It's tricky to find children's clothing which is stylish yet affordable. That's obvious, right? I still struggle with it all of the time. These kids keep growing up (and out of their clothes every few months). So while I would love to deck them out in Janie & Jack or Mini Boden or such, we simply can't afford to. (Though I do splurge once a year on a holiday dress for Sylvia and sweater for Hayden at Janie & Jack, because they always photograph so well and are very well made.) On the flip side, there are some affordable and well-made clothes for kids that are just absolutely without imagination. So where to shop?
Most of my kids' clothes come from Old Navy, The Gap and Target. I buy a few staple pieces from The Gap, though I often wait until they go on sale. I LOVE their cardigan sweaters for both boys and girls, as well as their cotton button-up shirts. But I save some cash by buying their jeans and most of their shirts and sweaters at Old Navy, Target and occasionally Fred Meyer or Sears (for Lee or Levi's). The girls' selections are better than the boys at Old Navy (I'm just not into Old Navy logos or skulls all over everything), and I'm often surprised how much I like what they have to offer. Sears is great for a few Land's End items (classic styles, though not terribly creative). The best part about shopping at Sears for kid's clothing is that if the item wears out (think holes in the knees of their jeans), you can exchange them for a new pair).
Old-school t-shirts from Old Navy / Madras Shirt from The Gap
I used to be a fan of Gymboree but their style has become too precious in my opinion. I'm more attracted to their sister brand, Crazy 8 (maybe because items are about a third to a half of the price of Gymboree's).
Which brings us to Target (one of my favorite places to shop). Their selection may not be large, but what they have is pretty cool and the prices are quite reasonable. I like their lines Genuine Kids from Osh Kosh, Paul Frank for Target, and some of the Cherokee items. There are some great pants and sweatshirts for boys by Shaun White (pro snowboarder), and their DwellStudio line for newborns cannot be missed! The latest, a temporary line for girls by Liberty of London will keep flying off the shelves as well. I was fortunate enough to pick up a to-die-for romper and summer dress for Sylvia yesterday (both pieces just $14.99 each). If you can't make it into a store, shop online.
Liberty of London line for Target
I have to sprinkle into their wardrobes a few pieces from Tea Collection, and some small labels. Local independent children's stores are great for these, though their numbers are unfortunately shrinking. (West Seattle's Mill Creek Town Center's Lil Lads-n-Lasses just closed their doors last weekend.) Try Bella & Max in Bothell's Country Village if you're on the Eastside, and schedule your child's haircut while you're there. There are also some great independent websites (try Oliebollen), and a great source for children's clothing and toys at big discounts is the new Zulily (a free sign-up gets you on their email list and notified of their "events").
Red Tricycle (www.redtri.com), a great parenting website, has revamped itself and added many new features (including my favorite - a party planning section). They have started featuring "real" parties, and several of the parties that I've created or photographed have made it online! For these and other great party ideas, check out www.redtri.com and click on the Birthdays link!
The Arboretum, October 11, 2009
Autumn is truly my favorite time of year! I love that the weather has cooled from summer temperatures but has not reached the icy temperatures of winter. I love the colors of Autumn - Washington State is absolutely gorgeous this time of year, and families need to get out as much as possible to enjoy it! I love the activities of the season as well - farm and pumpkin patch visits, Halloween parties and dressing the kids up in their costumes of choice (always interesting to see what they want to "be" each year), annual photo shoots for holiday cards, the annual Thanksgiving feast, and the early Christmas shopping, letters to Santa, etc. On a personal note, we celebrate many birthdays in October and November (for my niece, sister-in-law, daughter and even myself!), love using the fireplace again, do a lot of baking and make a lot of soups and chili, and love long Autumn drives.
Here is a list of some of our favorite places to celebrate Autumn, sorted by activity. I hope you get out and enjoy them too!
I hope this short list gets you started. I plan to add more soon, but I'm off to enjoy some of it for myself!
Thorough reviews, shared anecdotes, and bits of advice from one parent to another, with an emphasis on family-oriented activities just outside of Seattle.
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