'My daughter is better dressed than me!' The mothers begging for adult-size childrenswear to 'look like their little girls'

Usually, it is successful womenswear labels that launch trendy children's lines, not the other way around.
But a growing number of mothers are now demanding that their favorite child and baby products be made for them, too; and it seems the tiny-tot labels are listening.
Stacey Fraser, founder of Pink Chicken, a girls clothing line that will launch its first complete woman's collection next month, told the New York Times: 'We’d have our customers e-mail us and say, "Oh, I want the Josie pant for me, can you make that next year?"

Matching mom: Pink Chicken, a girls clothing line, will launch its first complete woman's collection next month

'Or, "The Ava top is so great; you have to make this in women’s. I would buy five of them!!'
Pink Chicken is not alone in the trend, either. Tea Collection, popular among both boys and girls, introduced a women’s line two years ago.
Aden + Anais, a muslin swaddling blanket company that quickly became number one on the newborn accessory best-seller list, has now created a blanket for adults.

 

And Petunia Pickle Bottom, known for its printed and well-hidden diaper bags, is planning a line of regular purses that look similar to the old designs (minus the heavy fold-outs) under the label Petunia this spring.
Korie Conant, an owner of Petunia Pickle Bottom, said: 'When we realized the gravity of some of the decision-making that goes into selecting their diaper bag, we really realized the opportunity to stay with that customer.
'We’ve received letters from our customers saying, "I was so sad when I didn’t get to use my diaper bag anymore." We are just answering that call.'

Like daughter, like mother: Childrenswear label Pink Chicken, known for it's soft cottons and bohemian-inspired prints, will roll out mother-daughter styles starting next year

One upscale childrenswear designer that has sold adult clothing for years is Rachel Riley, who introduced her women’s line in 1997.
Ms Riley's website explains, 'Rachel’s customers would tell her, "My children are better dressed than me!" Of course she wanted to help.'
Marshal Cohen, chief industry analyst with the NPD Group, a market research company, believes today’s parents have an ill-do-anything mentality when it comes to connecting with their children.

'When I tell them it’s a diaper bag, they’re shocked'

Mr Cohen said: 'What used to be a generation gap is now a generation bond.'
Maria T Bailey, author of 'Power Moms: The New Rules for Engaging Mom Influencers Who Drive Brand Choice,' added that if mothers 'associate a brand with a moment in time that felt good and that they could celebrate, they’re likely to stay loyal to that brand and utilize it again and again.'
After one mother, Kristen Cook, 45, from Virginia bought a few dresses from Pink Chicken, she said she called the company with a question she had never before posed to a children’s designer.

Mini to maxi: Upscale childrenswear designer Rachel Riley introduced a women’s line in 1997, which sells popular mix-and-match child (left) and adult (right) pieces

She recalled asking: 'Are y’all ever going to do anything for adults? Because I want these!'
And many fans of Petunia Pickle Bottom diaper bags also use them as everyday purses.
Ashley McKinley, 27, said: 'I get compliments on them all the time, even from strangers. When I tell them it’s a diaper bag, they’re shocked.'
The new Petunia purses are designed for both the '20-something who only wants a really nice handbag' and the mothers wanting a keepsake of the diaper bag phase of their lives, Ms Conant said.
When a child moves on from diapers, 'it is truly kind of a sad moment,' she said, 'but it’s another rite of passage into, "I can have anything I want. I don’t need a changing pad anymore, I don’t need all of these compartments anymore."'

Secret weapon: Fans of Petunia Pickle Bottom diaper bags also use them as everyday purses

Designer diaper bags: Petunia purses are designed to appeal to 'that 20-something who only wants a really nice handbag' and mothers who want a reminder of the transition out of a diaper bag phase of their lives