Style Guides
What Should Kids Wear for Family Photos? An Autumn to Christmas Guide
The colours that photograph beautifully, how to dress siblings without matching, and the pieces we reach for, from autumn walks to Christmas morning.
By Sameen Rizvi, founder ·
Updated
The short answer: Dress children in soft, solid colours that photograph well, such as ivory, cream, camel, moss green, burgundy and navy, with no more than one gentle pattern per child. Choose real texture (knit, tweed, smocking, a good collar) over logos or slogans. Then tie the family together with two or three shared colours, not identical outfits.
Every autumn we get the same question from parents: what should the children wear? Family photos are the pictures that end up framed, printed in the Christmas card and passed down. That's the reason to dress children in something that will still look right in twenty years. Here is how we think about it, piece by piece.
Which colours photograph best for family photos?
Cameras love warm neutrals and deep, earthy tones. They flatter every skin tone and sit beautifully against autumn leaves or a Christmas tree.
- Best: ivory, cream, camel, oatmeal, moss green, olive, burgundy, navy and soft blue.
- Use carefully: bright white, which can glare in sunlight (ivory is kinder), and pure black, which loses detail in shade.
- Avoid: neon colours, big logos, cartoon characters and slogans. They pull the eye away from faces and date a photo instantly.
A simple rule: one pattern per child. A Fair Isle sweater, an argyle shirt or a check pair of shorts is plenty. Keep everything else around it plain.
How do you coordinate siblings without matching?
Matching outfits can look like a uniform. Coordinating looks considered. Pick a palette of two or three colours, then give each child their own piece within it.
- Same colour, different pieces: one child in an ivory knit, another in an ivory blouse with a brown skirt.
- Same piece, different colours: our Laurent Cricket Sweater comes in the original ivory with pale blue and yellow trim, and a new ivory with burgundy trim for Autumn / Winter. Two friends or two brothers can wear one each.
- Unisex knits: the Sébastien Fair Isle and the Amico Spaniel Sweater work for boys and girls, which makes brother and sister photos easy.
Shop the look
The Sébastien Fair Isle Sweater$70.00Pre-order
The Amico Spaniel Sweater$70.00Pre-order
The Laurent Cricket Sweater$70.00Ready to ship
The Laurent Cricket Sweater in Ivory & Burgundy$70.00Pre-order
What should a boy wear for family photos?
The classic answer is still the best one: a collared shirt, shorts with braces and knee socks. It looks smart without looking stiff, and little boys can actually move in it.
- The base: the Oliver Braced Shorts, a brown windowpane check with cross-back braces. Pair them with knee socks in cream or navy, and brown or navy shoes.
- The shirt: the Henri Double-Breasted Shirt in cream, or the Étienne Argyle Shirt in ivory if you want a little pattern.
- The layer: if it's cold, add the Antoine Toggle Cardigan in olive. Leave it open so the collar shows.
Skip the clip-on tie. A good collar does the same job and looks far more natural on a small boy.
Shop the look
The Oliver Braced Shorts$55.00Ready to ship
The Henri Double-Breasted Shirt$45.00Ready to ship
The Antoine Toggle Cardigan$70.00Pre-order
The Étienne Argyle Shirt$60.00Ready to ship
What should a girl wear for family photos?
Choose one hero piece and let it lead.
- A dress: the Cécile Bow Dress in blush pink for something soft, or the Camille Hand-Smocked Dress in ivory satin for something special. The Camille's ruffled Peter Pan collar and hand smocking are exactly the kind of detail that shows up in a close portrait.
- A blouse and skirt: the Amélie Classic Blouse, with its Peter Pan collar, small bows and puff sleeves, tucked into the Juliette Pleated Skirt in brown herringbone. It's a little more grown-up, and lovely for girls who don't want a dress.
- The finishing touch: white or cream tights, and a simple hair bow or band in one of the family colours.
Shop the look
The Camille Hand-Smocked Dress$85.00Ready to ship
The Cécile Bow Dress$65.00Ready to ship
The Amélie Classic Blouse$45.00Ready to ship
The Juliette Pleated Skirt$45.00Ready to ship
Outdoor autumn photos or indoor Christmas photos: what changes?
Outdoors in autumn, you need a layer that looks good on camera, because children won't keep a puffer jacket on for long. A tailored coat or tweed jacket solves it.
- The Colette Heritage Coat, double-breasted cream tweed with a Peter Pan collar, is the piece we'd choose for a park or orchard shoot.
- The Eloise Tweed Jacket is lighter, and pairs with its matching Eloise Pleated Skirt.
- For boys, the Maxence Shawl Collar Cardigan in navy is warm and looks smart over a collared shirt.
Shop the look
The Colette Heritage Coat$90.00Ready to ship
The Eloise Tweed Jacket$70.00Ready to ship
The Eloise Pleated Skirt$40.00Ready to ship
The Maxence Shawl Collar Cardigan$75.00Pre-order
Indoors at Christmas, you can go lighter and richer. Swap the coat for a knit: the Odette Rosebud Cardigan is cut slightly shorter so it sits neatly over a dress, and burgundy pieces like the Amico look wonderful next to a tree.
Shop the look
The Odette Rosebud Cardigan$75.00Pre-order
- The Cécile Bow Dress
$65.00Ready to ship
- The Amico Spaniel Sweater
$70.00Pre-order
What about sizes and fit?
- Our Classic pieces come in sizes 1Y to 5Y. Most of our Autumn / Winter knits run from 1Y to 10Y, so older siblings can join in.
- Knitwear has about 3 to 4 inches of room over the chest, so it layers over a blouse or shirt. It fits true to size with a relaxed shape. Between sizes, size up.
- The Adèle Buckle Sweater is cut generously, so consider sizing down. The Odette is cut slightly shorter by design.
- Try everything on a week before the shoot, not the night before. It leaves time to swap a size.
Full measurements are on every product page.
A photo-day checklist
- A week before: try on every outfit, including shoes and socks.
- The night before: steam or press collars, pleats and smocking. Collars are the first thing the camera sees.
- On the day: bring a spare top for the youngest and a cardigan for anyone who gets cold.
- Dress children last, right before you leave, and pack snacks that won't stain (no berries or chocolate).
- Check one thing in the mirror: is any logo, slogan or bright colour pulling the eye? If so, swap it.
If you buy one piece
- For a boy: the Oliver Braced Shorts. Every shirt and knit above works with them, and they'll be worn long after photo day.
- For a girl: the Camille Hand-Smocked Dress. It's the one that makes the portrait.
Frequently asked questions
Should siblings match in family photos?
They should coordinate, not match. Choose two or three colours and give each child a different piece within them. It looks natural, and each child still looks like themselves.
What colours should you avoid in family photos?
Neon colours, large logos, busy all-over prints and slogans. Bright white can also glare in sunshine, so ivory or cream is a safer choice.
When should I order outfits for family photos?
Our Classic pieces are ready to ship within 1 to 2 business days. Our Autumn / Winter knits are on pre-order, estimated to ship November 16 to 24. That makes them a good fit for December and Christmas photos, but for an October or early-November shoot, choose from the Classic collection.
Do you ship for free?
US orders from $60 ship free.
Find your family's look
Every piece in this guide, in one place. Or, if you're dressing a grandchild, niece or nephew for the photo, start with our gifts.
Sameen Rizvi is the founder of Petite Loom, a childrenswear label designed in Chicago and inspired by European heritage design.