5 Tips to Survive Easter Fashion Dilemmas

Easter Sunday is just days away.  If you find yourself rummaging through your child’s closet only to find that they have outgrown their clothing, don’t worry.  We have five tips to help you and your kids make it through Easter Sunday with style.

1. If the sleeves of his dress shirt are too short, roll them up.  Boys dress shirts always seem to get shorter in the sleeves before outgrowing the body.  It’s o.k. to go ahead and roll them up.  Not only will he stay cool, he’ll look cool too.
2. If your little girls dress is too short, add leggings.  Girls seem to grow at a little slower pace than boys and sometimes the dress they wore last spring still fits but is a little too short.  Adding a pair or leggings or long bike shorts underneath is a good way to solve this problem.  It will also allow them to launch into random cartwheels after the egg hunt is over.
3. If last year’s dress shoes are too small, let them wear what is comfortable as long as they are clean.  For boys whose feet seem to grow fast and furious, it doesn’t always make sense to buy a new pair of dress shoes for every holiday.  It’s perfectly fine to let him wear his tennis shoes or sandals as long as they are clean.  For girls, it’s the same thing.  Typically girls have a few more footwear choices at the bottom of their closet but go ahead and let them wear their new flip flops.  After all, it’s only one day.
4. If his dress pants simply don’t fit, let him wear his best jeans.  If you find your little man’s pants aren’t going to make the cut and you don’t have the time or resources to buy a new pair, pull out his best jeans (preferably dark wash and in decent shape) and pair it with a button down shirt.  This is a stylish look for dad and looks really cute on boys and young men.  If you have a tie, vest or sport-coat that fits, this will dress up his look even more.
5. If your tween daughter has nothing in her closet other than skinny jeans and t-shirts, raid your closet.  Even if you’re not close to your tween daughter’s size, there are garments in your closet that you can make work.  Basic dresses can be paired with a belt to customize the fit.  Add one of her favorite sweaters and no one will be the wiser.  Long button down shirts or tunics are also great for this age group.  Again, add a belt and her favorite leggings and she’s good to go.

We know that you are all well prepared parents who are ready for the spring holiday but you can use these tips to amaze your unprepared counterparts with your savvy know-how on how to survive those unexpected fashion dilemmas.

This means it’s time to stash away the swimsuits and flip flops and break out the warm weather clothing so it’s ready to go when the weather starts cooling off.

We have a few suggestions for you when going through your kids summer wear.  Sort the clothing into three piles.

1.) No way this will fit next year pile:  Assuming that no other family member is in line to wear the clothing that lands in this pile, these children’s garments can be stored in a bin labeled “For Resale” so these items can be listed in January which is the best time of year to start selling summer clothing.  If you can, photograph the items before storing them to get the best wrinkle free photos and save time when you’re ready to sell.

2.) Will most likely fit next year pile:  These clothes can also be stored in a bin labeled “Summer Clothing that Still Fits” so you know you can grab the bin in the spring to add to the kids summer wardrobe. If the kids had a growth spurt, these can always be resold or donated to your favorite charity.

3.) Won’t make it trough another year pile:  These clothes can and should be recyled/upcycled or donated.  Turn those old t-shirts into cleaning rags, re-purpose other fabrics into a quilt or some clever craft or check with your child’s art teacher to see if they can use some of the fabric for various art projects.

Now that the kids are back to school, you can enjoy some quiet time and get organized before winter break rolls around.

If you are looking for a quick and easy way to organize your child’s closet, especially if you are a mom to be, check out the handy closet dividers from The Happy Closet.

Babies grow sometimes overnight and it is so easy to loose track of what is available in your child’s current size.  Don’t miss out on getting the most value from those adorable frocks before they are outgrown by organizing your children’s clothing with the help of this clever little system.

These adorable hanging dividers come in a number of colors and patterns that will match just about any decor and they work on standard  closet rods and wire shelving systems.  Each set will help you separate little clothing by size or categroy and comes with five dividers, eighteen pre-printed removable labels – Newborn, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, 18 months, 24 months, 2T, 3T, 4T, Dresses, Short Sleeve, Long Sleeve, Sweaters, Pants, Jackets, Summer and Winter and two blank labels to customize.  The labels are removable so you can change them up as your child’s wardrobe changes.

We think this is fun idea and easy way to get more value from your baby clothing.  The more an outfit is worn the more value per dollar you get.

Tell us what you think…. How do you organize your kids clothing?

• Waterproof Shoes – Shoes that have a strong sole and are made of quick drying material are key for summer camp.
• Flip flops – Quick and easy to throw on at the drop of a hat and will protect their feet in community bathrooms.
• Swimsuits – Chances are your kids will be participating in water activities from canoeing to plain ‘ol swimming.  Make sure they have at least two swimsuits this way one will always be dry and ready to go.
• Sweatshirt or Light Weight Jacket - It’s always good to have a quick throw on jacket or hoodie to keep them warm on a cool summer night.
• Jeans – Even though it will most likely be warm, it’s smart to have a long pair of jeans or pants to cover their legs for hiking, horseback riding or any activities where mosquitoes love to nibble on ankles.
• Pj’s – Don’t send them off without some comfy sleepwear.  If they’re not into pajamas, sweatpants and sleep tees work well too.
• Shorts & Tees – Plenty of shorts and loose fitting tees for whatever the day brings are a staple for kids summer camp wardrobe.
• Sun Protection- The kids will be outdoors a lot at summer camp.  Don’t forget to pack a sunhat, a shirt with UV protection and plenty of sunscreen.
• Extras - A deck of cards, a favorite stuffed animal, a pillow and sleeping bag, stationary and stamps for writing home, a few large Ziploc bags for holding wet clothing, toiletries, photos of family to make them feel at home, towels, flashlight and bug spray.

Before you zip up the suitcase, take a moment to think through the type of activities the kids will be involved in to be sure you don’t miss anything.  Lastly, don’t forget to take along a pack of tissues for teary eyes when it’s time to send them off. 

What did we miss?  If you have any must have items to pack for summer camp that are not on the list above, leave a comment below. 

Looking for another option for donating your gently used children’s clothing?  Consider Planet Aid, a nonprofit organization that saves our landfills of 2.5 billion pounds of waste by  collecting approximately 100 million pounds of clothing and shoes each  year.

The clothing and shoes collected by the organization are donated to protect the environment and support sustainable development in impoverished communities around the world as well as on state and local levels. 

According to the Bureau for International Recycling, secondhand clothing is a way of life for those in Africa and in some countries up to 80% of the population dresses in used clothing.  In fact, approximately 70% of the world’s population gets their clothing  secondhand.  What a wonderful way to re-purpose your kids outgrown garments.

Make a donation to one of Planet Aid’s 13,000 yellow donation bins around the nation – Click here to find a bin and make a difference!

It’s also good for the kids to know exactly what they will wear for the holiday which will help ease any impending wardrobe melt downs. For parents, it’s a good opportunity to know what still fits from last year.  Any pieces that can be worn again means a few extra dollars to spend on Easter surprises.

It takes just a little extra time to make sure everything is in order for the big day.  Be smart, be prepared and your holiday will be off to a good start.

We’ve all heard of carbon footprints, but did you know you have a water footprint too?

Leading up to World Water Day, some very interesting infographics caught my eye on Pinterest about the number of gallons it takes to make just one pair of jeans (1,800 gallons!) or just one cotton t-shirt (400 gallons!).

Why all the water?  It takes this much water to grow the cotton, process it, dye it, and manufacture it into clothing.

These shocking facts inspire me to learn more about the pre-consumer issues our world is facing in just the area of dressing our kids.  And, it directly supports the concepts of a Conscious Kid’s Closet - a life cycle of conscious steps from purchase through wear and care, then passing on and recycling in a conscious way.

Most of us are inspired to buy and/or sell our kids’ clothing on resale based on post-consumer facts like these:

• Per the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,  an estimated 13.1 million tons of textiles were generated in 2010 (5.3% of total municipal solid waste (MSW), and just 14.0% percent of clothing, and footwear were recovered for export or reprocessing.

• Given kids ages 0-17 make up about 25% of the population, we can assume that clothing our kids is at generating at least 3 million tons waste each year!!

BUT, back-up a bit.  Perhaps an even more urgent matter is the pre-consumer consumption and waste of water, a natural resource we all depend on for survival, that it takes to make all these clothes in the first place!

In poking around a bit more, I found an article written by a “fashionista”, ElenaSC, on the topic of  “Water footprint: how the fashion industry and your shopping impact the Planet“.  It’s excellent!  Well-researched.  A must read.

The article almost paralyzed me with a major dilemma around cotton clothing (which I adore for my kids).

Did you know that even buying organic cotton only marginally reduces the amount of water used in the clothing production process?  And, that the type of clothing made with the least amount of water are those that you synthetic fabrics?

Although, at the end of the line in textile recycling, cotton is easily recycled.  But, synthetic fabrics?  Not necessarily.

What Can We Do?

I believe there are three key habits, that if we were to all follow, we would see enormous environmental impact:

First, when buying new clothing, make it a habit to look for quality over quantity, and try not to succumb to “Fast Fashion“.

Quality clothing most likely followed less wasteful and harmful production processes.  It may cost more, but it is worth it.  It will last longer, and it will retain some value for you to sell it.  Think of it as an investment (I always say, “If you can throw it in your grocery cart while shopping for food, it’s likely to be very low quality”).

Second, when you are done with the clothing, make it a habit to sell it, swap it, donate it, or recycle it.   If you throw fabric in the garbage where it can get wet and contaminated, it is no longer recyclable.  Note:  You can list quality clothing that is still in good condition for sale on LoobaLee.com – for free!

Third, when you have ruined or imperfect clothing, make it a habit to mend it, upcycle it, or recycle it.  With a little bit of effort and creativity, can you think of a way to get more life out of the clothing?

How about you?  Do you have ideas or thoughts on how to reduce your family’s water footprint when it comes to outfitting your kids?  Please share below – thanks!

Below are 4 ways you can help the Lorax in his quest for an environmentally conscious world in the 21st century.

1) Pick Safer Child Care Products  

Just like “glumping the pond where the Humming-Fish hummed.  No more can they hum, for their gills are all gummed.”  Many baby care products contain untested chemicals and estrogen mimicking preservatives like paraben.  Some ingredients are not even listed on the packaging because they are labeled under the term “fragrance.”  Visit EWG.com to find what is contained in products you use such as baby lotion, shampoo, wipes, toothpaste, etc. and how they compare to others available on store shelves.  If you are aware of what your children are exposed to you can protect them so they can swim along happily like the Humming-Fish.

2) Choose Better Household Cleaning Products. 

Just like the Swomee-Swans who “can’t sing a note! – No one can sing who has smog in his throat.”  Shopping for products that contain natural, non-toxic ingredients such as the cleaning products the The Honest Company offers is a positive alternative to traditional cleaners which can unnecessarily expose kids to harmful chemicals.  Choosing safer laundry detergents, dish soap and multi surface cleaner is just a start to help our kids live in healthier environments.  If we can eliminate the toxins our kids breathe, this leaves the place where they spend most of their days and nights as a refuge so they won’t have to “escape from the smog” like the Swomee-Swans did.

3) Shop and Sell on Resale on a Regular Basis. 

Just like “ a Thneeds’s a Find Something-That All-People-Need“ - Resale sites such as LoobaLee.com offer a thnead filled inventory of existing clothing which will require no Truffula Trees to be chopped down.  Buy, sell, wear and resell.  It’s a wonderful recycle wonderland to fill your kids closets without breaking the bank or adding unwanted waste or further damage to the environment.

4) Give Back to Kids Focused Causes

Just like the Once-ler’s epiphany when a chap came to call - “UNLESS someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing  is going to get better. It’s not.”  When you are ready to part with your kids wardrobe, do some good with it all.  Soles4Souls collects gently used shoes for people in need around the world and your local Goodwill accepts clothing which they use to raise money for job training programs.  If you are an avid online seller, consider donating the money you earn to worthy children’s causes that are close to your heart.

The environment we live in and surroundings we create for our children is just like the fragile Truffula seed.  So in the words of the Once-Ler who was full of regret, “Treat it with care. Give it clean water. And feed it fresh air.”  Do what you can to make the earth grow because what you do today will be good for the future you know.

We recommend sorting the clothing that is coming out of the closets and drawers before storing it away.  Sort the clothes into three piles and follow our tips below; 

Pile #1: Clothing that doesn’t fit.  If it is in good shape, put it in the sell pile.  Consider pulling out the camera or cell phone now and snap a few pictures to get a head start on your online selling for fall/winter.  Chances are the clothing won’t be wrinkled from sitting around for months which will make your items more appealing when selling on LoobaLee.  It will also be easier to note sizing tips for future buyers which you can write on a sheet of paper with the clothing when you pack it away in clearly marked storage container.  If it is not in good shape, throw it in the clothing that won’t make it another round pile and read the tips for Pile #2.

Pile #2: Clothing that won’t make it another round.  If it is torn, tattered and unusable, consider ways to use the fabric.  Repurpose the fabric into other wearables, use it for a clever home decor project, make a special quilt, craft a tree skirt for the holidays, design a one of a kind backpack or quilted purse or simply use the fabrics as cleaning rags.  There are endless purposes and possibilities when it comes to up-cycling children’s clothing.  Browse our blog for inspiration.   

Pile #3: Clothing that stands a chance next year.  Congratulations! Your clothing will make it through another season which means you were a savvy shopper and purchased an article of clothing that will give you more bang for your buck.  Stash this clothing someplace that you can easily find when the cold weather rolls around again.  It’s a good idea to keep these garments stored in your child’s room somewhere if possible for quick access next season.  A clear plastic tubbie stored at the top of the closet or under bed storage is a great solution if space is tight.  We have cool board for organizing kid’s closets on Pinterest for inspiring storage solutions if you need a little help with that.   

If you were well organized last season, you know right where you can find the right clothes for your kids when the seasons changes quickly.  If your were not so organized, there’s always time to start a new system.

Do you have any children’s clothing organizing or storage tips to share.  Leave a comment with us below. 

Honest products include a line of toxic-free household cleaning products, shampoo, conditioner, sunscreen, lotion, diapers and chemical free wipes with trendy designs and all safe for babies and the environment.  AND, you can sign up to have them automatically delivered to your house every month.

“When I became a mom, I finally became the person I am, that I always should have been,” said Jessica. “It’s the most satisfying job in the world. But, it can also be overwhelming and confusing. I created The Honest Company to help moms and to give all children a better, safer start.”  The website states, “We tried to think of all the qualities we would want in a dream brand – savvy style, sustainability, and extraordinary service & convenience all wrapped in a passion for social goodness, tied with a bow of integrity and sprinkled with a little cheeky fun.”

If that’s gotten your attention, it’s easy to get started with the product line by taking taking them for a test drive with a free trial.  It takes just a few minutes to answer a few simple questions to personalize your needs and your products will arrive at your door.  If you decide you love the products, orders are delivered monthly so you’re assured you’ll receive the eco-friendly products you need that are healthy choices for kids and convenient for busy parents.

We think this is a good thing!  So long as the amount of product delivered is a good fit for your needs.

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