Have a pint-sized fashionista? How to buy back-to-school clothes without breaking the bank

Have a pint-sized fashionista? How to buy back-to-school clothes without breaking the bank

Back to school is right around the corner, and part of getting ready ensuring your child has enough clothes that fit.

For many youth, having in-style outfits is top of mind.

But what are the current trends for various age groups, and how do you shop without breaking the bank?

When it comes to back-to-school fashion, remember Septembers can still be quite warm, so while you may want to buy chunky knit sweaters and beautiful coats, you’re likely not going to be wearing any of that until at least October, says Kayla Short with the fashion blog Short Presents in Halifax, N.S.

Dressing in light layers is key to surviving the first month of back-to-school, she says.

Short loves juxtaposing textures in fall.

“Combine soft cozy knits or delicate satins with tough fabrics like leather and structured denim later in October and November,” suggests Short.

Mom jeans (high-waisted), a chill t-shirt, with an oversized flannel is a great back-to-school look, and it’s super easy and effortless to wear because you can add and subtract items as necessary, like when the temperature fluctuates. Plaid is always in style for fall, says Short.

“We’re also having fun prints,” says Short, noting the tie-dye trend is lingering.

“Half-and-half patterns or mixed prints are so fun, and easy to pair with jeans or bike shorts. Opt for sweaters, shirts, or tees in a size or two up from what you usually wear or shop the men’s department to get that perfectly executed oversized look, and don’t forget your accessories including dainty hoop, layered necklaces, and beaded bracelets.”

Go simple

“A lot of young people are gravitating towards simplistic fashion - making the most out of an outfit with basic cuts and simple jewelry,” says Haylee Freake.

Freake has literally made it her business to know current fashion trends. The Mount Pearl, N.L. woman, who recently moved to Edmonton, A.B., runs an online business called Freake Vintage, selling unique and up-cycled second-hand and vintage clothing and accessories.

Haylee Freake of Freake Vintage sells unique and up cycled second-hand and vintage clothing and accessories. She says thrift stores are a great place to find once-again fashionable vintage pieces. - Contributed

Mom jeans or straight leg thick denim is popular right now, as are peasant tops and silk fabric for dresses, scarves, and tops, says Freake.

For shoes, Doc Martens and Nike Air Forces have been on trend for a while; however, she thinks cowboy boots are going to start making their way into people’s wardrobes.

Andrea Mulder-Slater, who lives near St. Andrews, N.B., says her teen daughter and friends can’t get enough of soft, oversized sweatshirts and hoodies, regardless of the weather and hot temperatures.

Makeup and hair

Recent high school graduate Kennedi Gass of Clyde River, P.E.I. says what’s important is an effortless look, with not a lot of makeup, and keeping natural curls.

“With all the celebrities these days showing their natural fresh faces, everyone just wants to show they can also be fresh-faced and beautiful. A minimal or natural makeup look shows you don’t need a lot of makeup to look the best you can,” says Gass.

To achieve this, Gass says to still wear makeup, but instead of foundation, use a bb cream, which is a blemish or beauty balm that offers sheer coverage, allowing you to look more natural.

Use eyelash extensions instead of mascara, adds Gass.

Younger kids stylin'

As for elementary school students, Bedford, N.S. blogger Sarah Birch says her Grade 5 daughter, Amelia, has a specific style.

Amelia likes pants and shorts in the high-waisted paper bag style, named for the look they get when gathered at the waist. Some fabric comes out at the top above the cinched area, like a tied paper bag, explains Birch, whose blog is named Little Sarah Birch.

“She also loves crop tops and wears them with high-waisted pants, so her tummy isn’t showing, but still makes sure she wears a sports bra underneath on gym days,” says Birch.

Amelia Birch, a Grade 5 student in Bedford, N.S., says it’s important for parents to not choose back-to-school clothes for their children starting around ages seven or eight. - Contributed

Amelia also loves her crop sweatshirt from Roots and wears a lot of Lulu-type athletic pants. She owns a few jumpers, as well, says Birch.

Holly Clarke, a blogger with Holly’s Housewife Life based in Middle Sackville, N.S., also has elementary school-aged children. She says graphic t-shirts, especially with characters like Super Mario, Pokémon, Mickey and Minnie, Frozen, Marvel superheroes and Looney Tunes characters are making a comeback.

Florals are big, as is fruit, she says.

“Tie-dyed is huge, even for my son, and unicorn everything for my girl,” says Clarke.

Kids should definitely pick out their own stuff, probably starting around the age of seven or eight.

“If you wait too long, the parents will pick out really babyish stuff. It’s not good,” adds Amelia Birch.

Tips for shopping

Amelia loves online shopping. Sometimes she narrows down a list of items from which her daughter is allowed to choose. Other times, Amelia makes a list and Birch makes the final call.

Clarke recommends shopping early, including buying winter boots off-season when they go on sale if you can guess the size for the coming year.

Heather Laura Clarke, a Truro, N.S. blogger with Heather’s Handmade Life, used to make all her children’s clothes herself, allowing them to pick the fabrics. Now that they are older with more particular tastes, they choose their own items.

Clarke usually gets clothes in a larger size so she can tailor it to their frames by taking in the width, keeping the length, and maybe adding a temporary cuff. These alterations can be undone as they grow, so the pieces last much longer.

“Clothes are often purposely made too wide or too short, so kids ‘outgrow’ them faster and the parents need to buy more,” she says.

Heather Laura Clarke, a Truro, N.S. blogger with Heather’s Handmade Life, used to make all her children’s clothes herself, allowing them to pick the fabrics. This was especially effective for dresses, which could be worn long - like in the image on the left of her daughter in preschool - and later as tunics with leggings, like her daughter did in the photo on the right three years later. - Contributed

Dresses last for ages, she adds, so she advises parents that they can first be worn long, and later as tunics paired with leggings.

To spend less cash, Short suggests focusing on pieces you know are going to last, or items you really love, rather than on quantity.

“It’s so much better to have a closet of items you know are your go-tos rather than a closet full of stuff you won’t wear,” she adds.

“Trust your gut. If you’re not over the moon obsessed with it, don’t buy it. You can make anything look super chic or cool these days."

Shopping second-hand

And don’t forget to consider second-hand clothes.

Clarke recommends looking for a “Buy Nothing” Facebook group in your area, which is like a swap page.

“You can easily get outdoor clothes, shoes, new-to-you backpacks. The items feel special and new to my kids,” she says.

Alex MacLaren, from Halifax, N.S. does all her shopping through Facebook Marketplace, showing her young daughter the options and letting her make the final picks.

“It’s super easy with no complaining about it not being the right pink or whatever specifications she has,” she says.

Better yet, Short suggests rummaging through the closets of family members, as you never know what you’ll find. Some of her favourite clothes were items she swiped from her grandmother’s closet, with her approval.

The best thing about fashion is that it usually comes full circle, adds Freake.

“Timeless cuts like 1960s bustier tops and 1970s flare jeans are very popular again and you can 100 per cent find these pieces or something similar at the thrift store,” she says.

Short agrees, adding, “Vintage vibes are all the rage, making shopping second-hand a win/win.”

Helping community, environment, saving

Most people have a combination of reasons for shopping second-hand, says Gail Dempsey, executive director of Epilepsy Newfoundland and Labrador. The organization runs the St. John’s, N.L. store Previously Loved Clothes & Things as a fundraiser, with 100 per cent of the profit from the thrift store going to programs and services.

“Second-hand shoppers are helping the environment, saving money, supporting a charity, while at the same time finding some unique outfits that express their creativity,” says Dempsey.

Teenagers love the store, says Dempsey.

“They tend to be very creative and want to express themselves by creating individual looks, and they can do that at our store for a very limited budget,” she says.

To give shoppers some ideas, Freake posts an outfit of the day on her page to show what you can put together with second-hand fashion.

Finding those unique pieces is Freake’s favourite part of going thrift shopping.

The aim is to have everyone’s look is different, says Gass.

In the end, fashion is all in how you style it, the fit and the fabrics you choose, and of course your number one accessory, your confidence, says Short.

“Whatever your style is, own it,” she says. “That’s what makes fashion fun. It’s an expression of you and no one else.”

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‘Somebody’s got it’: Customers out hundreds of dollars after jewelry shop closes

EDMONTON – At least eight customers of an Edmonton jewelry store and repair shop are without their jewelry — some worth thousands of dollars — after the store closed.

Linda Rodd-Kitchen dropped off her $2,500 ring at Heart to Heart Jewellery on 118 Avenue in late October for repairs. She had been doing business with David Dorash, who had made her precious ring, for two decades.

“It was little pieces of gold from my grandmother’s ring, my mother’s ring, that was melted down,” Rodd-Kitchen said.

Dorash had been in and out of hospital recently. When Rodd-Kitchen called to arrange to pick her ring up at his shop, an unfamiliar woman answered.

“And said Dave had passed away. And they were going to have to break into the safe,” Rodd-Kitchen said.

She called again the next day.

“And I said I was wondering whether I could come and pick up my ring and he goes, ‘Well do you have a slip?’ And I go, ‘No we never had a slip with Dave.'” Instead, customers said Dorash would place the jewelry in a small brown envelope and write customer’s name and number on it.

“We never questioned it,” Rodd Kitchen said. “I had never had a problem. Ever.”

Hours later, Rodd-Kitchen discovered the shop was empty with a note directing customers to contact the jeweller’s family.

Edmonton Police Service spokesperson Cheryl Voordenhout said 15 people reported missing jewelry. EPS investigated but no charges were laid.

“I believe police returned jewellery [sic] to three complainants and family also made effort to return jewellery to complainants as well,” Voordenhout said. “Unfortunately the record keeping on the part of the store wasn’t there. So it’s very difficult for investigators to know what was in the store at any given time.”

CTV News Edmonton has spoken with seven additional customers who say they haven’t been able to recover their jewelry either. Christina Miketic-Ketsa said she is now without a $500-necklace and her wedding ring, appraised at $8,500, but managed to recover $4,000 through insurance.

CTV News also reached out to Dorash’s brother, Ernie, who said via text, “Not one piece was taken by any family member.

“When the safe was opened it was empty,” Dorash added.

Customers are still puzzled to what happened. Police said a break-in and robbery was reported at Heart to Heart Jewellery on Aug. 7 for a robbery on July 30. No arrests were made and some jewellery was reportedly stolen. CTV News has also learned Dorash was diagnosed with dementia.

“It’s out there somewhere,” Rodd-Kitchen said. “Somebody’s got it.”

Rodd-Kitchen is now considering legal action against Dorash’s estate.