How to get your children to wear matching outfits

Dressing siblings in matching outfits is a growing trend that makes for spectacular family photos. However, getting two or more children to wear matching outfits without them looking like identical clones – or without spending a fortune – can be a challenge.

The secret to success these days isn’t buying exactly the same garment in different sizes, but rather aiming for visual harmony. This allows you to take into account each child’s age, their need for freedom of movement and their own personality.

Below are the key tips for coordinating your children’s outfits in a stylish, practical and budget-friendly way.

Strategies for coordinating siblings’ outfits

There are different ways to coordinate children’s outfits. You can choose the one that best suits your style and the type of occasion.

The same colour palette

This is the simplest and most sophisticated way to coordinate outfits. Don’t repeat the same garment, but rather the same colours:

• Choose a palette of two or three complementary colours, such as navy blue, mustard and white.
• Dress one child in blue trousers and a white T-shirt, and the other in mustard-coloured dungarees with blue detailing.
• The overall look is neat and harmonious, yet each child retains their own identity.

Mixing prints and plain fabrics

This involves using a patterned fabric as the focal point of the family outfit:

• If you have a boy and a girl, she can wear a floral-print dress and he can wear a plain shirt in the predominant colour of those flowers.
• Avoid putting the same eye-catching print on all the children at once, as the visual effect can be overwhelming and over the top.

Same design, different garments

Many children’s brands design entire collections using the exact same fabric to create different garments:

• You could dress the younger brother in short dungarees, the older brother in long trousers, and the sister in a dress or skirt.
• This option is ideal for formal events, christenings or photo shoots, as it creates a unified look whilst ensuring comfort is appropriate for each child’s age.

Practical tips for everyday life

Coordinating outfits requires organisation so that mornings don’t turn into a chaotic scramble to pick out clothes.

1. Take growth stages into account: A crawling baby needs comfortable rompers or baby trousers, whilst a five-year-old needs sturdy trousers for running about. Don’t force uncomfortable clothes just for the sake of matching.
2. Opt for shared accessories: If you don’t want to buy new clothes, coordinating outfits is as simple as wearing the same type of shoes, socks in the same shade or identical denim jackets over different outfits.
3. Shop with the bigger picture in mind: When you’re looking for clothes in shops, think about all your children’s wardrobes at once. If you’re buying a shirt for one, look for something that matches for the other at the same time.

Would you like me to add a section on clothing brands that sell collections for siblings, or would you prefer outfit ideas for specific photo shoots?