Trendy toddlers get treated to a new wardrobe each season as their parents try to compete with fashionable celebrity babies, a new survey suggests
When the news hit that 3-year-old Suri Cruise had a £2 million wardrobe and how she never wears the same thing twice, eyebrows were raised. However, it seems that British children aren’t too far off in the fashion stakes, with a survey revealing that UK parents spend a purse-wincing £700 on childrens’ clothes a year.
Dubbed as the ‘Suri Cruise effect’, high street store Debenhams discovered that style-conscious parents are spending on average £357 per child every season on clothing. Little girls get the retail therapy treatment more than boys, with daughters being spoilt with £427 worth of ‘mini me’ trend led clothes, including an average of seven dresses and five pairs of shoes every six months. However the boys don’t lose out completely, as they get treated to 10 new t-shirts and five pairs of jeans each season.
Inspired by mini fashionistas like Tom Cruise’s little madam, who’s regularly spotted in high heels, make-up and designer garb as well as Gwen Stefani’s cool dude Kingston, 3, who is always decked out the latest ‘It’ accessories for babies, UK parents want a slice of the style-action – but at a hefty cost.
Amazingly, 45% of the 1,500 parents polled admitted to updating their child’s look at least once a fortnight. As for ‘hand-me downs’, 57% of mums and dads would prefer to buy new gear than have second hand clothing for their tots.
“Brits are famed for a competitive neighbourly streak. Now it seems that where our kids are concerned, we’re keeping up with the Cruises!” Kate Liska from Debenhams said. “The amount of money some parents are willing to spend on kitting out their kids in the latest catwalk fashions would pay for a family holiday!”
If you can’t get enough of celebrity baby style, check out MFM’S guide on how to steal Suri Cruise’s style or find out where Jessica Alba’s daughter Honor Marie buys her LA playground outfits!
