One of my favorite parts to styling in kids is that it is all about having fun, and the fun is in the little details. At the Vancouver opening I got to spend a lot of time working with the Fashion Training team, so I wanted to pass along some fun tips and tricks.
Babies:
When it comes to styling in Babies, it's all about the "oohhh ahhhhh" factor. We want cuteness overload in this department!!!!! But truthfully, this is the "gift giving" destination so we want to show the customer that we don't only have clothes but we have all the cute accessories/toys to go along with the apparel. When styling the mannequins make sure to incorporate books, plush, and blankets to give the mannequins a more whimsical look. Just make sure these accessories don't overpower the clothes and that it feels natural, not forced.
When it comes to styling in Babies, it's all about the "oohhh ahhhhh" factor. We want cuteness overload in this department!!!!! But truthfully, this is the "gift giving" destination so we want to show the customer that we don't only have clothes but we have all the cute accessories/toys to go along with the apparel. When styling the mannequins make sure to incorporate books, plush, and blankets to give the mannequins a more whimsical look. Just make sure these accessories don't overpower the clothes and that it feels natural, not forced.
Boys:
When working in boys you will notice a pattern...they have jeans, screen tees, hoodies, and the occasional woven. And that's pretty much it. So the challenge as a stylist is how to make those items feel fresh and new from week to week, and how to make all the mannequins feel different from one another. Take the time to think about how you want to utilize your layering pieces and how fit and silhouette can drastically change an entire look. Try adding a stripe shirt under a printed hoodie, use a skinny jean and roll the hem up to create an ankle length look, keep the look mono-chromatic and add a pop of color in the shoe, button the top couple of buttons on the woven to give the older boy a similar look to what is happening in the Rail. Just remember to keep the looks and styling details realistic (nothing that looks staged or dramatic) and that the little mannequins should read more cute, and the older mannequins need to have a cool factor.
And as always, make sure the accessories are age appropriate (so no stuffed animals for the big boys!)
When working in boys you will notice a pattern...they have jeans, screen tees, hoodies, and the occasional woven. And that's pretty much it. So the challenge as a stylist is how to make those items feel fresh and new from week to week, and how to make all the mannequins feel different from one another. Take the time to think about how you want to utilize your layering pieces and how fit and silhouette can drastically change an entire look. Try adding a stripe shirt under a printed hoodie, use a skinny jean and roll the hem up to create an ankle length look, keep the look mono-chromatic and add a pop of color in the shoe, button the top couple of buttons on the woven to give the older boy a similar look to what is happening in the Rail. Just remember to keep the looks and styling details realistic (nothing that looks staged or dramatic) and that the little mannequins should read more cute, and the older mannequins need to have a cool factor.
And as always, make sure the accessories are age appropriate (so no stuffed animals for the big boys!)
Girls:
The challenge in girls is that sometimes there are just too many choices, so it is important to make sure we are paying attention to the brand or trend and that the styling feels appropriate for the customer. This is especially important for our big "tween" girl. Pay attention to the trends/product assortment, and make sure that within a grouping of mannequins they are all feel like the same customer. You shouldn't have one girl that looks boho and another that feels street/skate, they should both speak to the same trend. And just like in the boys department, take the time to think about how you want to utilize your layering pieces and how fit and silhouette can drastically change an entire look. Pair a dressier skirt back to a screen tee, add a lace trimmed shirt under a sweater to give some extra flare, or use a utility jacket to make a dress feel more casual. Just remember to keep the looks and styling details realistic (nothing that looks staged or dramatic) and that the little mannequins should read more cute, and the older mannequins need to have a cool factor.
And as always, make sure the accessories are age appropriate (so no Boo dogs for the big girl!)
Here are some additional styling pictures from the Vancouver opening. Enjoy!!!!
The challenge in girls is that sometimes there are just too many choices, so it is important to make sure we are paying attention to the brand or trend and that the styling feels appropriate for the customer. This is especially important for our big "tween" girl. Pay attention to the trends/product assortment, and make sure that within a grouping of mannequins they are all feel like the same customer. You shouldn't have one girl that looks boho and another that feels street/skate, they should both speak to the same trend. And just like in the boys department, take the time to think about how you want to utilize your layering pieces and how fit and silhouette can drastically change an entire look. Pair a dressier skirt back to a screen tee, add a lace trimmed shirt under a sweater to give some extra flare, or use a utility jacket to make a dress feel more casual. Just remember to keep the looks and styling details realistic (nothing that looks staged or dramatic) and that the little mannequins should read more cute, and the older mannequins need to have a cool factor.
And as always, make sure the accessories are age appropriate (so no Boo dogs for the big girl!)
Here are some additional styling pictures from the Vancouver opening. Enjoy!!!!