A couple of weeks ago, the paparazzi captured photos of Kim Kardashian and her children as they exited a New York City hotel.
To the surprise of no one, Kim’s children (4 and 9) had on equally trendy outfits as herself, complete with matching mini Balenciaga bags that would set the average shopper back about $4k.
This definitely isn’t the first time an entertainer has stepped out with their designer-clad kiddies in tow ﹘ Angelina Jolie, Cardi B, and Kim’s sister Kylie have also made headlines for sending their young children out into the world with pretty pricey purses at one point or another.
And while I think most of us can admit that the kids do indeed look cute, it’s still easy to understand why others might have reservations about seeing youngins under a certain age sporting thousands of dollars worth of designer clothing and accessories. (Age may vary.)
I’m personally guilty of this myself. I can’t help but sneak a second glance at the preteens with the Hermès sandals and Chanel totes that hang around my local fitness studio; This goes doubly so for the seven-year-old I saw rocking a Gucci monogram coat on a flight last winter.
Realistically, I know that it’s none of my business what other people do with their money nor do I know the circumstances which led them to acquire these things in the first place; however, sometimes I can’t help but wonder if someone so young can truly appreciate the value of these items or if there are some unwritten rules any of us subscribe to regarding age appropriateness when it comes to kids wearing luxury goods.
Itty Bitty Boutiques
On one hand, one could make the case that many designer brands do have lines specifically made for kids. Gucci, Fendi, and Dior all have kids’ boutiques, with contemporary brands like Off-White including smaller collections just for the little ones.
Someone must be buying from them, or they wouldn’t exist in the first place.
So, even if the concept of designer goods for kids is a bit strange to some of us, the impression I got from the employee at Baby Dior in Paris was that a certain set of people do opt for these things more than one (ok, me) would expect.
(From what I remember from the convo, some shoppers might also actually purchase kids’ items for themselves; The Lady Dior Micro was technically a children’s item that happened to become popular with young adult shoppers.)
Disasters Waiting to Happen
On the other hand, dressing kids in designer goods can seem a bit…pointless.
Kids are messy, just as the photo series ‘The Consequences of Dressing A Child in Designer Clothes’ from The Cut shows.
We also know kids are usually more concerned with play time-related matters than whether or not their backpack is from Gucci or Gap. This fact alone can make the act of dressing a child in kiddie couture one that reflects more on the parents’ desires to appear a certain way than one really rooted in reason.
Now, I’m not a parent so I really don’t have a solid opinion on the matter. I’m just wondering how you all feel about seeing kids in designer gear. Do you let your kids wear designer items?
What about preteens and teenagers? Are designer items considered more appropriate for some age ranges versus others? How young is too young?
