When you think of the look you want your child to convey, do you think classy or trendy? The thought was recently brought on by my own little six-month-old, fashionista-in-the-works, little Bella. I didn’t think this out much with my son. He kind of just took on the style his daddy favored. I’ve always liked and trusted my husband’s sense of style, so it worked well.

But for my daughter, the question of classic vs. trendy posed a dilemma for me. Do I want to dress her up with the cutest trends around or do I want to stick with modern classics? I always say that she will probably end up being at the opposite side of the spectrum and love denim and t-shirts! I am totally willing to accept whatever she chooses to become. But for these few precious unopinionated months or years of early childhood, I’ll have the privilege to set her looks.

I came up with the following conclusions:

1) Trendy clothes are super adorable on children as long as they are tasteful.

2) Classic styles and brands of clothes are nice to have for those formal times such as weddings, portraits, graduations, etc…

3) Trendy clothes in classic colors make for a great clean, modern look.

Whatever style or look you choose for your child, let it be a tasteful expression of who your child is!

As you may have already noticed, there is a huge surge in “mini me” clothing popping up all over. This “mini me” couture effect is basically a term used for parents wanting their children to look and dress like they do. With the vast amount of information on the Internet and the constant celebrity exposure, our children are growing up with a lot more options than we ever had. Designers are churning out pint size renditions of clothes that are on runways every season.

However, not every parent is jumping on this band wagon. In our family outings, I still see children dressed in p.j.’s or t-shirts that are witty yet sloppy. I always look to the parents to see how they are dressed. It’s usually the same. Most of the style stems from the parents. Children in more ways than one are a direct reflection of their mommy and daddy.

With this being said, I don’t think the “mini me” idea is so bad. We all know families that always look put together. Why not create that culture with your own children? I am not saying that appearance is the most important issue in a kid’s life. But appearance speaks for itself. What’s wrong with dressing the part? Your child will grow and learn to take pride in how they look and will in turn pass this to their children.

So I just returned from a long weekend of being lakeside in Michigan. We had a great time as it was closed out by a fabulous get together with good company. Although my husband and I enjoyed some much needed R &R, the mom in me was internally dialoging what made the last few days so enjoyable. Here are a few suggestions that might help you with your tots this summer:

• Keep your tot in a similar schedule. Although it‚Äôs a lot easier said than done, keep your children (especially the young ones) on a similar sleep schedule while on vacation. The benefits will outweigh any inconvenience this brings to your itinerary. Your child will feel better, in turn allowing mom and dad to maintain their sanity!




• Keep your activities ‚Äúfamily friendly‚Äù. Okay, it sounds clich√©. But really keep in mind that dining at 5 star restaurants with your toddler might raise your blood pressure as well as those around you! Instead, try visiting the local beach, museums, carnivals/festivals, parades. These are activities you can all enjoy together regardless of age.




• Keep yourselves dressed for success. This is important for both you and the kids. By dress for success, I mean dressing in versatile pieces of clothing that can be dressed up or down. You want clothing that can take you from one activity to the next. Also, pack pieces that are easy to mix and match. I have noticed firsthand that going ‚Äúnice casual‚Äù works well for our family.