Suri Holmes prancing around New York City at age 3, in a pair of customized Marc Jacobs gold heels.
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Many parental eye-balls went rolling when a very lucky Suri Holmes was fitted for her first pair of high-heeled Marc Jacobs and Christian Loboutin choissures at the age of 3. Then we saw child-luxe apparel spring-board, with the launch of Gucci, Chloe and Dolce and Gabanna baby wear. Now with Rachel Zoe and her sweet baby, Skylar Morrison, premiering an enfant’s line as sophisticated as mum’s most celebrated collection, anything is game for our little bambinis.
This article is about sizing your child for luxury summer swimwear. With oh too irrestible collections and the rising costs of designer children’s clothes, it is our hope that those luxurious or indulgent purchases will last a season or two, at least for the sake of your pocketbook. Take the following into consideration and learn about swimwear that will go the extra mile.
The most important factor in determining your child’s swimwear size is his/her build. Two-piece swimsuits like this one from Scandinavian eco brand Katvig, will fit a growing child for multiple seasons if sized correctly.
Rash guard and shorts by Scandanavian eco swimwear company, Tavig.
Photo: Courtesy of Tavig.
On the most fundamental level, “swim is sized for children by their age,” says Michele Ross, president and co-owner of Letarte Swimwear, a luxury and celebrity coveted women’s and children’s swimwear collection based in Fairfield, Connecticut.
“If your child is 4 years of age, then theoretically, they are usually a 4 or 6….This is the mainstream approach,” says Ross.
Sharone Glaser, owner of the New York children’s boutique chain Z’Baby Company, a popular celebrity shopping destination, says “finding the correct swimwear fit for a child is a challenge.” The most important thing to consider about fit is your child’s build, which is determined by his/her natural body shape and proportions. Glaser, offering children progressive cuts such as Brazilian bikinis to monokinis and board shorts, says the problem lies in that most international manufacturers are not consistent in their sizing…some size 2,3,4,5 and some size just evenly (i.e. 2, 4, 6).” The best way to get a head start on determining your child’s appropriate size is by asking a knowledgeable salesperson if a particular brand runs big, small or true to size.
Here are some useful tips on sizing your child for swimwear:
Sizing For Infants:
- Age, measurement, and weight (for those under 18 months) are the most important considerations.
- Stick with silhouettes with elastic waists, so suits stay nice and snug (you want to keep those diapers to stay in place).
- While UV protected one-piece suits are very popular, infants are less likely to grow out of rash guard tops (also now offered with UV protection) paired with swim trunks.
Mojo rash guard top, $60, and swim trunks, $50 from selfridges.com.
Photo courtesy of Selfridges.
Sizing for Boys:
- Stick with drawstring bottoms that flatter, but are large enough to last for 1-2 seasons.
- Swimwear that tends to ride up it is most likely too big, so your child should try a smaller size.
Gaultier Junior swimwear trunks, $100 alexandalexa.com. Photo courtesy of Alex and Alexa.
Expect to buy swimsuits like these D&G Junior and Gaultier Junior Swimwear briefs (above) in 1-2 sizes bigger to last for seasons to come (alexandalexa.com).
Photo courtesy of Alex and Alexa.
Sizing For Girls:
- Modesty of parents taste should be taken to account, since so many girl’s swimwear silhouettes, like popular Brazilian bikinis bare more than some parents would like.
- Stick with bikinis with adjustable straps that tie on both the top and bottom.
Your child will get a lot of wear out of bikini’s with adjustable tops and bottoms, such as this one by Missoni ($188). alexandalexa.com. Photo courtesy of Alex and Alexa.
- If camp requires your child to wear a one-piece go with one adjustable straps (like a woman’s bra).
A one piece with adjustible top, like this one from Fendi ($178) from alex&alexa.com can expect to last laps at camp fitted one to two sizes larger. Photo courtesy of Alex and Alexa.
