There is something about a little kid in vintage clothes that gets me every single time.
The tiny collars. The old overalls. The floral dresses. The little cardigans. The outfits that make you immediately think, I swear I have a picture of myself wearing something exactly like this.
That’s Sunday’s Best.
Not necessarily clothes that have to be saved for Sunday — just those really good little vintage pieces that make childhood feel nostalgic before it’s even over.
Start with the piece you can’t leave behind
When I’m sourcing vintage children’s clothing, I’m not looking for an entire perfectly coordinated outfit.
I’m looking for the piece.
The embroidered cardigan. The perfectly faded overalls. The little floral dress. The sweater with something ridiculous stitched across the front. The tiny jacket that somehow survived 30 years of other kids.
Vintage children’s clothing is full of recognizable details like smocking, Peter Pan collars, floral prints, overalls and classic silhouettes.
Then you build around it.
Mix vintage with what they already wear
A vintage sweater doesn't need vintage pants and vintage shoes.
Put it with jeans and sneakers.
Throw the old cardigan over a modern dress.
Put a graphic sweatshirt over a vintage floral skirt.
Let your little boy absolutely destroy a pair of old overalls while playing outside.
Because these aren't museum pieces.
They’re clothes.
They've already made it through one childhood. We think it's pretty cool when they get to be part of another one.
Save the really special ones
And then there are those pieces.
The ones you put on them once and immediately know you’re never getting rid of them.
Save those.
Maybe someday they’ll pull them out of a box and remember being little. Maybe their own kids will wear them. Or maybe they’ll just wonder why their mom kept a tiny dress for 30 years.
Either way, we get it.
DearElliemae actually started because I was collecting vintage clothes for Elliemae to wear as she grew.
So around here, we’re pretty big believers that some of the best kids' clothes have already belonged to somebody else.