How much would you pay for one out-fit for a Kindergartner?

Question

I asked a similar question, and got a lot of grief, so I think I'll change the wording a tad!

I plan to buy most of my daughter's clothes for K from The Childrens Place, GAP, and Limited Too. People are telling me that I'm creating materialistic monsters by doing this, which isn't the case. Kids don't know how much their clothing costs! My first grader has all Limited Too jeans because they're fun, trendy, and they actually fit true to a slim which has been hard for me to find. My youngest ALSO needs slim jeans.

I do shop sales racks, online sales, etc. And buy a lot on eBay too.

The REAL question is: How much is reasonable to spend on one out-fit? Prices with shoes and without shoes please.

I will NOT shop Wal-Mart, KMART, or Target for my kids clothes. My kids are SLIMS, plus the clothes from those stores wear out faster on my girls so I could just as well buy name brands.

They have separate clothes for play too.

How much per out-fit?

No lectures please!

Answer 1

I am a penny pincher, and also have to find slim pants for both of my kids, but most of their clothing came from Wal-Mart or Shopko when they were in kindergartner.  I NEVER had problems with their clothing wearing out, and could also find the slims that they needed.  In fact, all of their clothing once they outgrow it is sold on my ebay account, and it hardly looks worn.  SOMETIMES, but not often, I will buy them stuff online at Kohls, Jcpenny, and Old Navy.  But it seem that they don't care where the outfits come from!!  

I have a 7 year old girl who is very popular at school, and LOVES to shop at Goodwill!!  You would not believe the name brand things and the bargins that you can find.  I figure, if she picks it out then she will wear it, but she NEVER looks for a label name.  But you would not believe the comments that I get about how cute her outfits are, and I just laugh to myself, and don't tell them where we found them!

Answer 2

Why wouldn't you shop at Walmart and such? Their clothes are just as good as the expensive ones. Kids grow out of clothes or mess them up so much playing or eating or whatever I wouldn't spend lots of money on clothes. And yes when they are older and start realizing the name brands and prices they will become materialistic. I wouldn't spend more than $50 on one outfit and that would be splurging if I spent $50.

Answer 3

You are throwing your money away as kids outgrow their clothes so fast. Apparently you have the money to spend on high end clothes, so that is where you should shop.  My son wore Osh Gosh clothes which I bought at K-mart, etc.  It's up to you to pay what ever you want per outfit.

Answer 4

I also buy name brand clothes for my kids. A-they do last longer B-they are nice and 'IN" style.  I went through school not wearing the "in" clothes. Now I am able to buy expensive clothes for my kids. Its every parents decision and its a budget thing for some. I would definatly teach respect for peers no matter what they wear.  But yes I have bought 80.00 nike outfits with matching shoes she can only wear with that outfit. I love the gap and tommy and nike and limited too.

My kids are just in kindergarden. It makes me feel good to be able to give to my kids what i didnt have. But it also makes me feel good that when they out grow there clothes I give them to kids who really need them instead of having a garage sale. Make the most outta good clothes,, My kids have good heart and have respect for all no matter who or what they have.

I have also spend 135.00 on warm up 200.00 on cheer outfitts...ect....I also do not buy clothes at walmart. but I do like target for some clothes...I also like value city..they are getting on nice kids clothes in.

Answer 5

On an average $18 (range $12 to $45 for 6 & 10 yr olds)

But the question seems to about whether YOU should spend $31 on kids clothes. And not about the quality or what the kids like.

And the answers is whether you like the "shopping" experience and can afford it.

If yes, then go ahead.

And don't worry about spoiling the kids... they'll fit in with the crowd. Whatever that crowd is, and they'll ask you for the same kind of clothes their friends would be wearing.

(I am assuming they are not teens yet).

Answer 6

when my children were young,,,and i could get away with it, i bought perhaps 5 outfits from shop that was more expensive.....perhaps 60.00 per outfit. and add to it with Pennys, Gap, and even Walmart.  but then they grew up,,,,and thank God  got jobs to buy what they wanted.  this did not spoil them or make them act arrogant towards other children at all.  Good Luck.....Soon they will be working lol

Answer 7

Funny how some cast judgement on this.. yet they are willing to continually purchase clothes that wear out in the knees and seams are coming loose from Walmart and Kmart...

Anyway, I purchase a lot of clothes from similar stores for my kids.. Children's place always has good sales on seperates that can be mix/matched.  They have T-shirts 3 for 20 and shorts/bottoms 2 for 20.  I get a couple of those.. They do well with socks also, however I usually get undies/socks at Target. Shoes I get at Journey Kids or Stride Right since my daughter has a curved toe, I have to have her shoes fit exactly and Stride Rite does an excellent job of fitting her for them.  Unless it's like flip flops, I get those at Payless.

Gap is a little bit more pricey (not much) but I don't get into their styles... it's a bit to urban for my taste.. however their jeans are excellent.. and they have many differen't fits for little kids, hence the slim you were tlaking about.  My daughter has notoriously short legs, so the Relaxed fit from gap fits her to a T. Limited Too is one that I only shop sales on, their clothes are too pricey for my budget... unless I find something on clearance. But If your going Gap, I'd say plan on $25 jeans and you can get Tee's for 2 for 20 or sweaters/blouses for $10-$25 each.  

I'd say for shoes plan to spend $30 for athletic shoes (a good pair)

$20 for some type of dress shoe

$20-30 for boots/casual for jeans

For Outfits, plan to spend $30-50 including socks and undies...  

Also, it's a lot cheaper if you can buy a "lot" on E-bay... but be careful, these come in different sizes. Make sure the lot you purchase is all the same size!

Good luck!

Answer 8

I love the clothes in GAP, The Children's Place and Limited Too.  I really think they have great stuff.   I plan on getting my kid's clothes from there.   But, I won't mind buying them stuff from Target (not, Walmart.  I don't like the quality) or even from department stores.  

Sometimes kids need crummy clothes to wear around the house or outside.  I think the Target stuff is fine for that.   I might dress them in stuff from the GAP and Limited for school or when we are out to someplace nice.  I just think kids need to look neat and tidy at school.

I disagree with people who say you will be materialistic.  Buying your kids and outfitting them in designer clothes doesn't make them materialistic, it's the way they view the world that does.   I would never tell my kid they were better, just because their shirts from the GAP.

If you want to dress your kids in those clothes, fine.  That's your option and if you can afford it, more power to you.

I grew up wearing all name brand stuff and I'm not the least bit bratty or spoiled.   My parents raised me with a work ethic and I was never a rotten kid, so I just didn't get this stuff for no reason.

As for price, I don't buy clothes in outfits.  I buy pieces here and there.  Depending on the age of the child, the most I might spend is $50 for an outfit.  

I bought my goddaugther (2.5 years) a lovely outfit from the GAP.  It ended up being her Christmas Day outfit.  

It was a really adorable skirt for $25 and a shirt for like $20.  But, it was Christmas and  pictures were being taken.  So, I bought her something a bit nicer.

Answer 9

buy your kids' clothes wherever you want ... it's certainly nobody's business but yours.

but i'd just add my kids are super slim and we've found they fit well into the adjustable waist/ slim pants that you buy get at Sears or Kohls for a fraction of the price of the ones at the other places you listed.

Answer 10

I wouldn't see any reason for lectures. As long as you are buying clothes that are quality and especially by shopping the sale racks, that is what's important.

Answer 11

Seeing it is the more expentive stores, I would say I would spend no more than $25 per outfit.  I would stop the clearence racks.  It sounds like you have the money to do that, so more power to you, I don't think you have a limit then and you should spend whatever you want to spend if you have it.  If the clothes are cute and you don't have a budget, go for it.  And you are SO right, kids don't know how much you spent, nor do they care.

Answer 12

Really, the reasonable amount is what you can afford.  I don't know how to say this without it sounding snarky, but I genuinely don't understand the point of your question.  If you have that many restrictions on the purchase - it has to be from certain stores, it has to be a certain size - you're just going to have to pay what they're asking.  I don't mean that in a nasty way, I'm just not sure what you're asking.  If I say, the answer is $30 does that mean you go out and pay $30?

My daughter wears the slim sizes too - the adjustable band pants look like a tent on her.  We've had great luck with Lands' End and Old Navy for slim sizes.  Lands' End has an overstock section where you can get really cute clothes for about half the price you'd pay in Gap.  The slim sizes are usually left over so you find them in the overstocks on their site.  Good luck!

Answer 13

by the way wal-mart does have slim jeans i know this because my child is very slim.  they also have adjustable waists.

Answer 14

At a very young age, you're right about the price not mattering to the other kids.  When they get into junior high and high school, the problem will be much different.  Who cares what other people think of the price of your children's clothes?  As long as you can afford it and you're not taking money from these picky people for the bill, who cares what they say.  Spend $20 or spend $220.  The choice is truly yours and yours alone.

Answer 15

I never spent much on my kids when they were in elementary school.  We bought a lot of outfits from Target and JCPenney(comfortable, cute and they lasted long enough since the kids were always outgrowing everything). Around middle school the tables turned because (sorry) kids with parents like you who spend money on trendy outfits were suddenly had to be competed with.  One of my daughter's best friends shopped at Limited Too and the Gap and was always wearing the best of the best; she looked like she was in her 20's by the time she was in 8th grade.  Nice kid though.  So, my kids moved up to buying stuff from Buckle, Hollisters, etc (but on sale!).  So, in answer to your question... $25/outfit tops including shoes for an elementary school kid.

Answer 16

$15 bucks an outfit, kids are cheap and they dont care.

Answer 17

In my opinion you are creating a materialistic monster. Your comment about "I will NOT shop at Wal-mart, KMART or Target for my kids clothes" is a perfect example of what is to come.

Two years from now your child will be walking around saying oh my mommy doesnt shop at those stores she says they are 'blah blah blah' hence, a materialistic monster.  OHH and you need to come to realization about your real reasons for not shopping at these stores.. cuz you aren't fooling me as to your true reasons.

Target clothes are great, actually if I recall Target is one of those stores that has the same clothes but under a different name as some of the "mall stores". Oh and target has "SLIMS" so perhaps you just don't want to take the time to look.

Walmart and Kmart offer clothes to those who cannot afford a 30-60 dollar pair of pants... (hence why its a discount department store) There is nothing wrong with this and even now my daughter is 11 months and I will buy her stuff from both of these stores if I happen to be at one and like what is there. They had great Disney shirts for 4 bucks a week ago and my friend actually called me to tell me about it. We went and picked her up a few.  Why spend 20 bucks for that SAME shirt at the Disney store?

Kmart has the same clothes often that you find at Sears. Kohls and Ross offer the same clothes that you get in the mall for at least 1/2 the price. Not to mention ToysRUs and BabiesRUs have GREAT clothes for GREAT prices.

I can go buy my 11 month old daughter a two piece pant and shirt outfit for 10 bucks at toys r us. Nice clothes, often Disney outfits or Sesame Street. Most of the time they have a deal too where its buy one get one 50% off.. so I get 2- two piece outfits for 15 bucks!!!

I very very seldom will buy anything from Childrens Place, GAP or Limitied Too unless it is on clearance.

Why? Because you are right (at least at this age) kids don't know how much their clothes cost.. and why should I waste money on something so MATERIALISTIC? I'd much rather get them something that matters than a piece of fabric that you can get much cheaper elsewhere.

I would never spend more than 20 dollars for an outfit for my little one... 30 dollars feeds our family at a restaurant why in the world would I spend more than that on a pair of pants and a shirt?  If it were for pictures.. a special occasion etc. that would be different and I would probably say no more than 40 dollars, but that is pushing it!

If my child was older and wanted something more expensive I will let them get it.. if they worked for it. I REFUSE to raise children who do not understand that things cost money and that you don't have to have "top of the line" clothes to be functional, look good, have great self esteem and have friends. Regardless of their age they WILL learn this from their parents.

Answer 18

i would say 60 without shoes and 120 with......name brand stuff last longer. get your money worth wal mart is wear and tear nothings wrong with limited too and gap its not gucci so i dont see any harm.

Answer 19

dude..i dnt think theres nothin rong w/ wut ur doin...iv neva wore cheap ****.....name brand **** just last longer n is worth a lil more money ...if u have the money 2 put ur kidz n kick *** cloths... do it...they will b da flyest kidz so wut?.,,, u cant help it if othrt parentz aint got all dat money...ya kno?

TNJ

Answer 20

On a whole entire outfit? Probably $20 at the most unless it was for a special occasion. I see no point in shelling out tons of money until they get older and can actually appreciate and care for their clothing a little more. Also, they grow so fast in their first years that it's pointless to buy expensive name brand things that they'll wear, maybe, 5 times.

Answer 21

Well, it all depends on how fast they are growing, if they grow out of their clothes every 2 weeks, I would be as cheap as possible, but if they can last them a good year or so, I can see spending more for clothing that will last longer.

But 20-40 dollars an outfit.

Answer 22

There is no set "reasonable amount". It is fairly subjective, but you wouldn't catch me buying all of a kindergartener's clothes at Limited Too. That place is ridiculous and their clothes are not any better quality than Target.