Kids definitely know how to have fun.
So it makes sense they would understand fashion in its purest form: as a place to escape, let your imagination run wild and totally express yourself.
As we teach our kids how to be productive members of society, we also guide them on how to conform and play by the rules (such as "Don't pick your nose in public!")
We show them how to tie their shoes, how to tuck in their shirts, how to match colors.
But when it comes to the business of getting dressed, I've found that my kids already get it.
They constantly remind me about the essence of style: that it's not trendy looks or fancy labels that matter, but how much fun you can have expressing yourself.
Here are the lessons that any child can teach a grownup about style:
- Dress for Success -- The boys already know that certain clothes yield power and authority (for men, it's the tie).
Frequently, they'll don a sport jacket or suit and tie (on their own) to make a great first impression. These power clothes give them a self-confidence boost every time. - Do Your Own Thing -- On the flip side of dressing to impress, the kids tend to go with looks that stray from the norm. Such as wearing shorts with cowboy boots or mixing crazy patterns.
It causes a few stares, but they are oblivious to what other people think about their fashion choices. They just like doing their own thing. - Touch is Everything -- Garmentos refer to the way a garment feels as its "hand." Kids just like the sensation explosion.
My daughter likes her clothing soft and cozy: velour, chenille, cotton knits and fleece.
We're stuck in fabrics with little touch appeal, such as tweed or denim, so often that we forget the simple pleasures of a satiny silk or a smooth velvet. - Labels Don't Matter -- Maybe Lourdes, Madonna's daughter, can tell the difference between Gucci and Burberry (after all she made one celebrity mag's Top 10 Best-Dressed List).
But your average kid is likely to be more impressed by cool features (extra pockets, zippers or groovy graphics) than a chichi label. - Find Your Joy -- The kids get so much joy out of their favorite apparel: camoflauge pants, vests, hats, twirly skirts and fancy shoes all make repeat appareances.
- Buy Your Favorite Color -- The younger son loves green. He has hunter, forest, lime, grass; if it's green, he's got it.
- Pretend -- Sometimes they're cowboys, sometimes they're camo-clad. They stick with one fantasy look until they get bored, then move on.
- Fashion Isn't Everything -- For the school's career fair, I asked the older son if he wanted me to come talk about my job fashion journalism job.
His response? "Can you just pretend you are a scientist instead?"
