Reader Style: What to Wear for Family Photos

Trying to figure out what to wear for family photos always seems like such a daunting task . . . you don’t want to look too matchy-matchy, but you don’t want to clash terribly either.  Most of the family pictures I have up in my house are in black and white because the colors just didn’t seem . . . quite . . . right.  Enter reader Kara and her gorgeous family.  She got it right.  Her daughters still got to wear a version of the hot pink that almost all girls want to wear allll the time, and her and her husband looked effortlessly cool in their casual style.  The family looks cohesive but their individual style also comes through.  Using her pics as inspiration, we put together an idea of how to recreate her style for your family photos.

The general formula for recreating Kara’s style:

1. Find a skirt that you LOVE in a print with lots of colors.

2. Add a basic t and a statement necklace.

3. Build outfits around the general color scheme of the skirt. (Don’t be afraid to mix patterns like stripes, polka dots or florals!)

For a Family with Girls

Stripes and florals are (almost) always a safe way to mix patterns.  Adding pops of color for the girls and you’ve got a great cohesive look.

For You

1. Teardrop Statement Necklace

2. Relaxed Knit Tee

3. Floral Print Midi Skirt

For Him

4. Modern Fit Short Sleeve Twill Shirt 

5. Straight Leg Jeans

For Girls

6. Sleeveless Swing Top 

7. Denim Bermuda Shorts

8. Girls Cardigan

9. Stripe Cross-Back Dress

For a Family with Boys

In general, boys may be less likely to want to wear bright colors.  In this case, you get to wear the statement skirt, drawing on the more subdued, neutral colors for the boys.  Varying lengths of sleeves and pants keeps it interesting.

For You

1. Rose Quartz Necklace

2. Scoop Tee

3. Cutout Pencil Skirt

For Him

4. Surf Wash Sweater

5. Slim Fit Chino Pants

For the Boys

6. Linen-Blend Shirt

7. Plain-Front Shorts

8. Linen-Blend Short-Sleeve Shirt

9. Light Wash Jeans

For a Family with Both

I was drawn to this skirt the second I saw it!  Love the red for a bright pop of color and the neutrals complement each other well.  In this case I left out a statement necklace, thinking red lips would be a great statement instead!

For You

1. Essential Tee

2. Greenhouse Grandeur Skirt

For Him

3. Cotton Cardigan over Striped V-neck Tee

4. Chino Pants

For Girl

5. Handkerchief Hem Dress

6. Denim Jacket

For Boy

7. Linen-Blend Shirt

8. Belted Cargo Shorts

S0 there’s our tip for making your next family photos the best ever, thanks to Kara and her family.  OR . . . you could always go for the Canadian tuxedo pileup:

(I mean . . . it’s a tough choice, right??)

Soooo . . . unless this is your idea of the perfect family picture (and hey, it just might be . . . you do your thing), Kara’s style will hopefully make getting your next family photos a little easier!

XOXO,

Scotti

PS – Shana, I’m kind of dying to recreate some of these awkward family photos this summer!!

PPS – UPDATE: For those of you asking about Kara’s skirt, it was hidden in the SALE section – awesome! 🙂