Updated near bottom in reply - tacky sweatshirts for Christmas?

[iluvmy2boys]

I'm thinking I'm not in love with the Hanna sweater vests, and I haven't even gotten them yet, but here's why. Literally, my boys wear their holiday outfits twice - once for pics and then once on Christmas eve for my DH's grandparents "open house". They're never comfortable in the outfits and are always begging to be changed. they prefer denim over khakis ANY day of the week. We don't go to church and we are certainly not a formal family by any means.

Is there a way to "dress" the pro fleece hooded sweatshirts from gap? I'd get them matching jeans (who knew that Ashton could still wear the 5yrs jeans at gap! LOL) and they have mostly matching shoes (both have k-swiss w/ reversible tongues, Ashton's is navy tongue and Holden's is a silver tongue). They also have matching brown boots.

Ashton has this color:
http://www.gap.com/assets/product/Main/kids/gk254117-00p1.jpg

While Holden has these colors:
http://www.gap.com/assets/product/Main/baby/bg257517-01p1.jpg http://www.gap.com/assets/product/Main/baby/bg257517-03p1.jpg

So - would it be tacky? It'd be something completely different from what I've done in the past (strictly holiday themed sweaters), but this way, I'm not spending my money on something that's only gonna be used twice (and worn for a total of about 8hrs if that) and they'll be LOADS more comfortable (at least for pics). I'll probably find l/s red tshirts or polo shirts for them to wear for the actual holiday.

[stillplayswithbarbies]

I wouldn't do it. It would kind of look like a catalog page for Gap, or an ad.

Maybe solid color sweatshirts with no writing on them would look casual and relaxed. But I personally would not do the Gap ones.

...Karen
DS Jake Feb 91, DD Logan Mar 03
http://members.aol.com/khowe14494/superpower.gif http://members.aol.com/khowe14494/borntobebreastfed2.gif

[iluvmy2boys]

What about these from Hanna then? And would you do them in the same color or each a different color?
http://www.hannaandersson.com/images/s7Style/29165_C46.jpg http://www.hannaandersson.com/images/s7Style/29165_A91.jpg

[mamahill]

I like these better than the bright GAP ones. My cousins were always significantly dressed down for the holidays. We always joked that they wore their "ironed jeans" for Christmas Eve. That said, they always wore either a nice polo or plaid shirt. Jeans can look nice if their clean and not wrinkled. I think those pullovers would look nice, as long as they wouldn't be too hot in them. I'd probably do them each in different colors.

[Samraelanelevi]

Yeah I wouldn't do it either. I prefer to have none logo items in pictures.

I think finding long sleeve polos for the holidays is a good idea and you could even use them for pictures? Or have them wear the Hanna pjs. If you do decide on something super casual like sweatshirts, maybe make it an outdoor picture.

As for the holiday-Christams Eve maybe cords would be more comfortable? What I do when we go to my Grandma's for Christmas Eve is we arrive in our "fancy" clothes (coming straight to her house from church) then after some picture taking and about an hour we change the kids into Christmas pajamas-they still look festive and cute for any more pictures and are much more comfortable. Also it is usually pretty late when we leave there and then if they fall asleep on the way home I just carry them into bed.

[2lovingkids]

I did something pretty low-key for my son last year. Can you compromise with them and go with the denim jeans and maybe a sweater instead of the fleece? I put my son in khakis and a red cable knit Gap sweater last year. I used it for pictures and for holiday and he looked really cute. I think I even put a turtle neck under the sweater. Plus, I could use the sweater through the rest of the winter without him looking so "holiday". HTH

[iluvmy2boys]

I do have the Hanna striped christmas long johns/zippers for both boys (in both green/white and red/white). I thought about doing pictures with those and then just doing the nice sweatshirts for the actual holiday. What I could do is get the india red cord overalls that Hanna has and pair them with white turtlenecks. That way it'd be festive looking but something they could wear other than at christmas (then again though, when else would they be wearing red & white?)

Hmmm .... I think I am gonna do the PJs thing for pics - maybe I could put their Christmas bears they got from their first christmas in the pic with them? (Ashton's has 1999 on it and Holden's has 2002 on it). What do ya think?

[iluvmy2boys]

I'm thinking either l/s polo shirts for the boys or the fleece pullovers might be what we use for the actual "Dress-up" part of the holiday. The boys always look way overdressed in comparison to DH and I - we always have on jeans and sweatshirts or polo shirts, etc. It just looks weird, ya know? LOL

[babymama]

I think these Hanna options are great for Christmas! I would choose matching colors (red would be my choice). You'd probably get lots more wear out of these than the standard 2x/yr, "holiday" outfit.

Lydia
Mama to Santiago, born 11/16/03

[iluvmy2boys]

the thing is my oldest son hates sweaters, which is why I was trying to get away from sweaters at this point. For some reason, fleece doesn't make him nearly as hot as sweaters do, who knows why. He's a very hot-natured kid, and due to his autism I have to be respectful of his feelings towards the types of clothing he wears/prefers. Holden does really well with sweaters, it's more Ashton I'm worried about. But I think it'd be weird if one had sweaters and the other didn't.

[iluvmy2boys]

If I get the hanna fleece pullovers I'll most likely get both boys both colors and then use the red for pics (more holiday looking) but then they'llhave the navy to wear as well for anything else. I just LOVE fleece pullovers and they seem to as well. Plus we all know how much I love hanna ;)

I could also look for a christmassy looking turtleneck to go underneath to make it more holidayish.

Thanks everyone so far for your opinions/suggestions - KEEP THEM COMING!

[Samraelanelevi]

I like the idea of the pjs with the bears-great idea! Another great idea is have them looking at a Christmas book in the picture.

As for the overalls with white t-necks, I think it's be fine. Even though I am not a fan of red overalls.

What about these tops?

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/14369.jpg


http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/14370.jpg


http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/14371.jpg


http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/14372.jpg

This Gymboree outfit is festive enough and could be worn throughout the year-and you may get more use of out the pants if you bought another matching shirt.

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/14373.jpg


http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/14374.jpg

Another idea would be to make some winter sweatshirts for the boys. IT'd be cheap and everyone would love them. All you need is plain sweatshirts in red and or green. Your child's foot print on a sweatshirt (toes facing the bottom of the shirt) is the snowman. Then you paint buttons, a nose and eyes on the snowman. You can also add vrey simple snowflakes (let the kids help). Then paint each child's name under the snowman. Or you can do a reindeer-use both feet overlap the heels to make a nose (heels toward the bottom of the shirt). The toes are the antelers. Then if you want it to be rudolf you glue a red pom pom ball on the heels. Hope that made sense.

[macassi]

We did the long johsn for a picture one year and it was very cute. I got the long johns on sale last year and I'll probably do another casual photo like that again.

I think the fleece would be very cute -- especially if you tried to do an outdoor photo. Maybe you could visit a tree farm and take their pictures by trees?

For the actual event, the could wear the fleece pullover or a red turtleneck and whatever pants. I think if you match the tops you can find something in their closet that is close for bottoms. Mine often wearing matching shirts, but their pants are sometimes different -- as each boy has a different style khaki. Most people don't notice, particularly if it isn't for a photo.

[LoveMyBabyBeans]

Jen, I really like the idea of the fleece. For starters, it's practical. You'll get tons and tons of use out of it this winter and if Ashton likes it, it's worth it. Also, I find fleece to have a real rich look to it and I think it would look nice in the photo, kind of like a sweater. I like the Hanna pulloever ones you posted.

[iluvmy2boys]

double post - sorry!

[iluvmy2boys]

The Hanna microfleece pullover w/ cords

Choice #1:
http://www.hannaandersson.com/images/s7Style/29165_C46.jpg
http://www.hannaandersson.com/images/s7Style/28608_A91.jpg

Choice #2: (stitching on shirt looks navy, hence navy choice)
http://www.hannaandersson.com/images/s7Style/29165_C46.jpg
http://www.hannaandersson.com/images/s7Style/28608_A91.jpg

Choice #3: (both in opposite colors w/ jeans)
http://www.hannaandersson.com/images/s7Style/29165_C46.jpg http://www.gap.com/assets/product/main/baby/bg257627-00p1.jpg

http://www.hannaandersson.com/images/s7Style/29165_A91.jpg http://www.gap.com/assets/product/main/baby/bg257627-00p1.jpg

[egoldber]

For a less expensive fleece option, have you seen these at LLBean?

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/14378.jpg

I got one for DD and they are very soft and are only $16.

HTH,

[iluvmy2boys]

I have some returns to make to Hanna, so I was just going to get the fleece sweatshirts from them because of that.

I do like the look of that one however and may have to get the boys a couple of those too! LOL

[Melanie]

I definitely like the Hannas better than the gap logo.

[Melanie]

How interesting, especially since cotton and wool breathe better than fleece.

[jubilee]

Pullover shirt is nice, but I personally don't care for the navy shirt with the denim pants. But the red is great! :)

[Tori_s mom]

I like the red fleece pullover and navy pants. Christmasy but doesn't scream Christmas if you know what I mean. :) And I love the pj pic idea with the bears. Or maybe something candid like their pumpkin pj pic. They were so cute laughing together.

Tasha

[iluvmy2boys]

I'd prefer a candid shot, because honestly - it's SOOO hard to get a decent, posed shot of them together. I took one in July that was my FAVORITE (both boys looking at me, smiling and everything) but you wanna talk about BAD HAIR DAY?! LOL OMG! LOL And Ashton was scratching his arm in the picture but I didnt' care - we printed it out and it's in my great room in a matted frame.

I'm going to see what the girl who said she'd do their pics for free (I'd have to pay for prints of course) says - she may have some suggestions as to how to get some decent pics of them together.

BTW - I emailed you re: our meeting today :)

[Tori_s mom]

Got it! Emailed you back. See you soon,
Tasha

[iluvmy2boys]

and I e'd ya back! Thanks! :)