The Dreaded School Clothes Shopping Trip...

[calypso*a*go-go]

with teenage daughter!!!

I've put this moment off as long as I can. Everyday I've tuned out the "when are we going school clothes shopping?" chant coming from DD for the last several weeks. I feel like a trapped animal -- I'll either have to take her or chew my own leg off!

Now it wouldn't be so bad if DD and I had the same taste in clothing, or even a happy medium somewhere but I'm "old school", you know -- clothes should match and be appropriate for the weather. DD is more of a free spirit and doesn't understand that her prancing out of the dressing room proud as a peacock wearing colors and patterns that don't match is enough to put me into convulsions. And are flip-flops really winter shoes?

How many times must I suffer by being told I'm old and don't know what's in style? I guess my wallet must be though as she loves it so much she's wearing it out!

 

[disneymom8589]

Oh boy, I can relate to you! They love your money, but not so much your opinion! My DD is getting married next summer and I have a sneaky suspicion that when I like something, she'll find a reason to not like it. Maybe reverse psychology will work!

BTW, I know you're from WA state. Where do you go shopping?

 

[DVCsince02]

Just remember to take lots of pics of her in those mis-matched outfits and in about 5-10 years, whip 'em out. She'll be totally embarrased of how she dressed and you can get in an old fashioned "told ya so".

Then there is always the "I'm buying, so you get what I like" route. That usually ends up bad (especially with teenagers).

Or, the "Get a job, and you can buy what you like". This route usually leads to Mom or Dad playing chauffer.

So that brings us back to Plan A. Good luck!

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Oh boy, I can relate to you! They love your money, but not so much your opinion! My DD is getting married next summer and I have a sneaky suspicion that when I like something, she'll find a reason to not like it. Maybe reverse psychology will work!

BTW, I know you're from WA state. Where do you go shopping?

On an expedition of this magnitude we will probably drive across the river and go to the Clackamas Mall (no sales tax!).

 

[kab407]

And I think, this is the main reason why I went to Catholic school. Uniforms! No arguing over what I was wearing. The nuns decided that.

Have fun Lisa!

 

[cocowum]

with teenage daughter!!!

I've put this moment off as long as I can. Everyday I've tuned out the "when are we going school clothes shopping?" chant coming from DD for the last several weeks. I feel like a trapped animal -- I'll either have to take her or chew my own leg off!

Now it wouldn't be so bad if DD and I had the same taste in clothing, or even a happy medium somewhere but I'm "old school", you know -- clothes should match and be appropriate for the weather. DD is more of a free spirit and doesn't understand that her prancing out of the dressing room proud as a peacock wearing colors and patterns that don't match is enough to put me into convulsions. And are flip-flops really winter shoes?

How many times must I suffer by being told I'm old and don't know what's in style? I guess my wallet must be though as she loves it so much she's wearing it out!

At least your DD is wearing colors! Mine refuses to wear anything that is perceived as bright. She is driving me crazy with all this black!

I am a shopaholic and she's not. She doesn't even want new school clothes!!!!

WHAT!?!? I have to drag her to the mall. She wants to go to school in her old beat up chuck taylors. ...

 

[luna99]

I don't have any kids yet but I know that school shopping with girls must be torture on moms!! when I was a teen/in high school this is how our shopping usually went:

1. we had to go to a nearby bigger city because there weren't stores with things that would fit me in our town or I wanted clothing that was unique and other kids at my school wouldn't be able to find.

2. we'd get to the mall and I would always want the clothes that were more "fashionable" but I was a chunky girl so they never looked "right" on me... so I would try some stuff on.. get aggravated.. and get upset.

3. In an effort to make me feel better (and because it was usually noon by now and we hadn't bought anything anyway) mom and I would eat lunch. Usually at a sit down place like Olive Garden, etc...

4. Due to just eating, I would feel more bloated and stuffed and by this point I didn't feel like trying clothes on anymore... I might try something just to please mom but sometimes it would end in tears. BTW, mom would always suggest I get pleated pants... PLEATED!?! ugh. I would never like what she would pick out for me.

5. I would be lucky if I came home with a pair of shoes and maybe one shirt.. the day would be wasted, and I wouldn't be much closer to having a new school wardrobe.

you know.. looking back on what my mom had to go through with me.. I think I'm going to call her and say thank you.. or buy her a gift or something.. sheesh. I was one pain in the butt teen!

ugh! I hope if I have daughters the whole process goes smoother for us!

good luck OP!!! here's some pixie dust.. you might need it!

 

[pklein09]

How old is your daughter? Could you give her X amount of dollars and have her spend it herself? When it's gone, it's gone. My mom and I never had a falling out about clothes - I liked jeans and a shirt/sweater. DS11 sings with the American Boychoir and they wear uniforms. After 1 year of him with the choir, I fully support uniforms in public schools. Soooooooooo much easier.

I still have 3 kids to outfit for school. DS7 could care less. I bought him 3 pairs of jeans and that's about it for now. He gets DS11s hand-me-downs. I bought DD12 3 pairs of jeans and she's got tops from the lady next door - her girls are just older than my girls. DD9 needs pants, but I need to take her for fit - LLBean pants were the only thing that fit last year. Slim cut legs and my family genes just don't mix . I will take them next week for new sneakers. And that's about it. Two of them have birthdays in November, so I just wait until then and tell the family to buy them clothes!!! Can't argue when it's a gift!!!

Best of luck with the shopping!

 

[Madi100]

Good luck! We have just discovered Holister. Good thing is she is young, and she can wear the xsmall, so we can shop clearance. But still. younger DD is into Limited Too. At the beginning of 5th grade, older DD was in an 8, now she wears a 12. Her shoe size has increased by 2 sizes.

 

[SamIAm21]

I took my daughter, 8, last weekend. I have an oddball daughter who doesn't like to shop and really wouldn't know an outfit if it hit her upside the head. I tried to put together some things for her and said, you like this?? And all I got was yeah, it's nice, it's okay, sure, I'll wear it I guess. I didn't take her to dorky stores either... Old Navy for basics, Justice for Girls, The Gap, and JC Penney for the Hanna Montana junk. It was like pulling teeth just to get her to say she liked something. I finally just picked it out stuff and said, you'll be wearing this!

I was like

 

[LilGMom]

This is yet another reason I love having boys!! Granted my oldest is only 7 yrs. old but he could care less about what he has one. We took him last weekend to shop for clothes. DH & I would split up, grab some clothes, check the fit and we were done. Hope we can continue shopping that way for many many more years.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

DD is 15 and I don't think I could give a certain amount of money and let her spend it at her own discretion -- it would be gone on 1 item.

I'm sure it won't be that bad. We just butt head sometimes over whats appropriate for her age and what isn't. She likes Hollister/American Eagle/Old Navy etc so hopefully we'll find some things to agree on without too many pouts or eyerolls.

 

[BRobson]

Do kids in the USA get to wear what they want to school ?

What a nightmare Uniforms are great - so glad I dont have that hassles!! My DD is 8 and is a nightmare to shop for at the best of times



Good luck

 

[Cyrano]

We are off this weekend to do school clothes, lunch bags etc shopping
I'm old school and much to eldest DDs scorn will be sticking with school uniform

 

[catycatcat4]

DD is 15 and I don't think I could give a certain amount of money and let her spend it at her own discretion -- it would be gone on 1 item.

I'm sure it won't be that bad. We just butt head sometimes over whats appropriate for her age and what isn't. She likes Hollister/American Eagle/Old Navy etc so hopefully we'll find some things to agree on without too many pouts or eyerolls.

Im ttly the oposit im 15 i have my own money sometimes im more likely to get on my moms nerves BC i would take so long.

See if there is a platos closet near you its a second hand store (Very popular store around here for my age now ) but most of the stuff still has tags on it and there all name brands and they are VERY strict about what kinda stuff they will put in the store.
http://www.platoscloset.com/


I got this hollister shirt at platos it still had its original tag and it was 5 dollors it would of been 30-50 in hollister and this thing was in there stores nto to long ago.

and i got a pair of seven jeans that was saw in another store that was 60$

Go to kohls if ya got one it has stuff from what i can tell sound like stuff she would like.

got a super cute plad skirt.

 

[disneymom8589]

The Clackamas Town Center is great...especially since they've remodeled it! We actually live further north (across Puget Sound from Seattle), but DD and I and her friend used to go school clothes shopping every summer at the Clackamas Town Center. My sister lives about 10 minutes from there.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

We went yesterday afternoon and it actually wasn't too bad. First of all, the stores were practically deserted...a lot different from last year. Also, DD has finally become used to what I think is acceptable and what isn't (talking styles and prices here).

 

[parrotheadlois]

What a great suggestion Catycatcat4!

 

[fakereadhed]

See if there is a platos closet near you its a second hand store (Very popular store around here for my age now ) but most of the stuff still has tags on it and there all name brands and they are VERY strict about what kinda stuff they will put in the store.
http://www.platoscloset.com/
.

My DD15 just discovered Plato's Closet. She brought in her stuff to sell and got about $36 for 11 items that she wore for over a year. She thought the prices were a little high for the condition of the clothes so she didn't buy anything from our store.

She shops mostly at TJMaxx and Marshalls because she likes the name brands at Target prices because they last better. I buy her some stuff for school but everything else she buys herself with money from babysitting and mowing our lawn. She also buys AE and Hollister when they have clearance sales online.

Her 14yo sister gets some great hand me downs which is a good thing because she hates shopping. I feel the pain of all of you with daughters that you have to drag to the mall!

 

[cccm]

Have to take DD10 this weekend and don't want to do it. She has been very active all summer and has thinned out and grew two inches. Over the winter she will beef up. I can't win with that and the change of the seasons. I curse having to buy pants for her!!!