Kids' new arrivals: clothing & shoes - Page 8

New kids' clothing built to last

Children outgrow things long before they wear them out, which is the one problem kids' clothing has that adult clothing does not. We build for it. Seams are reinforced where knees and elbows meet gravel, cuffs and hems are cut with a bit of room and adjusters where they help, and fabrics are chosen to survive a wash cycle several times a week without going thin or losing their colour. Waterproofing gets the same treatment it does on adult kit, because a wet child on a school run is nobody's idea of a good morning, and linings are soft enough that they actually get worn rather than argued about. Zips are sized for small hands and gloved ones. What arrives new each season is mostly refinement, a better hood shape, a warmer fill, a fastening that a five-year-old can manage alone, alongside the pieces that stay because they already work. Buy it once and it should reach the second or third child. Browse everything in our kids' clothing and accessories.

New kids' shoes that keep up

Feet grow faster than anyone budgets for, so shoes are the thing parents replace most and think about least. Measure rather than guess, and measure both feet, since one is almost always slightly longer. Leave roughly a thumb's width of growing room, not more, because a shoe that is too big trips children up and wears unevenly. Beyond fit, look at the outsole, since playgrounds, wet grass and climbing frames need grip more than anything technical. Waterproof linings earn their money between October and March. Fastenings matter more than they look: a strap a child can manage alone saves ten minutes every morning, and laces can wait. Socks matter too, because a thin or bunched pair undoes a good fit entirely. Check sizing every couple of months rather than waiting for complaints, since children rarely mention a tight shoe until it has been tight a while. Shoes are also worth buying new rather than inheriting, because a previous owner's wear pattern is already moulded into the sole. Everything currently available sits in our kids' shoes and footwear.