fashion

Dress to express

We’re celebrating Children’s Mental Health week in style, teaming up with children’s charity and long-term friends of RI, Place2be. On the 11th of February, Place2be are asking children (and their families) to ‘dress to express’: to celebrate individuality and destigmatize conversations around mental health. We spoke to Minnine, Alfonso and Rico about how they deal with positive and negative emotions whilst also letting them lose in our store to pick their own ‘dress to express’ outfit - their very own supermarket sweep! They answered our questions, so we gifted them their chosen fit. Fair is fair.

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MINNIE

Why did you pick this outfit?

It makes me feel comfortable. Sometimes you don’t want to wear really bright colours and you just want to wear something more neutral and I really like this outfit for those moments.

When you feel sad or worried, what do you do to change that feeling? Do you speak to your parents, family, friends, teachers?

When I’m feeling sad, I usually go and do some drawing to take my mind off of it and then if it’s still bothering me the next day then I’ll speak to someone about it.

Who do you usually speak to when you feel sad or worried about something?

Sometimes I speak to my friends but mostly my mum.

Do you think it’s important to tell your family, friends, teachers etc when you feel sad or worried about something?

I think it’s really important to tell them when you’re feeling sad and worried because they can help you. A problem shared is a problem halved.

When you’ve had a hard time, what is something you do to make yourself feel better or learn from that situation?

I’ve learnt that I use my drawing or speak to friends to express myself in some sort of way. I like to have lots of clubs to keep me busy in hard situations like that so I can keep my mind busy which makes me feel better.

What are your hopes and dreams for when you’re older?

I want to be an engineer because we need more female engineers in the world.

How do you feel about growing up?

I’m really excited to grow up but obviously there’s some nerves. The things that make me nervous are mainly different points in school, like different tests and there will be more and more when I’m older, but I feel mostly excited because it’s an amazing roller coaster.

ALBERTA

Why did you pick this outfit?

I picked this outfit because it makes me happy and joyful. Purple is also my favourite colour!

Who do you usually speak to when you feel sad or worried about something?

I talk to my mum and dad and my sister, but I also speak to two of my friends who would never tell my secrets.

What are your hopes and dreams for when you’re older? What would you like to be doing when you’ve grown up?

I want to be an actress when I grow up because I’m very dramatic and on a school trip we went to see Dick Whittington and there were actors there and that inspired me.

How do you feel about growing up? What’s exciting and what’s scary?

I’m excited, scared, and nervous. I’m nervous because it might be scary, but it might also be fun.

RICO

Why did you pick this outfit?

Because it’s a magic coat. The fur inside keeps me warm.

What are your hopes and dreams for when you’re older? What would you like to be doing when you’ve grown up?

A dinosaur!

We’ve created three activity sheets to boost your little one’s creativity and mindfulness skills.

Download Dress to Express Colouring Sheet

Download our Positive Affirmations Colour Sheet

Download our Positivity Reward Chart