Handling tweens and their demands for a rapidly-changing wardrobe can be exhausting to parents. Hence, clothes shopping for tweens is nothing short of a nightmare for some parents. Amongst the fashions and fads, many tweens always try to get ahold of the latest trendy pieces and overstock their closet. But is there a limit to the clothes? How many clothes do they really need?
You can find ideas for tween clothing in the ideas section of lulu.com, Zara, and H&M. They publish material regarding the latest trends, so you can also get an idea about it.
Parents struggling to keep track of their shopping expenditures can take a look at the following list of clothes that a tween girl needs in her wardrobe.
Tops, Shirts, and Blouses
5-6 tops and t-shirts is a good number as your tween can wear one to school each day of the week. They should also have 3-4 skirts to go with the tees. If you can wash the tees thrice a week, you can buy 3 tees. If you can wash them less often, you should buy 5-6. Depending on their material, casual tees and tops can be worn three to five times before they need washing. However, they might need more frequent washing during summer because tweens sweat a lot during summer.
For winter, keep 3-4 cardigans and sweaters. You can also buy 2 pairs of hoodies and they’re popular among tweens. You can buy sweaters in different colors and designs to keep them trendy.
Your tween will also need 2-3 formal dresses for various formal occasions.
Pants, Shorts, and Pajamas
A tween should have 3-4 pairs of casual pants and denim for wearing every day. Apart from denim, there are pants made of other comfortable fabrics, and your tween can wear them regularly.
Apart from regular pants, they also need dress pants for formal occasions. Keep at least 2 pairs of dress pants (they could be of varying colors). Fit and size are important for formal pants, so get them tailored if they don’t fit right. Keep the excess fabric inside the seam as tweens grow fast.
Tweens also need pajamas for nightwear. Keep at least 2-3 pairs of pajamas. They can be of cotton or mixed cotton. They should be loose fitting and aid the blood circulation within the body as the tween will likely wear them at home all day.
Winter Wear
For colder seasons, tweens will need 2-3 jackets, coats, or trench coats. Check the fashion labels to see the designs that are trending. The materials should be comfortable and provide enough safety from the cold.
The best way to style your tween’s winterwear is to pair them with tees, shirts, or cardigans of complementing colors. You have to be extra careful while washing winter clothes as they can decay quickly if you wash them too often. You also need a certain type of detergent and fabric softener for winter clothes. They increase the longevity of the attire and also keep them smelling fresh.
School Uniform
If your tween has a school uniform, keep at least 2-3 sets to use between the washes. Tailor them to make them the right size, keeping room for growth. As the tween will be wearing them for a major portion of the day, the fabric and fit of the school uniform should be comfortable.
School uniforms are usually not trendy. However, your tween can accessorize their uniform for the purpose. You can add floral and trendy shoes, socks or varying colors, simple bracelets, and hair accessories to go with the school uniform. However, before you add the accessories, check if the school has a strict dress code for the uniform and accompanying accessories.
Workout Clothes
Your tween needs 2-4 pairs of workout clothes if they exercise or go swimming regularly. These clothes need to be well-fit, and of comfortable, stretchable material. If you invest in some good quality workout clothes rather than cheap ones, they will last longer. Wearing workout clothes that are not well-fitted can be uncomfortable and can cause injury during exercise.
You also need to keep an eye on the quality of their workwear regularly. You need to replace them immediately if they show signs of decay or damage.
Underwear
Tweens need at least 8-10 pairs of underwear. You have to wash them more often because they come in close contact with the skin. Also, if you wash the underwear too many times, it can decay quickly.
All types of underwear need regular washing. If the fabric begins losing its softness, replace them quickly.
Clothes shopping for tweens is not an easy job, but it’s not too difficult either. The numbers mentioned above are ballpark and can increase or decrease based on your budget and your tween’s closet space. However, please remember to declutter every once in a while to make room for new clothes.
Featured image: Photo by Zoshua Colah on Unsplash
