Clothing for tweens

I appreciate the ideas on thrift store shopping and have considered that, given
that we live near a good-sized Goodwill. I've gotten my daughter clothes there
through the years, but never with her tagging along. She's expressed some
interest in doing so, so it would be easy enough to try bringing her and
letting her pick for herself. Thanks for the suggestion.

In asking this question, though, I was more looking for ideas on mid-level
stores that sold reasonable-quality new clothes tweens would like. I'm
relatively new to tweendom. I'd never shopped at an Old Navy before last
Sunday; Sears had been a disappointment; and when I looked at JCPenneys on my
own, the day before, the selection was dismal -- and Penneys has been my
favorite up until now. I'm not a big fan of Target (though I haven't ruled it
out; we bought a fair amount of stuff there when The Kid was younger). I've
barely stepped my foot into the Gap because it seems too expensive for my
blood. I do like the Bon but haven't found much there lately; Nordstrom is
pricey (though I find an occasional bargain at the Rack): and so on ...I was
thinking there might be some places parents with more tenure with the
tween-and-older set could suggest that I'm overlooking.

Catalog and online shopping is fine, as far as it goes, and I do a fair amount
of that. I also like eBay. Unfortunately, my daughter is between sizes in
pants, so it helps to be able to try things on. So brick and mortar would be
better right now.

A clothing allowance is a good idea, but one I'd rather save until she's older.

Thanks for *all* the ideas folks are offering. Whether or not they directly
answer the question I was trying to phrase , they are all good and will help
in the long run.

beeswing

======================================= MODERATOR'S COMMENT:
would like a 2nd on "slutwear" when juxtaposed with specific stores. Probably OK but worth a second look from someone.
=================================== END MODERATOR'S COMMENT

beeswing wrote:
[snip]

I speak as someone whose daughter is really quite a clotheshorse,
and a definite shoehound.

We get most of DD's clothes from Lands End, still (but the wife
works there -- we'd be crazy not to use their employee discount).
DD does express an interest in clothes from "cooler" places --
Old Navy (which sells clothes of very dubious quality, IMO)
and the Gap, but mostly ON. She also will tag along with
her Mom to Target (Tarzhay Boutique as we call it) and buys
stuff there.

Thankfully, DD is rather stingy with her money. I don't think
she's bought anything for full price. Her favorite item
at the moment is a pullover fleece sweatshirt, $1.99 from
Old Navy. IME (admittedly very limited), you can find some
good bargains in the sale racks. Wife will sometimes splurge
and buy DD something trendy -- a fake fur jacket from the Gap,
for example, but still it was on the sale rack (a winter
coat bought in January).

We avoid JCPenney, and Sears (even though the wife gets an
employee discount there, too, because Sears owns Lands End)
mostly because that requires a trip to a shudder mall,
which we will avoid at all costs. The ON and Gap stores
are in shopping centers that are marginally more palatable.

DD has not expressed any interest in SlutWear from, say,
Express, or Limited, Too. I rather doubt she'd be allowed
to wear such things to school. The only clothing item
now in that category is a pair of jeans that ride too
low on the hips.

It'll be interesting to see how things change next year when
DD starts middle school.

scott DD 10.5 and DS 8

In my area, Kohls has a good selection of decent quality, non-trampy clothes
at reasonable prices. They also have excellent sales on a regular basis.

Filenes also is a good choice here in New England. They are slightly more
expensive than Kohls, but they too have excellent sales on an almost weekly
basis.

I think a big part of your problem right now is that the stores are right in
the middle of switching from the fall clearance to the new spring clothing
lines. In a couple of weeks, there will be a bigger selection of
non-clearance items to choose from.

Good Luck,
Tracey in CT



"beeswing" wrote in message
...
I appreciate the ideas on thrift store shopping and have considered that,
given
that we live near a good-sized Goodwill. I've gotten my daughter clothes
there
through the years, but never with her tagging along. She's expressed some
interest in doing so, so it would be easy enough to try bringing her and
letting her pick for herself. Thanks for the suggestion.

In asking this question, though, I was more looking for ideas on mid-level
stores that sold reasonable-quality new clothes tweens would like. I'm
relatively new to tweendom. I'd never shopped at an Old Navy before last
Sunday; Sears had been a disappointment; and when I looked at JCPenneys on
my
own, the day before, the selection was dismal -- and Penneys has been my
favorite up until now. I'm not a big fan of Target (though I haven't ruled
it
out; we bought a fair amount of stuff there when The Kid was younger).
I've
barely stepped my foot into the Gap because it seems too expensive for my
blood. I do like the Bon but haven't found much there lately; Nordstrom is
pricey (though I find an occasional bargain at the Rack): and so on ...I
was
thinking there might be some places parents with more tenure with the
tween-and-older set could suggest that I'm overlooking.

Catalog and online shopping is fine, as far as it goes, and I do a fair
amount
of that. I also like eBay. Unfortunately, my daughter is between sizes in
pants, so it helps to be able to try things on. So brick and mortar would
be
better right now.

A clothing allowance is a good idea, but one I'd rather save until she's
older.

Thanks for *all* the ideas folks are offering. Whether or not they
directly
answer the question I was trying to phrase , they are all good and will
help
in the long run.

beeswing

"beeswing" wrote in message
...
In asking this question, though, I was more looking for ideas on mid-level
stores that sold reasonable-quality new clothes tweens would like. I'm
relatively new to tweendom. I'd never shopped at an Old Navy before last
Sunday; Sears had been a disappointment; and when I looked at JCPenneys on
my
own, the day before, the selection was dismal -- and Penneys has been my
favorite up until now. I'm not a big fan of Target (though I haven't ruled
it
out; we bought a fair amount of stuff there when The Kid was younger).
I've
barely stepped my foot into the Gap because it seems too expensive for my
blood. I do like the Bon but haven't found much there lately; Nordstrom is
pricey (though I find an occasional bargain at the Rack): and so on ...I
was
thinking there might be some places parents with more tenure with the
tween-and-older set could suggest that I'm overlooking.

Are you in the USA? Limited Too is a moderate tween store.
The clothes are meant to look like the teen styles, but the pants
aren't as low and the shirts don't show tummies. (Trendy, but not sleazy.)
Another similar chain my kids like is Zutopia. My
younger one (age nine) isn't into trendy at all, so she sticks to
Land's End, Gap Kids, Old Navy, and there's a store called
The Children's Place that has clothes in the same vein. On the slightly
lower end, Mervyns has some good jeans/staples, but
also cheaply made stuff, so watch out. My kids are still in the
size 6X to 12 slim range, so these stores fit that okay.

My problem is my older daughter is in high school, so these stores don't
really fit the bill on style anymore, though size wise they still fit. She
has her own clothes budget, and goes with
Nordstom's Brass rail, some Mervyn's and some Macy's, along
with the Zutopia stuff. She shops sales. It seems size 00 is about the same
at size 12 slim, just longer and more expensive.

In article ,
(beeswing) wrote:

I appreciate the ideas on thrift store shopping and have considered that,
given
that we live near a good-sized Goodwill. I've gotten my daughter clothes
there
through the years, but never with her tagging along. She's expressed some
interest in doing so, so it would be easy enough to try bringing her and
letting her pick for herself. Thanks for the suggestion.

In asking this question, though, I was more looking for ideas on mid-level
stores that sold reasonable-quality new clothes tweens would like. I'm
relatively new to tweendom. I'd never shopped at an Old Navy before last
Sunday; Sears had been a disappointment; and when I looked at JCPenneys on my
own, the day before, the selection was dismal -- and Penneys has been my
favorite up until now. I'm not a big fan of Target (though I haven't ruled it
out; we bought a fair amount of stuff there when The Kid was younger). I've
barely stepped my foot into the Gap because it seems too expensive for my
blood. I do like the Bon but haven't found much there lately; Nordstrom is
pricey (though I find an occasional bargain at the Rack): and so on ...I was
thinking there might be some places parents with more tenure with the
tween-and-older set could suggest that I'm overlooking.

Catalog and online shopping is fine, as far as it goes, and I do a fair
amount
of that. I also like eBay. Unfortunately, my daughter is between sizes in
pants, so it helps to be able to try things on. So brick and mortar would be
better right now.

A clothing allowance is a good idea, but one I'd rather save until she's
older.

Thanks for *all* the ideas folks are offering. Whether or not they directly
answer the question I was trying to phrase , they are all good and will
help
in the long run.

beeswing



Surprisingly, one place my kids (now 18 and 21) insist on continuing to
shop is a store that specializes in school uniforms. The slacks they
carry are Dickies (I think that's how it's spelled) which are similar in
quality and style to Dockers, but much less expensive. Plus, if we shop
there in June and July, we get a discount, and they do cheap hems for
free -- since DD#2 has her Mom's short legs, this is particularly
welcome.

meh
--
Children won't care how much you know until they know how much you care

In article ,
"Tracey" wrote:

In my area, Kohls has a good selection of decent quality, non-trampy clothes
at reasonable prices. They also have excellent sales on a regular basis.

Filenes also is a good choice here in New England. They are slightly more
expensive than Kohls, but they too have excellent sales on an almost weekly
basis.

Plus, if you can stand going into Filene's basement (the original, not
one of the suburban knock offs) and have time to really shop, you can
find some amazing bargains!


I think a big part of your problem right now is that the stores are right in
the middle of switching from the fall clearance to the new spring clothing
lines. In a couple of weeks, there will be a bigger selection of
non-clearance items to choose from.

Good Luck,
Tracey in CT






--
Children won't care how much you know until they know how much you care

"Scott" wrote in message
...

It'll be interesting to see how things change next year when
DD starts middle school.

Thanks for the ideas.

I anticipate that it's going to be a real eye opener for us,
clothingwise, when The Kid starts middle school. The elementary school
she goes to mandates a uniform, which means a minimum of fuss as far as
what to wear. We trip over some of the issues during breaks, but over
all we get off easy.

I hated the idea of uniforms when she started at the school, but as it
turns out, I've been really glad of them.

beeswing

"Tracey" wrote in message
. com...
In my area, Kohls has a good selection of decent quality, non-trampy
clothes
at reasonable prices. They also have excellent sales on a regular
basis.

Filenes also is a good choice here in New England. They are slightly
more
expensive than Kohls, but they too have excellent sales on an almost
weekly
basis.

We don't have Kohls or Filenes out here, though I've seen Kohls, at
least, on line.

I think a big part of your problem right now is that the stores are
right in
the middle of switching from the fall clearance to the new spring
clothing
lines. In a couple of weeks, there will be a bigger selection of
non-clearance items to choose from.

I'm sure you are right on this. Saturday, I tried to do some clothes
shopping for myself for the shoulder season. Id didn't have any more
luck finding clothes for me than I did looking for clothes for my
daughter.

Thanks.

beeswing

"dragonlady" wrote in message
...
Surprisingly, one place my kids (now 18 and 21) insist on continuing
to
shop is a store that specializes in school uniforms. The slacks they
carry are Dickies (I think that's how it's spelled) which are similar
in
quality and style to Dockers, but much less expensive. Plus, if we
shop
there in June and July, we get a discount, and they do cheap hems for
free -- since DD#2 has her Mom's short legs, this is particularly
welcome.

Funny -- my daughter's elementary school requires school uniforms; most
of what The Kid wears comes from http://www.frenchtoast.com. She's happy
enough with it, and it makes it easy on my husband and I. I'd bet almost
anything, though, when she hits middle school, she won't come near
anything vaguely uniformlike voluntarily. Except maybe her scout
uniform at meetings...if we're lucky.

beeswing

In article , beeswing says...

I appreciate the ideas on thrift store shopping and have considered that, given
that we live near a good-sized Goodwill. I've gotten my daughter clothes there
through the years, but never with her tagging along. She's expressed some
interest in doing so, so it would be easy enough to try bringing her and
letting her pick for herself. Thanks for the suggestion.

As an ex-preteen with fitting problems (I'm very tall), I must admit I shudder
whenever someone suggests thrift and strictly sales shopping for preteens.
Would that! Even without selections being very limited just by what may fit, I
can imagine (read: remember) that having a decent selection of stuff that was
fairly fashionable, without having to work miracles of imaginative and
resourceful eclectic taste in the aisles of a Goodwill store, would be a very
important factor in shopping for preteen clothes. So I'm with ya on the
mid-level stores! (Yes - I know some have that eclectic-resourceful second-hand
clothes knack, but that's not every girl or every parent!)


In asking this question, though, I was more looking for ideas on mid-level
stores that sold reasonable-quality new clothes tweens would like. I'm
relatively new to tweendom. I'd never shopped at an Old Navy before last
Sunday; Sears had been a disappointment; and when I looked at JCPenneys on my
own, the day before, the selection was dismal -- and Penneys has been my
favorite up until now.

I second someone else's comment on ON clothes being not the greatest wash after
wash. What I've found works for my son and nieces and nephews are J.C. Penny's,
Aerocrombe sales, and Gap sales. Department store stuff is iffy sometimes -
odds are increased for durable wear by looking for 100% cotton or 98% cotton
with elastomer fabrics. Gap Kids, if there are any still around (ours closed)
was always a good source for up to pre-teen clothes as well.

Banty