School clothes shopping | pad patter 8.14.18

[keepscrappin]

It's that time of year again and I dread it every time. Yesterday I took my youngest shopping for school clothes and it was exhausting.

We went all over 2 towns trying on stuff, but all the stores were so picked over that we only found 1 pair of jeans and a t-shirt that we liked. That means we have to go again today in another town.... whaaa! But on the bright side, I'm not broke yet... hehe!

I'd just buy online, but I don't know what will fit. I don't like buying clothes online because it seems like every manufacturer sizes things differently, so a small isn't the same size even at the same store. You should have seen the piles of clothing that didn't work. I feel sorry for the gal who has to put everything back on the racks from the fitting rooms. If everything fit the same, I'd just buy her school clothes online and be done with it.

So how about you? Do you like school clothes shopping? Do you go to the store or just order online?

 

[GlazeFamily3]

Since we homeschool we don’t really do back to school clothes shopping. When she needs things or outgrows clothes, I just get replacements then.

I am with you about ordering clothes online. I generally have little success. When I do order her clothes online, I feel like we wind up returning most of it.

 

[keepscrappin]

Since we homeschool we don’t really do back to school clothes shopping. When she needs things or outgrows clothes, I just get replacements then.

I am with you about ordering clothes online. I generally have little success. When I do order her clothes online, I feel like we wind up returning most of it.

Not having to do the school clothes shopping is another benefit of homeschooling that I hadn't thought of. I loved it when my kids went to a charter school and had to wear uniforms. It made it so easy. I just had to figure out what size they needed and then get enough to make it through the year.

 

[Rachel Jefferies]

Oh my goodness bless you . . Keaton starts school in September, and in the UK, all, if i'm not mistaken, schools here, have a uniform. And i'm actually relieved. Because I don't have to worry about what to dress him in everyday and he will be wearing the same as all the other children. They wear grey trousers, white polo shirts and the school has a Burgandy colour scheme so they wear either a plain burgandy school jumper or a burgandy one with the school badge embroidered onto it. I have picked up three plain jumpers from the supermaket, the polo shirts, have yet to find and shop trousers for him as he's so slim and today we went to the school uniform shop and bought two sweaters with the school badge on.

It was quite surreal going into the school uniform shop, the same one that my mum used to take us into when we were children to get our uniforms and now I'm going there with my child!

It's annoying isn't it when all of the shops varies so much Bad enough for us adults, I think i'd lose my mind too if I had to go through the whole process of my kids trying on a bunch of clothes over and over good luck sorting it out!

 

[IntenseMagic]

My kiddo is pretty easy! He won't wear anything but shorts, the basketball type, and t-shirts or hoodies. We picked up a few pairs of shorts and a few shirts at the Old Navy and Under Armour outlets while we were on vacation, so we're done .

 

[berniek]

I don’t really understand this. I think I’m missing something.

Are you shopping for specific clothes for school? Like uniforms? Or is this just a typical time in the USA to shop for clothes?

I cannot remember having “school clothes”, they were the same clothes I wore when not going to school. And we didn’t go shopping specially for clothes at the end of the summer holiday.

 

[Cherylndesigns]

We always got "back to school" clothes and shoes. Not to the degree that the stores have elevated it to these days, though. We had a tax free shopping weekend the first of August to encourage back to school shopping (in Florida) don't know if other states have it or not.

Funny story - the girls still laugh about conning their dad into taking them back to school shopping. He'd buy them things that I wouldn't. One year, he bought our oldest dd some designer jeans that I refused to pay the price for. When they got home, I'd say "I don't buy them that stuff". He'd say, "but they looked so cute in them". I told him that they look cute in everything, but that didn't mean they could have them.

@berniek I think it must be an American "thing". It's a rite of fall. LOL

 

[michelepixels]

Yay for homeschooling! We don't shop for clothes on a schedule.

 

[Tree City]

@berniek back to school is the time when lots of families buy a new outfit for the first day of school and usually they buy more than just an outfit for the first day: they get new clothes for the school year (or at least the fall/winter) and new sneakers as most kids seem to grow out of the ones they wore during the previous school year. Most public schools do not have a uniform so instead of going to a uniform shop, we can go wherever we want to pick up clothes as long as they follow the dress code. BTS is just a good time to go through your kids' closets and get new stuff cuz you know you'll be at the mall/the stores, so why not get everything they'll need?

IDK about the Netherlands, but I've heard that schools in the UK have a dress down day, where they can wear "regular clothes" instead of their uniforms. Anyway, I imagine the excitement they feel is similar to what US students feel about their first day outfits: you have to get it right and make a good first (day) impression. For some reason, the following days don't matter as much. Your look is established on that first day.

I don't get my kids BTS outfits because DS and DD tend to have a growth spurt later in fall. For the first day they pick out an outfit from their existing clothes, and we shop in the summer so they have lots of stuff that's still "new." I even say "this could be a good outfit for the first day" if they find something they like. I just hate going to the mall in Aug/early Sept lol.

 

[jesskab]

I absolutely love it! I started in June when we were at JCPenney for the 8yr old's portraits. They had great deals. I got their 1st day of school polos & these great jackets for $12. I live for good deals! I just watch sales. Some stuff I get in person, some online. Like the H&M sale where I got them bomber jackets for $6.50 & Target had Sketchers for $20, windbreakers for $10. San Francisco's fog is named Karl & Karl has a crazy temperament. We need to have every thickness of jacket on hand, shorts & jackets--total Bay Area thing. I stock up on all the basics (toilet paper/soap/whatever) at Target when they have gift card offers. Then I use those gift cards to buy their clothes. My husband says I should be on that extreme coupon show.

I also had my after school shopping this summer. Since I graduated college, I bought a more grown up wardrobe. I'm a dress person, so I got lots of dresses, 2 blazers, 4 pairs of slacks, a few pairs of wide leg flowing pants (love them), & 4 pairs of shoes. I'm using my student discount as much as I can until I get the actual diploma!

 

[Kiana]

We did school clothes last weekend. In, out, and DONE!!!
My kids are easy. Don't put up much fuss and don't care of about labels.

I hope you're able to find stuff and get done with it all!

 

[LynnG]

Oh my goodness bless you . . Keaton starts school in September, and in the UK, all, if i'm not mistaken, schools here, have a uniform. And i'm actually relieved. Because I don't have to worry about what to dress him in everyday and he will be wearing the same as all the other children. They wear grey trousers, white polo shirts and the school has a Burgandy colour scheme so they wear either a plain burgandy school jumper or a burgandy one with the school badge embroidered onto it. I have picked up three plain jumpers from the supermaket, the polo shirts, have yet to find and shop trousers for him as he's so slim and today we went to the school uniform shop and bought two sweaters with the school badge on.

It was quite surreal going into the school uniform shop, the same one that my mum used to take us into when we were children to get our uniforms and now I'm going there with my child!

It's annoying isn't it when all of the shops varies so much Bad enough for us adults, I think i'd lose my mind too if I had to go through the whole process of my kids trying on a bunch of clothes over and over good luck sorting it out!

UK uniforms are so easy!! I wish they would have that system here. Instead each school has its own VERY EXPENSIVE AND ONLY AVAILABLE FROM ONE SPECIALIST STORE ... uniform. Grrr. We bought the bare minimum and it was still over $1000 for our daughter.

She has one more year in uniform, then in her last year at school gets to wear 'mufti' ( as we call your own clothes). So we'll be clothes shopping before that. Luckily, unlike her sister, she is easy - although 6ft so might get challenging. Her sister has sensory issues over clothing and it is horrendous. Attempts to shop for clothes would leave us both in tears. She is happiest wearing my hand me downs!

 

[berniek]

Thanks @Tree City and @Cherylndesigns for clearing that up. I guess it's just a 'funny' tradition for you which is not blown over the ocean yet. Probably because here, children up until 11/12 go to school that does not require them to bring anything. Pens, pencils, notebooks, etc are all provided in the school. So we don't have to go shopping.
When teens go to high school, they do have to buy their own. And you want to choose your own, because it's like the first time you can/have to choose. So I don't know anyone who has let their mom do that!
Also we don't have grocery stores like Wallmart that have food and clothes and school supplies and what not. We have grocery stores for groceries. And clothes stores for clothes. And then other stores for all the other things. So you can't shop it all at one store.

@berniekIDK about the Netherlands, but I've heard that schools in the UK have a dress down day, where they can wear "regular clothes" instead of their uniforms. .

We don't have uniforms school in our country. So just regular clothes like here.
Sometimes I wish we had uniforms though. Including the teachers. That way I didn't have to think about my outfit and I guess it would save me so much money. Oh well.

 

[Tree City]

Funny story - the girls still laugh about conning their dad into taking them back to school shopping. He'd buy them things that I wouldn't. One year, he bought our oldest dd some designer jeans that I refused to pay the price for. When they got home, I'd say "I don't buy them that stuff". He'd say, "but they looked so cute in them". I told him that they look cute in everything, but that didn't mean they could have them.

My dad would let us get whatever clothes we wanted. My mom probably spent more cuz she loved shopping, but my dad's philosophy on my clothing was "you want to wear it and look like an idiot, that's on you." LOL! My mom was more "You want to wear that? No. You'd look silly." As if she knew what was cool: she was old!

 

[Rachel Jefferies]

UK uniforms are so easy!! I wish they would have that system here. Instead each school has its own VERY EXPENSIVE AND ONLY AVAILABLE FROM ONE SPECIALIST STORE ... uniform. Grrr. We bought the bare minimum and it was still over $1000 for our daughter.

She has one more year in uniform, then in her last year at school gets to wear 'mufti' ( as we call your own clothes). So we'll be clothes shopping before that. Luckily, unlike her sister, she is easy - although 6ft so might get challenging. Her sister has sensory issues over clothing and it is horrendous. Attempts to shop for clothes would leave us both in tears. She is happiest wearing my hand me downs!

Oh my wow that IS expensive!!

Keatons school sweaters with the badge were like £12 each from the uniform shop, then I bought plain coloured jumpers from the supermarket in his school colours as spares for just £3 each. When he goes to high school it will cost a bit more as they have blazers with the school badge on them and what not but over $1000

 

[Sunberry2]

Back to school shopping was not easy this year. Normally, there's no problem. DS wears athletic shorts/pants and t -shirts, the occasional jeans. But since he outgrew his old pants, we needed to shop for new ones. This kid is tall and skinny though and none of the pants fit right (too short or too big in the waist). So I had to take what I bought back to the stores and I'll have to take him with me next time I go.

 

[keepscrappin]

My kiddo is pretty easy! He won't wear anything but shorts, the basketball type, and t-shirts or hoodies. We picked up a few pairs of shorts and a few shirts at the Old Navy and Under Armour outlets while we were on vacation, so we're done .

That's how my son is... shorts and a tshirt and maybe a pair of jeans. He hates shopping so we have to be quick and go in and out or he's not having it. It about killed him when he got home from his 2-year mission and I made him go to American Eagle and try on some jeans. He wanted me to just grab some but I made him try them on so we would know they'd fit right.

 

[keepscrappin]

We always got "back to school" clothes and shoes. Not to the degree that the stores have elevated it to these days, though. We had a tax free shopping weekend the first of August to encourage back to school shopping (in Florida) don't know if other states have it or not.

Funny story - the girls still laugh about conning their dad into taking them back to school shopping. He'd buy them things that I wouldn't. One year, he bought our oldest dd some designer jeans that I refused to pay the price for. When they got home, I'd say "I don't buy them that stuff". He'd say, "but they looked so cute in them". I told him that they look cute in everything, but that didn't mean they could have them.

@berniek I think it must be an American "thing". It's a rite of fall. LOL

hehe... we have the same issue at my house. My kids would much rather go shopping with Dad because he doesn't look at prices and will just buy whatever so he can get outta there.

 

[keepscrappin]

@berniek back to school is the time when lots of families buy a new outfit for the first day of school and usually they buy more than just an outfit for the first day: they get new clothes for the school year (or at least the fall/winter) and new sneakers as most kids seem to grow out of the ones they wore during the previous school year. Most public schools do not have a uniform so instead of going to a uniform shop, we can go wherever we want to pick up clothes as long as they follow the dress code. BTS is just a good time to go through your kids' closets and get new stuff cuz you know you'll be at the mall/the stores, so why not get everything they'll need?

IDK about the Netherlands, but I've heard that schools in the UK have a dress down day, where they can wear "regular clothes" instead of their uniforms. Anyway, I imagine the excitement they feel is similar to what US students feel about their first day outfits: you have to get it right and make a good first (day) impression. For some reason, the following days don't matter as much. Your look is established on that first day.

I don't get my kids BTS outfits because DS and DD tend to have a growth spurt later in fall. For the first day they pick out an outfit from their existing clothes, and we shop in the summer so they have lots of stuff that's still "new." I even say "this could be a good outfit for the first day" if they find something they like. I just hate going to the mall in Aug/early Sept lol.

@berniek - yes, what Sara said. Back to School shopping is a USA thing.

 

[keepscrappin]

I absolutely love it! I started in June when we were at JCPenney for the 8yr old's portraits. They had great deals. I got their 1st day of school polos & these great jackets for $12. I live for good deals! I just watch sales. Some stuff I get in person, some online. Like the H&M sale where I got them bomber jackets for $6.50 & Target had Sketchers for $20, windbreakers for $10. San Francisco's fog is named Karl & Karl has a crazy temperament. We need to have every thickness of jacket on hand, shorts & jackets--total Bay Area thing. I stock up on all the basics (toilet paper/soap/whatever) at Target when they have gift card offers. Then I use those gift cards to buy their clothes. My husband says I should be on that extreme coupon show.

I also had my after school shopping this summer. Since I graduated college, I bought a more grown up wardrobe. I'm a dress person, so I got lots of dresses, 2 blazers, 4 pairs of slacks, a few pairs of wide leg flowing pants (love them), & 4 pairs of shoes. I'm using my student discount as much as I can until I get the actual diploma!

I love to find deals too. I've never thought about doing the Target gc deals on the basics and then using the gcs for clothes. I'll have to remember that, although our Target didn't have any clothes that Megan liked yesterday. I could use the gcs for Christmas gifts though. Thanks for the tip.

I'm also going to need to go school clothes shopping for me. I'm starting a new job teaching computers at our elementary school next week. I think that calls for a first day of school outfit, don't you!