Why Boys' Overalls Are So Popular
in Everyday Wear

To be honest, I used to think overalls were pretty uncool—when I watched "Growing Pains" as a kid, the children wearing overalls always seemed like "that's just how American kids dress." I never imagined that after becoming a dad myself, I'd end up buying several pairs for my own child.

Later, I got him a pair of overalls—they're much thicker, and now after wearing them for nearly half a year, the knee area shows some wear, but at least they haven't torn through. Of course, this might also be related to the fact that he's not as obsessed with bugs anymore.

Ease of use is also crucial. Overalls don't need a belt—just snap the straps and you're done, no worrying about pants sliding down while the kid runs around. The adjustable strap design is pretty clever—kids grow at an astonishing rate, and regular pants might be too short in three months, but overalls can be adjusted to last another six months. For families rushing to get kids to school in the morning, this "pull on and go" convenience is genuinely practical.

What do kids themselves think? They only care about two things: are they comfortable, and do they look good?

In terms of comfort, overalls really have nothing to complain about. No belt pressing on them, completely free around the abdomen; the pant legs are roomy enough that running, jumping, and tumbling aren't restricted. For boys who are constantly in motion, this feeling of "wearing clothes but not being constrained" is really important.

When it comes to aesthetics, I personally find this quite interesting. Overalls have an inherent "cool yet cute" quality—more playful than regular jeans, more refined than sweatpants. Pair them with a white T-shirt for a clean, casual look; switch to a plaid shirt for a vintage countryside vibe; throw on a hoodie and you've got a street-style trendy kid. I'll admit that when I buy clothes for my child, I'm sometimes satisfying my own aesthetic preferences—overalls are versatile pieces that let me play around with different looks.

There's another phenomenon worth noting—boys over 6 start having their own opinions. For a while, my son absolutely insisted on wearing overalls to school. When I asked him why, he said a certain classmate wears them too. Peer influence is really obvious at this age. Those kids' fashion posts on Xiaohongshu probably have an impact too—even though kids don't browse it, parents do. When you see other people's kids looking good in something, you want to get one for your own child.

Of course, overalls aren't without their drawbacks. Going to the bathroom is definitely more complicated than with regular pants—kids who've just learned to use the toilet independently will need extra help from adults when wearing overalls. For PE class or situations requiring frequent clothing changes, sweatpants are more convenient. In our house, we have overalls, sweatpants, and regular jeans—we choose based on the occasion.