Belette

Today’s kids have lots of shirt options. The styles, fabrics, and fasteners chosen should be age and event appropriate. When selecting clothes for younger children, pick shirts with fasteners that the child can manage alone. Otherwise, be prepared to be available to help him or her get dressed.

Some styles, especially button-down shirts, are versatile enough to go from a casual to a dressy setting. Most button-down styles can either be worn tucked in or outside of the child’s waistband. The lifespan of these types of shirts can also be extended over multiple seasons by adding a coordinated t-shirt underneath and leaving some or all of the buttons undone.

Since kids are often messy, select fabrics that are easy to care for. Avoid 100% cotton unless ironing is not an issue. Man-made fabrics usually wash well, and many do not need ironing as long as they are put away as soon as they are dry. Check the care label to get an idea how easy they will be to launder.

Girls can often wear boys’ shirts, especially t-shirts. Beware of mixing button-down shirts between the genders, however. The buttons and buttonholes are reversed for boys’ and girls’ shirts.