fashion lessons from our kids

i think we can learn a lot about fashion if we look at our kids. i have never been one of those parents who tells their kids what to wear. it wasn’t until my son started kindergarten that i realized that maybe i had to say no to certain outfits.

i guess there comes a point in time where kids just can't wear pirate costumes to school, because face it, in this day and age, i’m pretty sure you can’t bring a sword to school!

but really, i have learned a lot from my kids. for one: who says everything has to match? i adore when my daughter puts on some striped tights, knee high pink boots and a floral dress. it’s eclectic, organic and she loves it. people look at her and know that she dressed herself. i love it. when i do the same thing, it’s not always as endearing to other people.  but you know what? i don’t care. i wear my pink tights and cowboy boots to work.

someone at work once said to me, “it’s not like leggings and cowboy boots are in style.” to which i replied, “actually…”

another thing i’ve learned from my kids: wear what you want. don’t dress for other people, dress for yourself. If you like vintage dresses, wear vintage dresses. if you like sweats and tees, wear them! don’t worry about what everyone thinks. i know that i used to spend a lot of time wondering what people at work would think if i wore a 50’s secretary dress. one guy told me once that he didn’t realize we were supposed to dress up for cinco de mayo because I was wearing an old vintage mexican dress. yes, maybe your feelings get a little hurt every once in a while. what I’ve learned, though, is that if you truly love your style, than even if no one else does, it doesn’t matter. clothing is a way to express yourself, who you are, what you like…keep at it and don’t worry about what other people think.

there are times when i don’t want to stand out in a crowd. sometimes i like a nice crisp, clean look; a bright white shirt and some great black trousers. but most of the time, i want to wear striped tights, knee high boots and a floral dress. try it once…i bet you’ll love it.