When I had a bit of a moan on this blog about how hard it is to find bright, comfortable trousers for a toddler boy, the lovely Ruth from unisex & ethical children’s retailer loveitloveitloveit asked whether we'd like some bottoms. I said, yes please. We’ll have some bottoms.
Specifically, I said I'd have some lightweight, funky bottoms for a 3+ boy (he’s two but kinda lanky, and in any case I hate getting only a few months’ wear out of clothes so I tend to size up and roll up!). Loveitloveitloveit has a huge selection of unisex clothes to cover ages 0 to 10, so we had lots of choice (see more on that below). In the end I went for toucan-print trousers by the brand Boys&Girls. I just could not resist the toucans. Here's how we got on with the toucans...
Specifically, I said I'd have some lightweight, funky bottoms for a 3+ boy (he’s two but kinda lanky, and in any case I hate getting only a few months’ wear out of clothes so I tend to size up and roll up!). Loveitloveitloveit has a huge selection of unisex clothes to cover ages 0 to 10, so we had lots of choice (see more on that below). In the end I went for toucan-print trousers by the brand Boys&Girls. I just could not resist the toucans. Here's how we got on with the toucans...
REVIEW: Boys&Girls unisex toucan trousers from loveitloveitloveit
Funk and unisexiness: 10/10
The base colour is a lovely vibrant red rather than raspberry, the colour that so often puts the kibosh on girl’s trousers being okay for boys too. The toucans are just so cool, and don’t obviously have a “for boys” or “for girls” look. They can be teamed with all manner of bright t-shirts and luckily, the Bean agrees they're fabulous.
The base colour is a lovely vibrant red rather than raspberry, the colour that so often puts the kibosh on girl’s trousers being okay for boys too. The toucans are just so cool, and don’t obviously have a “for boys” or “for girls” look. They can be teamed with all manner of bright t-shirts and luckily, the Bean agrees they're fabulous.
Comfort: 10/10
These are comfortable for the Bean to wear, in a way that lots of high-street boy’s chinos and jeans just aren’t (because they're restrictive and stiff, which is no good for a child who moves. And my goodness this boy does). The loose fit, supple fabric and elasticated waistband means they’re also easy for him to pull on and off himself - very important when getting to the potty in time can still be a bit tricky!
They’re very lightweight, making them perfect for spring picnics in Milan as well as the cooler summer evenings that await us in Sweden :-)
These are comfortable for the Bean to wear, in a way that lots of high-street boy’s chinos and jeans just aren’t (because they're restrictive and stiff, which is no good for a child who moves. And my goodness this boy does). The loose fit, supple fabric and elasticated waistband means they’re also easy for him to pull on and off himself - very important when getting to the potty in time can still be a bit tricky!
They’re very lightweight, making them perfect for spring picnics in Milan as well as the cooler summer evenings that await us in Sweden :-)
Fit: 9/10
As these are nice and loose (unlike some leggings) they will happily fit boys and girls of different builds. The fold-over cuffs mean they sit snugly at the ankle if they’re still a bit too long. If they’re much too long, as these were (we went for a size 4-5 for extra long wear!) and you're not keen on roll-ups, they’re quite easy to tuck in under the cuff and sew in place on the inside:
As these are nice and loose (unlike some leggings) they will happily fit boys and girls of different builds. The fold-over cuffs mean they sit snugly at the ankle if they’re still a bit too long. If they’re much too long, as these were (we went for a size 4-5 for extra long wear!) and you're not keen on roll-ups, they’re quite easy to tuck in under the cuff and sew in place on the inside:
My only criticism of the fit is the waistband: although it’s elasticated it’s still “straight up and down” rather than a little cinched, which is just too loose for a skinny bean like mine and isn’t resolved by going down a size. It is, however, very easily resolved by opening up a bit of the waistband and threading through a tighter elastic, then sewing it back up again.
Quality: 8.5/10
Like all of Boys&Girls' clothes these trousers are made of 100% certified organic cotton, which feels very soft. I expect the colours to fade over time, but a few washes in the red is still nice and vibrant. As the cotton is quite thin it's starting to bobble a bit on the bum already, and I’m not sure whether the knees will stand up to adventure and general toddlerishness... However, I'm aware I asked for summery, lightweight trousers so I probably should have expected this!
Value for money: 9/10
Priced at £18 these aren’t the cheapest bottoms for toddlers on the market, but they’re not the most expensive either. I feel the price is a good reflection of what you get: a pair of well-made, funky-looking organic trousers that can be easily adjusted (with some basic sewing skills if necessary) to ensure longevity and, most importantly, which can be worn by and then handed down to either a boy or a girl.
Quality: 8.5/10
Like all of Boys&Girls' clothes these trousers are made of 100% certified organic cotton, which feels very soft. I expect the colours to fade over time, but a few washes in the red is still nice and vibrant. As the cotton is quite thin it's starting to bobble a bit on the bum already, and I’m not sure whether the knees will stand up to adventure and general toddlerishness... However, I'm aware I asked for summery, lightweight trousers so I probably should have expected this!
Value for money: 9/10
Priced at £18 these aren’t the cheapest bottoms for toddlers on the market, but they’re not the most expensive either. I feel the price is a good reflection of what you get: a pair of well-made, funky-looking organic trousers that can be easily adjusted (with some basic sewing skills if necessary) to ensure longevity and, most importantly, which can be worn by and then handed down to either a boy or a girl.
So, all in all, we're very pleased and wouldn't hesitate to recommend this fabulous pair of bottoms. Thank you very much, loveitloveitloveit! I’m sure our paths will cross again, when we’re on the lookout for more gorgeous, unisex clothes:
Lily Balou yellow Miel fire engine sweatshirt | AlbaBaby Ehn blue stripe pants | Lipfish arctic blue triceratops dinosaur top | Tootsa MacGinty denim harem pants | DUNS Sweden green fish t-shirt | Danefae watermelon stripe trousers
Disclosure: I was sent a pair of Boys&Girls toucan trousers for the purpose of this review, but all opinions are genuine and my own.
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