Desperately seeking sartorial sanity (Clothes for Children)

Member Name: Happyjaw

Product:	Clothes for Children
Date:	15/03/09 (101 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Buying ahead saves money

Disadvantages: You need a little extra space to keep the store of clothing

Having 3 year old female twins has been a real full on sartorial education.
Clothing for me is what I like and what fits, for my girls we have to look at far more criteria.
My girls are like weeds, endlessly growing skinny things, above average height and with the slender proportions of future super models. Clothing them, appropriately but without taking out a second mortgage, can be a challenge.

I began forward thinking when the girls were about 6 months old. Finding beautiful items in sales and buying a head of time, which worked out generally speaking, occasionally something would be too big or too small once they were in the right age range. Then when they hit the highest growth percentile I wondered at the logic of my anticipatory shopping.
Still, clothes are bought in 0-3 months, 3-6, 6-9 and 9-12 months, then it all slows down a little and clothes change to 12-18 months and 18-24 months, giving a 6 month wear window. Generic and weather friendly items like trousers are easy to buy ahead as they can be worn no matter when they fit. Items suiting warn weather only are less of an appropriate purchase unless you are happy to re use them as layers or with cardigans.

Once the girls reached their second birthday it became easier again as clothing changes to year gaps, age 2-3 and 3-4 and so on.
Now the girls have a second wardrobe in their room with all the next age of clothing stored inside. Most items are bought 6-12 months in advance, almost all in sales, maximising the potential use of a full season instead of end of season sales for items which will be useless for the weather conditions in just a few weeks. This means, since I don't have the luxury of passing on clothing for re use between my kids, they can share a wardrobe of clothing but it doesn't cost an arm and a leg since I usually pay around 25% -50% of the original prices.
It's also really handy for covering sudden growth spurts, I'm always one step ahead of the game.
There's never any urgency either, pushing me into buying item suddenly needed at inflated prices or inferior to my needs as I always have a stock ready.
Another more unusual advantage, is by leaving the tags on, I also have a stock of gifts ready for any last minute birthdays of nursery classmates.

I've hammered the Mini Mode clothing sale at Boots this winter in anticipation of winter 09/10. I also spent a fair amount of money in the Woolworths sale in anticipation of this summer.
I also like to make a note of Sainsburys TU sales which happen most Bank Holidays and end of seasons, that usually results in 25% off.
Cherokee at Tesco have a similar arrangement along with George at Asda, meaning you can keep an eye out for bargains whilst shopping for groceries.
Furthermore, you'll get loyalty card points shopping in supermarkets or Boots.

Another advantage of TU, Cherokee and George is the adjustable waistbands they tend to have. My girls skinny waists are a pain in the neck and trousers are difficult to find in styles which stay in one place. The supermarket ranges tend to have elasticated adjustable waistbands which allow for skinny waists and growth.

I liked Woolworths clothing and if anyone maintains the clothing chain I'd recommend them. Sizing was generous, the designs were attractive and interchangeable and the fabrics washed and wore well. The prices were not always as kind as the supermarkets but again, sales counteract much. BHS have the same sort of Disney/Ladybird clothing at the same prices and sizes but the selection seems reduced in my local store.

Boots have several labels, the basics, Mini Mode and some newer, more flamboyant and pricey designs. Mini Mode tend to be practical and interchangeable in range, with items in colour ranges which work together and with a theme which runs throughout, allowing you to mix and match a choice of 4-6 tops with a number of skirts, dresses and trousers. They even have colour and design matched socks, tights, shoes, cardigans and coats, which means your child can look incredibly stylish and co-ordinated at high street prices. I'm really pleased with the clothes I've bought this winter for next.
The advantage of co-ordinated ranges is the ease of putting an outfit together, it's far simpler to find one of several tops which go with a certain skirt instead of knowing you only have one.. which might by now be covered in chocolate and require a whole new outfit to prevent them looking entirely unco-ordinated (or like Daddy dressed them!). I'd much rather change and wash one item than a whole outfit.

With twins, the co-ordinated look is cute. We don't dress them identically because they are non identical twins with very different personalities but there is something terribly cute about wearing items which work together visually. It's also a real boon when trying to keep an eye on them in a playcentre or at a party, if they are wearing the same colour or similar items.

I love Monsoon children's clothing but with prices at around £25 per garment I struggle to buy anything there except for the 70% off sales. There's something really amazingly and simplistically beautiful about their clothing. It's rarely inappropriate for age, unlike the supermarkets which do have the scaled down versions of adult clothing sometimes. I like my girls to look like little girls and I hope to impress and balanced modesty upon them with clothing. So, Monsoon ticks my boxes.
There is a remarkable second hand value to Monsoon clothing, specifically on eBay and undoubtedly on other auction sites. I've been able to buy items in as new condition for just a couple of pounds at times, still featuring the original Monsoon labels. They can clearly wash and wear well.
We've even managed to resell some items after clothing our children and the previous owners. Quality indeed.

I generally don't like Adams clothing, I find the designs often too old, reflecting on some less desirable adult designs or with vulgar statements on t-shirts. I'm all for innocence whilst it lasts, not a visual commentary on their social status, how well behaved they are or details of their parents preferred affiliations.
The items I do like tend to be less well sized for my girls, suiting those in the mid growth scales and higher parental pay scales. I struggle to see the point in paying an average of £9 for a top and £14 for trousers of average quality fabrics which don't wash any better than supermarket clothing but who charge around half the price.

Debenhams tend to be a similar issue, mid sized clothing, though with better quality fabrics and superior design. The prices are rarely ideal for such disposable items, many items are outgrown in 6 months.
Still, I rather like the Matthew Williamson designs and find the sales quite generous. I bought a beautiful MW coat for just £10 in the New Year sales and it's there and ready for this Autumn and Winter. Far cheaper than last years £17 Dora The Explorer coats bought from the TU range at Sainsburys.

I'd highly recommend shopping ahead by a year, even if you keep the resultant purchases in a box in the attic or under the bed, it saves a fortune, gives you time to make sensible decisions, you can mix and match ranges which are usually highly priced or even from other ranges and you're never caught short.

My writing may appear in the same or slightly altered format on Helium, or other sites.

Summary: Shopping savvy for juniors can make for a lovely wardobe and money left over for yours!