Pampered kids
One of the perks of living in China that even I take advantage of is the ease and relatively low cost of having clothing tailor-made. Especially when we lived in Shenzhen, where every neighborhood seemed to have an excess of Shanghairen seamstresses and tailors, I'd walk into a tailor almost as casually as I would a GAP. Starting with some pictures of clothing I liked and matching them with available fabrics, I would have something in about a week or so that (unlike retail clothing) would fit me perfectly.
Of course, what makes this even more fun (and less self-indulgent) is sharing this experience with the kids.
In past years, I've preferred to get Myles' dress clothes made for him rather than try to shop for them in China or even the US. Instead of forcing him to try on a tiring number and combination of clothes, I can just take him to tailor to get measured once. We started this when he needed a tuxedo for my sister's wedding. Last summer, too, his shirt and pants for his First Communion were custom-made. He picked out the colors, so I knew, too, he would love wearing it.
This summer, too, before we went back to the US, the kids and I made a visit to my current favorite tailor in Beijing. I still have not found any in Changping that do more than repair clothes, so we bear the transit to get to Sanlitun. In addition to a few things for myself, I wanted the kids to have something nice to wear to my cousin's wedding.
Myles already knew the drill. He stood patiently for his measurements and picked out the collar style for his shirt. He was immediately drawn to this gorgeous green stripe among the dress-shirt fabrics and I had to agree.
Brigid has previously had something made at a tailor shop when we lived in Shenzhen, but I'm sure she doesn't remember it. It was her baptismal gown. This summer she was beside herself that she, too, was going to have new clothes made.
We are all spoiled by this very fun process. The end result was better than anything we could have bought anywhere else.
Of course, what makes this even more fun (and less self-indulgent) is sharing this experience with the kids.
In past years, I've preferred to get Myles' dress clothes made for him rather than try to shop for them in China or even the US. Instead of forcing him to try on a tiring number and combination of clothes, I can just take him to tailor to get measured once. We started this when he needed a tuxedo for my sister's wedding. Last summer, too, his shirt and pants for his First Communion were custom-made. He picked out the colors, so I knew, too, he would love wearing it.
This summer, too, before we went back to the US, the kids and I made a visit to my current favorite tailor in Beijing. I still have not found any in Changping that do more than repair clothes, so we bear the transit to get to Sanlitun. In addition to a few things for myself, I wanted the kids to have something nice to wear to my cousin's wedding.
Myles already knew the drill. He stood patiently for his measurements and picked out the collar style for his shirt. He was immediately drawn to this gorgeous green stripe among the dress-shirt fabrics and I had to agree.
Brigid has previously had something made at a tailor shop when we lived in Shenzhen, but I'm sure she doesn't remember it. It was her baptismal gown. This summer she was beside herself that she, too, was going to have new clothes made.
We are all spoiled by this very fun process. The end result was better than anything we could have bought anywhere else.
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