This post brought to you by Bealls. All opinions are 100% mine.
I know. There are probably many who don’t. But I am excited that this fall my town’s schools will have official uniforms!
Back to school shopping used to be an exciting, but frustrating time. I would clean out my closet, make a wish list, and then we’d go get a couple new items. Going to school thirty minutes away meant I never knew what was fashionable in my school. I remember every first day of school feeling like I’d somehow gotten the wrong shoe or purse.
I wish fashion trends were not so “obvious.” That if you don’t have the exact right item for that year or season, you wouldn’t feel out of step. As a parent and educator, I know fashion can sometimes trump academics.
Which is one reason I’m glad our town moved to uniforms. I think a well-chosen uniform looks sharp, unifies students, and brings a sense of pride! Our schools are using one vendor, but if your schools have uniforms and an open-vendor policy, check out Bealls for school uniforms that don’t break the bank!
Keeping up with fashionistas can detract from a person’s education and confidence, and it certainly can pull the plug on a family’s budget! Here’s some ideas for how to save a little money this year:
- Downsize – get your kids the styles they want, but in limited quantities. I used to get caught up with having a LOT of clothes. But I wouldn’t wear them all… so I wasted a lot of money. Now I focus on have a selection of GOOD clothes that I love to wear.
- Buy a little now, a little later – get your child one or two outfits/items for that first back to school day. Then a week or two into school, buy the rest of their school wardrobe. This will allow them to check out what their friends are wearing, get ideas, and also give you time to let the fall clothing start to go on sale!
- Mix and match – that striped dress is super cute… but it’ll be obvious if your child wears it again next week. Buying several tops and bottoms lets your kid mix and match without seeming like they are wearing the same clothing every week.
Here’s to fun (and frugal) back to school shopping for you all!
What are your tips or peeves about back to school shopping?
Sarah
Saturday 13th of August 2011
To be honest, I go back and forth on this issue. Ultimately, I come out against school uniforms. Students will still be judged by how they look regardless of wearing uniforms. Peers judge peers by how they look-overweight, underweight, tan, pale, long hair or short hair, tattoos, body piercing, etc. My point is going to uniforms will not cure people from worrying about what the latest fashions are. Plus, I have been to Northern Ireland 10+ times in my life, and I have seen that girls can make uniforms VERY immodest.
I think parents can be influential on their children re. buying the latest fashions by showing and demonstrating that having the latest fashion is not of first importance. My parents bought us 2 brand new school outfits at the beginning of the year; they didn't care if it was in fashion or popular. My mom would first look at thrift stores for our clothes, and I still look there. :)
Sarah
Saturday 13th of August 2011
To be honest, I go back and forth on this issue. Ultimately, I come out against school uniforms. Students will still be judged by how they look regardless of wearing uniforms. Peers judge peers by how they look-overweight, underweight, tan, pale, long hair or short hair, tattoos, body piercing, etc. My point is going to uniforms will not cure people from worrying about what the latest fashions are. Plus, I have been to Northern Ireland 10+ times in my life, and I have seen that girls can make uniforms VERY immodest.
I think parents can be influential on their children re. buying the latest fashions by showing and demonstrating that having the latest fashion is not of first importance. My parents bought us 2 brand new school outfits at the beginning of the year; they didn't care if it was in fashion or popular. My mom would first look at thrift stores for our clothes, and I still look there. :)
Crunchy Beach Mama
Saturday 13th of August 2011
I.hate.school.shopping. I've said this many times lately. My boys do have uniforms and I usually buy them at Old Navy but they are ALWAYS gone in their sizes and colors they need. EVERY YEAR. You'd think they would load up wouldn't you? And they don't get more in either. Very frustrating.
I do like uniforms for the most part though but sometimes it makes me sad when they lots of cute shirts and stuff that don't get worn as often as I wish. I think they should have a few more 'free' days then they do.
Crunchy Beach Mama
Saturday 13th of August 2011
I.hate.school.shopping. I've said this many times lately. My boys do have uniforms and I usually buy them at Old Navy but they are ALWAYS gone in their sizes and colors they need. EVERY YEAR. You'd think they would load up wouldn't you? And they don't get more in either. Very frustrating.
I do like uniforms for the most part though but sometimes it makes me sad when they lots of cute shirts and stuff that don't get worn as often as I wish. I think they should have a few more 'free' days then they do.
Chelly
Saturday 13th of August 2011
I went to a private school as a child and we had uniforms. When we moved to the US, to a school that was public, it was very difficult to fit in because not only did I have a crazy accent, freakishly tall, but I only had 2-3 outfits and well... let's say they were special. Plus I was re-wearing the same outfits multiple times a week, not having the need for so many clothes before.
As traumatic as those years were, I still don't dress to fit in and I'm content not wearing the latest fashions. (Living in a third world country really helped put those kinds of matters into perspective.) If I had fit into the crowd I wouldn't be the woman I am today, everything would be so different.
Even as adults people judged each other based on the way they are dressed and people do make comments to me about me only wearing skirts... even when I workout... but it's what makes me different and what I value... I wouldn't want to be assigned to wear the same outfit as everyone around me :P