How many clothes does my pre-teen need?

[huggerwocky]

I've decided to let my daughter ( 10.5 years respectively) buy her own clothes with a budget I'll be giving her. The budget will depend on what she needs. But what does she need? We looked through her clothes and a lot had to go, it's amazing she grew this much in 3 months. But her and my opinion on what she needs differ. So what would you call sufficient?

I wash twice a week. Tank tops and short shorts are not allowed in school.

We live in San Diego, so "Winters" are short and lukewarm. Nevertheless, the school has AC and likes to use it. Capris are ok, shorts too cold in the classroom.

Go ahead

[UnschoolnMa]

I'd guess that a 4 or 5 pairs of good jeans and/or some capris or long shorts would be important. Maybe some dressier pants if she cares at all about that.

Shirts: Several t-shirts or knit tops in a variety of styles or colors that she likes (different necklines and sleeve lengths?) Depending on her personal style she might like the babydoll tops or the layered look. I think tanks and a hoodie or a cute light jacket would be something I'd definitely look for. (I nearly live in tank tops until it's so bloody hot I have to actually put on a whole shirt LOL)

Skirts/dresses: If she's into skirts at all that is. A few denim skirts in different styles, or cargo khaki. A few casual sundresses maybe?

Other things: bras (if she's there), lots of cool socks, leggings, and some loungewear. Dressier tops and maybe a sweatshirt.

[huggerwocky]

Originally Posted by UnschoolnMa

I'd guess that a 4 or 5 pairs of good jeans and/or some capris or long shorts would be important. Maybe some dressier pants if she cares at all about that.

Shirts: Several t-shirts or knit tops in a variety of styles or colors that she likes (different necklines and sleeve lengths?) Depending on her personal style she might like the babydoll tops or the layered look. I think tanks and a hoodie or a cute light jacket would be something I'd definitely look for. (I nearly live in tank tops until it's so bloody hot I have to actually put on a whole shirt LOL)

Skirts/dresses: If she's into skirts at all that is. A few denim skirts in different styles, or cargo khaki. A few casual sundresses maybe?

Other things: bras (if she's there), lots of cool socks, leggings, and some loungewear. Dressier tops and maybe a sweatshirt.

But how many of each? Say, how many bottoms, t-shirts, long sleeves, hoodies?

That's where we disagree.

[mtiger]

I'd likely go with ~6 pairs of bottoms, combined long/capris. Probably weighted towards capris given your climate. Maybe a couple pairs of shorts.

5-6 short-sleeved tops, 2-3 long-sleeved to layer.

A jacket and hoodie or two.

A week's worth of underwear and socks.

As an FYI - I tend to do laundry a few times a week, versus the once a week deal.

[mtiger]

Also - while tanks aren't allowed in school by themselves, they're okay if layered or the straps are at least 2 fingers wide.

My daughter won't wear short-shorts, so that's not an issue.

[HeidiAnn67]

I only have boys, girls are probably different though and would probably actually need MORE then what I get my boys.

For my boys I get at least 6 pair of pants (or I guess mostly capris in your case).

They get at least 2 weeks worth of tops (casual, Ts in my boys case and maybe 2 or 3 dressier shirts on top of that, so about 13 tops). I find kids can be cruel to kids who wear the same thing "all the time" (I work in a middle school).

Hoodies are big now in my area, so my son has a BUNCH, but I think 2 would be enough

Since you have a dd, I'd throw in some skirts/skorts too (if she's into wearing them).

Enough socks and underwear for a week.

My boys get by with just some sneakers, but being a girl your dd would probably want a few pair of different kinds of shoes.

[michaelasmommy]

I only have little ones, but for myself, my general rule of thumb is a pair of pants for each day of the week, and 1-2 shirts for each pair of pants for variety. If you get tops that can be layered and mixed to match different things, it makes your wardrobe go a lot further. I also have a light jacket and a coat, but you probably don't need the outerwear. I don't do skirts, but I have 2 dresses for church, wedding, ect. I usually do the laundry 2x a week, but if we are out of town or whatever, it needs to last longer. We have cold winter and hot summer here, so I have 2 sets of clothes, but you could probably get by on less.

[UnschoolnMa]

I'd say about 4 or 5 tops, 2 or 3 long sleeve, and several tanks...especially if you are usually warm weather there. Maybe 2 different hoodies? (My kids have like 5 somehow lol)

We also get a lot of t-shirts at the thrift stores. Some are very retro and cool, and it costs us next to nothing. A week or so of undergarments is probably fine.

[huggerwocky]

Originally Posted by mtiger

I'd likely go with ~6 pairs of bottoms, combined long/capris. Probably weighted towards capris given your climate. Maybe a couple pairs of shorts.

5-6 short-sleeved tops, 2-3 long-sleeved to layer.

A jacket and hoodie or two.

A week's worth of underwear and socks.

As an FYI - I tend to do laundry a few times a week, versus the once a week deal.

that's roughly what I'd say, she actually has some more t-shirts and long sleeves and keeps telling me she has no clothes

[mtiger]

That number leaves the option to pick something up if it catches someone's fancy w/o having an overload of clothes.

[huggerwocky]

Originally Posted by UnschoolnMa

I'd say about 4 or 5 tops, 2 or 3 long sleeve, and several tanks...especially if you are usually warm weather there. Maybe 2 different hoodies? (My kids have like 5 somehow lol)

We also get a lot of t-shirts at the thrift stores. Some are very retro and cool, and it costs us next to nothing. A week or so of undergarments is probably fine.

Well, they can't wear tank tanks at school, only sleeveless t-shirts and the AC is kept low.

[philomom]

We mostly shop at thrift stores here. It has been our general rule of thumb to have 20 to 25 pieces of similar color families so we can mix and match. If illness strikes and the washer won't load itself, then my kids have three weeks worth of school clothes.

My dd is 13, girls her age will point out to you if you worn something "too often". The fashion police are out there.

[huggerwocky]

Originally Posted by HeidiAnn67

I only have boys, girls are probably different though and would probably actually need MORE then what I get my boys.

For my boys I get at least 6 pair of pants (or I guess mostly capris in your case).

They get at least 2 weeks worth of tops (casual, Ts in my boys case and maybe 2 or 3 dressier shirts on top of that, so about 13 tops). I find kids can be cruel to kids who wear the same thing "all the time" (I work in a middle school).

Hoodies are big now in my area, so my son has a BUNCH, but I think 2 would be enough

Since you have a dd, I'd throw in some skirts/skorts too (if she's into wearing them).

Enough socks and underwear for a week.

My boys get by with just some sneakers, but being a girl your dd would probably want a few pair of different kinds of shoes.

Actually, she does wear the same things all the time, she doesn't care. She says she's not a "sissy" girl

[Gendenwitha]

can't help w/ how much but would REALLY recommend this book to go with your plan. The ideas are great, but may have to be adjusted for lower incomes. I still like his concepts & humor.

[maya44]

We have
5 pairs of jeans,
5 pairs of capris
2 pairs of lightweight yoga pants in black and brown
3 skirts.
2 pairs of leggings
4 short sleeve shirts
6 long sleeve shirts
8 tank tops (layered under sweat shirts or other tops, so its ok at school)
2 light weight sweat shirts

[maya44]

oops, double post

[kkeris]

Just my opinion, bear in mind that my DD is only 3, so I am just kinda imagining what I would be comfortable with my Dd having at that age.

bottoms (pants/capris/jeans/atheletic/skirts )- 12-15

leggings/tights- 5-8

dresses- depends on how much she likes them. If she gets enough wear out of em, maybe 5-6? but then again, if she wears dresses alot, then she might need more and lesser of tops/bottoms.

tops- 12-15

outerwear (cardigans/jackets/sweaters)- 5-6

shoes- 6-8

bags- 5-6


The above are the amount of clothing I feel is reasonable for a girl that age, not saying that I would buy all of the above at one go. Personally I like having a variety of clothing to wear and having different accessories/shoes/bags/outerwear to match, and I like looking good. So maybe thats why I would be rather willing to buy more stuff for my DD (within means of course!) for her if she enjoys it too.

[Tishie]

If she wears the same things all the time and doesn't care, why does she want so many tops?

I WOH and I like to have 15 tops at minimum (although I don't have that many I like to wear at this point), so that I wear a different top each day for three weeks. I think if I feel that way about my own wardrobe, I can't really balk if my kids feel similarly. But, that can get very expensive! Although I find a lot of nice things at thrift stores and at yard sales - things that are basically brand new.

Your daughter is old enough to earn some more money, so maybe she could make up the difference that way. She could do extra chores, or help some neighbors, maybe. For instance, at that age, I was babysitting the neighbor's baby while the mom read books, did housework, etc... so the mom was home, but I was looking after baby so she could have time to do whatever, and I made money that way. I also learned how to babysit babies and after I took the CPR course and was legally old enough in my state, I was babysitting alone.

[huggerwocky]

Originally Posted by philomom

We mostly shop at thrift stores here. It has been our general rule of thumb to have 20 to 25 pieces of similar color families so we can mix and match. If illness strikes and the washer won't load itself, then my kids have three weeks worth of school clothes.

My dd is 13, girls her age will point out to you if you worn something "too often". The fashion police are out there.

She doesn't wear used clothes, she thinks they're disgusting

[huggerwocky]

Originally Posted by Tishie

If she wears the same things all the time and doesn't care, why does she want so many tops?

I WOH and I like to have 15 tops at minimum (although I don't have that many I like to wear at this point), so that I wear a different top each day for three weeks. I think if I feel that way about my own wardrobe, I can't really balk if my kids feel similarly. But, that can get very expensive! Although I find a lot of nice things at thrift stores and at yard sales - things that are basically brand new.

Your daughter is old enough to earn some more money, so maybe she could make up the difference that way. She could do extra chores, or help some neighbors, maybe. For instance, at that age, I was babysitting the neighbor's baby while the mom read books, did housework, etc... so the mom was home, but I was looking after baby so she could have time to do whatever, and I made money that way. I also learned how to babysit babies and after I took the CPR course and was legally old enough in my state, I was babysitting alone.

I don't know why...she decides she wants something and then later says she doesn't like it anymore. I've offered her to work for me for minimum wage, she has declined, she thinks it's not enough