Curating the ultimate luxury wardrobe for your child can be a difficult task. What if they get Crayola markers on their new coat? What if they spill their Apple Juice on their onesie? The possibilities are endless.
But if you want your child to be super chic— let’s face it, who doesn’t—these are risks you’re willing to take.
We’ve connected with Sandra Makarem, former buyer at Bloomingdales and now founder of The Collective Child.
The Collective Child is a personalized shopping service that delivers hand-selected curations for newborns to 12Y including coveted luxury brands (i.e - Lanvin, Chloé, Stella McCartney), international hard-to-find brands (i.e - Wyken, Nupkeet 1946, Emile et Ida), and contemporary labels (i.e - DL1961, Scotch & Soda).
See Also: Celebrating Pantone's Color Of the Year "Very Peri" Through Fashion
They’ve become the go-to source for stylish parents like Jane Keltner de Valle, Joe Zee, Gucci Westman, and more to curate their children’s wardrobes - from one-of-a-kind staple pieces to vacation specific looks (i.e - chic apres-ski attire for a trip to Aspen over the holiday).
Keep reading for Sandra’s tips on creating the most fashionable wardrobe for your mini-me.
As you approach developing your child's wardrobe, my advice is to start with the basics, then find your statement showpieces and finish it off with accessories that enhance your wardrobe's foundation. This is the same process that The Collective Child’s personal shoppers use when putting together each assortment that is shipped to our members, regardless of it being for a regular shopping appointment or personal request for a special occasion, “ Makarem.
“While there is a balance between everyday and occasion pieces, a focus on versatility should not force you to pick one or the other. See below for some of my favorite items in building out a luxury wardrobe for children from newborn to 12Y.”
Everyone notices (and can find) some trendy accessory or "show" piece, but a true sign of style prowess is the person who can nail their basics. When we curate a wardrobe for our members at The Collective Child, we always include some essential basics that can both pair with more elegant designs and accessories but also stand comfortably and stylishly on their own. My favorite right now? This off-white soft kimono jumper from Oeuf - a New York-based brand known for the high quality of its fabric. I love this piece for its versatility. It can serve as a late-night PJ before baby's bedtime while you're entertaining friends or provide warmth and comfort on a late-night flight home after visiting the grandparents.
Once securing a foundational basic for home, it's time to explore some functional and fun basic layers, especially for those in more seasonal climates. Many of our members at The Collective Child live in the Northeast and travel often to Europe, so we love finding layers that are both functional for the Fall/Winter seasons, but can also add some sophistication and flair to punctuate your look while exploring the West Village or Le Marais with your little one. I love this gray garter stitch cardigan from Cyrillus - a Parisian brand I discovered back in 2017 during a trip to Paris. It's warm, easy to take on and off, and pairs well with both dark and light colors.
The final piece to the foundation of essential basics for your child's wardrobe is a versatile sock rotation. While often overlooked and forgotten when putting together a wardrobe, socks - especially for babies who, let's face it, would rather chew on shoes than wear them - play a relatively important part in tying the bow on your child's daily outfit. When friends with children ask me about my go-to essentials, I always recommend Bonpoint's "day-of-the-week" sock set that has great tonal variety to put the final touch on multiple outfits during the week. For those looking for some more flair, I love Falke's net baby socks, which provide the perfect little detail to elevate a look on a special occasion.
With our essential and versatile basics in place, we can now build off this foundation in fun, colorful directions to play off your favorite looks and shine a light on your child’s personality. As part of The Collective Child’s personal shopping service, we always listen to our members' feedback on style preferences to find showpieces that match their child’s style. For resort, I’m really loving the Scotch and Soda collection. It’s filled with color and print which work perfectly if you have plans this winter to enjoy a warm getaway trip to the Caribbean.
Across styles, geographies, and personalities, one of our biggest requests from our members for girls is the traditional smock dress, a perfect option for a special occasion in the Spring/Summer seasons that is both sophisticated and playful. Kidiwi, another of our go-to Parisian brands, is my personal favorite for smocked dresses, as the cut and stitching is all done by hand, leaving each of their dresses full of unique and special details that you can treasure as your own.
For a more everyday feel, we love incorporating Buho Barcelona for a comfortable yet fashionable look. The brand is known for its soft fabrics and unique silhouettes. These Buho trousers sell out every season.. who can blame them as they are so cute!
Accessories can be playful enhancements to your primary wardrobe or statement pieces that take center stage. Regardless of your angle, these are necessities to round out and elevate your wardrobe to its full potential. For the approaching Spring/Summer season, sun hats and bucket hats are a must-have. My favorite sun hat, with scalloped edges, is from Chloe and this bucket hat from Bobo Choses is top of the list, too.
The final accessory to tie the knot on your child's wardrobe is the perfect shoe. Similar to adults, there is an abundance of styles, materials, and functionalities to consider. As we style our members' wardrobes, we try to take all of these elements into consideration. For instance, we focus on soft-sole shoes for those with babies, likely selecting a pair from Donsje, a Dutch brand known for its extremely soft and well-treated leathers. For parents with toddlers, I recommend a pair of cool Veja sneakers that can tie any look together.
Photography by: Courtesy The Collective Child
