A guide to coordinating outfits for parents and kids
Do you want to bond more with your little one? Coordinating outfits is a great way to have fun with your child and enjoy shopping together, creating matching outfits that you both love.
Whether you’re jetting off to a sunny destination, attending a family event, or you’re just going on a casual day out, matching outfits let you have fun and take some great photos together.
If you’re stuck on ideas, we’ve created a simple guide to coordinating outfits with your child, so you can both look stylish and stay comfortable.
Elevate your child’s look today with our kids' designer clothes at Village Kids. With renowned brands like Boss and Ralph Lauren, we’ve got something for every occasion and budget. Plus, our clothes are made to last.
Why match with your mini-me?
Clothes aren’t just for practicality; they’re a way to express yourself and project your personality into fabrics, patterns, and stylistic choices.
Passing your love of fashion onto your child is a great way to get them excited about dressing up and presenting themselves in a neat and fashionable way. And doing so together is a fun way to connect with your child.
Coordinating outfits is a subtle, stylish way of saying, “We belong together.’
So, why is matching outfits such a great idea for parents and children?
- It makes getting dressed quicker and easier, with fewer outfits to style together.
- It makes family photos look more put together, adding a pleasing touch to the final product.
- They can help shy little ones feel more confident in new settings, as they blend right in with Mum or Dad.
- Matching outfits is a great way to create memories, allowing you to spend quality time selecting clothes with your child.
And as a parent, what’s better than seeing your child following in your footsteps (while letting their own uniqueness shine through, of course). In fact, that takes us to our next point: kid-led outfit choices.
The kid-led method
It can be easy to try and steer your child in the direction you want them to go, but kids are easily impressionable, and you want them to form their own opinions as much as possible.
That’s why it’s important to start letting your child make their own choices early on, especially when choosing an outfit for the day. So, when creating a matching outfit with your child, let them lead the process.
Children’s clothes tend to be bolder, brighter and packed with more personality, and that’s what makes them the perfect starting point for a matching family look.
Don’t prevent your child from wearing their favourite dinosaur top or old jumper; just find a way to match your outfit to it.
How to pick a family palette
When it comes to outfit planning, settling on a colour palette before you start is the key to success.
This is especially important when involving the whole family. (If you’re dressing your kids in exact matching sibling ensembles, then you don’t have to worry about that!)
- Choose a base tone that suits everyone: Your best bet is to go with neutral tones like beige, olive, navy, or ivory.
- Add a second, softer tone: Add some intrigue with a soft pink, baby blue, or sage green, perfect for spring and summer. In winter, think colours like mustard, terracotta, or forest green.
- Pick one pop of colour: Think of this as the small piece that ties it all together. You could choose a red accessory for everyone, matching socks, or match the colour of your jewellery to a key colour in your child’s outfit.
Fun colour combos to try
Are you stuck for ideas? Here are some fun colour combinations you can test out with the family. We’ve even sorted it by season!
- Spring: White, blush pink, lemon yellow
- Autumn: Cream, burnt orange, olive green
- Winter: Navy, pale grey, cranberry
- Summer: Sky blue, white, coral
Balancing prints and solids
Sometimes, it can be hard not to go overboard with maximalist prints and patterns; a staple piece should be just one item of clothing, allowing it to shine rather than overwhelm.
However, if you don’t add an item with even a little bit of pattern or embroidery, then you risk the outfit looking too plain and dull. Here’s how to get it just right:
- Start with one hero print: Pick a patterned top or dress for your child that you want to be the star of the show. Then, use this as the main point to work around.
- Keep everyone else in coordinating solids: So as not to walk out all looking the same, dress the rest of the family in solid colours that pick up shades from the print. For example, if your toddler is wearing a pink and green floral dress, Mum can wear a pink blouse, and Dad could wear a green t-shirt.
- Mix up the textures: Add interest by playing around with the textures, pairing a striped cotton shirt with denim dungarees or a kid’s velvet dress with a chunky knit for mum.
- Avoid clashing prints: If you want to add a variety of prints to the mix, make sure they don’t clash. To do so, choose prints with the same base colours and mix scales, e.g. small gingham with large polka dots.
Best parent pairing tips
If you’re overwhelmed by all of the tips, the best solution is to keep it simple.
The goal shouldn’t be to walk out of the house looking like twins, but rather to complement each other in a fun or subtle way.
Mix formal with relaxed
Whether you’re attending a family occasion or going out, mixing formal with relaxed attire is a unique way to coordinate outfits.
Kids’ designer fashion tends to be more structured and polished, so pair a child’s formal Ralph Lauren polo, for example, with a flowy blouse for Mum, or some chinos with a maxi skirt or jeans.
Keep your own style in the mix
When it comes to dressing yourself, you don’t want to feel like you’re wearing fancy dress.
Wear what you feel comfortable in; dads can wear a relaxed t-shirt that matches your child’s skirt or a scarf that’s the same pattern as your child’s dress.
Don’t be afraid to share the spotlight, too. If your child is against wearing anything loud and eye-catching that day, then you can dial it up with a quirky top or fun hat.
It doesn’t have to be perfect
Kids' clothes tend to be bold and funky, so don’t feel like you have to match that energy to a tee.
In fact, coordinating with accessories is a great way to go. You could pair a red scarf and coat with your child's red tractor jumper or match a stripey ensemble by incorporating a patterned bag or top into your look.
You could even buy a matching headband or bag for you and your little one, so you both share something in your wardrobe.
Discover your child’s next favourite outfit at Village Kids
At Village Kids, we understand what parents and children are looking for in their clothes: something convenient, fashion-forward, and comfortable.
And our selection of kids' designer clothes is here to tick all of that checklist and more. With brands like Monnalisa and Moschino, we have something for every little tot, and at great, affordable prices.
With summer well underway, check out our holiday shop today, perfect for finding all of your child’s travel staples in one place.