Where do you shop for your kids clothes?

[tnd]

Most of my son's clothes are Gymboree, Janie & Jack, Gap and Old Navy. But I never buy anything that isn't at least 50% off. I tend to buy basic bottoms, mostly from Old Navy and cuter tops from the other stores. I never buy outfits unless they are on sale, or we have a special occasion to attend.

I also always buy a season ahead in a size up, which usually works for me. Right now my son is wearing some 4s bought for this year and some 3s from last year. He had a growth spurt though, so a lot of the 3s that he wore even as late as January when we went to WDW don't fit now. I just had to scramble and find some shorts for him two weeks ago. Thankfully Old Navy had a good sale and I got some for $4.50/pair.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Gymboree and Childrens Place.

Aeropostole for my older son.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

Mostly Goodwill (we get an additional % off because DH works at their main office), sometimes Salvation Army, garage sales or consignment shops. I pop in about any time I go by one. Search is part of the fun!

DD8 wears mostly Hanna Andersson, Gap, Old Navy or LL Bean. Socks, undies, basic Tshirts, etc I'll pick up at Target on sale/clearance.

DS13 gets mostly Gap, ON, or Beans. (We're local to Beans, lots of stuff at Goodwill. Again, basics from Target. I did used to get all his pants straight from Sears because of their kids' guarantee. He's in men's sizes now, though (and growing out of a size almost weekly it seems anyway, lol) so doesn't apply anymore.

 

[KELLY]

Wow I thought 500.00 for 2 kids is kind of cheap. I'm surprised someone thought that was alot. I used to easily spend 1000.00 to 1500.00 a season on one kid. We mostly buy fall winter. We pretty much skip spring and just buy some new spring type tops to go with there basic jeans. Spring here is maybe a month. I think I may got to TCP and buy the major purchase there for the fall and than some at the gap outlet. I have to have my gap fix.

 

[HelenePA]

Wow I thought 500.00 for 2 kids is kind of cheap. I'm surprised someone thought that was alot. I used to easily spend 1000.00 to 1500.00 a season on one kid. We mostly buy fall winter. We pretty much skip spring and just buy some new spring type tops to go with there basic jeans. Spring here is maybe a month. I think I may got to TCP and buy the major purchase there for the fall and so some gap outlet. I have to have my gap fix.

1500$ A season? on one kid? Holy cow! Dh would have my head on a plate

 

[sorul82?]

I so wish I had shopped at Goodwill when my kids were smaller. Think of how barely worn the outfits are!! Oy. It's a GOLD MIN. I walk out of there with so many outfits for $25! Find a nice part of town and shop til you drop!!!

I'm now even shopping a little for myself and DH.

And all the tshirts that I made for Disney [thanks to CreativeDIS forum] I bought at GoodWill...much nicer quality and cheaper.

Trish

Yes! Name brand doesn't matter to Goodwill. All children clothes are $2.25 here.

 

[SaraJayne]

Most of my DD's (8) clothes come from OshKosh B'Gosh. We have an outlet 30 mins away and they practically greet me by name when I walk in.

The rest of her clothes come from Gymboree and a few things from Target and The Children's Place.

My DS (12) clothes come from Hollister, Aeropostale and JcPenney (one of the few places to buy Levi's around here).

I only buy on sale, and many times I get brand names cheaper than Target or Walmart prices, while getting much better quality and clothes that last much longer.

I outfitted my DD for the entire summer for $150, in all Gymboree and OshKosh B'Gosh clothes. She has a lot of summer clothes. My DS was a bit cheaper, in all Aero/Hollister T-shirts (bought for $7 or cheaper each) and the plaid shorts on sale at JcPenney.

My Gymbucks are going to be redeemed next week and I'll be buying school clothes and possibly some things for next summer (if there are any left by that time! LOL).

 

[luvmy3]

For my boys ages 5 and 8 I shop at Gymboree, Children's Place, Old Navy and Gap. I do buy stuff at Target but thats for play clothes.
For my dd I have a very hard time finding jeans and pants that fit her, She is very very thin with long legs. We have good luck at Old Navy for her bottoms. Her wardrobe pretty much consisits of Tee's and Hoodies from Aeropostale and Hollister. When she needs to dress up I can always find something for her at Kohls. I have never really paid attention on what I spend, but I don't ever pay full price. I stock up on shirts for the boys when TCP has their monster sale and I just got a ton of stuff that I can use for back to school from Gymboree when they had their stuff a bag sale. I got $50 in Gymbucks so that will take care of the rest. My boys don't care if they are wearing last years colors or styles. Aeropostale always has good sales too so I can get dd her Tees and Hoodies pretty cheap. Hollister is a splurge but only when I ghet stuff on sale

 

[Angel A]

My boys are still wearing Mini Boden, Hanna Andersson and Gap. The girls now like Aeropostale, Aberceombie, Holister and Gap. I only buy on sale and clearance and even then it adds up

 

[SaraJayne]

My boys are still wearing Mini Boden, Hanna Andersson and Gap. The girls now like Aeropostale, Aberceombie, Holister and Gap. I only buy on sale and clearance and even then it adds up

Who/what is Mini Boden and Hanna Andersson??

 

[daleswife]

I shop at goodwill for lots of stuff. Its cheap and the clothes are in good shape, and with the way kids out grow stuff, I see NO point in paying $25 - $50 for a pair of jeans DD6 will wear for 6 months then out grow them. I do buy stuff on clearance or on sale at Old Navy or childrens place. I do get things from walmart. AND if Im around a target and have extra cash i shop there. but target is 2 hours away so its rare!!!!

 

[santa's surpriz]

We do Justice, but I always hit it when you earn discounts for future purchases. We are on the mailing list so I also get 40% coupons often. I do not spend alot, I probably spend $600/ year on clothes for DD that includes back to school, 2-3 new outfits from santa, and spring/summer. This budget also includes shoes and essentails such underwear and winter gear. It may seem like a lot but for a growing child I think it's pretty good. I am single mom and try stretch as much as I can. We did get a few items from Target and Children's Place. Since my daughter began developing her own sense of style, she is now 6, I have not been able to drag her into Gymboree or GapKids much less convince her to wear something I may pick up on my own. Major disappointment as a mom! But I do see it imprortant that she look good in school. I would rather pack my lunch to make sure others do not see that I tend to conservative with my money and she fit in...

I come from a single parent household. remember my childhood my dad taking me shopping at Gold Circle, he bouugh me three outfits. I cried to my mom on the phone bc everyone made fun of me, she went and hit the clearance racks at the local May Co and probably spent the same amount of money as he did. IMO, it's not about where you shop but how you shop. Given the experience and how awful I felt I do not think I can ever put DD in that position if I can avoid it, growing up is hard enough as it is.

 

[mom of princessx2]

Love Kohls!! And I usually get at least 1 30% off per year and buy most of our stuff. I could get a couple sizes of nikes and end up paying around $13 each but now DD5 has very wide feet and we have to spend $$$ on shoes at StrideRite. Lots of clearance items from Target. Once Upon a Child use to be good, especially for jeans, but ours has really raised their prices. Saw Childrens Place Jeans for 9.50 and I can get them new at the outlet for that or less.
I also have a few neighborhood garage sales that I go to. I hit the same few houses every year that have girls about 1 or 2 years older than mine and make out big. A few weeks ago I spent $8 and got 2 Gymboree Skirts, 1 denim Gap skirt w/tags, 1 Ralph Lauren shirt w/tags, 1 LPS t-shirt, 1 hooded Gap Fleece, 1 Gap long sleeved embroidered T W/tags, 1 Old Navy long sleeved T and snow boots.

I also am a SAHM that loves her Disney so I do what I can to continue staying home and going on vacation

 

[ilandrazdsw]

We just moved and are saving for a bigger down payment on a house so we have to be smart about how/where we spend our $$. Coming from a HOT climate to a COLD winter climate we have to basically re-wardrobe! I have found some GREAT deals on clothes and shoes at garage sales, Goodwill (hit their 50% off sale), and Salvation Army (more for jackets & snow suits--a wilson's leather coat for a girl for $10 in perfect condition!). It takes some time to go through the selections, but we have found it REALLY worth it...granted I've never been one to stick with a particular shop/brand for the kids. DH and I even found winter coats at GW & SA and that is the first places I will look when I go shopping for my back to work wardrobe for teaching in August! I cringe at how much $$ we have "wasted" over the years not being in an area that has had thrift stores or garge sales...oh well at least we can (and do) take advantage now! I have totally fallen in love with budget/bargin shopping.

 

[gk90]

1500$ A season? on one kid? Holy cow! Dh would have my head on a plate

I would have MY head on a plate if I spent that much! A lot of my kids' clothes come from clearance (online and in-store), Goodwill, and hand-me-downs, and I'm proud of it.

One of my favorite places used to be the Carter's outlet near us. I was so sad when the kids got too big for Carter's--I like the styles and the quality as well as the great deals at the outlet and the online coupons.

 

[NYCDiane]

My DD is 10 1/2 and, until recently, I've been shopping for her at The Children's Place --- you can rack up in there when they have sales and you use the coupons they mail. One Labor Day weekend, they were having a 50% off everything in the store sale AND I had a 25% off coupon. I got her a ton of stuff off the clearance rack, along with some other things. We wound up walking out of there with 4 HUGE bags STUFFED for less than $100. (I bought items in her current size as well as larger so the clothes would last a long time and they did!)

Recently, she's been a Justice girl. The clothes there are great quality and very fashionable for the 'tween set. However, they can be pricey. I don't shop there unless they're having a 40% off sale. I also use the "fun cards" they mail out. Their clearance rack is great, too. At Christmastime, I got her 2 dresses from their clearance rack --- one I got for $7, the other for $4 (I believe these were 90% off or something like that).

I also have no problem in shopping for her in Wal Mart --- they actually have some very cute clothes for girls.

I've also shopped at Goodwill --- I've gotten her some great items there; some that were brand new.

 

[DisneyDreams4P&B]

I admit, I am a bit of a store snob, I didn't think highly of second hand stores and figured it was all junk. I got taken to a "goodwillish" type store, and I was dragging my feet the whole way.

I got a beautiful Tommy Hilfiger dress for my daughter, 2 GAP dresses, 3 Children's Place dresses for $9.00. They were in wonderful condition and looked brand new.

I am sold now and think about all of the money that I saved buying the clothes there.

The friend who brought me to the store, bought some items there (brand name labels) and when her son grew out of them, she brought them to a second hand retailer, along with a bunch of other items and sold them.

 

[java]

Who/what is Mini Boden and Hanna Andersson??

Miniboden is a London based clothing line- my 11 year old LOVES it as she doesn't have what everyone else is wearing(although our friends FROM london have never heard of that store- so maybe it's just a mailing address?)
http://www.bodenusa.com/en-US/Girls-Clothing.html

And hanna just has the best 100% cotton stuff I have ever found. Although I have not bought from them in a while. (They have great baby stuff)
http://www.hannaandersson.com/

Oh and their sweats are great too!

Bargains - we shop Justice for my dd(she is in 12 slims and they usually have a good selection) I hand down her stuff to a neighbor.

The boys- my oldest is high school so his big $$ expense is shoes.

my youngest 2 (6 and 4) wear mostly Gymboree but I have to find someplace else. I also take hand me downs from a friend.

 

[IDoDis]

When my kids were small, I was a Gymboree addict. I bought things on clearance, but also got addicted to the new lines that came out every 6 weeks (a lot less often back then). The manager was my neighbor and would hold things in the back for me until they went on sale. When my kids got older and we'd go the mall, they'd say, "We are not going to Gymboree, right??" They used to groan and gripe because they knew I'd be in there a long time.

DD is 13 now and likes Aeropostal, Hollister, AE, and Kohl's. I can get clothes pretty much anywhere for 10 year old DS, but most of his things come from Kohl's, Target, a few Aero/Hollister t-shirts and Penney's. This fall I'm going to buy his jeans at Sears because of their money-back guarantee. If the kids outwears an item before outgrowing it, they'll replace it. DS is notorious for getting holes on his jeans (usually the right knee) with every single pair of Levis I buy him. I cut them off and they are his shorts for the summer.

A couple of days ago I received an email from Aeropostal saying they are opening a store for kids ages 7-12 called "P.S. From Aeropostal." I doubt DS will want the "kid" brand even though he's still a kid!

 

[mhsjax]

I pretty much buy anything from any store if it is one sale. What I don't understand is all so many of you buy for the next season. Ex: my sone has gone up 2 sizes in length and gone from husky to slim in a matter of about 6 months. I just won't risk spending money on cloth that may not fit next season.

My DMIL would do this all the time, and all it did was take up space and the kids never seemed to be able to wear the clothes the nest season. They were either still to big or not big enough.