When did school clothes get so expensive?

[SaraJayne]

We shopped at Holister, American Eagle and Abercrombie. She doesn't like Aeropostle clothes anymore.

And you're honestly wondering why the clothes were so expensive??

 

[KAMLEM]

We shopped at Holister, American Eagle and Abercrombie. She doesn't like Aeropostle clothes anymore.

That's where we shop, too. Once in a while you can find something in the clearance section, especially in American Eagle, but there aren't many sales. I wish they put these three stores next to each other in the mall because they are the only ones my girls want to shop in.

 

[babytrees]

We (senior and 8th grader) shop at JcPenney's mainly for the one outfit they get to have that is completely new for the start of school. The rest is bought at Plato's Closet and ARC (a thrift store like Goodwill). Plato's Closet is on the stuff a bag for $10 day...I am an expert stuffer. ARC has most of their tags on sale every Saturday and we choose to go to a store that is in a higher income neighborhood. Back to School Shopping cost us $45 for: 4 pairs of jeans (a couple of them were brand new...and all were brand name), 4 bras, skirt, dress, a belt, a shirt and a pair of Nike (at JcPenney's for $5) pants that fit perfectly under a band uniform:cool1. We then have added a few more shirts and a couple more pairs of bermuda shorts for less than $20 (all brand new). Now this isn't all they need for the upcoming year but it does get them started....the budget buster is my 8th grader who is TALL and only getting taller...she also hates shopping and dressy clothes...but is needed for all of her concerts.

 

[Christine]

We shopped at Holister, American Eagle and Abercrombie. She doesn't like Aeropostle clothes anymore.

High school seems to be the major cut off for Aeropostale. Very big with the middle school crowd but not so much with the high schoolers. My DD wouldn't touch Aeropostale all through high school and only this past summer did she buy some underwear and sweatshorts there. They do have great prices.

During high school my DD's favorite stores were the same as your DD's. Fortunately, she went to private school and wore a uniform so we didn't need to much and once we found her sizes and knew how each store fit her, we were able to get stuff on line much cheaper. From now on, get your American Eagle stuff online in their "sale" section. Then, take a trip to Potomac Mills Mall in Woodbridge, VA and go to the Abercrombie and Fitch and Hollister clearance centers. Sometimes they have great stuff.

I just bought my DD a short-waisted parka at Abercrombie. It is down filled, fur collar. Regulary $239 and I got it for $99. They don't always have your sizes in things but they are very reduced from the regular store prices.

 

[wvjules]

High school seems to be the major cut off for Aeropostale. Very big with the middle school crowd but not so much with the high schoolers. My DD wouldn't touch Aeropostale all through high school and only this past summer did she buy some underwear and sweatshorts there. They do have great prices.

During high school my DD's favorite stores were the same as your DD's. Fortunately, she went to private school and wore a uniform so we didn't need to much and once we found her sizes and knew how each store fit her, we were able to get stuff on line much cheaper. From now on, get your American Eagle stuff online in their "sale" section. Then, take a trip to Potomac Mills Mall in Woodbridge, VA and go to the Abercrombie and Fitch and Hollister clearance centers. Sometimes they have great stuff.


I just bought my DD a short-waisted parka at Abercrombie. It is down filled, fur collar. Regulary $239 and I got it for $99. They don't always have your sizes in things but they are very reduced from the regular store prices.

Great suggestion. Next time we will go to Potomac Mills! I had no idea there were clearance centers! Potomac Mills looks HUGE from the interstate! Might have to make it a weekend trip. lol

 

[jen0610]

Thankfully DD15 is not into name brands. She likes them IF she can get them on clearance or at Plato's Closet.

DD12 has a lot of friends trying to get her to go shopping with them at Holister, American Eagle and Abercrombie. She just doesn't want to. She tells them that she would rather, get 3 or 4 shirts to the one they will get shopping at these stores. We have been looking at the Plato's Closet around here. If she get the bug to buy the it brand name stores we will be starting here first.

Right now she is more than happy to shop with mom at Gordman's, Target, Wal-Mart, JCPennys, and Sears. Most of her stuff this year, has come from Gordman's. She just got 2 pairs of jeans and 4 shirts at Gordman's for $60.00. She looked at a pair of jeans and 2 shirts at Kohl's for about $55.00, but given the option she choose to go with more bang for her buck.

 

[Pigeon]

Well there's your problem School clothes didn't get expensive, your daughter's taste did!

Have you tried giving her a budget and seeing how that impacts which brands she likes?

Agreed. If my kid would only wear these brands, I would give her the amount I was prepared to spend, and let her make the selections. If she wants to have half the number of clothes and do her laundry all the time, I'd let her go for it.

If you have a TJ Maxx around, they have some AE and Hollister stuff much cheaper. I've seen lots of AE tops for under $10 and Hollister hoodies for about $20.

 

[Freyja]

Be glad you´re not in Iceland.

To me, what you spent is dirt cheap. Here, I can´t get a pair of kids jeans for under $45, brand name sneakers (Reebok, Nike, Adidas) run around $150 (even Converse are $100). T-shirts, non brand but with graphic on them, are approx $25-35. It´s insane. You would not believe what I would need to spend on clothing for my 5 kids here.

Luckily I´m heading to New York for a couple of days and will be able to do my shopping there.

 

[hildasmuriel]

Me too. A decent clothing retailer here was advertising the other week:
- 3 polos for $4 (100% cotton!)
- school trousers for $5
- school jumper for $4 (100% cotton!)
- school skirt for $5
That means that, even if your kids had to have clean skirt/trousers and jumper every single day of the week, you could get the lot for $53!

I did a double take the other day to see an advert showing a set of school trousers/skirt + 3 polo shirts + 8 pairs of socks + pair shoes + coat = $24
(Kath, it was that well known store where every little helps. ) I really don't know how they're doing that.

 

[Erin1700]

You people with girls are scaring me!! My DD8 is still into Gymboree and they have great sales there!! I never buy things full price in that store! My DH said something like 'shouldnt she be shopping at Justice and Abercrombie?" I told him to shut up, our day will come!! For now, she is happy and no one makes fun of her with her cute little clothes and matching hair ties. We saw a few kids in her grade shopping there this weekend, so I say we are ok for this year at least!

 

[wvjules]

You people with girls are scaring me!! My DD8 is still into Gymboree and they have great sales there!! I never buy things full price in that store! My DH said something like 'shouldnt she be shopping at Justice and Abercrombie?" I told him to shut up, our day will come!! For now, she is happy and no one makes fun of her with her cute little clothes and matching hair ties. We saw a few kids in her grade shopping there this weekend, so I say we are ok for this year at least!

You should be ok for a few more years! The past 2 years DD has gotten more into brands. Before it was mostly Aero which you could get dirt cheap sometimes. Now it is everything but Aero. I steered her clear of PacSun this trip. I probably won't be so luck next time.

We had to go get her a calculator last night. It was $100! That was more sticker shock to me than the clothes were. A $100 calculator for 9th grade? I told her it better last until college.

 

[babytrees]

You should be ok for a few more years! The past 2 years DD has gotten more into brands. Before it was mostly Aero which you could get dirt cheap sometimes. Now it is everything but Aero. I steered her clear of PacSun this trip. I probably won't be so luck next time.

We had to go get her a calculator last night. It was $100! That was more sticker shock to me than the clothes were. A $100 calculator for 9th grade? I told her it better last until college.

We got one of those 4 years ago also....and it will go to the 8th grader next year if I can rescue it from the burn pile.

 

[Kath2003]

I did a double take the other day to see an advert showing a set of school trousers/skirt + 3 polo shirts + 8 pairs of socks + pair shoes + coat = $24
(Kath, it was that well known store where every little helps. ) I really don't know how they're doing that.

Nice! I honestly don't know what parent WOULDN'T want their children in uniform at those prices!

Every little helps!

 

[walkerag]

You people with girls are scaring me!! My DD8 is still into Gymboree and they have great sales there!! I never buy things full price in that store! My DH said something like 'shouldnt she be shopping at Justice and Abercrombie?" I told him to shut up, our day will come!! For now, she is happy and no one makes fun of her with her cute little clothes and matching hair ties. We saw a few kids in her grade shopping there this weekend, so I say we are ok for this year at least!

My DD8 has made the transition from Gymboree to Justice and it's really not any more expensive. You just have to make sure that you get on thier mailing list so you get the 40% coupons I think I get a new coupon from them once a month. I do miss the cute clothes from Gymboree though, she looks so much more grown up in the Justice outfits

 

[SC Minnie]

We had to go get her a calculator last night. It was $100! That was more sticker shock to me than the clothes were. A $100 calculator for 9th grade? I told her it better last until college.

Make sure she writes her name ON it in permanent marker. Not a sticker or on a case. I had to buy 2 of these because the first one got 'lost'.

 

[wvjules]

Make sure she writes her name ON it in permanent marker. Not a sticker or on a case. I had to buy 2 of these because the first one got 'lost'.

We are going to take it to get engraved.

 

[Pigeon]

Nice! I honestly don't know what parent WOULDN'T want their children in uniform at those prices!

Every little helps!

I wouldn't care if they were providing me with the uniforms and paying me to make my kid wear it. I would still be completely and unequivocally opposed.