The dilemma of Madison’s clothes
Madison is a very round, very active little girl. She’s tall (95th percentile) but is rounder than she is tall (off the charts). Styles these days — way tight, boot cut, low-rise — don’t work on her body and I’m having a heckuva time finding her 100% cotton pants that fit. And she’s all about dresses but those babydoll dresses? The ones that Gap was making in droves a few years back? The ones that Lands End made? The ones that fit like the Hanna playdress? They’re not making those so much anymore. (She’s got some used though and a couple from the Hanna outlet.)
You all know I’m a cheapskate so I do most of the kids’ clothes shopping at the thrift stores and then make up the difference as needed. I’m not seeing much in the thrift stores or in the new stores unless I want to pay Hanna prices (and frankly, I do want to — that’s how much I love Hannas — but I can’t afford it) I’m kinda stumped. When Brett hit the Hanna outlet he also grabbed some pants but he got size 110 and in pants she’s still a 100 and he wasn’t able to find the kind with the elastic cuff that work even when they’re too long. Such is the genius of Hanna cuffs! And right now she’s wearing some hand-me-down sweatpants that are, I believe, from The Gap. Maybe. I don’t know but they’ve got those cuffs so instead of looking too long, they just look comfortably baggy.
So here’s what I want to know from those of you who actually shop in stores and buy things new — where does one get sturdy, 100% cotton, regular old pants for a 3-year old the size of a 5-year old but who hasn’t stretched out the way the size 5 clothes tend to assume? We have looked at Target, The Gap, Old Navy, Lands End, LLBean and even Talbots. I’m thinking maybe Carters? I just can’t get away from those flared pants for children with tiny little tushies!
We’re covered for shirts (although again the short, tight look? We buy everything a size up to avoid it) and we did manage to get a the playdresses but pants — we need more.
I have a cousin who is built VERY much like Madison. I’ll contact her and see if she has any hand me downs she can spare. She only lives about an hour away, so I’ll check and let you know!
My daughter’s wonderfully-round, three-year old preschool friend wears capri pants in size 6. Maybe check out ebay for some 100% cotton, elastic-waisted capris in size 6?
Naartjie is really good about round bellies in their clothing. http://www.naartjie.homestead.com/
Also, they are really excellent about mix and match separates, which you will see when you go to their website.
Hmmm, I do all my “real store” shopping in the 70-80%clearance racks, generally with opposite season clothes (except in January/ February when it’s still cold and all the winter clothes go on clearance — what’s up with that? all those dresses and spring clothes filling the stores in Feb?) and the store I go more often is Kohl’s — do you have that there? I have no idea if their clothes would fit Madison but they generally have a wide selection (they have carters too, and oshkosh and other stuff — their own brand).
Laurel — I LOVE the clothes on that web site and more importantly MADISON would love them!!! Thanks for the heads up!
That’s a great website. I really like their boys’ pants.
That type of dress would be really easy to sew, I bet. I’d be happy to whip up a few after the holidays. I always have an itch to make girls’ clothes but I don’t really have any to sew for.
The pants too- those are the easiest pants to sew. Takes maybe 1/2 hour once they’re cut, assuming the machine doesn’t decide to fight with me!
I’d be willing to sew a couple things for her too.
Vicki, I may take you up on that. (I already wrote to Ally off-blog.) My sister might be interested too because she just wrote oohing and aahing over the naartjie stuff (she loves the flowing fairy look and so does Lucia!).
I’ve heard a rumor that naartjie has a big post-holiday sale. We have one naartjie outfit that we adore (gift from a friend) and I’m definitely hoping to buy some more–it’s super well made, very cute and Astrid’s extra-large diaper booty doesn’t stretch out the pattern in the leggings.
I also second the capri pants idea–my niece wore them as pants for years.
You should definitely allow Vicki and Ally to make clothes for Madison–homemade hand-me-downs are the best (yes, I admit some self-interest!)
I know they have a reputation for being overpriced, but Gymboree leggings are a great deal. You can pick them up pretty cheaply when they go on sale and then the store has one of their “additional 20% off sale items” sales. A larger size can just be “bunched up” at the ankle. Both my long, lean daughter and my fuller daughter wear them–the younger one wears the older’s hand-me downs–and they work for both body types. Really, those leggings and some of those play dresses you described are the only things that have worked on both girls.
Thank you! I forgot about Gymboree! She has some that are either hand-me-downs are thrifted and you’re right — they work really well for her. I’m going to keep an eye on the sales.
Thank you for this post, Dawn. My Audrey is a round, active 5 year old, and I go crazy with trying to find her clothes. It’s good to get ideas. I wish Aud wore dresses, but she doesn’t.