Figure 1.--

Buying school clothes hecame a late summer ritual. The clothes chosen in the 19th and early 20th century were servceable long-wearing items. Boys at the time did not think about clothes as modern boys do. Poor children that had to wear overalls, however, were embarassed at this symbol of poverty. The popularity of designer clothes has made this a very costly undetaking by the 1970s. For the childdren the clothes they wear to school has become very important. Women's magzines are full of advise to mothers on how to limit expenses.

Ritual

Buying school clothes hecame a late summer ritual.

Practical Clothes

The clothes chosen in the 19th and early 20th century were servceable long-wearing, practical items. Boys at the time did not think about clothes as modern boys do. Poor children that had to wear overalls, however, were embarassed at this symbol of poverty.

Designer Clothes

The prosperity of post-war America changed the way American children began looking at their school clothes. The popularity of designer clothes has made this a very costly undetaking by the 1970s. For the childdren the clothes they wear to school has become very important.

Advice

Women's magzines are full of advise to mothers on how to limit expenses.

One fashion editor provided the following advise to mothers:

Before taking off for the mall, the thrifty mother should taken an inventory of the child’s clothes. Determine what the child already has that will do for the coming year. Remember that you can not just assume that everything still fits and how well it fits. It may prove useful to actually write down what you have and te colors. Putting it on a sheet of paper will help with the planning as you can see what is missing.

# 1 - Some clothes may still fit but need a new look? This may be more applicable to girls than boys, but boys in recent years have become very style concscous also.

# 2 - Pass along the items that are too small or that the child never wears. You can give these away or use for younger siblings.

# 3 - Make a list of clothing that can be worn, but need new items to help complete a set. Of course you won't to involve the children in such matters. You must determine not only what is needed, but what is wanted. This is of course critical with teenagers who no doubt will have $100 designer jeans and sneakers on his or her list.

# 4 - A budget much be set for each child. This of course means not how much you want to spend but many families must determine how much they can afford to spend on eacheach child.

# 5 - Some moms can make some clothes themselves. Summer fabric is often on sale during the fall and the heavier, cold weather fabric is on sale during the spring.

# 6 - Check out garage sales, thrifts shops, and consignment stores.

# 7 - Ask other parents, relatives and friends and exchange "hand-me-downs".

# 8 - Some items you want to buy new (socks and underwear), but you can easily but at discount stores or factory outlets. Shop around though as discount stores do not always have the bet prices.

# 9 - A good tip is to use fabric paints on stained clothes or to decorate plain T-shirts. Appliqués and badges will also give interestng new looks to ols "T"'s and jeans.

# 10 - Girls clothes are most amenable to alteratiins. Buttons can changehow a blouse looks. On girl’s jeans or pants that are getting shorter, sew on a lace trim at the bottom for an additional length. Check your local department store or dollar store and see what other 'cute and in' thing you can sew on your child's clothes.

Created: September 2, 2001
Last updated: September 2, 2001