Mini Fashionistas: Style on the Cheap

Thank you Old Navy for sponsoring my post today about baby and toddler styles. Old Navy is giving you 30% off everything in their baby and toddler summer collection, plus get an additional 15% off in-store.

I have a confession: I love buying clothes for my kids, I enjoy shopping for them so much that it’s become something of a hobby for me since they were born. I’ve admittedly developed a bit of a skewed sense of what is “affordable” and how I rationalize pieces that are practical-and even more so the ones that aren’t so practical.

I used to manage a very upscale children’s clothing boutique around the time when Jack was born. During that period, I was introduced to the most amazing baby clothes and was immediately ruined forever on fabulous knits for infants. I already have expensive taste, but as you know we have been-and will be-on a strict budget until Justin gets out of school. So, I’ve had to learn how to find the practical, inexpensive pieces and pair them with something fabulous, even if that means a pair of sparkly shoes or suspenders. It’s a good rule of thumb that I even use when I shop for myself.

No matter what time of year it is, I will buy at least one pair of decent shoes for each child that will last them throughout the season. I’ll also shop for a few pair of jeans for both, generally at Gap Kids or sometimes when I can sneak a fantastic deal on the designer brands on EBay.

It’s a lot easier and cheaper to shop for Jack. We have a bit of the California flavor still in our repertoire, so he tends to look like daddy; We stick to the surf and skate brands because they are comfy, unique and relatively inexpensive. Plus, he likes them. Win/Win.

I’ve always loved shopping for Jack. Despite what they say, there are tons of cute boy clothes out there, you just have to know where to look.

With Zoe, it’s a little pricer, but oh so much fun. For example, I went to buy shoes for them today… I came home with a pair of slip-on Vans for Jack, and a pair of hot pink, sparkly Converse for Zoe that happened to cost $10 more than Jack’s. I’m willing to go the extra few bucks if it means that she will be excited and cooperative about getting dressed in the morning.

When I found out I was having a little girl, the first thing I did was go out and buy Zoe a tutu. I generally tend to steer clear of the super-girly, saccharine sweet pinks and florals, but she’s nearly three and that is all she wants to wear. I’m not about to start a fight with her over whether or not I can get her to wear the ridiculously adorable navy bubble dress I bought her, when all she wants to do is twirl around in a pink (and most often filthy) “ballerina skirt”. She’s become so opinionated about her wardrobe that I’ve had to strictly limit my purchases to tutu skirts, tulle, and anything with glitter or shine. Dare I say, I’ve created a little glammonster.

Zoe’s outfit above: Gap t-shirt, Gap tights, Target boots, American Apparel tutu (of which I have in my own size as well!).

As much as I would love to have all the money in the world to shop endlessly and frivolously for children’s clothes, I just don’t think that I would given the chance. We all know how long clothes last on kids, and you can find great deals on well made pieces on the web and in the department stores. In my opinion, it’s worth it to spend a little extra on the important items so that they will last.

For me, it’s become a bit of a fun task, finding unique and adorable things at prices that I can afford. Or, ahem, rationalize.

I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.