Matching Kids: Best Places to Shop to Match Your Little Crew
As a mom of three kids, sometimes I get asked for advice. Whether or not they regret it later, that’s anybody’s guess. But regardless, the question I get reached out to the most on is where I shop for my kids clothing. Specifically, how the heck do I match them all the time.
Here’s the truth- I don’t match them all the time. It’s an illusion I have seemingly mastered. Of course I have hurried days where I pull the first clean (???) outfit in their drawers. No big deal, I just lock them in their cages so no one can see them on those days. Otherwise yes, I do match them a lot. A lot a lot. So first off, here are my reasons. It’s not all about the pictures!
Okay yes sometimes, it’s all about the pictures. C’mon, so cute.
Why make multiple decisions when I can make one? Figure out what kid A is wearing, locate it in the others kid’s drawers, and done.
Helps dad out. As it goes, he gets overwhelmed. When I can show him what he’s looking for by pulling one kid’s outfit, it reduces the anxiety of getting the others dressed for him and enables help for me.
Losing kids prevention. In crowded areas, like playgrounds, airports, bars, etc., I can keep my eye on them a lot easier when I’m only scanning for one outfit. God forbid they do get separated (it happens to the best of us), it helps other people place the child back to you too.
Because I can! My oldest is 5 and I know his cooperation period is ticking away quickly. So I’m having some fun creating future blackmail before they’re too cool for my vision.
OKAY so now that I have convinced you to start matching your kids daily, where to shop? Below find my top stores to shop for matching kids clothes. These brands offer a strong price value (because hello, we’re buying multiples), reach a wide range of sizes, and of course - are fashionable!
Best Clothing Brands for Matching Kids
Janie and Jack
Best for Matching: Babies through Teens(good luck with that), across genders
My Go-To For: Sharp Casual, Holiday Dress, Spiffy Shoes and Accessories (Bow ties, hats, sunglasses)
Pricing: Full price can be steep, but there are frequent 20% off everything sales and lots of coupons if you subscribe to snail mail mailing list. You can get great values with the sale on sales!
Why I Love: Best for a full range of sizes within one style and ACTUALLY being stock in most (if not all) sizes. Lots of family matching options if you are trying to match between genders. I can always find WAY too many things. And as a boy mom, this is one of the only brands that I think might actually focus on cute clothes for boys as much as girls!
H&M
Best for Matching: Toddlers through Kids. Not much overlap with true babies, but their styles run 2T-10 - a solid range to work with
My Go-To For: Trendy casual clothes that are going to get played in
Pricing: Priced right and offer lots of multi-packs of staples at a value
Why I Love: The clothes are pretty stylish, so if you like the mini adult/cool kid vibe, you can get it here at a great price! They are priced well enough that my kids can go hog wild in them and my jaw will not clench too much
Ralph Lauren
Best for Matching: Babies through Teens, select designs matching across genders but classic styles very cohesive for family matching
My Go-To For: Sharp Casual
Pricing: Tickets are on the higher end, but I have two words for you- mass distribution. You can get crazy good deals on nice items if you’re willing to bop around between department store sales a little. Ralphlauren.com also has great off-season deals!
Why I Love: Polo’s aesthetic is classic and timeless. If you add a kid or can’t find an exact match, you know that you will be able to find something similar enough to make a cute matching family one season to the next.
Gap
Best for Matching: Older Babies and Toddlers with Toddler sizing starting at 12M, Select Prints Matching Throughout All Baby and Kids Sizes
My Go-To For: Sweaters, Sweatshirts, Denim Everything, Swim, Exceptionally Cute Pajamas
Pricing: Reasonable- products are high quality and the brand is frequently offering great sales
Why I Love: In my opinion, there is a notable difference between higher end and budget children’s clothes. Not always at a glance, but inevitably by how they wash and last. You get what you pay for so to speak. Gap however has higher end ticket retails, quality and design, but they always seem to be on sale. Time it right and you can clean up on completely lovable made to last childrenswear.
Old Navy
Best For Matching: Older Babies and Toddlers with Toddler sizing starting at 12M. Impressive amount of prints offered in complete family matching (yep, mom & dad too)
My Go-To For: Fun & Spirited Holiday Matching, Pajamas, Swim
Pricing: Affordable with great sales.
Why I Love: With their Everyday Magic Value items, frequent deep sales, and baseline low pricing, Old Navy has super approachable opening prices. Despite the wallet friendly tickets, design is not compromised- with adorable trend conscious fashions. Bonus- they are owned by Gap, and I can combine my orders between brands to hit minimums for free shipping!
Mini Boden
Best for Matching: Toddlers through Kids. Some overlap and similar styling can be found with babies, big kids, across genders, and even adults!
My Go-To For: Outerwear, Nicer Play Clothes
Pricing: Higher end of this list and discounts are rarely deep, but the quality is there and the styles tend to be bold and busy, so the items will last you between multiple kids and seasons. Offer great off-season values if you can plan ahead.
Why I Love: So playful and whimsical, my children love these styles as much as I do. They breathe childhood. They are also very similar in vibe from style to style, so even if you can’t match exactly, the kids outfits will look planned and cohesive together. The outerwear is exceptionally functional AND adorable, which can be a real tough find in childrenswear.
Cat & Jack @ Target
Best for Matching: Older Babies through Toddlers with Toddler Sizing starting at 12M. Some overlap with Kids
My Go-To For: Basic Tees & Bottoms, Cold Weather Accessories, Swim
Pricing: Sales are limited, but the every day pricing is straight value (and honestly, takes away the stress of trying to wait for a sale to get the best price)
Why I Love: Like the rest of the world, I find myself in Target way too frequently- so really, its hard to beat the convenience here. Even if I can’t find a size, I know they are typically well stocked online in sizes and offer fast shipping
Carter’s & OshKosh B’Gosh
Best for Matching: Babies through Toddlers
My Go-To For: Footwear, Basic Tees, Polos, & Bottoms
Pricing: So Affordable. Can’t Beat the Doorbusters, and hardly ever “Full Price”
Why I Love: Childrenswear is their entire existence, so their sizing and ease of function is spot on. I ahve gone through I don’t even know how many shoes that end up not fitting quite right or being impossible to get on uncooperative feet- and inevitably I always end up back at Carters. Their basics are well made and have lasted me through multiple children.
The Children’s Place
Best for Matching: Babies through Kids
My Go-To For: Festive Sweaters & Basics
Pricing: Low Prices with an always on sale price model
Why I Love: Certain holidays are not just a one cute outfit and done. Christmas, Halloween- That’s a month worth of festive outfits in our household. Valentine’s Day, 4th of July, they get a week or 2 also. The brand offers fun and festive at a price that allows you to add multiple to your cart without guilt
Hope & Henry
Best for Matching: Babies, through Kids, across genders- and even adults!
My Go-To For: Dressier & Dressy Casual Events. Assortment is limited, but they have multiple colorways in near everything, which is nice is you prefer the “almost matching” approach
Pricing: Not cheap, but comparatively well priced for stylish button downs and spiffy knitwear
Why I Love: Matching is not exactly ever a necessity, but the times I consider it a borderline necessity are special occasions- think weddings and holidays. I struggle with spending a lot on dressier clothes because they are often limited use, but are often they are the priciest items! However, this brand is reasonably priced for occasionwear, and you can get it quickly on Amazon!
A few parting tips.
Timeless Prints and Patterns: Get the effect of matching without actually buying the same item. This is nice for when you add a kid, damage one of the set, or can’t find the right sizes for everyone. Think Navy & White Stripe, Camo, Rainbow, Tie Dye, and Gingham Checks
Size up: When I’m buying matching outfits I expect them to be run into the ground- and that means lasting a long time. I round up as much as I can reasonably get away with (sleeves roll) so that I can get the purchases through 2 seasons of matching minimum
Buy an extra: Okay I see I’m losing you here- Hear me out! Kids grow. It is cheaper to plan ahead by buying a future size for your oldest child (and pass the others down) than to buy a whole entire new set of matching clothes for everyone next season. Also a good tactic if one of the children is a baby that is changing sizes every 2 seconds
Close enough counts: Can you imagine my dismay when I found out I was having a third boy? No, not because I didn’t want another boy. Because I had spent the previous 2 years buying matching clothes for my older sons and now I had an odd man out. Before I could get my act together and destroy our bank account with all new sets of matching clothes, I focused on similar looks, like all in stripes, all in raglan tees, all in red shorts, etc.
Buy off season: Especially for the nicer brands, this is really the way to do it. They’re kids- their trends aren’t as fleeting as ours. Their clothes don’t become irrelevant. So check out that sale section and buy a puffer coat in April. With that clearance discount the buying multiples wont be such a shocking cart total