Dressing My Kids

Okay, where the hell do you go to buy girls clothing?

I have been spoilt rotten for the past 10 years by consignment sales where I was able to buy nice clothing for my kids. Sure, I had to pick and choose, but there always was good stuff and the prices were reasonable. I loved shopping at these sales--it was actually FUN!

But they are growing out of the sizes easily available at such sales.  And the stuff in the stores is overpriced, poorly made AND slutty looking.

JR is a very girly girl and would probably like the peasant blouses, ruffly skirts and other styles that are back again this year. But unfortunately, she is NOT going to spend her time posing in fashion magazines.  Instead  she will be in school, camp and playing outside. That means she has to be able to move actively and is likely to be getting paint, grass, food and lord knows what else on her clothing. And this stuff just won't work for that.

SC has gotten so tall she is heading into women's sizes, not because she really needs them, but because the girls clothing is skimpily cut.  The problem is that SC isn't skimpily cut--she's not fat, she's just not Hillary/Brittney/etc thin!

She is no tomboy, but she is not a "girly girl" either, and her response to peasant blouses and ruffly skirts is "bleeeh!" She'would look great and be happy wearing   simple, classic things--but they're just not out there. Even places like Hanna Andersson and Lands End  are making great clothes for adults and for young girls, but seems to be skipping the tweens.

  I got her some shirts in Old Navy today. But I end up having to buy her 14/16s because the 12/14s are so small, they will probably be no longer than bellybutton length on her. Not the look she wants--or I want her to have!

They will end up with shorts and shirts from Walmart, Target and the like, of course. But is there ANYWHERE I can get them some NICE basic stuff without spending a fortune? Something for SC that is not babyish and yet doesn't make her look like a Lolita wanna be?

I await your ideas and opinions on this one, because I know you've got them.

Especially if you're in the same boat and as frustrated as I am. This is how I feel about shopping for my OWN stuff, but I didn't expect it to happen with my kids things.

Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

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