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Growing like weeds
It's summer, and time to go through the seasonal clothing switch, where long pants and sweaters and mountains of winter stuff are swapped for short sleeves and shorts.
So I have a couple of questions for y'all.
How do you shop?
Are you and all-year-round shopper, or do you shop only at certain times of year? I tend to shop only 2-3 times a year... I get some stuff around Christmas, make some kind of spring run and a back to school run. But many moms I know are constantly scouring for deals and cute things all year long.
Are you a list shopper or do you wing it? I start with a list of things the kids seem to not have enough of (socks, pants for one, tshirts for another, etc.) but often find things that thrill me for cuteness or value etc. that I pick up regardless.
Do you shop online or in store? Do you have brands or stores that you prefer? Shipping to Canada is often very expensive, so I only shop online if stores have actual Canadian online-storefronts (Gap and Old Navy did this in the past year!) I hate being in stores. I hate people in my space and talking to strangers. I can do it if I psych myself up and have a planned list
Do you buy your kids clothes on your own or is there some kind of child trying-on/approval participation? Other than shoes, I am currently still lucky enough that I can pick out stuff that my kids usually like. I mentally couldn't handle all three of them trying to tell me what they want at once. It would be bad.
New, used or a mix of both? I do most of my shopping consignment, which started as a resolution a few years back to "buy nothing new" and has turned out to be largely cost effective and thanks to lots of high-end consignment places, very reasonable in terms of quality. Generally I'll try our area's used places first and if I don't find what I needed then I consider new.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Zealflyer on -
Yup, Children's Place pants fit my little noodles pretty good. Cherokee and Joe are both wider fits for pants, I find (have had some of these gifted and they have been too short before fitting in the waist). Oh wait, these are both Canadian brands though, aren't they?
hermit crab said:We've got the other variety here. The bub seems to take after my side of the family with the fireplug-type body shape. There's no fat on him, but he looks like one of those early 20th century prize fighters to me. He usually outgrows the waist before the length on his pants. I tried making him some because he always wants elastic-waist pants but I lack time/patience to make them fit him correctly, so back to the thrift stores and Osh Kosh B'Gosh sales for us, I guess.
I used to love the Children's Place sales and always found those pants to be well made, but they're designed for thinner-waisted kids, I think.
The Oracle said:
Srsly, where are the five- to seven-year-old boys who AREN'T skinny? I'm mystified about who they're using as size standards for boys that age when they're designing clothes.
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Permalink Reply by hermit crab on -
We've found a pair or two of Cherokee around here and those are a better fit. Looks like they might be at Target, now that I look online for the brand. Thanks for the reminder!
Zealflyer said:Yup, Children's Place pants fit my little noodles pretty good. Cherokee and Joe are both wider fits for pants, I find (have had some of these gifted and they have been too short before fitting in the waist). Oh wait, these are both Canadian brands though, aren't they?
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Permalink Reply by Zealflyer on
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Glad I could be of use. (I'm not much use to myself lately and should be helpful to someone!) I have had good success with finding a brand that fits right and sticking to that. Unfortunately, the brands that work for my kids are all more expensive, but fortunately I am good at thrifting.
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Permalink Reply by Kat on -
I have two boys who are not fit to come to the clothing store. One hates shopping and spend the whole time leaning on me (he's 5'10" and 192 pounds, so this is an issue). The other wants EVERYTHING and turns his nose up at anything marked "clearance".
I am also really cheap, and we live in an area where surfer logo brands are the "thing" and I refuse to pay $32 for a t-shirt.
So, unbeknownst to my boys, I take my lunch break on most Wednesdays and scour through the racks at the Salvation Army Family Store. Wednesdays are half price days. I get tons of surfer t-shirts (Volcom, etc.) in great condition for a buck or two. Also really great polos from A&F, Hollister, Polo, for a buck or two. I also get most of their shorts here, too. And a few pieces for me, although womens clothes seem harder to pick through. I go home, wash them up and then just put them in their laundry baskets to put away. They are none the wiser.
I fill in the rest with trips to Ross for shoes (they have fantastic buys on boys/mens shoes). I just got a pair of Nike football cleats for Older Son for $17. And it wasn't a "find", there was a bunch of them. Most of their shoes I pay less than $20 for a pair.
I also shop Old Navy specials for shorts and pants. Older Son really needs to try stuff on. But I'm not beyond buying, trying on at home, then returning. Easier than dragging them along sometimes.
If I find something that fits really well for them, I search for it on eBay and usually get good deals. Recently, I bought SIX pairs of size 14 Old Navy plaid shorts for Younger for about $12.99 (purchase price + shipping). They were in great condition. His summer wardrobe was done!
Then, when they outgrow it all.... I post it on eBay and usually make my money back and then some. :)
Besides being economical, this approach is very green - reduce/reuse/recycle!
Santa brings underwear and socks. This is a tradition I started accidentally and it stuck and they expect it now. Santa shops at walmart or target for these items.
I don't know if this approach would work as well with girls clothes. There seems to be more complicated subcategories in girls clothes. Boys generally get by with shorts/t-shirts/underwear/socks and a pair of sneakers.
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Permalink Reply by mightyninjamom on -
Kat - it really depends on the girl - my daughter is not especially picky about clothes. At all. I usually queue up the stuff that's her size on Old Navy, and let her pick out a few things. Mostly it's about color and cute pictures for her. Occasionally she'll pick something outrageous, so then I'll use it as a teaching moment in how to determine value.
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Permalink Reply by wookie on -
It totally depends on the girl. I've got one who will currently wear anything and one that has become very particular, not about labels but her personal idea of what makes an outfit... the right shade of stripes to go with the right shade of shorts. Apparently some blues don't go with some greens. I might make her start picking out my stuff.
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