S/O: cheap and appropriate kid clothing for size 6+?

[goldfinch]

This is a spin-off from some of the comments in the Hanna thread...

My daughter (at age 5) is more of a size 6 than a size 5.... and I've been really really upset by what I'm finding out there in her size. We've been doing thrift and hand-me-downs and will continue to go that route for most things... but I've recently gotten out and about a bit and have been poking around at regular retail stores for her size and have just been totally horrified by what's out there. I didn't realize that 6 is the transition size... when you go from being part of the "kid" department to part of the "tween/teen" department. So upsetting! Such inappropriate clothing!

Lands End and LL Bean seem OK. I'll be scouring the thrifts and consignment shops for those brands. Anyone have ideas for others to recommend? To try and swing it back around to the original topic, I'll say that we like HA, but my kids are all tall and thin and the stuff is just, as someone said above, so boxy. It's too wide the first year and too short the next.

[Tilia]

My DD is 4 but wears a 6 or 7. I just bought some long sleeved t-shirts for next winter at thechildrensplace.com for $1.99 each.

Shorts I buy at Target because they offer longer knee-length shorts for $6. They work perfect for daycare and playing.

Dresses I stick to Lands End.

I also like the simple t-shirts from Gymboree. They also have nice leggings that you can wear under stuff.

I noticed that after size 4 or so, it is much harder to find used clothes. The kids just wear them out a lot more than the younger sizes. I used to buy all used but now I buy all clearance and sale racks.

[Drummer's Wife]

Definitely gymboree. It's not too old at all for 6 yo's, IMO. The key to buying it cheap is waiting for lines to go on sale plus using a 20% off coupon (as well as earning and redeeming gymbucks). It can be expensive ($20+ for one top), or if you do it right it can be very frugal ($5 for the same top, much cuter and better quality than walmart/target). Plus, they can be resold, unlike cheaper clothing.

[mom0810]

Gymboree and Children's Place both have great stuff and awesome sales. Go on their websites and check the sale pages. Children's Place outlet has t shirts and stuff for like $1 some times. Great clothes that last forever and great prices!

[meandk0610]

[jillyofthevalley]

Originally Posted by mom0810

Gymboree and Children's Place both have great stuff and awesome sales. Go on their websites and check the sale pages. Children's Place outlet has t shirts and stuff for like $1 some times. Great clothes that last forever and great prices!

I totally agree. They have nice, appropriate, good quality clothing and if you wait a month after a new line comes out, it all goes on sale. I've bought a ton of stuff in the next size up off their sales racks. I got the majority of dd's fall wardrobe off Gymboree's clearance rack (both in store and online) last spring when it was all ridiculously cheap.

[jennlyn]

One caveat about Lands' End- they have size 7/8 and then 10/12. No 8/10 unless things have changed. The 7/8 polos were great for school uniforms- they wore so well, but on my thin child, the transition between sizes wasn't good- he needed the length of the bigger size, but was swimming in it. Once you go from child to girls sizes some of the fashions are horrid- why would a young girl need an underwire bra in an "A" cup size????

[StrawberryFields]

I totally agree with Gymboree and The Children's Place. Their sales are so awesome, too. If you combine Gymboree coupons with sale items and earn Gymbucks you are getting shirts, leggings, etc. for $5-$8 or so. Then you can turn around and use your Gymbucks to get 50% off sale items too. And I just got a bunch of solid tops and fleece jackets from TCP for $2-$4 each. I don't like their printed items much but they always have lots of solid colored tops and bottoms.

[Smithie]

Another person chiming in for Gymboree and The Children's Place. Consignment sales are a huge thing here, and I've had good luck finding those brands in good condition there.

My oldest child is a boy, so the big box stores at least don't try to dress him age-inappropriately, but having seen what is offered for girls in his size range, I sense that shopping over these next few years in going to require some ingenuity - and some firm ground rules with my generous and retail-loving MIL. She bought 3 y.o. dd some boot-cut jeans. I didn't even think about it, sent her off to preschool in them, and the teacher pointed out that she had butt cleavage

[annethcz]

I'm not sure where you live, but Kohl's and Penney's both have a little bit different sizing- they have 'little girls' from sizes 4-7 and 'big girls' sizes 8-14 or 16. I'm not sure exactly what you find objectionable. But the stores I mentioned have some more traditionally "little girl" type of clothing as well as more tween type of styling.

I haven't bought Children's Place clothing in a long time, but I did when my kids were toddlers, and the quality didn't seem all that great. I recently went back into the store, and most of the clothing was VERY trendy and none of it appealed to me. I did, however, find some really cute clothes for my 6yo DD at Old Navy this past weekend. Not too grown up looking, but not dowdy either.

[annethcz]

Oh, and to comment on the 3yo girl showing butt cleavage, I think it takes some REAL creativity (or elastic waist pants) to solve that problem. I'm a preschool teacher, and if any of the girls wear jeans it's a given that they'll be riding low in the back. That's just the way jeans fit these days. Switching to boy's jeans can sometimes help (I've tried that with my girls), but not always. Long shirts are a good thing.

[jewelsJZ]

A neighbor was so excited that our girls had now reached the size where they could shop at Justice for Girls. I just didn't think my not quite 4 year old (who wears a size 6) was ready for those clothes. They're cute, remind me of the '80's but I much prefer Gymboree. Children's Place seems too slimly cut for my kids.
Kohl's and Penney's are good. I've gotten some really good deals there. And I still find things at consignment sales for my daughter in this size, lots of great condition Gymboree, Gap and Hanna.

[A&A]

Lands End, totally

[blazer]

Old Navy/Target actually has some really good basics that you can find onsale especially for spring summer.
I have lost the Gymbo love...even with the great sales.

[columbusmomma]

And sign up at children's place for online emails/coupons/etc. They are having a big sale now, lots of stuff for $3.99. They just sent me a 15% off coupon too Shopping time!

[lyterae]

My 4 year old wears a size 6/7, we shop mainly at Kohls and Old Navy. I have done some online shopping at Lands End. The Childrens Place clothing doesn't fit her right, I have two pairs of pants stashed away from there for next year and hopefully they will fit.

This upcoming spring I'm actually planning on making most of her wardrobe, I'm just tired of too short shorts and she's recently decided that if it's not a dress she won't wear it..