Kids’ clothes, what’s reasonable?
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- March
- 18
So, last week I bought Pumpkin her first outfit of the spring: A darling sunflower dress with cute matching shoes and sweater at babyGap. My mom bought her the matching hat and purse. The price of all this cuteness? Let’s just say more than $100. Ah, but it’s her Easter outfit, you see. That’s how I can justify it. And because we aren’t seeing the whole family for Easter this year, I’ll be able to put her in it again a month and a half later for her birthday party. Such are my rationalizations. (And, in just three springs, it’s become a tradition to buy Pumpkin’s Easter dress at babyGap.)
I know I have spent too much on Pumpkin’s clothes in the past, at least by my husband’s and mom’s measures. But I think my sin has been more in the quantity than the quality. (Does a toddler really need 14 outfits?) I think babyGap and Gymboree offer pretty reasonable prices for very well-made clothes that hold up in the wash. And I always look for sales when possible.
At least I don’t shop at Boden! That’s what got me on this topic in the first place. I have the Boden catalog in my house, and, it must be said: The clothes are just wonderful. But wow: $28 for a T-shirt for a toddler? $30 for twill shorts? I confess I am tempted by the “Fun Applique Dress,” at right, which is nearly irresistible (and nearly affordable at $38). And, I really, really don’t shop at crewcuts, where a seersucker wrap skirt is $48 and a madras dress is $78!
What are your secret shopping indulgences when it comes to your kids? And is this something unique to parents of daughters — or do moms of sons also go nuts for cute outfits for their little ones?
This entry was posted
on Tuesday, March 18th, 2008 at 2:55 pm by Julie Moran Alterio.
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I’m guilty, guilty, guilty – just put the cuffs on and take me away! I have a 3 year old little boy and since I can’t dress him in all the gorgeous clothes reserved for girls, I shop for unique, cool looking clothes that are just too adorable (and pricey). I admit that U paid over $100 bucks for a little shirt and pants (but come on the painted tie and “punk” graffitid on the pants made him the epitome of cool) – he was only 10 months old. Now I try not too spend so much and mix up the cool finds (which I look for in the sale section of small boutiques or online shops) with some mainstream Children’s Place/Target/GapKids pieces. And, no 14 outfits isn’t too much – here I slink away to shamefully peruse my son’s color-coordinated shirts/pants/sweaters/hoodies/etc.
Julie, you have to hit the sales and get to the warehouses in Middletown. Seriously, it’s cute now, but you’ll wish you had this money in ten years. Start a new bank account and put the money you’d spend in there and buy discount clothing or stuff on sale – that was my rule. The kids outgrown and stain it in no time anyway and college costs the same as a house. When you pay $100 for it and find it or something better at the Commons, it’s teeth grinding time.
I splurged on educational things and lessons in swimming, karate, and softball -