If you know much about me, you know that I'm cheap. Maybe frugal's a better word... but whatever you call me, it means the same. Part of me being frugal means that I buy my kid's clothes a year ahead of time when they're on clearance. I aim to get things 75% off or better. I don't like to pay more than $2 for t-shirts, or more than $4 for jeans. $5 an item it about where I put my cap for kid's clothes, and if its $5, it'd better be a darn good item. Like
this adorable dress that I found in store for $5 today...
Old Navy runs a great sale this time of year where I buy a lot of my kid's stuff for next year... so does Target, since they reset kids & baby stuff in January so if you can be patient enough, you'll find 75% off markdowns. But this is really all background information.
While shopping Old Navy clearance, I found this little skirt...
Cute, right? Allison loved it too, so I bought it. And this weekend, as I was going through my purchases trying to make sense of what I over-bought (and need to return) and what I still need, I realized that I don't have a shirt to go with this cute skirt. Or the cute little silver one I found at the Carters Outlet. So I start thinking... what would I like to go with it and I come up with an idea of what I want for this skirt: a cute little white (winter white, I think) button up shirt, out of a satiny fabric... or maybe a shantung... either mandarin or classic collar, with puff sleeves and some pink ribbon rosettes on the upper chest one one side.
Can you see it? Yeah... so can I. And now that I have in my head what I want, its what I want. And, I'm more than certain, it doesn't exist. And certainly not at a price I want to pay.
THATS the problem with knowing how to sew. It gets you in trouble and you start thinking about what is possible, and perfect, instead of just shopping for something that exists and would work. So now, I have to make it. Sewing and I have been a little at odds for a few years now... so I'm not sure how this will work out. Maybe it will be good for me. Luckily, I was able to find a toddler girls button-up pattern. I was pretty afraid that those wouldn't exist either.
Oh, and the other problem with knowing how to sew? Fabric starts speaking to you. Wanna know what this piece said?
"Look at me! Wouldn't I be an adoroable little dress or jumper for Allison? And I'm on super sale... only $2.50 a yard! You know you want me... I'm even pretty Easter colors!"
It bewitched me... so now a dress/jumper is on my list too... as if I didn't have enough on that list already. :)
5 comments:
Haha- I love this. That dress is adorable! And I love your vision for the skirt. Good luck- if you do end up making something please follow up with another post.
I always thought that the problem with knowing how to sew was that it took the fun out of shopping--like the skirt cost X amount, how much less could I make it for? :)
Yes, Emily, that used to be the problem. But once you become a huge clearance buying efficianado it becomes cheaper to shop then sew. ;) I mean... the fabric for the shirt cost me $4, plus I need buttons and my time, but the skirt to go with it only cost me $2.50. And I don't sew for myself any more... not until my body quits being in a constant state of flux...
Ok, I have two questions, and neither is about sewing because I don't sew. First, I've always thought buying clothes for the next year sounded WONDERFUL, but I have never been confident about doing it because I have NO IDEA what size my kids will be next winter. How can you plan that? What do you do to figure that out, and are you accurate? I can barely keep track of what size they currently wear.
Second question is what other tricks do you have up your sleeve to get THAT good of prices? I just looked at oldnavy.com in the clearance section and found
nothing as cheap as what you said. Are there tricks to old navy coupons, and do they apply to clearance items? I guess that's more than 2 questions.
I am a sucker for clearance racks when I'm in a store or shopping online, but most of my clothes shopping ends up being at thrift stores. I'm fine with that, but I'd love to pay less shopping at old navy and target.
Thanks for the help!
Uh oh, I thought of another. I am in need of a maternity wardrobe boost. Any tips on getting the most for my money there? Just curious.
And I realized maybe I should wait to go shopping for kids until I find out if my next baby is another girl (in which case I am set) or if I'm having a boy - since I find out in 5 days. I suppose I can wait that long.
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