One of the most common questions on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter when we share a photo isn’t “what paint color is that?” or “who makes that lamp?” — it’s “where did you get that shirt/dress/skirt?” People aren’t asking about me (or John) — they’re asking about Clara. After a steady stream of messages asking how we find deals and save money on kids’ clothes, and where we shop for her outfits, I finally put together a rundown of what we’ve learned. Thanks to the many Instagram photos we’ve posted, I had plenty of images to reference as I wrote.
It might feel a little odd to analyze a toddler’s wardrobe so closely — she’s two, after all — but over the past two years we’ve picked up a handful of strategies that have saved us time and money. There are things we wish we’d known earlier, so I hope some of these tips help someone else. Here’s the story of Clara’s clothes, as told by our Instagram feed.
Most of Clara’s clothes come from four main sources:
- Hand-me-downs from her cousin or neighborhood kids
- Old Navy (usually clearance or with a coupon)
- Target (almost always clearance)
- H&M (especially for cute summer dresses)
She also gets gifts and occasional store gift cards — the Gap is a favorite when someone gives us a present. We stop into other stores now and then, like the Carter’s Outlet near John’s parents’ beach house, but the majority of her wardrobe comes from the four places above. The dress in the first photo, for example, came from Target’s clearance rack and was a birthday gift from John’s sister. It was around $6 and is a size 2T, which should last at least a year. Dresses tend to be great value for us: one piece equals a full outfit, so they often give more bang for the buck than buying separate tops and bottoms.
H&M dresses are another staple. One we bought for about $12 felt pricey at first, but Clara wore it at least once a week all summer. By the end of the season the cost per wear will be very low, and if we can pass it on as a hand-me-down the value increases even more.
Clara is not a one-outfit-per-day socialite; she wears favorites repeatedly. You might spot her petting goats in the same dress you later see her wearing while playing with dolls. One outfit example is a Gap clearance skirt paired with an Old Navy white top — total cost around $7. Our usual pairing formula is: a colorful, playful top with basic jeggings or dark jeans, or a bright skirt or colored jeans with a simple top. That balance keeps outfits fun without being over-the-top, and it makes pulling looks together quick and easy. It’s a practical “Clara clothing formula” that saves time and avoids buying items that don’t mix well with the rest of her wardrobe.
An outfit I love pairs a printed tee (we found a similar one at a J Crew Outlet) with a soft pink ruffled skirt that was a hand-me-down. Add a temporary tattoo and it’s playful and sweet. Another favorite top came from Old Navy for about $8: blousy, flowy, with scalloped trim and bright flowers. We pair it with jeggings or jeans, which means we don’t need to hunt for perfectly matching bottoms.
Patterned bottoms with a simple top are another go-to. On a Memorial Day stop at the Carter Outlets we found a two-piece set for under $10 total, and Clara has worn it numerous times since. Overall, she usually has about 10–12 “good outfits” in heavy rotation. We do laundry once a week and keep a few messy outfits for paint or muddy play, so that number works well without needing a huge closet. Because she typically wears one outfit all day, we aim for quality and cohesion rather than sheer quantity.
Early on we bought lots of sale tees and extras, but we learned that buying a smaller selection of pieces we love is more useful. Before purchasing something, I ask: will this go in the “favorite outfits” drawer, or will it end up forgotten in a middle drawer of mismatched sale finds? That question helps curb impulse buys and keeps her wardrobe practical.
Another tip: ignore the size on the label when deciding if an item should still be used. We have a skirt labeled 12 months that still fits Clara comfortably — it’s a bit short but has built-in bloomers, so she wears it. That small “bonus year” of wear saves us a purchase. Conversely, if something is too large, get creative so your child can wear it now — for example, we adjusted a $8 Target dress by repositioning a strap so it fit better now and will hopefully still fit next year.
Clara has a favorite pair of shoes — pink Crocs — and recognizing that saved us money. We used to buy many pairs she never wore because she preferred the Crocs. Now we accept that those are her go-to shoes and pair them with most outfits, which simplifies decisions and avoids wasted purchases.
Our comfort/cute price sweet spot is around $6–$12 per outfit. Knowing the stores and how sizes run for Clara helps too — for example, 3T jeans and PJs at Old Navy often fit her best, while many dresses in 2T work well. That knowledge prevents buying the wrong sizes and needing to replace items too quickly.
Clara loves coming shopping with us; she especially gets excited about the child mannequins at Old Navy. Some of my favorite snapshots include hand-me-downs paired with John’s checked shirts — the little details, like her pink Crocs, help emphasize her personality and make outfits feel intentional. She actually tells people her favorite colors are “pink and yellow,” so those shades make frequent appearances.
That’s our Clara clothing rundown. Hopefully this practical breakdown of where we shop, how we pair pieces, and how we approach sizes and favorites is helpful. What are your favorite kids’ clothing stores? Any money-saving strategies or a magic number of go-to outfits that works for your family?