TrendTRACKer: Casual is Cool. Can You Warm Up to It?

So, it seems the trend in kids clothing this year is casual. Um yeah, it seems the trend in all clothing is getting more and more casual if you ask me. One website selling and tracking trendy kid's clothing says not to be surprised this year if the seams are visible from the outside of the clothes and that the outfits that don’t match are actually very stylish.

I guess Casual Friday has finally seeped down to our Garanimal dressed kids. As a mom that tends to be lazy when it comes to dressing her kids, I can appreciate a more casual look. Frankly, there are not many places we go where it is even appropriate to be dressed up.

But it does make me wonder.

If we are dressing them so casual now, what will they dress like when they are teenagers? For his first job interview? Or to meet the parent's of her new boyfriend? I mean isn’t becoming a teenager and dressing like a slob a right of passage? Do we really need to encourage it now when they are still so little?

I already have the hardest time getting my boy to wear even a sweater or jacket to dress up his jeans a bit. T-shirts rule in his world.

Apparently, they rule in the kid's fashion world too. They are a staple in this years hottest kid's clothing trends. With cool graphic designs and in bright orange, no less! The shirt my little man is modeling above came from a trendy online boutique. ( I won a gift certificate)

I don’t want to go on record here as old fashioned, as this is an argument that has been fought for generations. Call me a bit conservative, though. I just think teaching them to match their clothes and wear button down shirts - tucked in, is not such a bad thing. And that it shouldn’t ever go out of style. Okay, there, I said it. I officially sound like my grandmother.

Recently, I dressed my son in a little suit and tie for a special event - much to his chagrin. He looked incredibly cute, though. A 4 year old in a suit and tie is really one of the most photographic moments in a mother’s life.

But for the days when a special event is not on the agenda, here are some cute and casual ways you can dress your small ones and not have them look like a total mess.

Layered short sleeve t-shirts over long sleeve t-shirts. This is also an excellent way to get more wear out of those shirts that are getting too short. The style is for the bottom shirt to show under the short sleeve one.

Button downs over t-shirts are always good and casual for boys. Untuck them over a dark pair of jeans for a trendy look. Yes, untucked but the dark jeans will dress the outfit up a bit.

Bright ruffled skirts with t-shirts for girls are all the rage. Pair it with some leggings and furry boots or flats and she will look like she just walked off of the pages of your favorite children's magazine. As a matter of fact, look for tutus paired with fun tank tops for girls in the spring.

Brown is in. Orange, bright blue and grassy green are too. All together in a mish mash of colors.

Soft colorful graphics, retro words, and urban designs make a big impact on t-shirts

Hand stitching, patches and collage looking fabrics are trend setters.

So, tell us! Where are your favorite places in the triangle to shop for your kids clothing? Do you like to dress them up or keep them casual?

sources: tuttibella.com, infomat.com,parenting.com

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Comment by Janel on January 22, 2009 at 5:05pm: I live in pajama chic! ;)

So, maybe it's just a boy thing that they dislike dressing up so much. I guess t-shirts are less confining for all that climbing and activity! I do think there are a lot cuter boy options out there now, thank goodness and they are far easier to dress than girls.

Thank you ladies for commenting! It was so fun to do this!

Comment by Anne Woodman on January 22, 2009 at 4:09pm: Janel, everything you said is so true. My son thinks if he has to wear a shirt with a collar (including polos), he is super-dressed-up. Suffice it to say that at 8, he always looks ready for an impromptu game of basketball.
And at 6, my daughter can put together 15 different shades of pink and some pink fluffy boots, and the teachers are sure she's the height of fashion.
As a kid, my mom always stressed the word "appropriate" and forced slips on us (remember slips???). I swore I would never wear one again! There were absolutely no Britney Spears moments in our household. I find myself saying some of the same things--things I never thought I would say. Things are a lot more casual these days, but I still think there should be some separation among what you wear to church, school and the soccer field.
Then again, this is coming from me as I get ready to head out to the grocery store in a sweatsuit that can only be described as "pajama chic."

Comment by Elizabeth Shugg on January 22, 2009 at 3:50pm: Awesome fashion round up Janel! My two sons refuse to wear shirts with collars unless they are going to church or a formal event. They love soft, cotton T-shirts and don't really care if the shirts are plain or have labels/graphics on them.

My daughter is just like Tatum's! LOVES to wear skirts or dresses with stockings, and fancy shoes. We plan her weekly wardrobe based on what day she has gym class, which is when I require her to wear jeans and sneakers. Every other day, though, she's in a skirt or dress! So funny...

I'm a bargain hunter and do a lot of online sale shopping from Gap.com. We have an Old Navy right here in Apex so I'll check out the deals there every few months, too. A lot of times they offer 2-for-1 jeans, which works great for us since I have 2 boys who wear the same size! (They're only 17 months apart.)

Kohl's has great deals, but the quality is questionable IMO. The clothes shrink and fade after just a few washes. But I do like getting my daughter dresses there that she'll only wear once or twice (to a wedding or for a Christmas picture, for example).

If anyone knows of great sales on kids clothes, this would be a great place to post a comment about it.

Comment by Janel on January 22, 2009 at 3:04pm: Thanks Tatum and welcome to Triangle TRACKs!

Comment by Tatum Croft on January 22, 2009 at 2:43pm: My boys are the kings of casual. Boys can look so cute though in polo's with jeans. So easy, so quick. My daughter is a bit of a fashanista at the ripe old age of 5. She would wear a dress or skirts everyday if allowed to. Bright tutu's are a fav right now. I love bright colored clothes on my kids. The bright blues and grassy greens are perfect for them.
I shop at Old Navy and Children's Place for my kids. Their prices are fair and the sales racks are generally filled with good finds. Great post Janel!

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