Encouraging Kids to Develop their Own Style
May 30, 2018This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Minnetonka Moccasins. All opinions are mine alone.
Sometimes it feels like I gave birth to my daughters just yesterday, but the truth is that they are not babies anymore. While I long for those days of the past where I could hold them and cuddle them from morning until night, I love this phase of their childhood too. They are maturing and developing their own personalities (hello miss sassy!) They are also developing their own sense of style and I’m totally encouraging them to embrace fashion, while still sticking to comfortable, age-appropriate pieces.
In order to teach my girls some of the basics of fashion, I try to serve as a role model for them. I teach them that patterns generally go well with solids and that black / white go well with anything. I teach them that there are rules in fashion, but sometimes it’s okay to break those rules to express oneself. I teach them that boots are for winter and sandals are for summer. Speaking of sandals, the girls recently got the Minnetonka Emery Sandals in pink (also available in brown and turquoise) and they absolutely love them. My little fashionistas love to get dressed in the morning and pick out the perfect accessories to go with each outfit! 🙂
See the slip-ons I’m wearing in the picture above? They’re also from Minnetonka Moccasion – they’re the Rose Gold Kate Moccasins and are available in silver, black and white. These leather flats feature a comfy, padded insole and a neutral color perfect for spicing up any spring/summer outfit. Can we just take a moment and appreciate the rose gold color?! I have a handful of rose gold accessories already (phone case, desk decor, earrings,..) and now my shoes will fit right in!
By the way, my girls each have very different personalities and they don’t agree on everything, but they both love their Emery sandals. The pink color, the soft feel and the back fringe all make these sandals a total hit! Since we received these sandals, the girls have been wearing them nonstop (thankfully it has been warm) – and I can see why they keep choosing these sandals over the other options in their closet. They are comfortable and versatile – they really go well with a pair of shorts for a day at the park or with a dress for a special event. Plus, the zippered heel makes it a breeze to slip these on & off – perfect for kids that want to run outside to play at the drop of a hat!
From an early age, I have been allowing my daughters to select their own outfit in the morning as long as it is weather-appropriate. I think offering options is key to encouraging them to develop their own sense of style.
One thing I have never sacrificed when it comes to fashion (or beauty) is comfort. For myself and for my family, I require comfort to be a top priority. All our new shoes from Minnetonka are very comfortable – we can literally walk all day in them. Just last week, we went to the zoo and spent hours on our feet and even the younger one didn’t complain. Speaking of which, I cannot believe these girls are getting so big now. My baby younger daughter is going into Kindergarten next year. Where has the time gone? It makes me proud that she is growing up to be a big girl, but it also makes me miss those days when she was a baby. At least I have one consolation… she still loves to be held by me or my husband! 🙂
By the way, the hubby is wearing the Moosehide Weekender Moccasins and reports that they are the most comfortable shoe he has worn in quite some time! Total WIN over here!
We have been really enjoying our shoes from Minnetonka Moccasin. If you’re in the market for some new footwear, Minnetonka offers a wide variety of high-quality boots, sandals, moccasins, slippers and more for the entire family. In fact, Minnetonka has been providing the footwear for families since 1946. Originating as a shoe that was perfect for exploring natural wonders & road side attractions, their footwear is now a timeless choice for everyday life. To keep up-to-date with the latest news & offers from Minnetonka, check them out on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Check out Minnetonka shoes for your own family. How do you encourage your kids to develop their own sense of style?
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I have 2 boys, so I feel like they care less about what they look like LOL! However my 13 year old has been only wanting to wear sports (mostly Boston Celtics) shirts.
I have a granddaughter who is only two years old but believe me she knows what she wants to wear and will let you know. Her mom gets her the most adorable shoes and outfits and hit bows.
Yes, kids start to develop a sense of what they want to wear early nowadays, right?! 🙂
I remember my sister and her own style for clothing. She would wear the worst things but my mom let her express herself nonetheless. She grew up just fine. 🙂
I think it’s fine to let kids express their interests & style through fashion … under parent guidance of course! 🙂
These are such great shoes! I love the color. I’ve always encouraged my kids to wear what they want. When my daughter was younger, she’d pick princess dresses and I’d be all, “Okay!”
My daughters LOVE princess dresses. They would wear them all day if allowed! Thanks for stopping by!
My kids are both pretty good with their fashion sense. And they like to shop for new clothes lol. Your littles are super cute in the outfits they picked out.
Yes, my girls love shopping for clothing too! I didn’t realize they’d be this interested in it this early on. At least I have super adorable shopping partners! Thanks for stopping by!
Love all of your shoes. I’ve never heard of this brand before. I have to check them out. It looks like they would have really nice footwear.
Kids eventually find what works for them. My motto is as long as it’s clean and it fits, I’m pretty much okay with it. It’s funny with the twins they outgrew that dress ’em alike stage and started expressing their individuality through the clothes they wore.
My daughter would love those moccasins, they look so smart and comfortable. It is so much fun to watch your kids develop their own sense of style.
It really is! Thanks for stopping by, Melissa!
I do believe children should be encouraged to develop their own taste, and their own sense of style within reason. It’s a parents job to set responsible guidelines that children cannot understand yet.
I hope when I have children that I have a little girl to play dress up with. It would be such a fun (to me) bonding experience that I hope she would adore too.
My son isn’t old enough for this yet, but when he is this will come in handy. I always had my own style while growing up and as long as it was modest, my parents were okay with it.
Your kids are so stylin’! And it’s no wonder, take a look at their mama! You all look fantastic and I love how you teach them the basics of fashion but how it’s okay to express themselves too.
Aww thanks Kelly! You’re so sweet. Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
Mother and children that dress in tandem or having the same outfit themes look really cute especially during photoshoots outside. I love wearing weather-appropriate clothes that are comfortable yet stylish at the same time.
Love that last photo! My daughter is almost a teen and I notice a change in her style, I gave her freedom in choosing it.
It’s really nice to encourage your kids to dress how they want to. I love that you also set an example for them. The sandals are adorable and so are your shoes! They all look so comfy!
These are all so cute. I’d love to try the pair your wearing. I’ve always encouraged the kids to pick out their own shoes because they’re the ones that will be wearing them all the time.
My son is 15yoa, for some reason, he and his buds only interested in those basketball type shorts. As for my son, he would only wear those type shorts to school. I felt since they looked nice, it’s best that I choose my battles. Yes, I wanted him to wear his nice khaki, blue genes and shorts of that type. After a few fights, I gave up, and said its best to not fight this battle, there are way to many other important things to be concern about. Thanks for your nice article. Love the shoes.
Thanks Ivory! I totally agree with you- with kids, it’s best to pick your battles! 🙂
Thanks for stopping by!