Childrens-Fashion-Trends

 

Growing up, most of us went into our mother or father closet and playfully tried on their shoes, dresses, shirts, jewelry, etc.  The excitement of trying on our parents clothing was kept us busy and joyful.  It also allowed us to role play.  Whether we were pretending to go to work or step out to a nightclub, the idea of being an adult made us feel important.

 

Back in the 80s and earlier, a stranger on the street could easily identify the adult from the child.  Clothing brands and styles for adults versus kids were different.  With the exception of maybe a pair of jeans, designers made sure that patterns and fabric were equipped with their own identities. For adults, the use of dark colors, silks, rayons, size and lengths were all components that made up the “standard” for people 25 and older.  On the other hand, clothing designed for kids reflected a playful nature. Bright colors, cottons, ruffles, terry cloth, etc were components that defined what children’s clothing should look like.

 

As the 90’s and the new millennium approached us, we began to see these components combine with one another. Parents started dressing like their kids and vice versa. Adult men began to wear tight fitting jeans and became avid buyers of Jordans and other brands that were associated with young people.  Little girls dresses and skirts got a little smaller in length. Dresses were now made up of sequins and chiffon.  Traditionally, those fabrics were associated with adult prom dresses or evening wear. So, who’s the blame?

 

Several market research firms confirmed that retailers are manufacturing “on-trend” clothing for minors. “On-trend” merchandise are representative of items we see in magazine ads, fashion week, various fashion spreads/editorial pieces, etc.  These are the clothing that are marketed to adults. But, kids are looking at these things and are spending money on the trends that they like, which is the adult fashion market.

 

“Fast fashion remains a dominant influence on buying habits in the youth fashion-wear market, with new styles being constantly released; in addition, teenagers are believed to buy into brands, with many up-market youth retailers having made an impact on sales over recent years. Analysis of the accessories, sportswear and jeans subsectors is also featured within the report, with the three sectors believed to be significantly popular among the youth demographic.” (via ResearchandMarket.com)

 

Parents please beware…kids will continue to want what they see. So, as long you continue to rock the latest brands, your child will more than likely want to stay fresh as you. In order for this not to have a negative impact, monitor what your kids buy. If it is a slim/tight fitting dress with the back cut out, you may need to tell your little girl that she can NOT wear that to her school dance. It is up to the parent to regulate what is purchased and what is not.

 

Do not allow your kids to grow up too soon.