I was a "boy mom" for five years before our daughter was born and there were certain things I had the luxury of not being aware of, especially when it came to clothing. When I went shopping for my son it was pretty simple - the shorts were sometimes too long, but NEVER too short and the cut of a shirt was mostly a relaxed and forgiving t-shirt. If I was .buying in his size, thenI was confident that his belly button and back would be covered, even when running and playing.
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Then our daughter came into our lives and as she evolved into a kind, strong, and active force of nature my eyes were thrust open WIDE when it came to wardrobe choices for her. Walking into the "girls" section of any store was almost enough to make me break out in hives. It was a full-on attack of sparkles, cartoon characters and stereotypical messages, often about princesses and unicorns. Shorts were just that - SHORT - and so were the shirts, either cut too short to keep her midline covered or cut so slim she complained that her "arms can't work right" at the park. Now don't get me wrong, my daughter loves her sparkles, princesses, and unicorns and has been known to try and represent all of that in one stunning ensemble of pink and purple tulle, but on the flip side, she is a girl who is strong, kind and very independent. She loves exploring everything in great detail, taking things apart and putting them back together. She loves her scooter, her soccer ball, and baseball mitt. She is often the first one in the mud puddle and the first one to scrape both knees trying something new. That is the side of our daughter that I rarely see represented in the store racks.
Enter Makoshey (pronounced "Mak-O-Shay") the Chicago-based clothing brand that was born out of the idea that "girl" clothes shouldn't conform to gender stereotypes. And who better to create an active clothing line for active girls with diverse interests than the parents of three daughters! The first thing I noticed about the Makoshey shirts was the quality of the fabric and how soft they feel. These shirts were built to be played in, and then washed, and do it all over again and again. In the first four days of having the new shirts, our daughter has worn one of them three times, including asking to sleep in it last night. If that doesn't speak to its comfort than I don't know what does.
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Makoshey is a local, family-owned, family-run business who has all of their shirts printed right here in Chicago. Forget tight and frilly, their colorful, inspiring designs let girls be themselves, and express their interests and character proudly. Their sizes range from 6 to 14 and the current collection of tees represents a variety of sports, but also some great character words and quotes to let you know a little something more about the person wearing the shirt. We also got an adorable trucker cap with their logo, which we are proud to wear everywhere we go!
With the Fourth of July holiday coming up, Makoshey wants to inspire and encourage all girls to be Independent. They love all the unique ways girls express their independence:
- Solving problems on their own
- Unique passions and interests
- Creative play
- Fashion choices
- Taking risks that are physically and/or emotionally challenging
- Trying new things
- Not following the crowd
- And so many more...
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Macaroni Kid Chicago has one "Independent" Power Word shirt and Makoshey Trucker Hat to give to one lucky subscriber!
Enter to win by:
1) Clicking HERE to complete the entry form!
2) Go to @macaroni_kid_chicago on Instagram and comment on the post by telling me how your daughter (granddaughter, niece, cousin, etc) shows her Independence. Use #wearyourcharacter and #makoshey so it will be sure to be counted!
Follow @Makoshey on Instagram for a BONUS entry too!
*Max 3 entries possible. Contest begins June 16, 2020, and ends June 22, 2020. Winner will be contacted by 3pm CST on 6/22/20 and will have 24 hrs to respond to confirm details for delivery. Winner must be a Macaroni Kid Chicago subscriber to be eligible to win. Sponsored by Makoshey.
Raising a tween that is more than just an "Independent" girl?
Right now you can purchase any Makoshey shirt and hat for just $35 (plus free shipping) PLUS, for every shirt and hat bought through July 4, Makoshey will make a donation to Girls Inc., a nonprofit organization that focuses on inspiring girls to be strong, smart and bold.
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This is a sponsored article, but these are my genuine opinions, feelings and experiences in relation to the Makoshey brand.
