Clothes shopping for a 12 year old girl

[AnOtHeRdIsNeYfReAk]

I feel like I'm buying my 12 year old a new wardrobe every three months! She has been growing like a weed this past year. Don't even get me started on shoes. Now she is at the point where women's clothes fit her better and we just alter the pants a bit. Unfortunately I hate the clothes that fit her now. The waist sits so darn low! And the tops she likes all are cut so low. I do let her get these clothes for home, but they just aren't appropriate for school. Where do you shop for your "tweens"?

 

[Poohforyou]

My dd is 14 but she's tiny for her age. She gets jeans at aero. She likes the boot cut ones and they have a triple zero. Tops come from h&m, American eagle, aero, garage, delias to name a few. If a top is too low cut or sheer she just wears a coordinating cami underneath.

 

[Gracefulskinny]

Find a good consignment sale in your area. The sales often have wonderful selections of stuff even through juniors.

Good luck. I too was one that grew fast (6inches in 6 months) and also had larger breasts to deal with. When I was younger I sometimes would have luck at Ny and Co. I have also found that the tanks from old navy are great for layering to help cover and make things more modest up top.

 

[Southernmiss]

We have luck with dd12 at Burkes outlet. Recently got modest tops and dresses there.

We bought ladies sized walking shorts she can wear to school at old navy.

We've also found modest tops at kohls, too. In the ladies not junior departments.

 

[mamacatnv]

Plato's Closet worked well when we were at that in between size. My DD is tall and all legs, 5'9", I buy a lot of her jeans at Torrid. Juniors are too short and misses are not the style she wants. Torrid jeans have the length and fit her well, they are our go to store for jeans. DD will only wear T's in her current teenage phase but when she was a bit younger, we found Kohls to have some options. We also learned how to use a cami, she wore cami's under everything which helped with the plunging neckline issue and allowed her to wear the Jr's shirts that fit her well except for the plunge

 

[clh2]

I also agree with getting Camis. They are inexpensive, and are available in many colors. And at a minimum, at least get black and white ones, as many items match that.

 

[diznygirl]

I'm going through this with my daughter. It's very frustrating. We have had some luck in the petite section of stores like JC Penny. We will have to try out some of these other suggestions.

 

[wishesuponastar]

My 12yo DD finds most clothes at Kohls. She also uses camis a lot. Sometimes we find items at Platos closet.

 

[mom2rtk]

I don't seek out places for my 13 year old to shop. She usually drags me where she wants to go. Forever 21, Charlotte Russe, Wet Seal. None of those are very expensive so no too bad keeping up.

The biggest problem we have is finding shorts long enough to meet school dress code. I've given up for now. She has one or two pair that work, and mixes in jeans some days.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

My 13 yo is size 4 and we are shopping at Dress barn. Other option is lands end. Clothing may not be quite as trendy as elsewhere, but my daughter doesn't like the trendy styles. We had no luck at Forever 21.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Delia's
Justice
Rue21 (jeans, mostly)

For DD13

 

[Ceila]

I don't seek out places for my 13 year old to shop. She usually drags me where she wants to go. Forever 21, Charlotte Russe, Wet Seal. None of those are very expensive so no too bad keeping up.

The biggest problem we have is finding shorts long enough to meet school dress code. I've given up for now. She has one or two pair that work, and mixes in jeans some days.

No kidding! DD12 is already quite the shopper. (She definitely takes after me in that regard not DH!)

Her favorite store is Aero, although she can find something she likes just about anywhere. Target usually has cute t-shirts, and she does wear a lot of camis since the v-necks are typically a bit too low cut. We're heading out today to look for shorts. That will be harder than finding tops, I know. She grew 5 inches last year and shows no signs of slowing down yet.

 

[Christine]

No kidding! DD12 is already quite the shopper. (She definitely takes after me in that regard not DH!)

Her favorite store is Aero, although she can find something she likes just about anywhere. Target usually has cute t-shirts, and she does wear a lot of camis since the v-necks are typically a bit too low cut. We're heading out today to look for shorts. That will be harder than finding tops, I know. She grew 5 inches last year and shows no signs of slowing down yet.

Last year my DD (22) worked at a dog kennel during the summer. They were allowed to wear shorts but they could not be the style of shorts that my DD likes to wear (short and tight). My DD is very tiny (size 2) and some of the stuff in the ladies departments just isn't quite right on her. Anyway, she had good luck with Mossimo (Target) denim bermuda shorts. They aren't quite as "dowdy" as bermuda shorts in the ladies department but did give her the coverage she needed. You might look there, although I have no idea what Target is selling this season.

 

[Peanut Giggleface]

When my daugter was 12, she loved to shop at Justice. They don't have the super low waisted jeans that some of the older clothes stores carry, plus their sizes run up to 18. So if your daughter is borderline adult sizes, she'll be able to find something there and you'll feel good about it. The clothes are youthful but still modest.

 

[mombrontrent]

I am going through quite the opposite problem right now with my DD who will be 12 in July. She is very small for her age and really hasn't had any real growth spurts lately. She still fits into a lot of the same clothes she has been wearing for the past 4-5 years

Her issue is that she can't really shop at all the places her friends and other girl her age are shopping yet. She needs a youth size small or size 8-10. She hates shopping in the kids section but she just can't fit into even junior sizes yet I have the same problem with my DD7 who wants to wear the youth sizes that start at size small or 7 but she still wear a kids size 5-6.

 

[Aliceacc]

The tops have an easy fix: my daughters tend to wear a colored cami under just about everything. So the low cut, huge armholed shirts aren't an issue.

As to the rest: we tend to do a lot of shopping in Aeropostale and Hollister (when they have a sale) as well as Forever 21. And I agree that Target can be a lifesaver. We've also had a lot of luck with the Junior section at Kohls.

For the previous poster, is she outgrowing Justice? My 12 year old will still shop there on occasion.

Of course, bathing suit season is coming up, and I have a 14 year old. Wish me luck!

 

[kinntj]

My daughter will be 12 this month and she has the opposite problem. Her torso grows with age, but her legs are slower growing. Her feet haven't grown in a year. She gets frustrated with that, because she likes the women's sports shoes and her feet are too small.

We avoid the v necks at Aero. She doesn't like the feel of the cami under the v neck shirts. She's always pulling on the shirts, so we stay with crew neck t shirts at Aero.

She still wears a size 10 slim from Justice. Next year in 7th grade she's asking where she can buy jeans/pants for petites. I was thinking Gap?

I can't stand some of the trendy stuff out for teens. Blech!

Good luck! 5-8th grades tend to be those growth spurt years. Varies per kid.

 

[StephMK]

The tops have an easy fix: my daughters tend to wear a colored cami under just about everything. So the low cut, huge armholed shirts aren't an issue.

As to the rest: we tend to do a lot of shopping in Aeropostale and Hollister (when they have a sale) as well as Forever 21. And I agree that Target can be a lifesaver. We've also had a lot of luck with the Junior section at Kohls.

For the previous poster, is she outgrowing Justice? My 12 year old will still shop there on occasion.

Of course, bathing suit season is coming up, and I have a 14 year old. Wish me luck!

These are the exact places that DD14 shops. She has all kinds of camis and wears those under everything. She is tall but tiny and wears a 00 jeans or kids shorts. Not looking forward to bathing suit shopping! Sometimes Old Navy will have some things that work too.

 

[MarciaBrady]

I'm a teenage girl, and I still like Justice. Those clothes fit properly (no "dribbling" necklines; bottoms stay up; no itchy tags; etc) and I like all the bright colors. I know a lot of girls my age would probably say they're too old for the store, so I don't know though.

 

[LisaInNc]

My daughter layers cami. I even bought her those fake ones that just go on your waste for when it's hot and she does not want an extra layer.

Lisa