Do Kids Have a Style Gene?
As a mother, raising a fashionista child is not always easy. There are sometimes multiple wardrobe changes each day. There are handbags. Jewelry. Nail polish. Shoes. And more.
The photo to the left is my child at the age of three. She loved hairbows. In fact, she loved them so much that this particular day she decided to wear every single one she had (note the coordinating jewelry – not pictured were the matching purse and shoes with hairbows). People ooh’d and aah’d at her. They told her how great she looked and commended her on her style. She did this again every day for weeks until came up with some other fashion statement.
She has lived her life like this, and now four years later at the age of 7, nothing much has changed. She still has a great eye, coordinates great outfits and always accessorizes them accordingly. Did I mention that she asks me to take a picture of every single outfit she wears? This was her tonight after commenting, “I love how my pink shoes really look cool next to my black and white dress. And my blue purse makes it all look great!” Check her out:
I have often wondered if this child has a style or fashion gene. Something intrinsic that causes her to pick things up and know what goes together plus what will look good on her. Others have commented on it. My husband and I have talked about it as well.
The article, Fashionista Kids Apparently Have a ‘Style Gene’ seems to disprove my theory by stating a child is “ a consumer who can only exercise her agency via adult parental proxy, in a marketplace that is designed and run by adults. Adults whose job it is to pay attention to trend forecasting reports and Pantone’s colors of the season-after-next.”
GOOD READ: Do You Have Swagger? 20 Children with More Style Than Their Parents
They say no but I say yes. This theory may be true if we only shopped at one store but honestly I cannot even tell you how many stores (both online and in person) we shopped at to compile my daughters wardrobe. It is more than 20.
This isn’t Garanimals where she matches the tags. She picks shoes from one place, a purse from another and a dress from yet another. They may not even be from this season. She puts them all together and comes up with something great. Something that she loves and something that I say: YES. She does have a style gene.
DOES YOUR CHILD HAVE A STYLE GENE?
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Things are very different with my son. First of all, he’s only 2 and doesn’t care which clothes he wears or what colors.
But when it comes to shoes he has definite opinions.
Some days he wants the black sneakers that light up or his grey sneakers that seem to go with anything.
His style gene if definitely targeted to footwear.
That is too funny! Better start saving. Shoes are the most expensive part of the outfit sometimes!!
I completely disagree with the article – my daughter is like yours, and definitely was born with a sense of her own style!
ME TOO, JENN! I thought that was ridiculous. They clearly have never met our children!!
My boys have no interest at this point, but I do think that style and fashion is something people just have an eye for! It looks like she definitely does!
She definitely just has an eye. She always has.
Haha. I have one of these. At 6, she can get herself coordinated and dressed, head to toe, with accessories, better than her 9-y/o sister! It’s hilarious. Glad one of my girls got the style gene!
I know. Me too! My younger one needs a serious fashion intervention!!
I have one too! She is now 9 1/2 and still loves matching polka-dots wit stripes, and has an entire collection of chic leg warmers.
See? There is definitely a style gene.
Love it…and if Disney princess outfits count as a style gene my daughter has one for sure. I’ve been indulging this summer and am slightly worried about returning to school in “normal” clothes in the Fall!
Such a cutie my girls definitely have the style gene!
Oh yes, my daughter definitely has a style gene! At 7 years old, she knows what she likes and it’s not necessarily the way I steer her. I am trying to let her be an individual…within reason, of course…:)
I go through the same thing and there are definitely times I want to make her change but I stop myself because there are larger battles.
What a great gene to have. She shows style and knows how to make her accessories pop. I love that you are so supportive of her style. She is precious!
Thanks Renee!
That is awesome! I WISH I had her style gene. I really have to try hard when coming up with coordinating looks from other stores. (She is adorable btw!)
So cute! My SON has the style gene, how crazy is that? My daughter wears anything, but my son likes certain colors, designs, has opinions on shoes, you name it!
Oops, not sure what happened to my previous comment . . . anyway . . .
My oldest daughter want’s to be a fashion designer when she grows up and is always telling me what I should and shouldn’t wear. I think she definitely has the style gene!