How do you do matching parent and baby outfits without it looking cheesy?

Too Loud for the Rodeo Toddler Tee in black

By Jimmie Sue, founder of Loud Little Outlaws

Short answer: Match the design, not the outfit. Put the baby in a bodysuit and the parent in a tee, hat or crewneck from the same artwork family, so it reads like a crew instead of a costume. Pick art you would wear on your own, keep the colors close, and let the joke live in the details.

I have watched every kind of matching walk through the front door of a honky tonk. Bowling teams in the same shirt. A bachelorette party in the same hat. Once, a pair of brothers in the same rhinestone jacket, which I respected, because it was my jacket and they didn't know that.

Here's what I learned from the barstool side of things: matching looks good when it looks like a crew. It looks cheesy when it looks like a uniform somebody handed out.

What makes matching outfits look cheesy?

Three things, usually:

  1. Identical garments. The same shirt in two sizes looks like a corporate picnic.
  2. Captions instead of art. If the shirt has to explain the relationship, it's trying too hard.
  3. Designs the parent would never wear alone. If you wouldn't wear it to the hardware store without the kid, skip it.

How do you match without being identical?

Pick one design family and spread it across different pieces. A baby bodysuit, a toddler tee and a parent hat can all carry the same artwork without looking like a set from a mall kiosk. That's how our Matching Sets collection is built: each design has a baby piece, often a toddler piece, and a parent piece that riffs on it.

Some combinations from the current lineup:

Headbangin' family

Rodeo family

Sheriff family

Desert family

Bad sleep family

That last family is who my hotline was built for. Nobody has ever called it to say the baby slept.

Does the whole family have to match?

No. One parent and one kid is plenty. Some families do the full set for a holiday card and never again. Others have dad in the hat every Saturday until the brim gives out. A hat is the easiest way in because it's one size and adjustable, so there's no fit to worry about.

What about siblings of different ages?

Same idea. A baby in the bodysuit and an older sibling in the toddler tee of the same design looks intentional without forcing them into identical outfits. The older one will also get to feel like the senior member of the gang, which keeps the peace for about ten minutes. Our toddler tees run 2T through 5/6T and the toddler hoodies come in 2T, 4T and 5-6T. Measurements are on the size guide.

What's the best way to order a full set?

Order everything at once. Pieces are printed to order and can come from different print locations, so they may arrive in separate packages. Production is 2-5 business days, and standard shipping usually adds about 3-5 business days. Organic bodysuits are printed overseas and take longer, about 8-14 business days.

A parent piece plus a baby piece usually gets close to free shipping, which starts at $75 (merch subtotal, after discounts). Under $75, shipping is a flat $9.99. We ship within the US, including APO/FPO.

If you're planning around a photo date, check the estimate at checkout and leave yourself a buffer. We don't promise delivery by a specific date. The photographer can wait. The baby, in my experience, cannot.

FAQ

How do you match with a baby without being cheesy?

Use the same artwork on different garments: a bodysuit for the baby, a tee, hat or crewneck for the parent.

Do you sell matching dad and baby outfits?

Yes. See the Matching Sets and Outlaw Papa collections.

What sizes do toddler tees come in?

2T, 3T, 4T and 5/6T. Toddler hoodies come in 2T, 4T and 5-6T.

Will a full matching set arrive together?

Not always. Items are printed to order and may ship separately.

xo, Jimmie Sue
Jimmie Sue

Jimmie Sue. Founder and keeper of the hotline at Loud Little Outlaws. She has opinions about baby clothes and answers the phone herself.