Everyone warned me that dressing a son would be zero fun. And I get it: there’s some seriously godawful little boys’ clothing out there. So many dorky character tees and shapeless pants and (gulp) sport sandals. And what is UP with all the camouflage? Is my toddler going hunting? Does he have a mommy-and-me ROTC class I forgot about?!
But if west coast prep is your thing, there are some terrific resources for dressing your son like the cool little gentleman he is. Think of it as an opportunity to dress someone exactly how you’d dress your husband, you know, if he’d actually listen to you. Here are some of Brooks’ and my absolute faves:
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I like collars on my boys, preferably popped, so Brooks wears a colorful rotation of sturdy pique polos from Ralph Lauren. They’re often on sale (like, hey, right now!) and wash shockingly well. (They can also be monogrammed. OF COURSE.)
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On the occasion my guy actually does wear a t-shirt, it’s always a supersoft Fin First tee or a tasteful “Star Wars” graphic tee from Crewcuts.
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Especially for potty training dudes, bottoms have to be easy on & off. My favorites are the pima play shorts from Bella Bliss (soft enough not to piss off even the fussiest toddler) and the quest cargo joggers from Tea Collection, which have a tapered fit that’s about a billion times cooler than your average cargo pant.
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Brooks’ outerwear go-to’s are intarsia sweaters from Bella Bliss, shep shirts from Vineyard Vines (buy up a size if your guy has a big noggin), and fleeces and puffers from Patagonia. These options are all a little spendy, I know, but they wash beautifully and last FOREVER, so the price per wear is actually pretty compelling. (Also: hand me-downs.)
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Because navy blue is a neutral in our house, classic Superga velcro sneakers and Saltwater sandals in navy inevitably match everything. (And if you have a weak moment like I did and buy light-up Stormtrooper sneakers and Avengers Crocs, you have to know those godawful things will be his favorites forever. Le sigh.)
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Rounding out Brooks’ essentials are the softest jammies EVER from Hanna Andersson, Euro-style striped swim trunks from Minnow, classic chinos at an unbeatable price from J.Crew Factory, and the sweetest little embroidered Wagoneer baseball cap from Tucker Blair.
I love this post because I can not stand most boys clothes – why do they all have to be blue, the pants HAVE SO MANY POCKETS, and have either dinosaurs or trucks. It is much easier to avoid clichés and pinks with girl clothes than boys! Version 2 of this would be welcomed with different styles.