Five Easy Pieces - Mix and Match Wardrobes for Kids - by Meredith Simmons

Let’s face it, life is hectic enough without having to worry about whether your little guy or gal is going to have a matching outfit to wear every day. To the relief of parents everywhere, there are several fashion forward target="_blank">baby and children clothing lines that offer enough mix and match pieces to stretch the days between laundry to a palatable number. (Baby’s top gets soiled? No problem, just pull another one that goes with those pants out of the drawer). With as little as five pieces -- two tops, two bottoms, and a jacket or cardigan -- you can have as many as six different outfits.

One of our favorite mix and match brands is the Australian line target="_blank">Oink!Baby and their new Jaffa fashion collection. Oink!Baby Essentials offer an assortment of body styles in a variety of coordinating prints and solids for infants 3-24 months. Most items are priced between $15 and $20, (jackets are $25, beanies $7), so for less than $100 you can get enough pieces for a mini-wardrobe. The Jaffa fashion collection expands from infant to toddler sizes, and each season’s collection revolves around coordinating color schemes and themes. While a bit pricier than the Essentials, the Jaffa items also offer more unique details and fabrications.

For Euro-minded shoppers, the Dutch line Cakewalk has long been a mix and match favorite of target="_blank">upscale children’s boutique shoppers. Featuring unique prints and fabrications with a proclivity towards whimsicality, the Cakewalk Collections are really made to mix, not match – florals with stripes, plaids with prints, anything goes.

Boys being boys, the more simplified their wardrobe choices the better. Charlie Rocket’s seasonal collections are built around the basic premise that virtually everything in a collection can be worn together, (although not at the same time, of course, even though layered looks are a strength of the line). That, combined with the durable yet comfortable California casual style of the line, has made this brand a favorite of boys and moms all over the country.

There are enough great mix and match wardrobes out there to satisfy even the most discerning tastes, so here are some suggestions for taking full advantage of this fashion wave:

•Challenge Conformity – Don’t be afraid to mix prints, plaids, and stripes from the same collections and/or color families.

•Promote Independence – Mix and match wardrobes are a great opportunity to allow your child to exercise independence and establish their own fashion identity.

•Accessorize! – One or two accessories, (a hat, a pair of shoes), may be all you need to coordinate with your entire mix and match wardrobe.

•Mix and match wardrobes are perfect for twins, triplets, etc., allowing for a coordinated but not matchy matchy look. Parents of multiples have enough to do without playing wardrobe coordinator!

About the Author

Meredith Simmons writes for target="_blank">Tutti Bella, an online children's boutique offering mix and match target="_blank">clothing for babies and children.