Start with one favorite.
A flowing dress, a child’s plaid shirt, or a piece already in your closet. Choose something you love and let it guide the rest.
Try this: pick Mom’s dress first, if she wants one. Anyone’s outfit can be the anchor.
The Coordinate styling guideA little guidance.
A little guidance.
A great family photo.
Thoughtful layers. A shared palette. A little room for everyone’s personality. Here’s how to bring the whole look together.
Different pieces. Beautiful together.
One palette. Your whole crew.Muted rust, oatmeal, muted sage and warm brown.
01Start with something you love
02Give each outfit a role
03Look at everyone together
The foundationsGood outfits.
Good outfits.
Even better together.
Use these as a starting point, then make them yours. The best look still feels like your family.
Share colors, not uniforms.
Try two neutrals and an accent. Repeat those tones in different places instead of putting everyone in the same top and bottoms.
Think cream, warm brown and rust, with a different balance on each person.
Let one print lead.
One main plaid or floral gives the eye somewhere to land. Keep most of the other outfits solid and pull their colors from that print.
If Mom’s dress is floral, a child’s textured solid can do more than another busy print.
Add interest through texture.
A soft knit, corduroy trousers, a moving skirt. Different surfaces give solid-colored outfits variety without another competing pattern.
One child in plaid. Another in a simple knit. The baby in a soft, uncomplicated outfit.
Make every layer useful.
A cardigan over a dress or a shirt beneath a sweater can bring an outfit together. Keep the fit comfortable and the layers suited to the conditions.
Holiday photos in a warm climate don’t need winter sweaters. Comfort comes first.
Dress for the same occasion.
Give everyone a similar level of polish, with room for different silhouettes. Review the full family look whenever you change a piece.
A relaxed dress and knit separates make sense together. A ball gown and gym clothes need a very intentional brief.
The sibling styling shortcutOne print.
One print.
A supporting cast of solids.
When there are several children, give them different roles in the same palette. You’ll get variety without making every outfit compete for attention.
This is a helpful default, not a rule against matching. If matching pajamas are the plan, commit to the plan.
- Child one: the pattern — A muted plaid shirt or printed dress connects the colors.
- Child two: the texture — A solid knit or corduroy piece echoes one tone from the print.
- Child three: the layer — A simple base with a contrasting cardigan or overshirt, when appropriate.
- Baby: keep it simple — A comfortable one-piece or easy separates. Add layers only when useful.
These are examples for different family compositions, not a requirement that every family has this number of children.
See it come togetherA different setting.
A different setting.
The same good principles.
Explore three illustrative family looks. These are styling recipes, not linked products.
Example shown: Autumn outdoors
Warm tones, easy texture.
An autumn palette with one child carrying the plaid.
Palette: Muted rust, Oatmeal, Warm brown.
MomFlowing rust dress
DadOatmeal sweater and brown trousers
Child oneMuted plaid shirt and solid brown trousers
Child twoSolid cream dress
BabySimple brown knit one-piece
Why it works
The plaid connects the warm tones. Solids and different silhouettes give the other outfits their own place in the picture.
Illustrative clothing shapes show palette and outfit structure. Check real garments for fit, fabric, lining and available sizes.
Your outfit starting pointsSimple formulas.
Simple formulas.
Plenty of personality.
Pick the silhouette each person likes. Dresses, trousers and layers should always be a choice.
For a flowing silhouette
Try a comfortable midi or maxi dress with room to move. Prefer separates? A soft skirt or draped trousers can create a similar sense of ease.
For polished separates
Pair a textured sweater with trousers. Add a shirt underneath if the fit works. In warm weather, a lighter shirt can carry the look on its own.
For little personalities
A dress and cardigan, a knit and trousers, or overalls with a simple top. Let preference lead, then connect the colors to the family.
For the littlest one
Start with a simple romper, one-piece or soft separates. Keep the face clear and avoid extra bulk. Check the outfit beside whoever will be holding them.
Clothing can do all the work. Shoes and accessories are optional finishing touches, not a requirement for a complete styling idea.
Before photo dayThe final
The final
look-together check.
Lay the outfits side by side and take a quick phone photo. It’s a useful way to spot a color, pattern or level of formality that feels out of place.
Then try them on. Everyone should be able to sit, walk and be themselves without constant adjusting.
A little less last-minute.
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A few good questions
Guidance, with room to bend.
Can we wear more than one print?
Yes. Start with one dominant print, then consider a quieter second pattern that shares the palette. Look at their scale and contrast together. A small plaid collar has a different visual effect from a full plaid dress.
Do white, black or bright colors photograph badly?
No color is automatically wrong. Lighting, background and exposure matter. Look for enough distinction between people and the setting. For light fabrics, check the lining and opacity rather than assuming the color tells you everything.
Are tiny stripes or checks a problem?
Fine repeating patterns can sometimes create a visual artifact called moiré in photographs. It depends on the pattern and how the image is captured. If you’re unsure, ask your photographer about the specific garment.
Does a holiday mean we need themed outfits?
Only if that’s what you want. You can suggest the season through a palette or texture without costumes or obvious motifs. Let the setting and expected temperature guide the layers.
What if someone hates dresses or sweaters?
Keep the person comfortable and use the palette to connect their preferred clothes. A good family look should make room for the people wearing it.
Styling references and further reading
This is Coordinate’s editorial guide, informed by Emily’s styling direction and photographer Brittany Bekas’s published guidance. The examples and illustrations are original. No endorsement is implied, and the linked shopping guides do not verify current availability.
Keep the people in the pictureThe clothes should come together.
The clothes should come together.
Your family gets to be themselves.
Start with what you love, connect the colors, and leave room for real life. That’s the Coordinate approach.
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