Generally speaking it is quite difficult to convince a child to dress in formal attire simply because they feel restricted and uncomfortable. I completely understand this…but it doesn’t mean that I let me kid show up at a formal event (i.e. engagements, mehndi, wedding, valima etc.) in a T-shirt and denim.
Why do some people think that this is okay?
Re: Dressing Your Kid for Formal Events
Kids should be appropriately dressed for whatever the occasion is. You wouldn’t send your child to a play date in a tux the same way you wouldn’t take them to a wedding in beachwear (unless the wedding actually is on the beach :p)
You can always find a comfortable middle ground though. For example, if I was attending a wedding of someone not immediately related to me then I’d probably dress kiddo in nice cords/trousers and a soft cotton shirt. Maybe add a waistcoat or blazer if need be, but it would still look smart enough for the occasion. What I do always do, is to change him into his pajamas before setting off home as he inevitably falls asleep on the car journey home so I can put him straight into bed when we arrive home. And it’s more comfortable to travel in.
Having said this, I realise that its far easier to dress a baby than a small child as a baby will just wear what you wrestle them into. However, I remember as a child, we always wore what my mum laid out for us whenever we were going somewhere that required more formal clothes. Don’t think we ever dared argued with her about her choice 
Re: Dressing Your Kid for Formal Events
If they themselves are wearing it then of course htey think its’ OK for their kids. (besides the fact that I think everyone besides the bride/groom were dressed very poorly there).
I think this is very very very common in Pakistan, even adult males wear jeans/teeshirts to weddings…at least the ones I’ve seen. have yet to see that happen here though. so I don’t know if it’s a parenting issue as much as a cultural one.
Re: Dressing Your Kid for Formal Events
actually I’ve seen it happen here too…
only the kids that are more closely related to the couple getting married are the ones that are decked out, otherwise they are pretty much wearing just t-shirts and pants…
really gets my goat.
Re: Dressing Your Kid for Formal Events
Gets your goat? 
I have to use that!!
But agreed - you should put effort in making your kids look appropriate for the occasion.
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as much as I’m for being well dressed…after all the idiotic parenting rants we’ve been reading lately, I hardly think this is even close to a bad parenting issue.
Dressing Your Kid for Formal Events
I make an effort to make mine look fab whether my girls like it or not. I have seen ammayen are decked from head to toe and kids are wearing casual attire.I cant help but think the pics will be so awkward!!! Yes I am a vain freak because at formal events, fashion over matter!! Bas!!! Bring a standby casual outfit magar entry zabardast maro!!! Hehe
Re: Dressing Your Kid for Formal Events
I have a daughter n I make sure whenever I go to whether party, wedding or simple get togather, play area, she is dressed appropriately. last year I went to my cusn wedding for mehndi and mayoon I got cute churidar n langha, to make it comfortable for her I used lawn linning, I think we should just make a little effort to make clothes comfortable, I buy fancy frocks but check lineing it should be 100% cotton not tht stiff cloth n net 2 to 3 linngs . agin if she is wearing jeans I make sure it is elastic one from top.
even formal clothing can me made comfortable, but I have seen parents who focuss more on themselves rather on kids
Re: Dressing Your Kid for Formal Events
agreed with everyone here!
Re: Dressing Your Kid for Formal Events
I try to make my kid wear shalwar kameez to mehendis/dholkis and atleast a collared shirt to other events.
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did someone suggest that it is a bad parenting issue?
Re: Dressing Your Kid for Formal Events
this is just personal preference or you can say taste, some ppl enjoy dressing their kids, I have daughter n I enjoy every bit of dressing her matching bands pins, ponys, shoes, socks, it depends on you nothing else.
Re: Dressing Your Kid for Formal Events
Your girls are always dressed so well Mashallah
Re: Dressing Your Kid for Formal Events
It is possible to buy comfortable yet fancy clothes, it just takes time (in karachi that is)… i have a very fussy daughter when it comes to clothing (gets it from her dad who will not wear anything until he feels good in it)
At a family wedding my daughter wore a gharara (satin) with a chiffon kamiz lined with lawn fabric. It was winter so i put a cotton high neck & cotton stockings on her and she was great in it. For the second event my daughter picked a dress from Mothercare so it was fairly comfortable, however she refused to wear the shoes that went with it so my husband gave in and she wore her Nike sandals instead 
I think parents should first and foremost find what comfortable, followed by whats suitable for a formal event. It saddens me when i see kids dressed up in thick fancy reshmi fabrics in this gandi garmi 
Re: Dressing Your Kid for Formal Events
Heard this phrase after almost 15 yrs! Last heard it sometime when I was in college when were doing some uncommon phrases in our English class. Thanks 
And btw, which colour is your goat? 
Re: Dressing Your Kid for Formal Events
First world problems.
Really dnt see an issue there. Some kids are very opinionated about what they will or won’t wear.
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I am not going to make a call based on that picture. Many times when wife and I go to a party, kids dress up appropriately, but wife always keeps some casual clothes for them, so towards the end of the party, when guys are sitting chatting and ladies are cleaning up (:D). most of the parents change their kids into more casual clothes so kids can run around and play (or take a nap if it’s too late)
Who is to say that the posted picture was not taken at 12:30 AM and the kid already changed into more casual clothes. In fact the uncle in the suit looks quite sleepy
Re: Dressing Your Kid for Formal Events
two of the three women are dressed fairly casual (one is wearing a lungi/lungi-print pajama bottom thingies?). in fact, that looks like 2-3 visitors posing with the host and her kid at their home.
Re: Dressing Your Kid for Formal Events
I feel forthe family in this picture.. topic could be discussed without the picture of someone’s family!
that being said, I like to keep things comfortable for my child.. I do what Britchick said and honestly i have noticed that lots of people take pics after the kids have been changed into more comfortable clothing and its time to go home! Dosnt do justice to my hours of planning that went into dressing my kid for that ocassion!
Re: Dressing Your Kid for Formal Events
There’s a picture?