Juvenile Style with Nell, Age 9
Outfits made for eating ice cream and being a fan, plus a burgeoning passion for turtlenecks. Don't forget to match your earrings to your scrunchie.
This week we’re exploring Juvenile Style, however, we don’t mean to convey that there is anything juvenile about kids putting together outfits they love and feel good wearing. We are here to celebrate the youngs and their free-wheeling, magpie, hodgepodge, parents’ minimalism-be-damned approach to getting dressed. Is holding a stuffie really so far away from having multiple bag charms or a fun keychain? Here’s a little Sunday outfit inspo for the whole fam from a 9 year old sartorial wizard.
Hi. I’m Nell. I love sushi, I draw, and I have a favorite stuffie named BunBun. I’d say my style is mix and match. I love fashion because there's so many different ways to express yourself with clothes.
This outfit is good for eating ice cream 😛. I love that bracelet, which I still have in my closet, but I’m not wearing it anymore. It’s a sailor bracelet from Maine and I promised myself I would wear it as long as I could after sailing camp. It means you’re a good sailor. So I probably wore it for a year and then took it off [editor’s note: sailing camp was 6 months ago -Court]. I’ve been wearing glasses since I was 3 years old. My glasses are Izipizi from Paris. I usually wear these, but sometimes I switch them out.
I’m at the airport here. I like to wear this Bonton sweater when I go on an airplane because it is very soft. And very comfy. Outfits for travel need to be comfy. The pants are actually from when I took dance class. So when I went to dance, I wore the pants over a red leotard. I’m wearing space buns because I love fun hairdos. I have A LOT of Baggu socks. These are my favorite shoes! They’re Vans and they have ballerina frogs and crickets playing the harp on them. They’re really fun. If I had to sum this look up in one word it would be: travel.
So this is an outfit for when you are going to get a drink in the summer. In the photo are snails. My little snail buddies. Awwww. I’m wearing white sandals, a crop top, and overalls. This outfit made me feel good, but I couldn’t put my feet in the water. I had to roll up my pants but they wouldn’t stay rolled up.
I don’t remember this sweater. I love the color! I got my ears pierced on Haight Street when I was 7. I like my little hoop earrings because they match with my scrunchie. I like big scrunchies. I have a purple one that I love. Cool.
I like to swim so this is the perfect outfit. I like mixing and matching all kinds of patterns and colors together. My mama has a matching hat, it’s pink and orange. I love to match with my mom. It’s fun because we’re like twins. I look a lot like my mom.
My godmother Grace gave me this tank top and pants. She’s the best. I like her style. She had the pants altered for me because she knows my measurements. I love these things so much. [editor’s note: Cutest godchild (god-kid?) I am literally crying reading this. Please note I brought my maternity skillz to bear for this project and added small elastic panels at each side of the waistband. They make the fit of tight pants more flexible and will stretch as she grows. This was necessary because Nell is on the smaller side and this way she’ll get maximum longevity out of a vintage find. -Grace]
I love the Giants and it’s more fun to go watch a game when you are dressed up. Be a fan! This tracksuit was for rainbow day at my school, but I remembered that the Giants are orange and I could wear it to a game. I made all my bracelets. When I make bracelets, I always think well what is the personality of the person. And then I make a bracelet that matches.
This outfit is good for a cold but not too cold day. Or when you are on a tour. I’m on a tour here. I love turtlenecks. My favorite thing about them… I just like them. They keep me warm. Mhm. This sweater is big, but I like sweaters of all sizes so it’s good. It’s very comfortable. Grace also bought me these pants. I think they’re vintage. The sneakers are pretty old but I wear them because I have them.
This is a good look for sitting in a cafe. The cat hat is my favorite part. I just love this hat. I think it’s my favorite hat. The sweater is fine and I’m wearing another turtleneck. I love turtlenecks.
You need layers in San Francisco. I like to go to Marigold for steamed oat milk. And these boots, I love these boots. I asked for cowboy boots for a long time. I got the jumpsuit at West Coast Craft. It was crowded. But it’s a good jumpsuit. The flower pattern is nice.
I love the dog. And my whole outfit is basically I'm being the dog. I'm white, and the dog is white, and I love the dog.
You want to know something I wish I had in my closet? A fluffy furry pink jacket that I saw in Italy. I don’t have it because my mom said it was too much money. If I did, I’d wear it with all leopard tie-dye. I would wear this outfit everywhere. I don’t need a special occasion. I love it. As told to mom Courtney Klein on March 14th, 2024.
Thank you to Nell for her candor and willingness to share despite the fact that her parents currently embarrass her both at home and out in the world multiple times a day. Sorry for that! Xx.
Thanks for reading. Please email all constructive feedback with the subject line “I hate you I wish you weren’t my mom.” See you very soon.
Court + Grace
she’s an inspiration!!
Love this! My own sweet Nell is one year old!