Go out to play

At two years old, Harper Beckham is fast becoming a little regular on the fashion circuit, snapped for all the celeb mags and sitting alongside US Vogue’s Anna Wintour on the front row at mummy Victoria’s recent catwalk show in New York.

Earlier this month, Harper was snapped out in the Big Apple again, this time with Daddy, rocking this season’s punk trend in pink gingham dress and Doc Marten boots.

There will be those who disapprove of such an early introduction to the world of fashion and all its fripperies, but it could be argued that at least Harper is seeing the tangible fruits of her mother’s job as a fashion designer. What’s more, she is mingling with strong and powerful women who could and should become role models. Does anyone carp in such a way about little boys, including the Beckham lads, being taken to football matches to watch Dad? Hardly, and yet the world of football could just as easily be described as frivolous and name-obsessed, with huge sums of money being splashed around for no sensible reason at all.

Children’s fashion is a surprisingly lively sector in the UK at all price levels and also in the second-hand, or pre-loved, marketplace.

It might seem ridiculous to spend a great deal of money on clothes that kids will quickly grow out of, but consider that second-hand top-end and designer children’s clothes attract a great deal of attention and interest on auction sites such as eBay. If you keep your children’s clothes in good condition, you will be able to sell them on. It’s also a good idea to check out charity shops regularly for quality- label children’s and baby clothes. Swishing parties for children’s clothes – where you swap your child’s clothes with those of friends, neighbours and so on – can work especially well, too.

Monsoon clothes are sought after, as is anything just a 
little bit different, such as the lovely autumn clothes featured here from India Coco, Tulip & Nettle and Boys and Girls.

There is nothing wrong with encouraging in children an early interest in fashion and clothes, although some parents might well feel concerned about doing so. True enough, high heels and inappropriate clothing are to be avoided, but fashion is much more than this.

Fashion is all about design, about colour and texture and proportion, about art and culture and ways of living and moving – surely all important and exciting concepts to encourage children to understand and think about?

Fashion is all about fun and discovery too. Whether dressing up or putting together their own outfits for indoor and outdoor play, experimenting with clothes helps children find out who they are, in their quest to find their place within the big wide world. What could be more important than that?

Twitter: @yorkshirefashQ