Affordable and Fashionable Clothes

My son is a skateboarder who skateboards three to six hours a day depending on whether he has school or not. His waist is bigger than his backside and his calves are so developed he can't pull fitted jeans over them. To make matters worse, he keeps ripping holes in odd places - like the upper thigh, the crotch, and the back pocket. My daughter weighs less than I did - ever, is about 5'10", and is still growing. Keeping the kids clothed can be very expensive not to mention keeping them clothed in items that won't make them mashed potato targets in the lunch room. However.... I have some solutions that have worked for our family. Maybe they will work for yours. :-)

1. Get clothes from friends and family.

Okay... I know the selection isn't that great and that your kids won't be too interested in gramma's old sweatshirt with the cardinals on the front. But... the price is right! And, your kids are far more willing to wear things when you hand them a scissors and tell them to go ahead, be creative and re-style it. Yup. Cut it up. Tear it. Rip it. Paint it. Add a ribbon. Cut it shorter. Add fabric and make it longer. This slash and wear approach admittedly does not work well for my son who thinks this is insane but my daughter has had great fun taking people's old jeans and turning them into long denim skirts and purses. She has had a blast ripping lace off of someone else's old nightgown and adding to a too-small tank to make a feminine cami. She has transformed a black geek-squad t-shirt into a fun halter shirt that ties in the back, a couple of old concert tees into an a-line skirt and a children's Cars shirt into a bandeau top. This type of thing takes only a little bit of imagination, a pair of scissors, some safety pins and a library card. The public library is full of fashion / alteration books. My daughter's favorite is entitled Generation T: 108 ways to transform a T-shirt by Megan Nicolay (albeit there are several designs she is not permitted to attempt as they are suitable only for Hennepin Avenue after dark.)

2. Purchase clothes at garage sales.

Yes, I know. In some communities, shopping at garage sales is not exactly considered classy. But ... your neighbors aren't paying your bills and if you are going to pay for clothing, the cheapest clothes can be found here. If you live in an area where garage sale shopping comes attached with a stigma, do not think of items as 'garage sale clothes.' Rather recognize them for what they really are - 'certified pre-owned clothing which was washed ten times to guarantee no pilling or shrinking.' Look for big neighborhood sales and for sales in upscale neighborhoods. Make sure you examine things carefully before purchasing them. Missing buttons and fraying seams are easily fixable. Broken zippers, however, can be much more problematic.

3. Purchase clothes at thrift stores.

Thrift stores offer a better selection of items than at garage sales and you don't have to spend an entire morning looking for signs posted on corners. Prices and quality of items vary widely and you will need to shop just as carefully as if you were shopping at a garage sale. Like garage sales, thrift stores offer a variety of merchandise. You can pick up new jeans, a new book, and new Tupperware with one stop. Additionally, many thrift stores are associated with charities and your purchase supports their programs. For example, Bethesda Thrift Shop in Hopkins supports the programs of Bethesda Lutheran Homes and Services and The PROP Shop in Eden Prairie funds the local emergency services / food shelf organization People Reaching Out to Other People.

High-end thrift stores are more expensive but are excellent places to find specialty items. If you have teenagers (or like designer clothing yourself) make sure you stop by Plato's Closet. The prices are in line with Target or Walmart but you get Abercrombie, Aeropostale, Baby Phat, Billabong, Ecko, Express, Hollister, J. Crew, Seven, Sketchers, Quiksilver and more. And.. it is 'cool' to shop here. If you are looking for business clothing, the Clothes Mentor may have something for you.

4. Purchase clothes at consignment shops.

Consignment shops tend to have the most expensive "certified pre-owned clothing" you can buy; however, the quality and selection is excellent. Consignment shops are also one of the best places to get discounted business clothing. If you are looking for a specific item, a consignment shop owner may be able to watch for it for you saving you money and time.

5. Purchase new clothes on sale or clearance.

Be aware that when stores offer items on sale claiming a certain percentage off, the percentage has been calculated using the highest price charged for that item. To determine if the sale item is a bargain, do not compare the clearance price to the price you would have paid for the item full price. Compare it to the price you would have been willing to pay at a thrift store or garage sale. For example, if a shirt was originally $50 and is on clearance for 50% off, you will be paying $25 for it. If a similar shirt could be purchased at consignment shop for $15, a thrift store for $8 or a garage sale for $4, the purchase of the sale item is not saving you money. It is costing you an extra $10, $17, or $21 respectively. However, if that same shirt is on sale for 70% off and you would pay $15 for it, the sale price is equal to a consignment store purchase. If the shirt is 90% off and you would pay only $5 for it, the store is offering almost as good as a deal as the garage sale.

6. Purchase clothes at full price.

Ummm.... nobody does this.

So... how do you know if something will fit you when you shop at garage sales? You can't exactly pull up to the house a week later and knock on their door asking for a refund or store credit. Zafu can help you find the best brands for your body type and will alert you to the worst brands for your shape. Log into the website and set up a profile by providing your height, weight, measurements and style preferences. They compare it to their database of brands and user comments to make recommendations for the jeans, bras, pants, and accessories that will fit you best. Record the names, measurements, sizes, color preferences and favorite brands of all of your family members in a small notebook. Keep the notebook in your purse or car along with a tape measure to measure clothes without tags.

Happy hunting!