Kids clothing........shopping ?

[npmommie]

Where do you buy most of your kids clothes? Do you shop ongoing, or once for the season? I remember as a kid my mom buying all the summer clothes at once beginning of the spring season........and same for fall/winter........
I tend to shop ongoing, throughout the year.

I buy at different places........Kohls, Macys, Target, Old Navy,LL Bean, Lands End, local childrens clothes shop, and online/catalog a place called CWD Kids.........
I would love to buy everything from CWD but its too pricey!!! I find some of the same brand items in our local childrens shop, and try to hit the sales.

 

[holly7347]

I make a yearly trip to a HUGE outlet mall and buy quite a bit all at once. The childrens stores there that I usually hit are are Children's Place, Gymboree, Carter's, and Osh Kosh. But I used to go alone and as my oldest DD (5 this month) has gotten pickier about her clothes it can be a waste of money for me to pick out her clothes because if she doesn't like them she won't wear them. So this year I didn't buy nearly as much at the outlet. Locally I try to hit end of the season sales and by ahead for next year. The stores I generally shop for them are Target, Kohl's (I have the MVC card and go when I get a 15% off coupon or when they are having extra off their clearance) and ocassionally Children's Place when I have a coupon. I haven't had to buy to much for DD#2 because there are always clothes that #1 wouldn't wear so they are like new for #2. But #2 is big for her age and I think in the next year or so they will be in the same size.

 

[agentpleakley]

I shop continuously throughout the year.

For DS (11) -- I can only buy things that fit him right at Children's Place and Old Navy (for pants). I'll also shop Lands End for him.

For DD(5): this is my big downfall. For her I do alot of boutique shopping -- but I'm a big Gymboree fan for her too. I really don't care for CP or ON for her -- there stuff looks too grown up. I love the CWD catalog as well. I found bercot children's wear - love it - and not too pricey. Wee Winter Woolies by FlapDoodles and Chicken Noodle are other favs. Nothing though beats Gymboree leggings. I'm a huge fan of those for her.

 

[blessedby3]

I buy our kids things as they need them- not all at once
That could cost me a FORTUNE as we have 4 kids. I also shop at Once Upon a Child ( used childrens clothes store) for my youngest 2. They have great deals on brand name clothes at a fraction of the cost. My older 2 are teens so I have to find really good deals at the mall stores when we are out. Usually they can still wear some things from the previous year and then I will buy them what they need as we find a good deal on it.

 

[sueh]

I buy both of my girls clothes off season. So now that spring/summer is coming all the fall/winter stuff is being clearanced. I will go through their dressers and make a list and start picking stuff up. I always hit the ON 50% their already clearanced stuff (which I think it's like 2x a year). I always get jeans and cute tops for next to nothing.
I have a really bad habit of over buying stuff. So I will usually have a bunch of stuff that my dd1 has never worn so my dd2 can wear some of the stuff.
For shoes I will usually catch a sale somewhere and get them sneakers, sandals and I get snow boots on clearance.

 

[tinkerjess]

for my 8yo son i buy clothes from a&f his into name brands hurley, ***********,element, dc you can tell we live on the gulfcoast i can get away w shorts from target and on ,but not board shorts also flip flops nothing but reef flip flops ( he got that from me) well my 2yo daughter childrens place, gap,old navy, target, love-target jcpennys!! i dont get her real pricey clothes bc she so little and toddlers get dirty!!! i hate those moms that say to their toddlers dont get dirty that shirt was $40!! well toddlers are messy!!! i get their clothes all year long!!! i also rack up on the salesrack i have gotten such cute stuff from the sales!!

 

[staci]

I buy all in the off season. For the summer my dd turned 1, I got her 54 peices for 63 bucks. Mostly at Old Navy, Target, and some Sears.

As they get older it gets harder. I LOVE the monster sales at TCP, and their stuff is so cute and coordinating! I usually shop their monster sale around 12/1 for their winter clothes that season.

I buy all the basics ahead of time, and the I allow myself to splurge on a thing or two on sale during the actual season. Usually outfits for special events or photos.

There are some things I wont compromise on - one being BabyGap jeans for my ds. The fit his little waist so well. I try to always get them on sale, but I spend more there obviously than I would some where else.
But since he wears them daily, it is so worth it. I also usually buy my kids expensive winter coats (although I do shoot for clearance the year before). They wear them everyday for 4 months - I find I get my money's worth out of the brand names.

 

[katiesmom2]

I live in Canada. We usually travel to the U.S. (we are close to the border) at the beginning of each season and buy a good amount of stuff. We especially like Burlington Coat Factory, Target and Children's Place.

Then, I keep buying pieces to add from here at home - Old Navy, Walmart.

I buy WAY too many clothes for my kids. My daughter (5) has a full closet and hasn't warm several winter items and winter is almost done.

I am really trying hard to cut back on what I buy - but I can't resist a good sale or something really cute!

DS is 3 and not in school yet, so I tend to buy him less, but he still has a very full closet!

 

[katiesmom2]

There are some things I wont compromise on - one being BabyGap jeans for my ds. The fit his little waist so well. I try to always get them on sale, but I spend more there obviously than I would some where else.

I love the new adjustable waistbands (elastic piece with the buttons inside) that a lot of the stores do with their pants now (Old Navy, Children's Place and some Walmart). Both of my kids have tiny waists (they DON'T take after their mother...LOL) and these are a godsend. They'd both have pants around their ankles otherwise.

 

[wlwilliams9]

I shop ALL THE TIME!!! For DD, I shop mostly at Baby Gap, Old Navy and Target.

 

[Cloudwatcher]

I normally by at the begining of the season for my DD3. I bought her summer stuff back in January when it first came out at Target and Old Navy. She has a ton of hand-me-downs from cousins but I still buy atleast 3 or 4 pairs of bottoms and nice shirts because sometime you don't want to be in hand-me-downs.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

I never buy all at once because DH would have a heart attack!

I also love CWD kids and buy a lot from them online. I also buy Gymboree, GAP, Old Navy, and Ralph Lauren. Every once in awhile I'll find something cute at Children's Place and I love Lord and Taylor when they have a sale (you can usually get Ralph Lauren 25% there alot).

 

[tzolkin]

whenever i'm out i take a stroll through the clearance clothing. unless there's a specific item they need, i always spend less than $5 or so. i will try to guestimate what size they'll be the next season if it's something that doesn't work year-round. it usually works out well, but i do sometimes wind up with clothes that they don't wear. i figure i still havent lost any money and it's nice to be able to pass on clothes to others that are still new.

my usual stop is target, but i also like the children's place and payless.

 

[_queenie_]

I go bargain hunting all year!

Stores for my DD3.5: Gymboree, Gap, Old Navy, Children's Place, J Crew, Macy's, and Polo as far as local stores go. At these places I definately head right for the sale rack. I also order a lot of what I call "kiddie designer" clothes from online boutiques, where I'm not hesitant to spend more.

Whatever I save at the mall/outlets I spend online!

 

[tinkandpan]

I shop all year long as well- most of the things now come from Nordstrom, Lord and Taylor, Gap, Old Navy and Janie and JAck. I am always looking for a good sale on quality pieces!

 

[mrs.beast]

I do a little of both. i stock up at the end of season, but buy all year. My DD4 has become obsessed with pumpkin patch since it opened up at the mall, and has gotten really into clothes. Just last week we were at nordstroms to get shoes and she grabbed a pair of 7 for all mankind jeans ($78) and said she "was dying for them. they were so cute." i said i am so sorry i will make sure to come to your funeral. I was not getting them. so i guess I am going to have to become a sale hunter with her. we buy most clothes at pumpkin patch, hannah andersson, gymboree, janie and jack, and nordstroms. DD2 just copies big sis and likes matchy clothes. DS6 could care less. he wears hurley, oneill, AF and such, but is fine with shirts from anywhere as long as there is no writing or pics on them.

 

[mello]

I'm always on the lookout for a good sale, so I guess I'd say I shop year round.

For the older boys we tend to shop a couple times a year (when they grow), at the outlet stores: TCP, Old Navy, Gap & Nike. Our oldest is just now outgrowing TCP, which is sad; I've always liked their boy clothes.

For DD (5), I like Gymboree best - they have great sales, pretty good quality, mix & matchability, and they look like little girls' clothes. I also like Naartjie for her, and some TCP, and try to use coupons for both of those places. We caught a great sale at Pumpkin Patch last year and got her some super cute stuff for this summer.

 

[Eyore4Ever149]

I havent read other posts, but wanted to say- If you like Disney- you should take a look at Sears- typically affordable too

 

[leighe]

I know I'm awful but dressing my girls (2 and 8 months) is one of my favorite things to do! I shop all the time and I even pre-order some of the brands I really like - although it is a little difficult to judge sizes for something DD isn't going to wear until May or June in November or December. My favorite places to shop are Janie and Jack and little boutiques. There is a fabulous childrens shop in the little town where I'm from (my mom bought lots of our clothes there too when we were growing up) and she carries lots of Bailey Boys, Biscotti, Le Top, and Kate Mack.

 

[nemomama]

I shop all the time, but I also do a big shopping at the beginning of each season. My favorite store by far is Hanna Andersson - their quality is unbeatable! I also like Children's place, Baby gap and Carter's for the basics. I order from LL Bean and Lands' end online quite a bit too. I LOVE shopping for my kids.