How to Buy Girls' Clothes

By Nicholas Pell

Girls go through clothes fast, especially during those active pre-teen years. It is important to buy girls' clothes that look good and that will last for a while. These tips will help you pick the right clothing for your daughter and for you.

Buying Girls' Clothes

When buying clothes for your daughter, granddaughter or another girl in your life, it is important to do a little planning in advance.

Needs and Wants

The first task is to take an inventory of what kinds of clothes your child already owns. Make a list of all of her clothing. Maybe she needs more socks, a new pair of shoes, a shirt or a special dress. You want to find out if there are particular kinds of clothing missing from her wardrobe or if she has outgrown something. The inventory should include everything, from her nightgowns to her school clothes to any nice outfits she might have for special occasions.

Next, ask her what she wants. She may know which girls' clothes she needs better than you do. She will know which clothes are worn out and which are too tight. She will also have a sense of what is available from having seen clothing on other girls. She will be able to help fill up the list of needed clothing.

Be sure to first buy what your daughter needs, as opposed to what you or she wants. You want to have all the underwear, socks and daily clothes in hand before focusing on a pretty dress or jumper. Keep the basics of her wardrobe in mind, and once you have those items bought, move on to the extras.

Shopping

Soon it will be time to go shopping. It is best to take your child with you when you are buying girls' clothing. She can tell you what she likes in terms of style and color, and you will be able to influence her decisions when it comes to buying clothes she needs but does not necessarily want. Also, it will be much easier to make sure the chosen clothing fits her if she is present when you're shopping.

It is never a bad idea to go shopping for girls' clothing with other parents. Whether you go with dads or moms or both, you will find it very helpful to compare experiences regarding styles of girls' clothing, as well as clothing brands. Also, other parents are likely to know of girls' clothing shops and retailers you're not aware of, and you will likely know of some girls' clothing sources they don't know.

Caution

Buy durable girls' clothes for school days. Whether your daughter is in pre-school, kindergarten or elementary school, you want the clothes to last through a year. So, buy clothing that can survive active days and many washes.

Where to Shop

Shop at one of these reliable online retailers for the latest in girls' clothes:

Gymboree dresses girls aged 3 to 12 in cute fashions. Shop collections and categories.
Fashion Kids will set you up with pajamas, playwear and dresses. Even find swimwear.
Old Navy has inexpensive and fashionable clothing for the whole family, including young girls.
Gap Kids is a place to find quintessential examples of "preppy" clothes for boys and girls.
You can buy just about anything at your local Target, including clothes for girls.

Outfitting Girls

While buying clothes for children is never easy, you can make shopping for the girls in your life easier with a little budgeting and planning. By taking inventory of what she needs, budgeting what you can spend, setting clear limits on what you will and won't buy and bringing her along with you to make sure that everything fits properly, you can make the operation of buying clothes for your daughter or other girl in your life much easier.