Home Decor Ideas & InspirationBest summer clothes for kids: Where to save and when to spend?
Yes, you can build a cost-per-wear wardrobe for your kids! Here are 16 summer buys that will really last…
The best childrenswear clothing brands all have one thing in common: they make life easier.
Sure, the best kids’ clothes: look cute, keep our tiny dictators/little darlings happy, and tick off a few summer trends too. But, in reality, with the average Brit spending £1,676 a year on kidswear who doesn’t want their childrens’ wardrobes to work even harder?
Which is where the 16 best kids’ summer fashion buys stroll in. For anyone who’s ever wondered what to actually spend £££ on – and where to save (that'll be all of us then) – meet the eight iconic buys built to last a lifetime, plus the eight (easy) updates that’ll give an ’instant summer’ spin.
Spend £££ on: 8 forever fashion buys…
Keen to future-proof your kids’ closet, and even eventually their kids’ kids’ closets too? Invest in brand icons that just don’t date. Durable, practical, and timeless – these eight hand-me-down heirlooms are easily dressed up or down and – with the right care – will be treasured for generations. Call it an ‘investment’, and equip your pint-sized progeny with these pieces…
Trotters Dungarees, £55
Unisex, hard-wearing, do-it-all-dungas, from the masters of occasionwear, Trotters. We love: Trotters Kids' Marnie Stripe Dungarees, from age 2 to 11 years.
The Salt-Water Sandals, £50
Comfortable, and with adjustable rust-proof buckles, these iconic sandals can be worn in water and put through a cool machine wash. We love: Salt-Water Children’s Surfer Leather Sandals – in mustard, navy and tan, and sizes 5 Jnr to 2.
The Confiture Collar, £30
The stylists’ number one trick for sprucing up an anyday top or frock? A collar. But you knew that. Long before we grown ups went collar-crazy, Confiture was your first (and last) stop for classic kidswear collaring. We love: Trotters Confiture Ava Embroidered Collar Top, from 3 months to 11 years.
The Sun Hat, £21
By all means dabble in bijou baby hats (after all, who can resist this?) but when it comes to forever fashion, it pays to have your sensible cap on. Sun-safe, durable and toddler-tolerated, we love a bucket hat – and Aigle Kids Logo Bucket Hat in particular. Available in yellow, poivron, rose or dark blue.
The Occasion Dress, £45
For the best girls occasionwear dresses (nay the best kids’ occasionwear in general) bookmark Mini Boden, Trotters and John Lewis & Partners Heirloom – who have all your wedding, christening, Christmas, bat mitzvah and childrens’ birthday party outfits sorted. Do make a beeline for classic hand-smocked styles in Liberty-style ditsy prints, pastels or stripes. We love: Mini Boden Kids Heirloom Vintage Smock Dress, Ivory, for 2 to 12 years. Alternatively, give the best kids’ clothes rental services a whirl with thelittleloop.
The Occasion Shirt, £34
Should unicorn and/or dinosaur motifs not stand the test of time, there’s Reiss Kids. A quality-rich, timeless range that’s destined for family heirloom status, they surely have the best boys’ clothing category all sewn up? We love: Reiss Kids Holiday Short Sleeve Linen Shirt, from 4 to 9 years and available in navy, soft blue and sage.
The Occasion Shorts, £40
Available in stone, navy and sage, no child’s capsule wardrobe is complete without a pair of Trotters chinos. We love: Thomas Brown Kids Charlie Shorts from 2 to 11 years which have easy unisex AM>PM dressing in the bag.
The Posh Plimsolls, £24.99
A favourite of Kate Middleton – and oft adorning the regal feet of George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis – is it even summer without a tennis shoe or two? We love: IGOR Junior Berri Laceless Canvas Shoes. Available in size 20-32 – and made from durable canvas (with washable insoles) – they’re hardy, but they also boast all the credentials of a truly timeless shoe.
Total cost: £299.99 + generations of wear = Priceless
Save £££ on: Eight seasonal basics
Summer snuck up on you again? Same. Don’t panic buy, instead shop smart – with the eight best kids’ fashion updates that’ll scream ‘HI SUMMER!’ – without breaking the bank. Save your pennies on these pieces…
The Sunglasses, £6
Sat on, stretched or snapped, chances are you’ll go through a few dozen sunnies before you’ve so much as shotgunned a sun lounger (remember sun loungers? They’re what you lay down on before kids. Remember lying down? Oh, never mind…). Stay one step ahead with John Lewis & Partners Kids Plain Wayfarer Sunglasses.
The Swimwear, from £9
Chlorine, sea water, sunscreen, it all takes its toll on swimmers. Stock up on John Lewis & Partners Kids Seersucker Swimsuit; Cotton On Kids Flynn Long Sleeve Rash Vest; John Lewis & Partners Kids Keppi Hat and Mango Kids Nautic Stripe Swim Shorts, from 2 to 12 years. Prolong their wear and rinse, then soak for one hour in lukewarm water and dry them in the shade.
The Poncho, £16
Praise be for the towelling poncho. We’re not sure how we ever holidayed without one (and we definitely want one in adult size). Try John Lewis & Partners Baby Rainbow Stripe Towelling Poncho, from 3 months to 4 years. Do size-up for longevity (it will also double as a technicolour dream coat on World Book Day).
The Beach Dress, £8
Unlike the investment dress, this beauty is highly likely to get slathered in SPF, sand, sticky Soleros and/or s’mores. We can’t fault the ANYDAY John Lewis & Partners Kids Relaxed Colour Block Tiered Dress, from age 2 to 12 years. Purse-friendly and fabulous.
The Beach Tee, £5
See also: the T-shirt. Available from 2 to 12 years, the ANYDAY John Lewis & Partners Kids Boom Cotton T-Shirt will fast track kids to the summer 2022 trend bank (it’s a thing…) without breaking the actual bank.
Total cost-per-wear: £44 over 4 months = less than 50p per day
When to invest in childrenswear – a handy guide
- 0-12m = fast growth: Shop 80% basics + invest 20 % in sentimental hand-me-downs
- 12m-2yo = messy wear + fast growth: Shop 90% basics (esp. tops) + invest 10%
- 3-5yo = high wear (esp. knees): Shop 75% basics + invest 25 (occasionwear/shoes)
- 6+ = long-wear: Shop 20% long-lasting basics + invest 80% in sustainable, high quality hand-me-downs, that’ll 100% guarantee your place as the greatest great great grandparent of all time…
- All of the time: Don’t forget to invest in maintaining the clothes you buy too. A little effort and some of the the items below will help keep these pieces looking as good as new for as long as possible.
