How do you handle your children's style journey/evolution? Do you see how they dress and present as a reflection of your own style or as an extension of you? Do you pick your children's clothes and they just accept what you give them? Do they fight your choices? Do you let them create their own looks no matter what it may do to your pride? What about you grandparents? Do you appreciate how your kids allow or control their children's style choices? What about those of you without children? What do you observe?

I have been pondering this line of thought a lot lately. My daughter always had her own definite ideas of what she wanted to wear, and they were often very different from what I would have picked. I made a very conscious effort to allow her to pick her own clothing and combine outfits in her own way because I remember being as young as five and knowing exactly what I liked. I also remember feeling terribly embarrassed to wear something that I hated - even if every other child around me was wearing the same thing. I did find it really hard sometimes to let Ellie walk out of the house in certain outfits because I thought she would be perceived as a reflection of my own taste. Once I let that point of pride go, it became much easier and much more fun to watch her style evolution. By the time Ellie was nine, not long before she died, I loved many of her choices. She would sometimes pair lots of colors and textures together, and other times go incredibly simple. I really wish I could see what her style would be like now at 15.

What has taken me completely by surprise is my son! He is every bit as opinionated as his sister, and in my opinion, a little more skillful. He pays attention to fit and proportion and has some very unexplained quirks that I just have to shake my head over. (He only recently expanded his wardrobe to include shorts. Before that he was all jeans all the time.). He also went through a phase of wanting to wear the same thing every day. My MIL and SIL both informed me that he was putting a sweatshirt on over his shirt every day so that I wouldn't notice that he wore the same shirt and jeans every day for a week. This was not humiliating for me AT ALL... [sarcasm] But the boy sure does love his accessories (he has a thing for bracelets and wristbands) and he is in the fortunate position of being very small for his age (11) and getting some great hand me downs from friends who can afford some expensive brands.

All this to say, I am curious what you all think about how your children's style evolves and your part in it.

ETA: I didn't realize the first photo of Ellie was so grainy. I have added a better one.