Went shopping - a RANT

[Disneycrazymom]

I took both my kids to the mall yesterday to get each an outfit for picture day. Seems simple enough. They wear uniforms daily (thank goodness) so we buy very few other pieces, so this is a treat. I could not believe how UGLY the clothes are!!! DD is 5, you would think she would be fun to buy for. EVERYTHING looked like she was a 16 year old hooker want to be! (can I say that on the Dis?) I have never seen so many ugly tops for little girls in one place! Then DS 12 decided on a nice (really pretty blue) shirt, sort of the camp shirt style. We were ready to pay for it and something made me think to look at the washing instructions IT WAS DRY CLEAN ONLY!!! They have got to be kidding me - he's 12!!! I was so disgusted at the end of the afternoon! And I still don't have any thing for picture day in 2 weeks!!

 

[chrissyk]

Maybe try Ebay? Some non-hookerish labels that I really like are Hanna Andersson, LL Bean, sometimes Gymboree, Catimini, and Lilly Pulitzer.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

One of the secrets is you cannot shop at a "Teen Mall". Yes, some malls cater to the "teen-type" crowd.

Your dd is 5? I suspect you went to "The Mills"? Did you look at "Justice...Just For Girls"? I don't know if she will fit into that size yet but some of their clothes can be nice.

I shop "Children's Place" as well for 8yodd. "The Gap" can also have some clothes that are more tasteful. You have to know where to go.

You can even get some decent clothes at Target if the budget is tight.

 

[dis4me]

I feel your pain $1000 worth of clothes shopping for my 2 dds yesterday and I really don't think they bought anything acceptable for the first day of school or picture day. What is it with the clothes these days. Does every little girl have to be a mini Britney Spears. I felt like all day I was saying NO not that No sorry honey that is not appropriate for school. I want to check out Sears today for LLBean. That is my last hope for decency.
We did find sweatsuits that were adorable in Limited too but they were $39.50 each piece. Ugh $80 for something they will wear to gym.
Where does everyone else shop.
BTW My dds are 10 and 11,

 

[chrissyk]

dis4me, Sears=Lands' End, not LL Bean. As far as I know, the only places to get LL Bean are the big store, the outlet stores, the catalog/online, and Ebay.

 

[charabby]

Not sure where you're shopping, but my dd's don't wear uniforms and I assure you they do not look like 'hookers'. We have *no* problem finding age appropriate clothing. We shop at Children's Place, Target, Kohl's, Old Navy, and Lands End. We also go to Limited Too for T-shirts, but I do think most of the rest of their line is too mature for my girls and definitely too expensive. This type of thread is my biggest internet pet peeve - I read over and over people saying they can't find clothes that don't make their kid look like a hooker. I just can't fathom why people find it to be that difficult. Where are you shopping? Heck, you're obviously online. Check out Lands End.

 

[OhMari]

Try JCPenny or Kohl's.

I remember when my dd's were going through that stage. They are finally 15 and 21 and I still don't like them wearing inappropriate clothing. They accuse me of wanting them in Nike White t-shirts for the rest of thier lives.

 

[Desnik]

You must go to Gymboree for your 5yo DD. Good, quality clothing that is age appropiate!! I totally understand what you mean with these outfits for kids trying to make them look like what you mentioned. My DD is 7yo and I only shop at Gymboree. You can also get new Gymboree stuff on ebay. I would try the Gap for your son.
Good luck!
www.gymboree.com
Try looking at the website, I do think they have some styles for older boys.

 

[dis4me]

dis4me, Sears=Lands' End, not LL Bean. As far as I know, the only places to get LL Bean are the big store, the outlet stores, the catalog/online, and Ebay.

OOPs I knew that That is what I meant Land's End My daughters like the fleece type pants in the winter. I read LL Bean in the last post and it must of stuck in my mind.

 

[MosMom]

Gymboree now goes up to 12 for girls (still only 7 for boys) and right now they are having a nice tiered buy more save more promotion. $50/$10 off, $100/$25 off, $150/$50 off and it keeps going up.

My daughter loves the newest line. She calls it the "Cheetah Girl" line. On Sept. 6 they are doing a horse line and I saw a picture of one of the outfits last night. My daughter adores horses and is going to flip out.

 

[Disneycrazymom]

I wasn't at the Mills they just don't have any real selection, I was at Mid Rivers. I thought I would try West County today. I was at Penney's, Famous and Dilliard's. I looked at Gymboree too and while it was better I didn't see anything I really liked.

Charabby, I am sorry if I offended you. I am sure your daughters are adorable! I just was feeling frustrated. Maybe because I don't have to buy a lot of things for the kids and I didn't know where to go. I hope you will forgive me for generalizing too much. I see many girls dressed like young ladies every day.

I am going to Kohl's today, I will also try a different mall, maybe even Target. When I am only going to get 1 or 2 outfits, a pair of jeans and a couple shirts, I want to really like them as DD will wear them every weekend.

Thanks for the advise and letting me vent a little everyone.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

I can understand your frustration. We did three mall trips for back to school shopping this year. I don't have any girls but I did look around alot. I remarked to my DH that I would get so tired of saying "no dear, I won't be buying you the see-through chiffon tank top with the gold spangles glued over the ****ie area for you to be wearing to school this year."

Between the inappropriate clothes and the unhelpful teen sales people ---
I think I'm much too old for malls these days.

 

[golfgal]

Normally I have ok luck at Kohl's but we were there yesterday and YIKES!!!! The clothing in the 7-16 girls section was horrid! We ended up finding a couple tops in the junior section for DD10 but in the girls section it was all horrible!

 

[golfgal]

I can understand your frustration. We did three mall trips for back to school shopping this year. I don't have any girls but I did look around alot. I remarked to my DH that I would get so tired of saying "no dear, I won't be buying you the see-through chiffon tank top with the gold spangles glued over the ****ie area for you to be wearing to school this year."

Between the inappropriate clothes and the unhelpful teen sales people ---
I think I'm much too old for malls these days.

That is EXACTLY what was out for the girls at Kohl's.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I wasn't at the Mills they just don't have any real selection, I was at Mid Rivers.

Mid Rivers sucks, big time. That mall is going down the tubes when it comes to kids clothes. They used to have a selection but no more. That is a store you go there in a pinch.

West County is OK but it is pricey. It is where I would go to "get an outfit". I used to head to the Galleria.

Honestly after moving to Texas (in April) it really, really has become apparent to me the poor shopping St. Louis has to offer. It is really terrible.
Here in Texas there are soooo many shops for everyone and restaurants....geesh. I went to the IKEA store last night. I am loving the shopping here.

Good Luck...You just have to hunt down a store that has the price and quality you like, whether it is Target, Kohl's, a mall you prefer. I know it isn't easy there.

 

[N.Bailey]

I understand what you're saying. My daughter is now 13, but I remember being in some stores when she was younger and liking the clothing, but thinking it wasn't age appropriate.

I was shopping 2 days ago however and my daughter and I were looking at the little girls' clothing. We both thought there were many adorable outfits for them in the stores we were in.

I'd imagine it can be hit or miss though.

 

[nuke]

I hate malls. I rarely go into them anymore.

Kohl's has some darling clothes for little girls. I just bought a gift there last week.

 

[Disneycrazymom]

Yea! I did find a cute skirt and top at Kohls, so she is good to go for picture day. They had several what I would call transition wear. It looks fallish but is short sleeved since it will stay hot for awhile yet. DS found a nice T-shirt (the kind with the wide stripe across the top) with no writing on it, in blue, so he is happy.

As for the Malls here in STL you're so right. They are all owned by the same overseas company. The only reason I drove over the bridge was Penney's but I should have known to go to Galaria as they always have things the others don't get in. Thanks to everyone for the advise and letting me vent my frustration. I think I will wait awhile before I try jeans shopping! Although that really should be simple, right?

 

[luv2nascar]

I feel your pain. I have a 10 yr old 5th grader this year. Yuck. The clothes is horrible. Plus my DD wears ladies size shoes. He have a horrible time finding clothes and shoes. She was in tears last year when her grandparents took her shopping for clothes. It can go wrong. Everything is so slutty and old looking plus built for really thin girls mostly.

JC Penney really has nice stuff. Lands end and sears. Sometimes Kohl's or Target. The trials of being mom with back to school shopping.

 

[KirstenB]

Mo's Mom, I love that Cheetah Girls line at Gymboree too. That's exactly what our dd and her friend call it too. I think it's real name is Teacher's Pet. We're expecting a baby--38 weeks pg and counting. Yesterday, our friends came over to take our older dd to their house so dh and I could go out to dinner. Our friends had bought the baby a sweater, l/s shirt, and cute little jeans, along with a blanket for the baby. They also bought older dd the leopard skirt, kitty cat t-shirt, and leopard watch, all from that same line--Teacher's Pet. I was so touched they bought something for our 7 yo too. Now I need to go back and get some more for our older dd. Gymboree is SO addicting for girls!!!!!!!