Perhaps recalling your own style as a 5-year old, you remember a closet full of My Little Pony T-shirts and frilly pink dresses. So, naturally, when it comes to fashion, you may not think you can learn a lot from a child. But oh, how wrong you are ...
As someone who has been obsessed with fashion all her life and has worked in the field since graduating college, I was pretty sure I had my look down pat and knew all I needed to on the subject of style. Then, I became a mom. I immersed myself in the kids' fashion market, and discovered that wow, kids are cool! Maybe even cooler than we are, simply because they're too young to be self-conscious and too busy having fun to take any of it too seriously. (I even founded a site, mini-mode.com, dedicated to moms and their stylish mini-me's.)
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Just looking through the Instagrams of the chic mommy-and-me set can inspire and motivate you to up your own fashion game. Don't believe me? Just look at the feed of @nadjamini, pictured above: Does a feminine Bonpoint dress go with the mini leather jacket dad bought? Absolutely! And let's throw aviators into the mix for good measure. What better example of mixing edgy with pretty? Here are a few more of the lessons we learned throughout our constant kiddo double-tapping.
It's OK to Dress Like Your BFF
Who wore it best? Who cares?! When it's this much fun being twinsies with a person you adore, that part is not important, as the babes from @shop_alexis so clearly demonstrate.
Purple Can Be Pretty and Cool
This color is not as dainty as it looks, and we've got kiddos like @pics_missmaya who prove it.
Mix Bold Accessories With Understated Fashion
If you're going to wear cat ears (yes, places like Nordstrom currently hold them) then take a cue from @kristinapimenova2005 and keep the rest subtle and simple.
Pick a Theme and Stick With It
Kids choose a concept and go with it. So if you're going to go sailor, then go full-on sailor like @pics_missmaya!
Embrace Athleisure
Little ones like @scoutfashion know how to be comfy and still look cool, all without relying on ragged yoga pants to complete their look.
Makeup Makes You Feel Good
Sure, sometimes they overdo it, but the fact of the matter is, kids like @ashleysargentprice's know that a swipe of lipstick or some shimmer on your lids will make you feel perfectly pretty.
Give Temporaries a Try
There is a reason you don't see kids lining up at the tattoo parlor: they (like @robertochamorro's) realize they have alternatives. (OK, there might be other reasons, too...)
