Used Clothes?

ExpatPumpkin · November 2009

I was talking to my DH and MIL the other day about kids' clothes and how they grow so fast, etc. (The topic came up because BIL and his wife took their 4-year-old twins to the States for clothes shopping...) Anyway, I was telling them about the used kids' clothes stores in the States and how I intended to buy our future kids some of their clothes there. [i]Some, not all

[/i] Well, both DH and MIL kind of recoiled in horror at the idea. I don't know if it's a cultural thing - I've never seen used clothes stores in the nice neighborhoods in Mexico - but I don't think it's a big deal. I mean, they grow so fast - why wouldn't I want to buy [i]some[/i] of their clothes for cheap? So, how do you feel about used clothes? Be honest

RachNRich · November 2009

I love the idea of used clothes. Just wash, and wear. FI--on the other hand, would have the reaction your H and MIL had. I really do think it is a cultural/way one was raised sort of thing.

venus554 · November 2009

I have no problems with it. Hell, I wear thrift store finds myself, so my kids definitely will. That, and hand-me-downs.

sucrets4 · November 2009

I'm fine with hand-me-downs from someone I know, but I'd rather buy cheapass stuff from WalMart.

RachNRich · November 2009

Hey--Venus (sorry to thread jack expat)--does your SN have anything to do with the band Red Wanting Blue?

Nik1202 · November 2009

I shop at Salvation Army all the time... There are always tons of clothes there that are barely worn.

tidetravel · November 2009

My MIL had the same reaction when I got baby stuff off craigslist for free (stroller, pack and play, etc). And then she saw that everything was in great condition and was like, "that's a great deal."As far as the clothes, most of them are in fine condition and a lot of them aren't even used because the kids grow so fast. As long as there's no huge stains or holes, I don't see the problem.

Mrs.B6302007 · November 2009

If they've been well taken care of, why not?

brookelynpaisley · November 2009

What Sucrets said

BecW2be · November 2009

over 1/2 my clothes are vintage and used. I love them. My kids get new clothes most of the time, but I've bought jeans for both of them at thrift stores. They grow so fast it's impossible to wear jeans out most of the time. One problem I have is an addiction to having things altered. My mom is a seamstress, and I never buy something and wear it as is. She takes things up in flattering places, and almost everything I own is custom fit to my body. I love that! I'm not sure what I'll do when she doesn't sew anymore. I need to really learn how to do it myself.

skiingstark · November 2009

I feel fine about it, hell my dress was used :P Now when I shop used cloths I am picky and get only newish stylish stuff. So when I got shopping at one I tend to only buy one thing. But you can find great deals and kids grow so fast. Also I believe in doing lots of things to help save the environment and reusing is a big part of that. But depending on what group of friends I am with I will not advertise it cause some can get a little snooty about things like this.

fangsiting · November 2009

Second hand is definitely the way to go with kids. It is not a conversation I've had with FI, but considering he hates shopping for clothes, I doubt he'll go out on his own and shop for new clothes if he doesn't like what I buy.

[Deleted User] · November 2009

As long as they are in good condition, I am fine with it. Although, I've found that sometimes you can find new clothes cheaper at Walmart. For instance, Ben's winter coat from Walmart was $13. It's one of those thick, puffy jackets. You can't beat that.

thesportsgal21 · November 2009

Yes, love the idea of used kids clothes, especially play clothes! Why buy a $40 outfit from baby gap that they will just spill grape juice on and grow out of in 2 months. My friend buys almost all of her daughter's clothes from Once Upon a Child, and all the new outfits are gifts from family.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown · November 2009

Every single piece of clothing when my brother and I were really little (like before age 2-3) was either a gift from someone, made by our mother (who is a very good seamstress - she now has a side business doing historic costumes and used to do theater costumes and alterations), or was bought at a garage sale. Like, 2 shirts for $1. My mom also shares that view. Babies don't care what they wear, but I must say, I stilled looked very cute! Most things get worn 2-3 times before the baby grows out of them, so the clothes are like new. And they're clean. And you can even wash them again when you take them home!

RachNRich · November 2009

My favorite thing to do in high school was to go to Goodwill and get shirts that had other people's names on the back. It was fun being "Katie" for a day. Rach gets boring.

september's bride · November 2009

I'm not all that opposed to it, really. There are so many of those mom-to-mom sales here, and so many of the women I work with swear by them. I guess the way that I see it, the clothes don't get worn very much, or for very long, so things like jeans, sweaters, etc. that are pretty hardy are still going to be of good use to another mom out there.

venus554 · November 2009

Rach - nah, just a SN I got in the old AOL days. Now I use it wherever I go out of shear laziness.

SarahPLiz · November 2009

I go to the kid's thrift stores with my friend and she usually finds a good bit of stuff for her little boy with the tags still on it. She buys most of his shoes there because he just gets them all dirty anyway and then grows out of them. When my godchild was going to be ringbearer for his uncle, his mom couldnt fathom renting tux shoes for a 2-year old, but I found some at a thrift store in good condition for $3 and mailed them to her. There is nothing wrong with second, or third hand clothing.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown · November 2009

I'm not sure what I'll do when she doesn't sew anymore. I need to really learn how to do it myself.Um, yeah, is it bad that I've also thought how disappointed I'll be to not have someone to mend my clothes when my mom passes away/becomes incapacitated?

RachNRich · November 2009

venus--there's a song called Venus 55...it's worth a listen.

mocha beans · November 2009

I have no problem buying used clothes, though I generally will only buy used stuff if it's something higher end. It's probably better taken care of and better made, hopefully. Cheaper for me, and perfectly fine.

smokeybailey · November 2009

My mom hated that I used to go thrift stores when I was a kid. She was afraid that someone would think that she wasn't taking care of us or that we were poor. That was why I couldn't wear clothes with holes in them. God forbid people would know that we were poor. All of our clothes came straight out of the Sears catalog. Sometimes JC Penney's but always a big catalog. Most of the 2nd hand stores around here are not nice though and they smell funny. The "higher end" thrift shops are not any cheaper than Target or anything.

Gwenosaurus · November 2009

Many of my clothes were used as a kid, though they were mostly hand me downs.Rach, that was the thing to do at my high school, though more with random phrases than other people's names. I used to have a shirt that said "I'm a big brother" on it. Even though I am most certainly not.

CrissyH · November 2009

Consignment stores are great. They only accept clothing in good/great condition. So you are buying practically new items (sometimes new with tags) and you can also sell your babies items once they grow out of them. (or the stuff that your baby never wears because they grew so fast!) I have bought and sold through consignment shops. And even though you don't really make that much money on the things you sell (usually you get about 50% of whatever they price it at) at least you are getting something and the clothes aren't just sitting in your closet. The consignment shops around here also sell maternity clothes. This is great...because you don't want to spend a ton of money on clothes that you only wear temporarily.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown · November 2009

I stilled looked very cute!Who the hell am I, Italy Thomas? I havne't even had a drink yet.

ThePinkSuperhero · November 2009

I love used clothes. My mother taught us all to be good thrift store shoppers, and we wore all sorts of hand-me-downs from our friends. I still thrift store shop on occasion, and my kids will definitely wear used clothes.

temerityjane · November 2009

I wear used clothes a lot, myself, from Goodwill or consignment stores or anywhere I happen to see something I like. I also have an almost pathological aversion to paying full price for anything, as those who are privy to my Facebook receipt photos know.As far as kids clothes - in my family, they mostly get passed around between friends and relatives instead of bought, but it's the same thing.I know that when someone I know has a baby, I cannot STOP MYSELF from buying an adorable outfit. The kid in question ends up with 6000 adorable outfits. You put the kid in the outfit when you're going to see the person who bought it, and the next time they see the kid, it's already been outgrown. Kids get SO MANY outfits and grow SO FAST that they really only get to wear them once.I can understand the aversion to used clothes, kind of, but as far as infant/toddler clothes go, there's a lot of very nearly new stuff being passed around and I don't see why anyone should pay full price when a simple washing makes everything ready to go.Um... I hate paying full price when I have an alternative. It's pathological, like I said.

louisvillebride21 · November 2009

I guess I'm going to be a cheap new mom. The only new stuff we plan on buying is a crib and changing table pad. Everything else will be put on the registry. What doesn't get bought on the registry will be bought second hand. I just can't see buying all that stuff when they are used for such little time. As long as it's in good shape, I don't see why not.

MeaghanandMichael · November 2009

I think that there are used cloths stores and then there are stores that carry only certain brands with no stains on them and stuff like that. I wouldn't put my kid in just anything, but a good condition navy blue polo looks the same as new in a lot of consignment stores.

squirrly · November 2009

The town I grew up in didn't have a thrift store or consignment shop until I was 14 or 15, and then it was only for baby clothes, so I never shopped there. And, still haven't. I have donated to Goodwill many times, though, because that's what mom always did with stuff once my little sister had outgrown it. I don't object to consignment shopping, or nice shops like Once Upon A Child - it's just not something I think about yet. Once we have kids, that may change.

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