Boys' Fashion

How to buy clothes that survive a boy's year

Children's clothes fail in predictable places, and buying with that in mind saves replacing things mid-term.

• Knees go first on trousers. Reinforced or double-layer knees are worth paying a pound or two more for.
• Elasticated waists outlast fixed ones through a growth spurt, and mean a child can manage the toilet independently.
• Check it washes at 40°C. Anything needing hand washing will not survive a school year.
• Darker colours between washes. Not about fashion, about how often you're washing.
• Flat seams and soft labels matter more than parents expect. Scratchy labels are a common reason a perfectly good top never gets worn.

How to size when they're growing fast

• Use height, not age. The age label is a rough average; the height measurement on the product page is the real guide.
• One size up if buying ahead, never two. Trailing hems and sleeves over hands are a trip hazard and children refuse to wear them.
• Buy shorts and tees closer to true size, outerwear slightly larger, a coat needs room for a jumper underneath.

How to fit children's shoes properly

Children rarely say shoes hurt. They just stop wanting to walk, or start scuffing and dragging their feet.

• Measure both feet in the afternoon and fit to the larger one
• Allow 1-1.5cm growing room at the longest toe. More and the foot slides forward, causing blisters and a heel that lifts
• Check the width as well as the length, a narrow shoe of the right length causes more problems than one slightly long
• Recheck every 6-8 weeks under five, every 3 months after. Feet grow in bursts rather than steadily
• Velcro or elastic laces until they can reliably tie laces themselves

Kids' watches: what actually matters

• Water resistance above everything. Handwashing, puddles, and forgetting to take it off in the bath. 3ATM is a minimum, 5ATM if they'll swim in it.
• Digital is easier to read while they're learning; analogue teaches them to tell the time. Some parents buy one of each.
• Check the strap adjusts small enough for a young wrist, adult-length straps on children's watches are a frequent complaint.
• Treat kids' fitness trackers as step counters and novelty. Heart rate sensors aren't accurate on small wrists, and children don't need to be monitoring their activity levels.

How to dress boys for British weather

Children run warmer than adults and are far more active, so they generally need less than parents assume, but they also stand still in playgrounds in February.

• Layers, not one thick coat. A fleece plus a waterproof shell adapts to a day that changes; a padded coat is either too much or too little
• Waterproof matters more than warm in most of the British year. Wet children get cold fast whatever they're wearing
• A spare set in the bag for younger children. This is the single most useful thing you can do

How to make clothes last for siblings

• Wash at 40°C or below: hot washes shrink and fade faster than wear does
• Treat stains cold and immediately. A hot wash before a stain is out sets it permanently
• Line dry: tumble drying shrinks clothes out of their size range before they're outgrown
• Wash before storing, then box by size and label. Invisible food marks turn brown over six months in a loft