Children's Clothing

[amberpi]

So, looking for opinions on best places to buy children's clothes for cost vs. quality. I'm too cheap to buy all the kids' clothes at Nordstorm's despite their very targeted and adorable advertising and I've been really unhappy with some things from Zullily and Old Navy (although, that may have been the boy). Do any of you parents have any brand loyalty in this regard? I've been very happy with things from Carter's (and love their sales prices!) but I'd love recommendations. We've got some serious winter clothes shopping to do this weekend either in person or online.

 

[design_mom]

Mine are older now. And I can't remember how old the kids are. I'm thinking toddler/preschool, right?

Carters and OshKosh were our go-to.

Gymboree clothing lasted really well (could survive several kids as hand-me-downs). It's expensive, but sometimes you can get a good deal on the clearance rack, with a coupon, or find it resale. If you can get it for a decent price, or plan to hand it down, it's worth it. (I have actually have a friend who dressed her kid in almost exclusively Gymboree because she could wear it, then sell it, and she figures she didn't spend anymore overall than she would have if she'd bought cheap clothes.) LandsEnd and Baby Gap also had nice quality stuff, but we only bought if it was on sale.

We'd buy Target's Circo brand and Kohl's Jumping Beans brand for "daycare clothes." They weren't the highest quality, and would only last the season, but if they're going to get messed up anyway... go cheap and save the good stuff for home/weekends.

 

[dakotix]

We love Target

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Target

 

[amberpi]

Target

Seriously, this is what I wanted to hear. I love Target!

 

[dish rag]

So, looking for opinions on best places to buy children's clothes for cost vs. quality. I'm too cheap to buy all the kids' clothes at Nordstorm's despite their very targeted and adorable advertising and I've been really unhappy with some things from Zullily and Old Navy (although, that may have been the boy). Do any of you parents have any brand loyalty in this regard? I've been very happy with things from Carter's (and love their sales prices!) but I'd love recommendations. We've got some serious winter clothes shopping to do this weekend either in person or online.

Tugboat and the Bird. Really nice children's clothing.

 

[amberpi]

Gymboree clothing lasted really well (could survive several kids as hand-me-downs). It's expensive, but sometimes you can get a good deal on the clearance rack, with a coupon, or find it resale. If you can get it for a decent price, or plan to hand it down, it's worth it. (I have actually have a friend who dressed her kid in almost exclusively Gymboree because she could wear it, then sell it, and she figures she didn't spend anymore overall than she would have if she'd bought cheap clothes.) LandsEnd and Baby Gap also had nice quality stuff, but we only bought if it was on sale.

We'd buy Target's Circo brand and Kohl's Jumping Beans brand for "daycare clothes." They weren't the highest quality, and would only last the season, but if they're going to get messed up anyway... go cheap and save the good stuff for home/weekends.

Lord, there better be no hand me downs needed! We don't need to be outnumbered.

Great call on the school vs. weekend clothes. They were definitely dressed a might bit waspy this summer and there's no need for me to press a 2 year old's button down every morning - especially since it was wrinkled the minute he was in a car seat. In my defense, I was new to the thing and now I see I don't need to do all that just for daycare.

 

[abdmom]

Gymboree when the oldest was little. The clothes lasted through 3 kids. Target or Lands End for when the kids were a little older. Lands End for outerwear. I always purchased outerwear, or at least I tried to, in July when they had it on sale. I learned my lesson with the oldest when I tried to find winter boots in December. Everyone was sold out.

 

[lorimay]

I buy a lot of things for my grandkids at Target.
If you catch the sale rack, you can really make out well.
I found school uniform shirts for my granddaughter by Cat & Jack (love their stuff) last week for $2.34 each, I scooped up a bunch for her. Just can't beat that!
For my smallest grandson, Carter's.

 

[amberpi]

Tugboat and the Bird. Really nice children's clothing.

Wow, is it. Those prices though! $35 for a T-shirt for 2 year old is too rich for my blood though. But they are very cute.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

It requires more digging, but Marshall's often gets great brands for awesome prices. Beyond that, if you like Gymboree, you might consider their offshoot brand...Crazy 8. I usually shop online since there are more sizes and clearance merch, but they also regularly send 20-25% off coupons. I think I spent about $180 on summer clothes for two kids that would have cost over $600 before sales and coupon. Oh...and someone mentioned Baby Gap/Gap Kids...their stuff tends to really last and has decent resale value as well.

 

[amberpi]

It requires more digging, but Marshall's often gets great brands for awesome prices. Beyond that, if you like Gymboree, you might consider their offshoot brand...Crazy 8. I usually shop online since there are more sizes and clearance merch, but they also regularly send 20-25% off coupons. I think I spent about $180 on summer clothes for two kids that would have cost over $600 before sales and coupon. Oh...and someone mentioned Baby Gap/Gap Kids...their stuff tends to really last and has decent resale value as well.

Your deal sounds like the deal I struck at the gap for the kids earlier this summer and then at old navy too. The stuff I got at old navy was so cheap dh told me to quit asking him about it if it was cheaper than a cocktail or coffee...lol. Totally not getting a good gap coupon now.

I had not even thought of Marshall’s! We have locally a super cheap place called “bargain hunt” and I’m obsessed with how cheap everything is. Keep wishing I’d run into little girl leggings there as we need a zillion pairs as she is not wearing pants.

 

[Happyinwonerland]

I usually shop at Gap for kids' clothes. The quality if good and you wait for a good sale (and they are always having sales), you can get a fair price. I like the styles and the resale value is high if you take it to Once Upon and Child when they've outgrown it.

My one walmart love it their cheap kids' jeans. They are the only pants I can find to stay up on DD, she is so tall and skinny.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

Your deal sounds like the deal I struck at the gap for the kids earlier this summer and then at old navy too. The stuff I got at old navy was so cheap dh told me to quit asking him about it if it was cheaper than a cocktail or coffee...lol. Totally not getting a good gap coupon now.

I had not even thought of Marshall’s! We have locally a super cheap place called “bargain hunt” and I’m obsessed with how cheap everything is. Keep wishing I’d run into little girl leggings there as we need a zillion pairs as she is not wearing pants.

We really lucked out at Marshalls for jeans this year. DD12 is hard to fit and we stick with Old Navy for her just because it's not hours of tears and drama, but DD9 is an easier to fit body type. All of the jeans I got her (things like Lucky and 7 For All Mankind) for $10-12 a pair.

I never get special deals for Gap or Old Navy, but coworkers and I compare notes and we all get pretty consistent coupons for Crazy 8. They also usually show up on RetailMeNot.

 

[amberpi]

We really lucked out at Marshalls for jeans this year. DD12 is hard to fit and we stick with Old Navy for her just because it's not hours of tears and drama, but DD9 is an easier to fit body type. All of the jeans I got her (things like Lucky and 7 For All Mankind) for $10-12 a pair.

I never get special deals for Gap or Old Navy, but coworkers and I compare notes and we all get pretty consistent coupons for Crazy 8. They also usually show up on RetailMeNot.

I get an embarrassing number of on/gap/br sales and had been waiting for the same deal from gap I got this summer, but not yet. I think it’s once you start there they send you coupons to keep you coming back.

I hadn’t considered selling their clothes...I was going to donate about 4-5 garbage bags because dh hadn’t gotten rid of stuff in a while. May have to reconsider this. Is it hard? I’ve done consignment on cocktail/wedding/bridesmaid dresses and actually got quite a lot but I didn’t think about it for small ticket items. It was a hassle though.

 

[karmic]

I get lots of good deals at Marshall’s and TJ Max. Got a great Nike light weight winter coat for the 4 yo for $15 on the clearance rank.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

I get an embarrassing number of on/gap/br sales and had been waiting for the same deal from gap I got this summer, but not yet. I think it’s once you start there they send you coupons to keep you coming back.

I hadn’t considered selling their clothes...I was going to donate about 4-5 garbage bags because dh hadn’t gotten rid of stuff in a while. May have to reconsider this. Is it hard? I’ve done consignment on cocktail/wedding/bridesmaid dresses and actually got quite a lot but I didn’t think about it for small ticket items. It was a hassle though.

To be honest, I haven't done it in a while...mainly because they are now much harder on their clothes. They're still suitable for donation, but I doubt I'd see much for them from a consignment shop. As my older one starts to get into brands and babies her favorites, we might be able to go back to it. BUT...when they were younger, I went through a phase where I was in love with Oilily. I was already buying it resale, but even second owner resale made a decent amount back. The same thing came up after they quit gymnastics...I had all of these GK foil leos that would fit a 3-5 year old and people ate those up on Ebay. My mom covers all of my ebay sales since she's more well versed in it, but it was money back in my pocket.

 

[BadgerGirl84]

I have 3 daughters and I half-jokingly say that my hobby is dressing them (they are all still little and more or less wear what I buy them.) I was over the moon yesterday when my oldest daughter's kindergarten teacher told me that she looks forward every day to see what dress my daughter is wearing.

My favorite brand, hands down, is Hanna Andersson. Good quality, mostly all cotton clothes that last and last. Modest as well (can't stand most graphic tees and such like at Children's Place!). I buy 75% of my Hanna clothes used off Facebook. I'm talking paying 25-50% of the retail price for new or excellent used condition clothes. When I say Facebook I meant Facebook groups created exclusively for buying and selling that brand of clothes.

After that, l like "cutsy" or holiday themed type clothes on AliExpress. Shipping takes 2-4 weeks and sometimes you buy something that is a dud (either bad quality or sizing is off) but I get fantastic, unique dresses and tops for $6-10 each. Read the reviews and look at the photos.

I like the following fine for basics like leggings, jeggings, underwear, socks, etc.: Old Navy, Carter's, Target, Kohl's. When I shop there I typically wait for really good online sales ($10 off 25 at Kohls for example.) I also pick up a decent amount of stuff from Costco--specifically jackets, swimsuits, Kirland cotton pajamas and socks.

I've never been much of a fan of Gap or Gymboree.

 

[soccerdad72]

I think we used to buy a lot of stuff from Children's Place - is that store even still around? We've moved on to Hollister and Abercrombie and American Eagle - both our boys are now in adult sizes, but are too skinny for most clothes from other department stores.

 

[apirateslifeforme]

I pretty much only buy Carters, Cat & Jack at Target, Garanimals at Walmart, and Jumping Beans at Kohls for my 3-year-old. I also do a lot of shopping at Once Upon a Child; I've bought almost-new Children's Place and Gymboree items there for $3, $4. I'm really militant about clothes, too; stains get pretreated immediately, I wash almost everything in cold and I hang it to dry. The newer it looks, the more likely OUAC is to take it and the more money in my pocket!

I also like the Old Navy jeans that we've received as hand-me-downs. My son is incredibly skinny, but ON jeans are the ONLY ones that fit him and look decent. Other pants with drawstrings, I have to pull them so tightly that he ends up with a "shelf" on his hips.