As a fashion loving mother of four mini fashionistas, I look forward to dressing my daughters for all of the holidays. Before my girls took their first real step, I designed them four matching red, white and blue tutus with dazzling sequin headbands for the Fourth of July. Oh yes – I am one of THOSE MOTHERS. I am as passionate about holiday dressing as Carrie Bradshaw is about Manolo Blahnik shoes. Many women have the desire to add some pizazz to their child’s wardrobe during the holidays, but fear their choices will shriek “fashion faux pas” instead of “fashion fabulous”. Fourth of July is the perfect holiday to step outside of your safe zone and experiment.
For those who have waited until the final hour to shop for Independence Day, here are some options you can easily create for your little fashionista without spending a lot of time or money.
Rockin’ Red, White and Blue
Girls of all ages love skirts that swing back and forth when they walk and give attitude when they talk. When you are shopping for skirts for the Fourth of July, make sure to search the sassy racks. If your daughter loves skirts, it will be easy to duplicate the look in the picture. Red, white and blue tulle skirts can be found on my online boutique twinstwicetutus.com (see link below). You can also check out your local dance store. They specialize in selling tutus and leotards and most always sell tutus in a variety of colors. Try to find a red or blue tutu. Some of these tutus can be rather short, so pair with white shorts underneath for appropriate coverage. Add a plain white tank or one of the suggestions below and Voila – she will be a vision of superstar fashion.
Shimmer and Glimmer Tops
If you choose to go more dramatic on the bottom, take your basic top and add a touch of sparkle. To create the look of the tank in the picture, try Target stores for basic camis. The Cherokee brand makes an affordable cami that is priced under $9. This has an adorable fit with a ruched neckline and adjustable straps. A fitted style stays tucked in the skirt and portrays a fancier look. Then to add your “bling”, look for sequin iron on appliqués of stars or flags to place on the front of the cami. Holiday appliques can be purchased at pronto.com or any fabric store. If you know how to sew, I recommend putting a few stitches in the appliqué instead of ironing. If this look doesn’t meet the standards of your fancy nancy, there is one more accessory option. Take a thin red, white and blue striped ribbon and tie in a bow on one side of the strap.
Hats, Headbands & Hairpins Galore
Of course no outfit can be complete without something snazzy for her hair. The patriotic headbands will showcase her spunk and can be found at buycostumes.com. Try three thin red, white and blue glitter headbands. Wear them all together to show her patriotic finesse. Justice for Girls has a wide variety of sequin and glitter headbands in a variety of colors.
Moms Can Dress Up, Too!
Of course mom should dress up too. Try the basic ruched tube top in red at Arden B in stores or online. The ruching camouflages through the midsection and is very reasonably priced at $9. Start a new Fourth of July tradition this Summer by dressing the entire family for picnics, parades and poolside fun!
About the Author
Leisa Naples is a mom of two sets of identical twin girls one year apart. She is a mom on a mission to help other mothers around the world teach their young children all about healthy living. Leisa is the star, host and producer of over 100 short episodes of Living Well with Leisa™, which aired during news programs locally and nationally. She also stars in ESPN’s Flex Appeal, which has been airing for over 10 years, reaching over 80 million homes worldwide. With over 15 years of experience as a Lifestyle orrespondent, Leisa has been featured endorsing fitness products and giving wellness tips in USA Today, Shape, Muscle & Fitness, Cosmopolitan and many more. She has also hosted and produced several commercials, infomercials and fitness videos as well as reported on health and wellness for some of the ABC affiliates on the East Coast. You may also catch her “Living Well with Leisa” articles and video reports on the Huffington Post.
Reporting on lifestyle issues is not her only passion as Leisa crosses from fitness to fashion. Inspired by her four little girls who love to dance, she started her own line of children’s fashionable dancewear, appropriately named Twins Twice Tutus. She offers a full line of leotards and practice tutus for jazz, tap, ballet and hip hop for toddlers through teens.
