A few weeks ago I got an email asking if I’d like to let the girls try out a clothing curation box called Kidbox. It piqued my curiosity because we have definitely entered the era of it not being safe for me to pick out clothes for the girls. They have growing opinions on color, shape, fit, and style. Once I got over the sting of not understanding their taste, I realized it’s wonderful. It’s a new way to get to know them.

 

I looked over the information:

For girls the sizing is newborn to 14 (for boys it goes up to 16)

Seasonal boxes, no subscriptions

Savings for purchasing the whole box

For every full box purchase, Kidbox donates new clothes to children in need

I wrote back to the woman and said that we’d love to do it. I did so knowing that Briar, Avery, and Finley are on the edge of their sizing. They have watched me enjoy my experiences with Stitch Fix and Trunk Club.

Deciding Whether Kidbox was a Good Idea for FAB

“So this would be for us?” they asked.

 

“Yes.”

 

“Would we share?” Finley asked.

 

“No, you’d each try one.”

 

She squealed. I opened my email and found the link to the style profile survey. To say that the girls loved filling it out would be an understatement.

 

“What’s my style,” Avery read. “Sporty Athletic? Definitely. Classic Preppy? Um no. Modern Casual? Sometimes. City Cool? Naw.”

 

Finley followed suit, surprised by how closely she and Avery were in style. “Maybe we could actually share, Ave.”

 

“What makes Finley so special?” Finley read aloud.

 

There was a grid of 9 options. The cool thing is if you don’t have a reader most of the survey can still be done by the child based on images and color.

 

Finley picked 8 things. “So many things make me special, some that aren’t even on here!” I was beaming, the experience was all about personal preference, positivity, and autonomy.

 

When she was asked if there were any other things that Kidbox should know about her she typed something along the lines of, “I try to avoid girlie things, such as unicorns, princesses, and too much sparkle. I want more super heroes for girls.”

You’ve Got Mail!

 

Because it was summer the time between doing the survey and receiving the boxes (maybe 5 days) was long enough for the mail to be a complete surprise.

“For me?”

Two girls rest their heads on Kidbox boxes.

Finley and Avery get ready to open their Kidbox shipments.

 

It is worth noting that the boxes are really cool, with space inside to color and a size that is perfect for say storing LEGOs, creating Barbie apartments, or stowing craft supplies.

 


I enjoyed how easy it was. When we go to the mall someone always has to go to the bathroom or gets bored. I can also admit to getting stressed out by any number of things from the music playing or just the general absence of daylight in stores. We spent a solid hour around the table talking about fashion, preferences, and how cool it is to have an outlet to “just be ourselves.”

Teenage girl clutches a sweater smiling.

Briar clutching a sweater from Kidbox. “I LOVE sweaters. Come on weather, get cold!”

 

Two sisters stand fashionably modeling fall clothing.

Finley and Avery strike poses in their favorites from the box. I smile with chagrin at the containers of mayonnaise that I didn’t think to move for the photo.

Looking through the clothes was a great opportunity for talking about want vs need.

“Ok, so you like it, but do you think it’s something that you’d really work into what you wear a lot? Or is it going to be something in the closet that you never pick?”

A couple of things were eliminated based on potential wearing other things revealed things like, “I don’t really like how the shirt I have for fancy stuff makes me feel.”

 

“Ok, so if the one here works we can donate the old one,” I said.

 

She paused, “You know what, I just don’t like stripes.”

 

I smiled. “Excellent. Don’t ever bring something into your life that isn’t going to bring you some sort of happiness.”

 

She nodded, set the shirt back in the box, and ran upstairs to get her old shirt to give away.”

 

 

Three shirts and two pairs of pants from a subscription called Kidsbox.

The contents of one box, which perfectly walked the line of the girls’ feedback.

 

Young girl holds a superhero shirt.

Finley reviews the contents of the box, “This is so great, they listened to me. I’m sad it doesn’t fit.”

 

I was happy to have Kidbox send the boxes to us to review. We weren’t compensated monetarily, but boy was the process a great way to reflect on how we shop, save, keep, and learng to let go. Based on the sizing limitations we won’t be doing many more boxes, but for those of you a few years behind us, I say give it a whirl.

Also, don’t be afraid to talk to your kids about clothes, fashion, and the emotions wraped up in both. I have years of unlearning self-defeating choices with clothing, but I rarely think about breaking that cycle for the girls. Clothes shouldn’t weigh us down.

 

You look amazing!