Kiddipedia
By Warwick Levy
Choosing kids clothes gets easier when you start with what fits, what feels comfortable and what your child likes. A few practical checks can help you buy pieces that get worn often and have a chance of being passed on when they are outgrown.
A great kids tee is one that gets pulled out of the drawer and worn. It can have beautiful artwork and still be a wasted purchase if the neckline bothers your child or the fit makes playing difficult.
I am a dad of three girls and the founder of Lonely Kids Club, an independent clothing label I started in 2011. I care about the artwork, but the practical side matters just as much. Here are the things I would look at before adding more clothes to a child’s wardrobe.
Start with what is already getting worn
Have a look at the clothes your child reaches for most. There might be a favourite colour, an animal they love or a particular shape of tee that feels right. Those preferences are useful information when you are choosing the next size up.
A child who loves dinosaurs does not need a whole new theme because a different one is fashionable. Equally, their interests can change. Before buying another version of an old favourite, check whether they still like it. You might save yourself a purchase that spends its entire life at the back of a drawer.
Give them a manageable choice
For younger children, choosing between two suitable options can be a useful place to start. Raising Children Network suggests offering a couple of clothing choices and picking outfits together the night before when mornings are rushed.
You can set the budget and choose clothes that suit the weather, then let your child pick a colour or design. That leaves room for their opinion without asking them to scroll through hundreds of products. A magpie or a pink shirt can be for whichever child likes it. There is no need to narrow those choices by gender.
Compare measurements rather than guessing by age
An age printed on a label is only a starting point. Check how the shop measures its garments, then compare those measurements with a similar piece that fits your child comfortably now. A flat garment measurement and a body measurement are different things, so make sure you are comparing like with like.
Buying a little room to grow can be sensible, but a much larger size may be awkward to wear today. Think about the length, the neckline and how easily your child can move. Check each garment separately too. A hoodie and a tee from the same shop may have different size ranges and cuts.
Choose clothes for ordinary days
Before buying a new piece, picture where it will actually be worn. Check any daycare clothing requirements, think about the season and consider whether it works with the clothes already in the drawer. Everyday pieces need to suit the way your family lives.
Read the fabric description and care instructions before ordering. If your child has an existing favourite, its label can help you compare materials. Listen when they tell you that a seam, neckline or fabric feels uncomfortable. A design they love will not make an uncomfortable garment easier to wear.
There is also no need to replace everything at once. Start with the gaps in the wardrobe and try one unfamiliar style before buying several. Secondhand finds and clothes from friends can sit happily alongside something new.
Ask how the clothes are produced
If you want to support a smaller clothing business, look for a clear explanation of what it does itself and where the garments come from. Designed in Australia, printed in Australia and manufactured in Australia describe different parts of making a piece of clothing.
At Lonely Kids Club, we print our kids graphic tees after an order is placed, using blank garments made overseas. The printing happens in our Artarmon studio in Sydney. We work with our own artists and independent illustrators, with animals and Australian birds among the designs.
Printing after purchase means we do not have to guess how many of each design and size to print in advance. That explains one part of our process. Families can also look at the garment itself, how often it will be worn and what happens to it when the child outgrows it.
Keep useful clothes in circulation
Follow the care label rather than assuming everything can go through the same wash. The City of Sydney recommends caring for clothes according to their instructions, repairing damage and making use of clothes for longer. For our printed garments, we recommend a cold wash inside out and avoiding ironing over the design.
Check outgrown clothes while they are still useful. A small repair or a wash before packing them away can make them easier for the next family to use. Label a bag by size if you are keeping things for a younger sibling, and pass on pieces you know you will not need.
For me, that is a practical starting point for choosing kids clothing. Buy for the child who will wear it now, check the details before ordering, and give the clothes another turn when you can.
About the author
Warwick Levy is the founder of Lonely Kids Club, an independent Sydney clothing label established in 2011. The team prints clothing to order in its Artarmon studio and works with in-house artists and independent illustrators. Its range includes graphic tees, hoodies and baby clothing, with a focus on original artwork and gender neutral designs. Warwick is also a dad of three daughters and lives on Sydney’s north shore.
