OK, so here’s a topic that I am obsessed with: Baby clothes.  Although I shouldn’t just say ‘baby clothes’ because I really do love all children’s clothes.  I could walk around the kids clothing department for hours, but people would think I’m weird, so I don’t do that so much. There are basically three price levels for children’s clothing; low, medium and high.  In my opinion, I would probably throw Target and Kohl’s into the ‘low’ price level.  In the ‘medium’ price level I would probably go with Baby Gap, Children’s Place, Gymboree, and stores of that nature.  Then we have the ‘high’ price stores.  I would classify boutique clothing in this ‘high’ price category.  For example, here on Long Island, a popular children’s boutique is Denny’s.  Denny’s carries brand name clothing such as Ooh LaLa Couture, Haute Baby and Pickle Juice just to name a few. 

I don’t yet have kids, although that’s probably pretty flippin’ obvious for those of you reading this blog, isn’t it.  But I can say that when I do have kids, I’m pretty sure I’m going to want them dressed as cute as is humanly possible.    I can say with a lot of certainty that I will be shopping at Target, Kohl’s, and Old Navy for my children’s clothes, because they are affordable, and since they will grow out of them in oooohhh I don’t know, say 3 wears…I’ll be damned if I’m going to pay $200 for a dress for my little girl. 

That being said, the clothes you find at these adorable little boutiques are to die for!  I mean, so unbelievably precious, and they are usually of much better quality.  So, would I like to dress my children in these clothes?  Sure!  IF I could buy them much cheaper.  So I searched around on ebay.  I found that you can find all the high end, name brand, boutique- style clothing that you would spend top dollar for in the stores, but for a fraction of the price.  There’s just one catch….They’re used.  Or as I like to say, “gently worn”. 

Now, I’m all for kids clothing hand-me downs from family and friends, given they are in good shape; no stains or tears.  And even though they come from family and friends, I’m sure I would wash everything anyway, just because I’m anal and that’s how I roll. 

So here’s a question for all my awesome bloggy friends:

Do you think it’s weird to buy “gently worn” designer children’s clothes from people you do not know?  Would you and/ or do you buy “gently worn” clothing?  If it’s in great shape and you’re going to wash it anyway, why wouldn’t you spend the same money you would spend on clothes at Target or Old Navy, but on brand name high quality clothes?  I think it would be kind of silly not to, no? 

You see, I’ve discussed this with a bunch of my girlfriends and we have a little debate going on.  So please do me a favor and contribute to this post.  Leave your thoughts on the subject for me to dive in and wade through.  I’m extremely interested in hearing your opinions and /or experiences.  Has anyone ever bought “gently used” clothing from a yard sale or ebay or any other similar method?

I’m looking forward to reading your responses!

As I mentioned a few days ago, my husband’s Holiday Party is this Tuesday.  Every year for the past few years the company has hosted the event at Delmonico’s Steakhouse (Downtown, Manhattan); the food is just incredible, and the décor exquisite.  It’s always a nice time and I enjoy the night out to let loose in the city.  Besides, red wine always tastes better when it’s sipped out of a glass at an expensive restaurant.

Being the typical female that I am, I have nothing to wear, and of course I have waited until the 11th hour to try and find something and then stress out because, “What if I don’t find anything?”  So my husband tells me to put my game face on and pull my attitude together, because we’re going shopping.  I have to say when it comes to shopping and style, my husband is way better at it then me.  He works in the city and rides the rain every day so he sees what’s out there.  Don’t get me wrong, I love fashion…I’m just not very good at it.  Today, I tell myself I will be open to trying anything on and I will find something immediately…trying to pump myself up a bit here. 

After hitting the first 3 stores I frequent and turning up nothing, we try our luck in Bloomingdales.  I ventured around all throughout the store and spotted it…a simple dark gray jumper dress!  My goal all along was to get a simple tunic style dress and pair it with tights and black knee boots.  I grab the one dress in my size, journey to the fitting room, and voila!  THAT SIMPLE!  Never is it that simple.  I have to say my husband was rather impressed.  After all, I did it all by myself!  Now I just have to grab a simple black ruched turtleneck to go under the dress and I’ll be set with covering my bod.

Then we move onto look for black boots.  We stop in Steve Madden and I find the perfect pair immediately.  I take it to the counter and ask to try my size…a petite size 10.  Usually it is impossible for me to find shoes in a size 10, they only carry smaller styles.  But not today.  Today is the day that they only have a size 10, and it’s the boot on display!  It must be my lucky day.

I carry my size 10’s over to the bench and sit to try them on when my husband says, “I think the zipper goes on the inside.”  Blowing his comments off, I put them on and zip them up- up the outside.  Now I know I’ve lost some weight over the past few months, but could it be that a size 10 is now too big for my foot?  My husband tells me “walk around the store a bit, see how they feel”, and I do.  Something is awry and I just can’t put my finger on it, but I just feel like they are very loose around my ankles.  I keep telling him, “Eric, I feel like I’m very wobbly, I don’t think this will be good for my ankles.”  Now I’m bothered because I love them and this is the only pair they have!  Everything looks like they fit perfect, they just don’t feel right.  My husband says again, “I’m pretty sure the zippers go on the inside.”   “No, this is just how these boots are, jeez!” I tell him.  I continue to walk around the store and look in the mirror and I just don’t get it.  After the 3rd time of my husband telling me that he thinks I have them on the wrong feet, I decide to give it a whirl and try switching them; let me just appease him.   I sit, take them off, switch them, and you can probably guess the rest…they fit like a glove.  Ask me why my stubborn ass didn’t listen to him in the first place.  Once again he has proved his fashion genius.  So you wanna see?

Of course after coming home, I checked to see if I could’ve found the same things elsewhere for less money.  Amazon.com has a dress extremely similar to the one I purchased at Bloomingdales, and it’s 75% cheaper!  The boots can be found on Amazon as well, for about $30 cheaper.