If you're a parent, you've been there. It's a holiday, or a family gathering, or a vacation, and you want your kiddos to look perfect in all of the photos. Unless you have twins, getting multiple matching looks together (especially if you don't want the kids to look identical) is a very daunting task. So how do you coordinate looks across different ages and genders without going crazy? We got you covered with our easy guide!
Coordinating the Look:
First step is to make a plan. We're curating a look here, so you need to pick your pieces with intention.
Pick an "anchor color" like a soft sky blue for an outdoor photoshoot, or a pumpkin orange for autumn pictures. This anchor color is going to be what ties together all of the looks, and needs to play a main role in each outfit. Avoid adding any other standout shades to the color palette after you settle on your anchor color. Too many colors mixing makes them look less cohesive.
When you have your anchor color, shopping for the main outfit pieces is a breeze. You can walk into a store, let your eyes wander until it finds the anchor color, and then you can look around. No need to get lost in clothing racks for hours waiting for inspiration to strike!Â
Next, pair your anchor color with a neutral. Cream, beige, grey, or black are examples. Again, try to stick to just one or two neutrals. If your anchor color is blue, but you have one kid wearing black, one wearing khaki, one wearing cream, and one wearing white, it will not look as cohesive as you want.Â
Pro Tip: It's important that you stick with just one anchor color and neutral. Instead of adding more colors to the mix, consider adding different patterns or textures if you think your photo needs more depth or variation.
Let's See it in Action:
Let's say you have three kids: a teenage girl, a little boy, and a baby girl, and you're putting together outfits for a photoshoot on the beach in the spring. Let's say the anchor color is marine blue, and the neutral we're pairing it with is cream. Marine blue and cream together creates a nice nautical palette, like oceanwater and sand, perf for the occasion, and has a ton of potential for outfit-building.Â
For baby, let's do a romper with nautical stripes. For brother, a neutral shirt with marine blue embellishments and solid marine blue shorts to match, for something simple yet sophisticated and put-together. For teenage sister, a marine blue gingham set is perfect, and you can throw in a sweet coastal-inspired accessory, too. You have a variety of textures and prints, but the same core color palette, so everyone will look perfectly cohesive and unique!
Pro Tip:Â Give older kids "veto power" over small parts of the outfit, like accessories. They're allowed to say "no" to an accessory and suggest a replacement. When they feel involved, things are way less difficult for everyone!
Many brands we carry like Rylee + Cru design their clothes with coordination in mind, so you'll find similar prints and color palettes for babies, boys, girls, teens, and adults in our shop, which makes matching-look shopping a breeze. Styles for babies, boys, girls, teens, and women, all seamlessly coordinated. We have a mommy/mini outfit guide, too!
Do you feel more prepared for your next family matching photoshoot? Good! If you're on the hunt for matching pieces, check out our selection!