyone thank you very much!! If people don’t like it, fine, I won’t judge them and if they want to judge me then go ahead, that judgement says far more about them than me to be honest!

My DS can wear what the heck he likes within reason too. When people start caring about the person inside the clothes (ie the personality not the body) rather than what clothes people wear the world will be a much nicer place! Too many children and adults get bullied about what they wear and I can’t be doing with it. By all means ‘ban’ character clothing as a general thing because it tends to be more expensive or not as good quality but if a kid or adult wants it then don’t outright ban it on ‘because I don’t like it’ grounds.

[AliceLittle]

No different to a band t-shirt really

[MonChatEstMagnifique]

My kids loved having things with their favourite characters on when they were little. I didn't mind what they wore as long as it was practical, they aren't fashion accessories for me to 'style'.

[Miseryisabutterfly]

I’m happy to buy character pyjamas and underwear. I draw the line at clothing, although I have made an exception for 2 Mario kart T-shirts and a Mario hoodie for my son. My dd would dress head to toe in frozen and lol if she had half the chance. Never going to happen 😂