As the fashion frenzy sweeps through the whole world, it doesn’t miss the tiny tots that tag along with stylish parents. Chic couples want their kids to look equally trendy, but with comfort and style.
Visit any kids’ store and one would hardly see the very typical and rather boring designs, patterns and colours. The notion that the traditional patterns alone give comfort to the baby might seem a little absurd in the age of options and numerous choices, even for infants and toddlers... something that young mothers no longer think to be an extravagance. Mumbai-based housewife and new mother Sharon Farrell says that shopping for her baby daughter is more of a pleasurable activity for herself and her husband than plain duty, and it is much more fun given the interesting variety available. “What we look for is her comfort in the humid Mumbai weather, apart from the ‘looking good’ part,” she shares, adding further, that cotton, linen and hosiery is much preferred by most mothers of today; though some of her friends even pick soft denims for their babies. “Even the patterns and prints have changed over the years. We prefer more subtle designs like tiny flowers, teddies, butterflies, balloons etc, rather than bold prints or plain colours. Also, the colours are almost always soft pastels,” Sharon says further.
Trends in baby fashion have sure changed big time. But then young parents aren’t to blame, are they really? With the new wave of celebrity babies sporting the latest styles and looking ‘super cool’, it is bound to attract some fashion savvy eyes! Be it Tom Cruise’s baby Suri, Britney Spears’ boys or our very own Malaika Arora Khan’s boy or Shahrukh’s kids...they’re all dressed in trendy tees and jeans and rompers right since the day we saw them!
“The infant and toddler apparel market has grown by leaps and bounds since the past couple of years,” says home-based Designer and Entrepreneur Amita Bhide. She also adds that trendy colour palettes for baby clothes and wrapping blankets and sheets are pomegranate, pink, pista green, ash gray, turquoise, aqua etc. Pink for baby girls never goes out of style just like polka dots, says Amita who has been dealing in baby apparel for over 10 years and shares her observation. “However, some old styles like gathers and flares right down the neck and habits like using old, used sheets and sarees for baby apparel, are kind of out dated now. The purpose of giving comfort to the baby is served by the latest styles and fabric,” she says.
Soft jeans pants and jackets with pure cotton tees, or cotton or thick hosiery rompers, leggings and overalls in pastel shades are in total demand these days, especially for daily wear, says Amita. While for a more functional and ‘dressed up’ look, silk and velvet with soft cotton lining is very popular says Designer Sheetal Banavalkar-Kolwalkar. “Baby wardrobe has now become luxurious yet practical,” she says, adding, “Tunics, kimonos, kurtis etc are also quite in for functional wear; however, the fabric selection here is crucial as fabrics for grown-ups can’t be used for babies.”
Clearly parents are doing their best to keep their kids ‘in tune’ with the latest and apparel manufacturers are keeping up too. Plus the best part is that all this and more is available in all possible price ranges! So style matches comfort, convenience and budget too... what more can you ask for your kid?
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