Anyone with kids can attest to how quickly they grow, especially when they are very young. Sometimes it seems like you can put your kid to bed on a Thursday night and they’ve sprouted right out of their pajamas by Friday morning.
In these first two-and-a-half years of my child’s life, we have practically had to buy her a new wardrobe with every changing season. Babies and toddlers grow so quickly that it’s often impossible to reuse the previous year’s clothing during the appropriate season of the next year. If we bought all her clothes at full-price, we would quickly go broke!
One well-known way around this problem is to shop the clearance sections at the end of a season, trying to guess what size your child might be when that season rolls around again. This trick may work well as kids get older and their growth rate slows, but it’s a bit of a gamble when they’re younger. Wouldn’t it be great if you could find great prices on kids’ clothes whenever your child needed them, instead of when the stores needed to clear out their merchandise? Wouldn’t it be even better if you had a little money left over to buy something for yourself, as well?
The good news is that there is a way to shop for quality clothing for the whole family at great prices, whenever you happen to be shopping. Today, I’m going to let you in on one of my best-kept secrets and favorite way to shop: online consignment stores. I’ve scoured the Internet for affordable options and included some of my very favorite places to shop for my own family.
- FlipSize – One of my favorite places to shop for kids, FlipSize carries clothing and shoes for boys and girls. You’ll see tons of brands you recognize for as little as $2.00. My last order included everything picture here for only $34, including shipping!
- Thredup – If you’re looking for something with a range of brands and price options, Thredup is for you! Here, you’ll find deep discounts on items from Hanna Anderson, Janie and Jack, Ralph Lauren, and Mini Boden, along with Old Navy, Gymboree, and Limited Too, among many, many others. While you’re there, get yourself something, too! Thredup carries clothing for boys, girls, and women, plus shoes and handbags. They also have specialty sections for Juniors, Maternity, and Plus sizes.
- MoxieJean – MoxieJean prides itself on being “Upscale Resale” and carries name brand and higher-end boys and girls clothing. While not as inexpensive as some other options, prices are still good, and the items are adorable. I love shopping at Moxie Jean when I’m looking for extra cute outfits for special occasions. I also love that you can shop by season, making it super easy to find what you’re looking for quickly.
- Swap.com – A one-stop online consignment shop, Swap.com carries boys and girls clothing and accessories (plus a maternity section for Mom), in addition to toys and games, baby gear, books, décor, movies and music, and sports and outdoor items. If you’re wondering where to do your holiday gift shopping, look no further!
- ThreadFlip – Once you’re done shopping for the kids, don’t forget to update your own wardrobe, as well! ThreadFlip carries a huge selection of clothing, accessories, jewelry, shoes, and bags for women. You can also attend virtual trunk shows, with past shows including Best of Burberry, Kate Spade Favorites, and Fall Fitness. If you want an expert opinion, be sure to also check out the Editors’ Picks for stylish suggestions.
- Twice – This is always my first stop when shopping for myself – it’s definitely one of my favorites. They sell clothing and handbags for women from a range of brand names, all at very reasonable prices. I have bought and sold clothing through Twice, and I have nothing but rave reviews. Twice carries items from some of my favorite stores, like Express, Anthropologie, J.Crew, Banana Republic, The Limited, and Ann Taylor Loft, among others. They also carry designer brands, such as Barneys New York, Calvin Klein, Lacoste, Juicy Couture, Marc Jacobs and Kate Spade. If you’re in the mood for a personal shopping spree but don’t want to break the bank, definitely check it out.
- MotherhoodCloset – If you’re like me and need maternity clothing but don’t want to spend a fortune on clothes you’ll only wear for a few months, be sure to stop here. You’ll find items from Citizens of Humanity, A Pea in the Pod, Gap, Old Navy, Motherhood Maternity, and more. You can shop by size, style, and brand, or check out the “Deals Under $6” section if you don’t mind items with a slight flaw.
- ResaleMaternity – Another great option for pregnant women, Resale Maternity carries maternity clothing, sleepwear, swimwear, and active wear, plus books, accessories, nursing items, and a few designer pieces. Although the selection is a bit smaller, the clothes are cute, and everything is listed for at least half off retail prices.
- Itsy Bitsy Boutique – If you prefer an in-person shopping experience, be sure to stop by Itsy Bitsy Boutique in North Liberty. They’ve got an awesome play area to keep the kids occupied while you get down to business. Plus, you can peruse plenty of Hawkeye gear for chilly football games. They’re now open until 7:00 on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, so you could even swing by on your way home from work.
- Stuff Etc – With locations in Iowa City, Coralville, and Cedar Rapids, there’s bound to be a Stuff Etc near you. They boast a huge inventory of clothing for the whole family, in addition to furniture and housewares. The Coralville location is conveniently located near Costco and the Coral Ridge Mall, which can help you get all your errands taken care of in one trip!
Bonus – I am such a big fan of consignment shopping that I had to throw in a couple more local options. The Midwest Kids Market is a seasonal sale in the Iowa City / Coralville area that only happens twice a year at the Johnson County Fairgrounds. You’ll find clothing ranging from infants through teen sizes, plus toys, books, electronics, sporting goods, maternity clothing, baby gear, and more. The next sale happens SOON – starting tomorrow, October 2nd, and ending Saturday, October 4th. And, of course, any list of resale shops for Iowa City moms would be remiss not to mention Revival for women’s clothing and accessories. Go check them out!
While you’re making room in your closets for all the great deals you’ll find at these stores, don’t forget to sell outgrown or unused clothing to save even more money! Since these are consignment stores, there will be stipulations about the condition and quality of the clothes they will buy from you, but most stores list their criteria fairly prominently and make it easy to send your clothing in. Try it once, and you’ll never look back!
The only major downside to online consignment shopping is that there aren’t currently many affordable options for men. Be sure to let us know in the comments or on our Facebook page if you know of any great resale shops for the men in your lives.
Happy shopping!
Neat post! I also had a “what??” moment, because for some reason I was thinking that this post was Kate’s and I saw the comment about needing maternity clothes and was very surprised! Duh, Lana! 🙂
Hi, I love your tips, I use plus size clothing and also have an Ebay store offering branded Gently used plus size clothing, This is also a good way to save. If you’re interested in looking into my inventory please visit my store, thank you so much for the opportunity: http://www.ebay.com/sch/jaimval/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=
The Savvy Boutique at 320 East Benton Street in Iowa City carries nice women’s clothing. It’s a locally owned consignment store. It’s just off of Gilbert Street next to Jimmy John’s.