Where are MY playclothes?
September 6, 2010 5:42 PM Subscribe
I've been hanging out with first-graders lately, and I'm so jealous of their clothes! They wear things that are super-cute and stylish enough that they wouldn't look at all out of place on an adult, but also made to withstand tumbling around and playing. How does someone who is *just barely* too big for standard kids sizes find clothes like that? (I'm 5' 2" and 115 lbs.)
Most of the cute clothes I have last only a few wearings because I'm too rough-and-tumble for delicate fabrics. And most of the sturdy, practical clothes that last are frumpy and boring "casual wear", or work clothes, or "athletic wear."
Most of the cute clothes I have last only a few wearings because I'm too rough-and-tumble for delicate fabrics. And most of the sturdy, practical clothes that last are frumpy and boring "casual wear", or work clothes, or "athletic wear."
Check out thrift/consignment/secondhand stores.
As with everything else in the world, the construction of kids clothes isn't what it used to be, and since kids grow fast, people are always getting rid of stuff.
posted by box at 5:58 PM on September 6, 2010
As with everything else in the world, the construction of kids clothes isn't what it used to be, and since kids grow fast, people are always getting rid of stuff.
posted by box at 5:58 PM on September 6, 2010
Look for those same rough-and-tumble fabrics in adult clothing (primarily real fibers instead of synthetic blends). Denim comes in lots of colors and lots of styles. Leggings (I'm a big fan of the Hue brand) are also pretty durable, and come in really bright colors and patterns. Do you live near a Levi's store? If so, go in and check out the stuff. I have found that my Levi's pants tend to hold together much better than other pants I have.
posted by phunniemee at 6:03 PM on September 6, 2010
posted by phunniemee at 6:03 PM on September 6, 2010
Learn to sew (or hire someone), and do something magical with the hem? That might cover it if it's really "just barely" too small. Otherwise...there's not too much I can think of (I'm assuming you've shopped around extensively, both at brick-and-mortar stores and online, and have tried things on to see how presentable they were).
posted by tmacdonald at 6:11 PM on September 6, 2010
posted by tmacdonald at 6:11 PM on September 6, 2010
Best answer: Check out Mini Boden and Johnnie B (Boden for girls and preteens, respectively).
For girls, the largest body size is:
13-14Y (G) Height: 64½" Chest: 33" Waist: 26½" Hip: 35½"
Teens are a bit bigger, I think, but all the measurements are listed in metric, so, eh.
A lot of the girls' stuff is too little-girl, but there are some cute skirts, legging-like pants, tops, ad sweaters.
posted by charmcityblues at 6:17 PM on September 6, 2010 [4 favorites]
For girls, the largest body size is:
13-14Y (G) Height: 64½" Chest: 33" Waist: 26½" Hip: 35½"
Teens are a bit bigger, I think, but all the measurements are listed in metric, so, eh.
A lot of the girls' stuff is too little-girl, but there are some cute skirts, legging-like pants, tops, ad sweaters.
posted by charmcityblues at 6:17 PM on September 6, 2010 [4 favorites]
I can't tell if you are asking about the look or the durability or maybe both. Kids' clothing doesn't necessarily last that long--for example, I can't always pass down clothes from my older son to my younger son because it wears out.
I know a lot of mothers of little girls who really like Hanna Anderson, who makes several of the same styles for both kids and their moms. Don't know if you'll like them though.
A lot of parents seem also to like Lands End for its durability. Does their girls' clothing page tend to be what you had in mind? They do make some similar styles for women.
You might also try the juniors' section of any department store, though that stuff won't necessarily last any more than adult clothing. But it might have the look you want.
Even Old Navy tends to have the same looks in both women's and girls' sections.
posted by bluedaisy at 6:19 PM on September 6, 2010
I know a lot of mothers of little girls who really like Hanna Anderson, who makes several of the same styles for both kids and their moms. Don't know if you'll like them though.
A lot of parents seem also to like Lands End for its durability. Does their girls' clothing page tend to be what you had in mind? They do make some similar styles for women.
You might also try the juniors' section of any department store, though that stuff won't necessarily last any more than adult clothing. But it might have the look you want.
Even Old Navy tends to have the same looks in both women's and girls' sections.
posted by bluedaisy at 6:19 PM on September 6, 2010
Seconding Boden. Love their kids' clothes, and I think their adult clothes are more playful than most retailers.
posted by BlahLaLa at 6:26 PM on September 6, 2010
posted by BlahLaLa at 6:26 PM on September 6, 2010
Maybe I'm more outdoorsy than most, but I find that REI often has cute women's clothing that is quite durable and ok to play in, even though it looks cute.
posted by vytae at 6:53 PM on September 6, 2010
posted by vytae at 6:53 PM on September 6, 2010
When I was a thinner lady, Gap Kids was an excellent resource. They size up to, like, XXXL -- which is just the right size for an adult of smaller proportions. I especially liked their floor-length girls' skirts, since they came to just below my knee.
posted by harperpitt at 7:40 PM on September 6, 2010
posted by harperpitt at 7:40 PM on September 6, 2010
Best answer: I'm sure you've thought of this, but: I would try Whole Earth or REI for things like that, though I'm about your size and it can be hard even then to find things that don't swim on me. But I've bought some great, durable clothes that are made to move in at Whole Earth. (Prana pants with the extra room to bend at the knee? AWESOME.)
posted by fiercecupcake at 7:57 PM on September 6, 2010
posted by fiercecupcake at 7:57 PM on September 6, 2010
I'm taller than you are, but I have quite narrow hips and relatively short legs for my height, and I've had good luck with a girls' size 14/16. I'm actually wearing a pair of Mini Boden shorts right now. I also confess that no jeans fit me better than the girls' size 16 slim from abercrombie kids, as much as I despise the brand aesthetic.
The nice thing about GapKids is that a lot of the clothing is indistinguishable in style from that which is available in adult sizes; it doesn't proclaim HELLO I AM AN ADULT WEARING CHILDREN'S CLOTHING!!!1 the way the kids' clothes from some other stores do.
posted by easy, lucky, free at 8:23 PM on September 6, 2010
The nice thing about GapKids is that a lot of the clothing is indistinguishable in style from that which is available in adult sizes; it doesn't proclaim HELLO I AM AN ADULT WEARING CHILDREN'S CLOTHING!!!1 the way the kids' clothes from some other stores do.
posted by easy, lucky, free at 8:23 PM on September 6, 2010
My wife is from Japan, and, living in Canada, she can often find clothes, especially t-shirts, in the boys section of Zellers.
posted by KokuRyu at 8:27 PM on September 6, 2010
posted by KokuRyu at 8:27 PM on September 6, 2010
Have you tried the boys section instead of the girls? There's no way I could fit into little girl clothes but I have a ton of shirts and hoodies from Target's boys section. So cheap too!
posted by evilbeck at 9:02 PM on September 6, 2010
posted by evilbeck at 9:02 PM on September 6, 2010
Best answer: You might find some suggestions in this previous AskMe: Do you have this tunic but 3x larger? It's only through sheer willpower that I didn't max out my credit card after that one.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 11:23 PM on September 6, 2010
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 11:23 PM on September 6, 2010
Best answer: Many people in the UK bought up the Stella McCartney GapKids selection, and when I was a teenager (and much taller than you) I did own a smock from there. (One year they had a lovely striped jumper in just the right shade of green, but only in the kid's collection. GRRR.)
Try places that do both women's and kids clothing - Boden (their adult sizes are very generous), Joules, or (I think they ship to the US) even Monsoon if their clothes go up that far. I know there are women who buy things from Le Petit Bateau, but as I'm way too busty for anything that's designed for teens I can't tell you what they're like. Try posting on Mumsnet.com or the US equivalent, if there is one.
Is it a kid-style aesthetic you're after or more things that are built to withstand a lot of wear?
posted by mippy at 5:45 AM on September 7, 2010
Try places that do both women's and kids clothing - Boden (their adult sizes are very generous), Joules, or (I think they ship to the US) even Monsoon if their clothes go up that far. I know there are women who buy things from Le Petit Bateau, but as I'm way too busty for anything that's designed for teens I can't tell you what they're like. Try posting on Mumsnet.com or the US equivalent, if there is one.
Is it a kid-style aesthetic you're after or more things that are built to withstand a lot of wear?
posted by mippy at 5:45 AM on September 7, 2010
Target kid sizes are quite large - I'm 5'5" and around 120, and I fit into a L or XL easily. I'm sure they would fit you. I'm not sure how durable they are, but they're very cheap.
posted by insectosaurus at 8:10 AM on September 7, 2010
posted by insectosaurus at 8:10 AM on September 7, 2010
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posted by Quietgal at 5:54 PM on September 6, 2010