Dressed for Success

I might have a problem. I've become addicted to buying clothes (online) for Ox. And since I believe in keeping my skeletons out of the closet, this post might be a bit much. But at least it's not about meth.

In my defense, when I first walked in to Babies R Us after little baby Ox was born, I was frustrated to discover that stores just don't sell nice clothes for boys. Babies R Us is one of the worst for anti-baby boy merchandise. Gymboree is a close second, followed by SuperTarget, because these stores devote nearly all of their kids' clothes section to girls clothes. Don't believe me? Walk by the boys section the next time you go to Target. Then walk by the girls section. HUGE difference.

And you know what? I'm sick of skulls and skateboards and don't get me started on basketballs. Skulls were "cute" for awhile, when Ox called them bone zombies, but that was 2 or 3 years ago. MOVE ON ALREADY!! (stores, I'm talking to YOU!)


(generalization coming up)


I am convinced that this is the #1 reason that men do not like to shop. From the time they're newborns there just isn't much for them to choose from, so they give up.  This is not a genetic gender role, men don't start out like this! It is a clear example of Nurture vs. Nature!


(generalization over - and disclaimer: I hate shopping in stores and I am a woman - it stresses me out, always has. I hate even more when people assume I like to shop just because I'm a woman. Ugh.)

The beloved Boden Bear shirt - his "need to be brave" go-to.

Ox, on the other hand, likes clothes and has a soft spot for cool shoes. When he was feeling nervous about preschool he would wear his fierce bear shirt and it made him feel braver. His DinoSoles made him feel that he could run faster. He's also held on for over a year the fact that I told him he could get Sketchers Hot Lights for kindergarten, when I wasn't willing to spend the $40 last fall. He has not forgotten those shoes. 

I've gotten a few "looks" from people when I say that my son likes shoes - which makes me mad. Who says boys can't like shoes? What's the problem with that? I will turn Mama-Bear on anyone who thinks this is an issue. 

When I first discovered Boden I went a little crazy and spent waaaay too much on clothes for Ox - then I came to my senses and started looking for Boden clothes on Ebay (they get snapped up fast). I've toned down a little since then.

But. . .

With the arrival of the Kindergarten supply list I realized it was time to invest a bit more (time, not money) in my boy's wardrobe. I made a grievous error when I bought a ton at Old Navy only to discover that Ox is juuuust growing out of the size I bought. Ugh.  So I determined not to buy anything without a discount of some type.

I discovered:

1) Crazy 8 - this is a Gymboree store, just a bit less money (Gymboree : Crazy 8 :: Gap : Old Navy). Nice boys clothes.

Recent Zulily purchase: the dinosaur shirt

2) Zulily.com - Zulily offers major discounts on select (overstocked, I think) items like Crocs* and Oilily, PLUS for every friend you refer, you get $15 credit. Woah. I've found so many great clothes for Ox because of my Zulily lurking and shameless spammy attempts to pull in all my friends. Totsy.com is also good - but for heaven's sake!! If you want to buy from them use my code so I can get the credit! (see, I'm shameless).

3) Gymboree will give you $25 credit if you spend $50. Woah. Dangerous. Maybe it was a special deal, but OH BOY I took advantage of it!

4) As annoying as they are, it is sometimes worth it to receive email updates from clothing stores. You can get some majorly good deals.

5) Buy a little at a time - and buy big. Kids clothes don't go out of style  - anything goes. This does occasionally backfire, like all the size 6 pants I bought him that are all 5 inches too long. . . but he'll grow in to them eventually.

6) I buy boys pants at Once Upon A Child whenever I can. He wears through the knees so fast there is no point in spending much. Maybe more expensive pants wouldn't wear through so quickly, but I'm not willing to find out.

7) Find someone you like to pass on the cute clothes - you can justify buying cuter stuff if you know not just your own kid will enjoy them. Or even better, find someone who has a kid a bit older than yours who also has a thing for Boden. . . 

That's it for now. Don't judge me, or my shoes. Because of course my own shoes are actually falling apart.


*The Crocs I bought at Zulily had a pretty blue trim that peeled away after a week, so Zulily refunded me the price of BOTH kids' Crocs, plus $10 extra for my trouble! I bought Little Frog a fancy winter coat and fleece-lined hoodie with the credit (MAJOR POINTS for customer service!). . . poor girl, I buy hardly anything for her a part from a few essentials. She gets a lot of hand-me-downs and lets be honest, cheapo clothes for girls are pretty darn cute - so why spend the extra? Besides, if I even start to go there with her, I'd be totally out of control with all the cuteness available. I just can't let myself even look at girl clothes.




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