i'll just ditto all of the above. i have some pretty awesome outfits for R, but it takes some digging. i've learned to be open minded with all brands even if my initial reaction isn't good. Like... i don't love carters sets as an outfit, but i'll take a 3 piece set and pair each item with different items and suddenly it's my favourite. some brands don't fit R well in general, but i'll stumble on one item that is cut differently and fits great. you have to love shopping and you have to shop in person for this to really work though.
price is the biggest frustration. even middle of the road brands like Children's Place seem insane to me. i picked up a plaid button down for R at a thrift store and really loved the fit of it so i popped in TCP at the mall to see how much they are new - $20!!! i can buy clothes for myself cheaper than that! and i really don't mind spending a little more for special event outfits, but just a shirt he'll wear to church a few times... no.
@vicmo - have you seen these animal sweaters?? despite detouring through the clothing before every grocery trip i have somehow missed these gems. i need to the red one! and i kind of want the reindeer for our hipster-ish christmas party. that could be dressed up so well. Attachment DeletedAttachment Deleted
Others have addressed the major issues with boy clothing. For me, it's also the hue of the colors and the finishes on the clothing items. Give me brights instead of drabs. Give me two rows of snaps on onesies so they can last longer on my long baby. Give me button down onesies that button all the way down (no dragging them over the head). Give me something that isn't so damn clichéd.
I see some hope out there. There will be a collection that uses a new theme (Vikings at Gymboree) or interesting color combination (yellow and army green at Carter's). I guess they're testing the waters. But the majority is shit. The number of things at Carter's right now that have a saying on the front is horrendous.
I had a gift card to Kohls and couldn't find anything today that didn't have a phrase on it. I don't mind them too much now because he's a baby (stuff like mommys little guy or I love daddy) but I want some non phrase stuff. Also I think the animal stuff is sweet now because he's little but I don't see it at 18 months.
I do want to find a shirt with an animal playing a sport while driving a vehicle because it would be the Trifecta of Boys Cliche Clothing.
I loved plaid shortalls for summer and plaid shorts with plain colored onesies, but I don't know what to do for winter.
I loved plaid shortalls for summer and plaid shorts with plain colored onesies, but I don't know what to do for winter.
how old is your babe? i have lot of jeans/pants with a short sleeve onsie under and a long sleeve t over. target had some cute henleys, i found a couple nice l/s as part of carter's sets, and i'm selectively choosing graphic tees (h picked out two from target that are star wars and comic characters because he's a huge, huge nerd). i've picked up a few solid coloured or colour blocked zip up hoodies, too, for colder days. i'll probably grab a sweater or two when we're actually into winter.
i'm trying to mix in some cute one piece rompers too this winter because he is still a baby and i highly doubt i'll be putting him in them next winter when he's 20-24 months.
I feel like there's so much untapped potential for the boy market. Reference popular stories for example - a white waffle knit Henley, a stretch pair of jeans, and a lumberjack plaid vest with a faux Sherpa lining is a nod to Paul Bunyon. And you could make a blue bull lovey too. And knock off baby Doc Maartens! A lot of the classics aren't protected by a copyright.
I think it would be cool to also offer different cuts in pants like adults get. I think Gap does this. That way skinny babies can find something and chunky babies can too. I'm so sick of only being offered a wide array of sweatpants as winter wear. And DS is only 3 months!
Post by irishbride2 on Sept 24, 2014 5:04:59 GMT -5
I actually don't have a problem finding lots of clothes I love for DS.
The only time I struggle is when I need a somewhat fancy outfit that isn't a tux....like Christmas Dinner or a rehearsal dinner. Most khaki pants are cargos, for example. With girls it is so easy to find cute dresses and such.
How do (casual) people feel about Joe Fresh? It's sold at my grocery store but I think they carry it at Kohls or something. I've been pretty happy with the things we've gotten.
I like joefresh in general. This season seems full of graphics and crap plastered all over the shirts, which I hate. I just bought some splash pants there for my boy (a necessity) and some basics for my girl. I was disappointed to not find anything else for Henry.
@vicmo - have you seen these animal sweaters?? despite detouring through the clothing before every grocery trip i have somehow missed these gems. i need to the red one! and i kind of want the reindeer for our hipster-ish christmas party. that could be dressed up so well.
I want these but they disappear when I switch from the Canadian site to the US site! I hate when places do this!
more maternity-like wasted pants for those of us with chubby/fat waisted boys.
wish jeggings were ok for boys.
I've been buying pull-on style pants for DS exclusively since we're going to start PTing soon. So maternity-like waisted pants. I can't get my POAS phone to cooperate to post links, but they're "pull- on jeans" and "pull-on cargo pants" from Children's Place.
I also am a fan of shoes so more shoe options than just running shoes and sandals. We buy DS a lot of Vans to complete his outfits but outside of that finding shoes is hard. I may be alone in my kid shoe addiction though. DS is a total shoe fan as well lol.
Clarks is having a kids' shoe sale right now in store - buy one pair, get a 2nd half off. They also added a $10 off in-store coupon, so I ended up with 2 pairs of leather shoes for $30 total.
They are a nice hybrid with some sneaker features, with a non-athletic look.
It's not that I can't find clothes I like, it's that the stuff I like is all $$$.
This. I also would like a shirt that is not a graphic and is not stripes. But I'm not sure what thay would be.
Yep yep yep. I get so disappointed when I look on zulily and all of the holiday clothing for girls is cute and fancy and then the boys clothes are just plain onesies or tshirts that say something dumb like "feed me". Or an ugly pair of overalls with a single little appliqué on it for $30.
More simple options. A nice patterned shirt that isn't stripes and graphic t's without stupid sayings.
Gap
I do like some Gap stuff, but I tend toward cheaper clothing since DS is trashing it at daycare most days. I think that my real annoyance- It would be just as easy to make cheap clothing cute but instead you can get a $5 ridiculous graphic tee at a cheaper store or a $20 simple patterned tee at a nicer store.
It's not that I can't find clothes I like, it's that the stuff I like is all $$$.
This.
I'm willing to pay more than Target prices for a good quality item, but I can't swallow dropping $50 on a cardigan or something.
Specifically - I LOVE some of the BabyGap/Polo cardigans that are a nice sweater or sweatshirt material with the elbow patches - I'm willing to spend ~$30 on one, but can't find any decent ones in a reasonable price range.
more maternity-like wasted pants for those of us with chubby/fat waisted boys.
wish jeggings were ok for boys.
I've been buying pull-on style pants for DS exclusively since we're going to start PTing soon. So maternity-like waisted pants. I can't get my POAS phone to cooperate to post links, but they're "pull- on jeans" and "pull-on cargo pants" from Children's Place.
I feel like these would be so much more comfortable for DS since he complains about the waistband/button on his pants but most pull on pants don't have enough waist adjustability.
@vicmo - have you seen these animal sweaters?? despite detouring through the clothing before every grocery trip i have somehow missed these gems. i need to the red one! and i kind of want the reindeer for our hipster-ish christmas party. that could be dressed up so well.
I do like some Gap stuff, but I tend toward cheaper clothing since DS is trashing it at daycare most days. I think that my real annoyance- It would be just as easy to make cheap clothing cute but instead you can get a $5 ridiculous graphic tee at a cheaper store or a $20 simple patterned tee at a nicer store.
ON usually has some pretty good shirts. I always wait for at least 30 percent off at gap.
I buy a TON of plaid and stripes. They're typical and I like them. Some of the plaid is smaller scale and 2 colors, some is 3-4 colors and larger stripes or varied size stripes. They all give a different look and I like mixing it up, but that means buying many different brands since TCP does one "pattern" of plaid with varying color schemes. (Hoping this makes sense.)
Ringer tees, raglan tees, solid tees in more colors than just gray, navy, and black. Specifically, make Hanes Beefy T's in toddler sizes so I can get maroon, green, and orange. DS wears tshirts year round, either by themselves, under a short sleeve polo, or long sleeve button down. They are a staple and surprisingly hard to find.
ADD MORE ORANGE. My kid is obsessed. This year has a decent selection of orange, but last year everything was yellow yellow yellow.
Jeans in different shades of blue and multiple cuts. We love TCP's carpenter jeans, but they only come in one wash. Old Navy has been doing better at this, but I don't like the quality of their denim as much as I like TCP.
Cherokee at Target makes some nice toddler boys pants. They are nice thick, darker colored khakis and corduroys. Speaking of which - more colored pants (khakis in the traditional color, olive green, navy, maybe maroon?) and cords. I like plaid shorts, but not a fan of patterned pants.
Toddler pants that are snap closures, but look like buttons. DS hates when he can't get his pants undone quickly when he needs to pee and buttons result in more accidents unless he can pull the pants right down without undoing it. I love the look of buttons, but they just aren't functional for a 3yo. Adjustable waist band is also a must. If you can figure out a way to adjust without the elastic strings and buttons on the inside, where my toddler can feel them and complain about them as he does with any interior tag, that would be awesome.
Shoes in wide width that aren't ugly and super $$$. Casual but non-sneaker shoes appreciated.
Vests and sweater vests for special occasions.
Things I'm not into: Pink, purple, polka dots, most graphics, any sayings.
@vicmo - have you seen these animal sweaters?? despite detouring through the clothing before every grocery trip i have somehow missed these gems. i need to the red one! and i kind of want the reindeer for our hipster-ish christmas party. that could be dressed up so well.
I like MiniBoden, Petit Bateau (but this one is ($$$)and Tea collection. I'm also liking Hanna Anderson. So if you could make stuff like this, with great fabrics/organic cotton for half the price I would buy them all.
Also, no more footballs!! There are other sports like tennis. You could do something cute with tiny tennis rackets.
I also think that music is under represented in boys clothes except for electric guitars and "I'm a rockstar" sayings. something with small pianos or violins on it might be cute.
As far as colors go I love mint, violet and pale yellow and salmon on boys. I realize this is the preppy in me.
I also like all shades of green and turquoise blue.
I don't like violent or scary appliqués or graphics.
Leggings for boys were common when I lived in Germany. They even had tights for boys.
I would also like cute cotton sweaters (I'm allergic to wool), cardigans,etc
It bothers me that there isn't much neutral stuff beyond the newborn stage…it's like…yeah, some people are team green initially but once they have the baby they will absolutely dress their kids in 'gender appropriate colours'…I would like to buy some stuff that could work for both boys or girls…I don't mind a bit of pink or purple on a shirt a boy would wear, just not only pink or purple - and vice versa…
But that might just be me…mostly I just want some t-shirts that I could use again if I have a boy. I looked at gymboree and the pickings were slim.
@vicmo do you not find Joe Fresh expensive for baby clothes? I just find their prices for baby stuff aren't nearly as impressive as their prices for adult stuff.
I think boys clothes are cute. My problem w/ my opinionated 5 year old is that ALL he wants to wear is "athletic clothes". Basically anything from the Target c9 collection. If you find a way to get him to wear khaki shorts and one of his MANY cute T's or button down shirts - I'll buy...