If you’re a cheap person, there is no more annoying expense than children’s clothing. I think it was the day that I saw a baby registry checklist that said you needed 10 newborn gowns/onesies. And then realized that even at discount stores, they were like $10 each. And everyone says newborn clothes only last a week or so. Was I really about to spend $100 on a wardrobe that would last a week? Yes. (Thankfully, I ran into a TJ Maxx closing sale, and scooped those suckers up for less than $1 each.)
Babies and kids grow out of things on a whim, sending you running for the nearest shops in need of an entire new wardrobe. A shiny new wardrobe that will promptly get dragged through mud and sand, covered in pasta sauce and cupcake batter, and shoved deep into backpacks along with “treasures” from the park. It doesn’t make sense to spend money on this, and yet! You do. Every 6 months or so.
I’m guessing like most of you, I have come up with a child clothes strategy. Balancing cost (must be CHEAP) with quality, here’s where I go to buy our essentials:
First, I buy pieces from these shops, buying whatever is on sale:
My sister got us hooked on their sweater dresses. Other family members swear by their pajamas. It’s all pricey, but 1) I only buy on sale and 2) in SF, Bean can (and does) wear them year round. (And she can wear them to fancy dinners and parties as well as every day, a nice bonus.) So, the cost/wear is pretty low. Quality is excellent so even after wearing a dress for a year, it looks terrific and we can hand it down. (There’s also an impressive resale market on eBay). I buy two sizes up, to extend the dress’ wear.
This is the Japanese version of the Gap, but even more minimalist. I love it all. A go-to for simple mix-and-match pieces that are great quality. (Bean’s been wearing some of their pieces for well over a year, and they still somehow fit (?) and look brand new.)
An online French retailer, with a KILLER sale section. Awesome detailing like a nautical cord on a skirt, quilted jackets, edging lace on a dress, thick sweaters. They are always Bean’s favorite pieces. Absolutely insane quality, very comfortable.
ONLY the sale section, and even then only when they’re running a 50% off sale items promotion. J Crew kids clothing is expensive. We just bought from them for the first time, and the quality isn’t as great as Cyrillus or Hanna Andersson, but it’s all absurdly cute and little girlish.
Once I’ve scoured the sale sections for interesting pieces, I fill in the rest of the wardrobe gaps from these stores:
Another Japanese Gap, but this one is slightly less expensive. The online store has trouble keeping things in stock though. When they are in stock, we love their pajamas and plain t-shirts. Really soft and nice quality and holds up well.
Obviously. Especially when they’re having one of those barnstormer sales where everything on sale is 40% off and the entire store is a sale section. You can get tops for $2.50 when that happens. Problem recently is that the girl section is a little too mature for my tall 3 year old. And they seemingly no longer carries just plain white t-shirts. Quality has always been good, though, and Bean typically outgrows clothes before they start disintegrating.
Oh, Old Navy. You are a mystery sometimes. Some of the clothes last for years (even handed down between cousins) while others unravel after a few washings. I have to stop myself from buying their t-shirts (so inexpensive! so cute! but too many instances of hems coming apart or folding outward after a couple weeks). I still stock up on leggings, though.
 Kids Clothes)
