It didn’t take me long to realize that having a daughter meant that absolutely everything made for little girls is adorable and quite tempting to purchase.
As much as I love dressing and accessorizing her, I am not spending her college fund. This three-year-old has decided she’s going to Stanford, so mama will need to be frugal early on.
Another factor is that she knows what she likes (obviously, given her early college choice…believe me it’s not mine…I see her at a liberal arts school, but hey I love Palo Alto so that works too). Arguing with her about outfits on a school morning is not happening, so I tend to pick what I know she likes; twirly dresses.
Here are some things to consider adding to your style arsenal:
– If a dress is too short, consider adding a layer. I have been able to get an additional year out of dresses by using them as tunics by putting leggings underneath them or even adding a tutu or fun frilly skirt under. As long as the armholes and chest are loose and not constricting this totally works.
– Buy special occasion dresses far, far in advance. Dresses are so forgiving that I usually buy them end of season in a size or two bigger and hold on to them.
– Find a brand you like and look online to compare prices. I became obsessed with Pippa and Julie dresses when I found them at Nordstrom a couple years back. My little likes the twirl and I like the comfort and easy care. It just so happens that I found their dresses on Amazon discounted up to 84% off. Seriously, I’ve spent more money on leggings for her than some of these party dresses.
Check out some I just picked up…
Be wary of brands you do not recognize as it can come from overseas and the sizing can be off. But who knows, you might end up lucking out.
– Swap with friends. I have wonderful friends who hand down their little boy clothes for my son and I hand down my little girl’s clothes for their daughters. It’s a win-win. Plus I love seeing her clothes again on other littles who are close to my heart!
– Check out stores like H+M and Zara for trendier items. I try to keep her style on the fashionable side as opposed to trendy, but if I do change it up I will do so on a budget.
– Browse the boy’s section. I’ve bought an adorable brown puffy jacket for under $10 for her. And button-down shirts always seem to be on sale in the boys section. I don’t know why, but sometimes the deals are better so check it out.
– Wait for the sale. There are certain stores I refuse to pay full price in (Gap, Old Navy, Macy’s, etc). That’s because they almost always markdown what I am eyeing. So be patient.
– Most flash-sale sites have a no return/no exchange policy. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t contact them if you are unhappy with the quality of your item. I have received clothing from one of these sites before that looked like it was literally hot-glued together. I called to let them know and they requested pictures and credited my account. That was a great surprise. Their customer service team is awesome!
– Keep a list on your phone of things staple items, things she outgrows, or items to complete outfits. That way you aren’t too tempted at every tutu, bow or ruffle that crosses your path. I should follow my own advice as I am drowning in tulle.
Hope you picked up a new frugal style trick! Please share your favorite, I love hearing new ones.
With love,
Shahla
Shahla,
I LOVE reading your very creative and witty posts( and the photos of Layla are beautiful)!!
Susan
Awww, thanks so much Susan! I appreciate you reading 🙂