Cute or Weird?
Since my son was young, we’ve been playing this game I like to call, “Cute or Weird?” Some of his first words were cute or weird. Over time, the game developed layers. If he answered, “weird”, I would then ask, “too weird?” Or I would assign the potential outfit to a future destination. “Ok, a little weird, but wouldn’t it be cute on an African Safari?” or “Is this too weird for a picnic at the Eiffel Tower?” Sometimes the answer was still yes, too weird. Sometimes I bought it anyway. Granted, at 2 or 3, and now 10 years old, I’m not sure he was qualified to be giving style advice, but I’ve noticed that it keeps him engaged in my love of dressing up. It also keeps him involved in every aspect of the planning for future trips.
It has been fun to watch his and his sisters style evolve over the years, especially their travel style. Everette has an affinity for headgear. On any given day, the kid will have something in her hair. Whether a bow, a headband, or a tiara or a hat, she insists on wearing something on her head. Even as toddler, she has fun translating that into the destinations she visits. With berets in Paris and raffia sun hats at the beach, she is inspired to honor her style in a way that is relevant to her location.
I am asked often how I get my kids to dress as well as they do. Short answer, I buy their clothes. The more thoughtful and in-depth answer is that I involve them in the process. We read books about destinations before we go, we notice textures and colors. What is Eloise wearing when she visits the Plaza? What is Clarise designing for her next trip to Paris?
Seeing characters in the destinations the kids are hoping to visit gets them excited to dress the part. Without looking like characters themselves, they end up looking like little fashionable dignitaries.
On the kids first trip to Paris, I kept the itinerary very kid friendly. Every playground was mapped out, we stopped to ride every carousel and spent plenty of time at the trampoline park in Tuileries Garden. I kept my shopping to a minimum to appease Atlas and his younger sister, Everette. After a few days there, as we were walking down Champs-Elysées, he spotted the familiar Zara. He very thoughtfully stopped, acknowledged that I had done little to no shopping, and sweetly granted me permission to go in. Overjoyed, I accepted the invitation, and we walked in. He loves to tell people this story, as if he’d awarded me the Nobel Prize.
I realize Zara isn’t exactly the fashion mecca – although my husband has asked me how we find ourselves inside the store in every country we visit! It’s not about the store; it’s about my kids realizing that shopping for clothes is a creative activity that allows us to express our difference personalities. When we look good, we feel good, and we always want to feel our best.
jenna swan