More back to school shopping...of the fashion kind

Personally, I love back to school shopping with the kids.  Even more than that, I love scoring a great deal.   I do a great deal of online "window shopping" prior to leaving the house so that I know what I'm looking for at each store and I know what to expect in terms of prices.  Inevitably, one or both of my children always find something not in the plan (like my son's new flip flops this year...very practical for late August, but on sale nonetheless).

I think we have mastered the art of saving on back to school shopping and last year I shared with you my list of MUST HAVES for back to school (click HERE to check out last year's post).    I have paired down my list a bit this year and focused really on things to start off the school year and cover the transition from summer wear to fall wear and that's it.   Of course, we have found shoes as well since flip flops just won't do for school.  We LIVE in flip flops all summer long...it's a sad day when the socks come out around here.

I hear many people saying they don't believe in back to school shopping yet and I totally understand that sentiment.  However, I have learned from years past that if you wait for the weather to change and hope to find some fall clothes, you may very well miss out.  Maybe you'll score a few sale deals, but more than likely you'll be faced with winter clothing.  Retail is soooo far ahead of where we are mentally that I start early.  In fact, I saw Halloween costumes already.  Crazy right?   Although, I too join that club and have listed my Halloween trick or treating bags in the shop and filled quite a few orders already.  Click HERE to see them.

I have a few tips to help you save on clothing this year and to help you make the most of your time.   

1.  Go through all of your children's fall/winter clothing NOW and try it ALL ON.  This is a very painful and long process around here, but well worth it.  Not only does it give me a chance to see what fits, but it also helps me see what styles they still like.  My daughter tastes changes faster than the wind so this is crucial with her.  Last year...all leggings.  This year...all skirts.   

2.  Lay out the items that do fit and assess what you might need to find to coordinate with these items.  For instance, maybe your child's favorite pants still fit, but they grew out of all tops from last year.  It's good to know what you need prior to leaving the house or you might come home with 10 shirts and have only 1 pair of pants.  This would equal a great deal of laundry to keep up!

3.  For the items that do not fit, consider consigning them.  This has been so profitable for us.   In fact, I just picked up a check for $70+ for summer clothing that was sold through my friend's consignment store.  And that was JUST summer clothing!!!  The clothes were of no use to use since they didn't fit, but they gave us money that we now can put towards new things.  It's a win-win for everyone.   

4.  Subscribe to your favorite store's email lists.  I have gotten so many coupons already this year from our favorites.  Just this morning I got 30% for 24 hours only.  I have seen free shipping, 25% your total order, $25 off $75 or more, BOGO...you name it, the coupons are everywhere right now.   Clip them before leaving for the store.

I thought I'd share a few of my "window shopping" and real-life finds with you in case you loathe shopping.  They are at all different price points and shops too!

There's always online shopping which has its own set of perks too if you like to do it from your own home.

I am shopping for a tween girl and a soon-to-be 6 year old boy so my finds are primarily centered around these ages.  I did add a few other favs that I would loved too!

(I have listed the store you can find each item and you can click on them to take you there!)

For Big Girls

Some trends I noticed for this year include:

All things that shimmer- I love a little bling especially on a little girl.  How cute are these sparkly things?

Old Navy

J. Crew Factory

Old Navy

Old Navy

Old Navy

Animal Print - By now you probably know that I have a zebra lover in my house.  All things zebra that is...bedding, school supplies, hair accessories, even her desk chair....BUT and a big BUT, I draw the line at clothing.  I just can't seem to find a love for zebra clothing.  We did have a cute t-shirt last year with a zebra on it, but that's all I can stomach.  Some of the other animal prints I think are cute though.  Check these out:

Gap

Gap

Gap

J Crew

Dolman sleeves and 3/4 Length Sleeve Tops - I think these are so darn cute...especially layered with a camisole.  My daughter has already stated that she can only wear them until coat season starts because she hates the feeling of her shirt in her coat when it's a 3/4 length sleeve shirt.  She's so my daughter...I feel the same exact way, but I love the look just the same.

Abercrombie Kids

Old Navy

Abercrombie Kids

Colored Jeans - These are EVERYWHERE this year...girls, women, boys and even for men.  I love the trend, but you wouldn't catch me in them.  I'm way too plain Jane, but I still think they are so great.  Here are a few colors I adore.

Gap

Old Navy

J. Crew

Moccasins and Sperry's -All I can say is that if you hold onto things long enough (which I never do), it all comes back in style.  I had both a great pair of moccasins and a pair of Sperry's back in the day, but neither were quite as fun as the ones around today.  My moccasins had little beading on them...anyone else remember those?

Land's End

Land's End

J.Crew

J.Crew

Zappos

I think I might have someone in my house that would go CRAZY for these!

Zappos

For Little Girls - For some reason, when I think of the little girls I automatically think of sweet little dresses.  I am so far past this phase now and I know they are not the most practical thing weather wise, but they are so darn cute just the same.

H&M

H&M

Land's End

And of course colored jeans for little girls...so great!

Old Navy

Old Navy

For Little Boys

I know I said this last year and I still stand by it, I like to dress my son like a little man and as long as he'll let me, I will continue to do so.

You can't tell me that isn't handsome?  Anyway, I am all for "dressing down" too and prefer the sporty, preppy look!

Layered shirts-  These continue to be "in" and we love them because my son is a peanut so it adds a little extra weight to him.

77 Kids

Gap

Preppy - I've always had a thing for the preppy boys.   I think this is a look that even when it's casual...it's still put together.   I'm all about it!

H&M

Land's End

Old Navy

Children's Place

Graphic Tees - I think my love of graphics in classic themes comes from my childhood.  As a kid, we didn't wear much logo wear and my kids really don't either.  But....I had a Ziggy (if you remember him) nightgown that I LOVED!!!!     What I love most though is that the humor and nostalgia is as much for the parents as anyone else.

Gap

J. Crew Factory

Old Navy

Mini Boden

That wraps up my Back to School shopping ideas and ways to save yourself some money.   Isn't it all about getting the most for what you have?   I hope you will find all that you and your children are in search of this year and that you will have few arguments over taste.  I wish this for myself as well...ha ha.

I have some fun ideas to get your children excited about back to school and some fun ways to celebrate for those of you who have not yet gone back over the next week.  Stay tuned!

Poshed Up

Making Back to School less painful...

This time last year I wrote one of my first blog posts on the topic of Back to School (click HERE to see it) and how I dread Back to School shopping because

1- It's means summer is nearing the end
2- There are so many other things I'd like to spend money on than school supplies and
3- New this year...it is even more painful with 2 children to shop for since my son is starting Kindergarten this year SNIFF SNIFF!

Anyway, as I mentioned last year, I am ALL about finding the bargains and minimizing the pain during this process.  Here are a few ways to try to make it a little easier:

1.  SHOP early!  I cannot stress this enough.   Not only do the sales on school supplies start unbelievably early, but the crowds are so much less too.  Most people don't even want to think about school until about now and for that reason July is a great time to shop.  We went on a rainy day in the beginning of July with supply lists in hand and got everything in 1 hour for both kids.  I'm not bragging...well maybe a little, but this was our  easiest trip yet.  Also, the stores have some great offers early.  At Staples this year they had 15% off everything you could fit in a reusable bag back in July.  Pretty good deal for the expensive stuff on your list.

2.  SHOP the fliers.  I know Staples has had tons of great deals on supplies during the past few weeks and has been sending endless emails with these said specials.  You can subscribe to their emails on their website. Also, use their ink recycling program and you will receive rewards and FREE dollars back to shop.  I hold all of mine throughout the year specifically for back to school shopping.  I did it again this year and got about $35 in free stuff.

3.  Go through your old supplies before leaving to go shopping.   I keep a box of school supplies that we either received back at the end of the prior school year or things I bought extra because they were so cheap (like the $ .25 Crayola markers...we can never have enough).  Or sometimes the package contains 6 highlighters cheaper and they only need 4...so we seem to acquire extra.

Now as much as my kids like new things, we check our box first and then cross off what we don't need. Like pencils....we had 4 boxes. Ridiculous.

4.  Lastly, try to put on a smile through it.  I remember as a kid thinking it was such a fun thing to get all new stuff and got very excited about my upcoming year as a result.   My kids seem to share the same enthusiasm for this process.  More my daughter than son, but both thought it was a fun rainy day activity.

One thing we seem to get new most years is either a backpack, lunchbox or both.  For some reason, we go through these quickly.  This year I'm happy to say I got away with only new lunchboxes.   I had bought a small Pottery Barn backpack very cheap on sale a few years back for one year of my son's preschool and since he's such a peanut, we decided to use it again for Kindergarten.  As much as he wanted a Power Rangers or SpiderMan backpack...this mean mom diverted his attention and I told him we compromised and decided to wait until next year.

My daughter has decided to reuse a bag I made her last winter.  Hallelujah.   I'm happy that for the first time in 5 years she can use something twice and also that she loves the bag so much she wants to use it again.  Here is what it looked like brand new.

She is a lover of all things zebra and continues to be so she loves the color combo.  Not my 1st choice, but I'm just glad she likes it.

She is now heading to middle school and thinks a backpack is no longer "cool".   She can fit a ton in here believe it or not and she says it's more comfortable on her shoulder.

I have actually decided to add some to my store for the fall to see how they do...stay tuned.

I did let each of them pick out a new lunchbox.  They picked ones that TOTALLY fit their personalities and what they love.   The zebra one is of course for my zebra loving daughter and she loved that she could carry a ton in it and it didn't look "too much" like a lunchbox...oh middle school.

And of course, what could be better for my monkey loving son that this lunch box.  He was beyond excited when he spotted it.  It beat Power Rangers, all superheros and even Ninjago...pretty cool.  I secretly loved this one too and actually almost bought it last year, but held off.  He could care less about the functionality, but I love the clip on the top to attach it to his backpack.

Here are some other great backpacks and lunchboxes out there if you haven't found one yet.  I have made the mistake many times in the past of going for the fun backpack which inevitably falls apart because as a kid I had the "quality" backpack and hated it because it was so boring.   But....I now see why my own mother bought the one she did.   Quality is worth it in the long run.  Here a few of the "quality" ones I loved.  The great part is that they have finally found a way to blend fun and quality into one backpack!  (click on the link below any picture to see where to find it!)

FOR GIRLS...

This one is even reversible and it's expensive too.  I guess I'm becoming a sucker for zebra too.  You certainly wouldn't have a hard time finding your backpack in a group with this one.

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And for the little girls...

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FOR BOYS

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And for the little boys...

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Back to school time is coming fast and furiously and I know some of you are headed back next week already.  We have just a few more weeks before we will be headed back too.  I have some great back to school fashion finds and fun ideas to share over the next week! Until then...happy back to school shopping.

Poshed Up