Remember in days past when you’d wear matching outfits for your annual trip to the Olan Mills portrait studio? And remember how everyone, except for maybe Mom, hated dressing alike? Well, in this age of Instagram, Facebook, and never-ending selfies, posting pics of the family in coordinated looks is the stuff of daily practice. And retailers are taking notice. Just Google, “family matching outfits” and you’ll get dozens of online stores offering up matching apparel for the whole fam; from screen-printed t-shirts, to matching swimsuits, to full on head-to-toe looks. Of course, not all matching outfits are created equal. Here are some recommendations on how and when to dress your household in coordinated ensembles.

If you are new to the matching game, keep it simple. Something along the lines of everyone wearing the same color, or different shades of the same color. Or go with a simple pattern like stripes that is gender neutral and easily accessible. Personally, I’m a huge fan of white and navy stripes, but regardless of your chosen print or color, avoid head-to-toe looks. Instead, think of key pieces like a polo for Dad, a t-shirt dress for Mom, a matching onesie for the baby, and coordinated colored shirts for the kids. Go with basics, i.e. jeans, to complete everyone’s outfits. Simple pieces in matching colors are great for pictures, whether professional or just snapped on your phone. Low-level matching is a subtle way to present yourselves as a family unit for company picnics, family reunions, or church.

For families that want to bring something new to the matching outfit table, consider going with the grouped collections at retailers like Old Navy and Target. Each has a search feature for family apparel. You can pick up t-shirts with matching graphics or separates in coordinated prints. For the latter, these aren’t so much matchy-matchy garments, but pieces that share a similar aesthetic, like gingham button-downs for boys and men, paired with lawn dresses in comparable colors for the ladies. Or, a novelty print pant for mom, with a solid-colored shirt for dad in a hue picked out from the print, and an element of that novelty pattern reflected in the kids’ looks. This level of outfit matching is ideal for professional pictures, or any occasion when you want your brood to look their best. Is that company cookout at the boss’s house? Is your church a bit more formal? Going to a family-friendly wedding? Obviously super formal events call for dressier fare, but for those casual, but not flip-flop casual occasions, this mid-level matching makes an impact without being too on-the-nose.

If you are ready to go all thrusters blasting with full-length outfits for the entire family, check out sites like Pop Real and Pat Pat. These online retailers sell completely coordinated ensembles rendered in the same print and material for Mom, Dad, tweens, toddlers, and even Grandma. The offerings here aren’t so much stylish, but more so tongue-in-cheek, like flamingo printed bathing suits, or shirts labeling Dad as “king” Mom as “queen” etc. These are fun novelty items for silly photos, for vacations, and for holidays.

Of course, don’t feel you have to buy what is presented as family collections. You can always build your own matching outfits from either yours or your children’s existing wardrobe. There are so many fun prints for kids’ clothes, from pineapples to dinosaurs, and luckily more and more adult pieces are available in this milieu. ModCloth has a ton of whimsical pieces, mostly for women, but some for men, that you can match up with the clothes your children already wear for a family day at the park, birthday parties, or trips to the zoo.

On the flip side, what’s in your closet? If there’s something you love to wear, be it a printed shift dress, or the perfectly draped top, how can the rest of your family dress to suit you? Try finding complementary colors to your favorite outfit that your spouse and kids can sport to complement each other and your favorite outfit.

Of course, matching outfits aren’t just for special occasions or family-friendly events. Go the low-key route and get everyone matching PJs or loungewear for family game night. There are, of course, the traditional Christmas sweaters to sport over the holiday break, and don’t forget doing a group costume this Halloween.

Whether or not you make matching outfits a family tradition, or just a one-off to share on social media, I think the underlying psychology of this trend is that in a world full of chaos it’s comforting to have that visual unity of family. That united front of not only coordinated outfits but coordinated fellowship and love. And while I may pretend I’m above it all from a fashion perspective, in reality I live for this kind of stuff and am already placing my order for those matching flamingo swimming suits for this year’s upcoming beach trip! Pray for my husband.