Whether you find yourself with the bunch of practically new clothes your kid had outgrown in a nanosecond or wondering where to get clothes for the next couple of weeks when your boy is on a growth spurt, loobalee.com is your Wonderland!
Imagine the mini E-bay for kids' clothes only but without outrageous ever growing insertion and final sale fees! Moms, boutiques, stores, manufacturers with overstock… as long as you have kids' clothes you are welcome to hang out here selling and buying.
On LoobaLee.com, you can list an unlimited number of kids' clothing items for sale for one low, flat-rate fee. Selling fees are based on a very simple subscription approach: list as many items as you want for just $2.50 - $3.99 per month. There are absolutely no additional charges! You won't find any end of sale commissions, insertion fees, re-listing fees, add-ons, or premiums here!
As seasoned E-Bayer left with a measly amount courtesy of E-Bay and PayPal's careful trimming and clipping that kept me wondering whether it was worth all the trouble I can tell you this is a REAL DEAL!
Shopping is also easy on LoobaLee.com and if you join as a Member you get even more love:
• A 3 Hour Cart "Hold" (vs. 30 minutes for guests)
• A Watch List
• Option to Save Favorite Searches & Favorite Sellers
• On-line tracking & management of all purchases
I always look for solutions online when I am stuck with a challenge on my hands. I was looking for alternative to E-Bay when I didn't manage to sell anything but still had to pay insertion fees not to mention the time I spent describing and posting my items. This is how I came across this site and I am positive it's worth sharing it with you, my dear fellow budget stylistas. Try this online marketplace and share with us your experience.
Another online venue designed to solve the problem of unused and unwanted clothes is ThredUp.com which allows you to trade in the items in your closet that you just don't wear anymore for something that catches your eye from someone else's virtual closet. Like a giant online thrift store, you post the items you want to trade (or sell), and ThredUp will send you suggestions from other members on items you might like. If it's a fit, just send away your clothes in a pre-paid envelope, and get your new items in a few days.
The only catch is that you must use prepaid ThredUp envelopes ($25 for three) to send in your old clothes. The site doesn't use pictures and you don't know exactly what you'll be getting; it's more like a clothing lottery, which might sound like a whole lot of fun but raises some questions. You don't get to choose your items; basically you are going to end up with some mystery stuff minus 25 bucks. Now they've announced upcoming launch of ThredUp Kids, which will let you swap gently, almost new or brand new kids clothes with other parents. We've been all waiting for the efficient, affordably and mutually beneficial solution for our kids' unused clothes (unless you have lines of relatives waiting for your hand dawns, like I do) but I personally don't see this site rising to the occasion. Well, we shall wait and see, sticking to Ebay or LoobaLee in a meantime.
Good morning, my fellow budget stylistas. The only thing better than a
wonderful weather is the jeans sale at 77kids. Now, listen to that...
ALL jeans are $14.50 down from $34.50! Sweet! And to make the deal even
sweeter,they threw in a free shipping if you buy 2 or more pairs! Hurry
up! They are flying off the shelves.
The stores are on fire! The inventories need to be moved to make room for Spring Collection; the shareholders need to be pleased with sales and profit figures; the customers need to get motivated. Gymboree is one of the Titans that hold the children's clothing world on their mighty shoulders, so it definitely deserves our undivided attention. Let's dig through the virtual sales racks:
You know I am a sucker for the sailor chic. This Compass Stripe Double Sleeve Tee looks like it's been touched by the gentle, fragrant Mediterranean breeze. Pair it with white jeans or shorts and sneaker slip-ons for the effortless "strolling down the marina" chic. $12.99
Continuing the sea theme these Ship tees take less relaxed approach stating firmly that this little man is indeed needs to be taken seriously. Get short sleeve or double sleeve version for your little buccaneer. $11.49 - $12.99
Very cool Stripe Dress Shirt. You dress it down, you can dress it up. Pair it with the edgy grey skinny jeans from HTG81 or groovy orange jeans from GAP, throw on laid back cardigan and finish it off with combat or cowboy boots. The boho look is ready! $14.99
Buffalo Plaid Shirt. Plaid is totally rad. Plaid would never go out of style, especially this scruffy chic one. Muted color palette ensures the versatility. $14.99
Well, you do need classic pants in your boy's closet. These dandy Grey Herringbone Pants have very distinctive English gentleman's flair. Pair with just about anything if you are tired of a classic look; Pair with classic striped shirt above to satisfy the strictest MIL in this hemisphere with an eagle eye for imperfections. $17.99
Pirate Bee Rubber Boots! The Solemn nature of pirate business just got some cheerful black and yellow stripy edge. Puddles, be very afraid! $23.49
Cowboy Boots. The Man is not complete without this eternal symbol of manhood and uncrushable frontier spirit. The boy will look so adorable he would light up a storm of smiles, when you send him out tucking his jeans into these cool take on a cowboy staple. Please, avoid a gleeful overdose of Western gear, like plaid shirt, vest on so on. This is too costumy, as Tim Gunn would point out.
$19.99
How adorable, sweet, cute and … dangerous! Carrrrramba! Pirate Stripe Hat. Keep warm in style.
$11.49
All right, all right… It's a Gymboree Sales review, but this groovy plaid shirt with easy roll-up and down sleeves is so decisively cool, I had to include it here. $17.99
Don't forget to check out GAP's Spring Collection, which I will be reviewing shortly. There are some awesome pieces begging to be included in the stylish dude's wardrobe. In a meantime you can use introductory 25% discount on GAP's new collection entering code GAP25 at online checkout. Good luck!
Forever21 did it again! GAP, Gymboree, Crazy 8, H&M etc. be very, very afraid! The cheap chic- runway knock off empire with a lightning speed turnover had realized the might of the kids clothing market. According to company's statement HTG 81 is "all about comfort with casual-cool edge and with a full assortment of apparel at the same affordable prices." So the BOYS and GIRLS ages 6 to 14 will soon be set to make their own style statements. With almost all clothes produced in LA, expect cool Cali laid back styles, hip knit and outerwear and really awesome jeans. I could have been more excited if they included younger kids, but I guess I will have to wait...
Now the collection is really cool, especially jeans. Well, hardly a surprise with LA's mighty jeans manufacturing industry, which fights for Forever21 orders. So, let's start with jeans:
The prices range from $18.90 to $21.90, which is not bad considering cool washes, whiskers, skinny fit, contrasting seams, textured construction and colors! Oh, hunter green skinny jeans make weep with fruitless desire! I need size 4! Two more years:) Pay attention to grey skater skinny jeans (very hip), skinny contrast jeans (awesome!), acid washed distressed skinnies (fabulous!) and original fit relaxed jeans in case you are tired of making statements.
Tees Selection: Help yourself at this tee buffet. You couldn't expect less from Cali designers. Cool graphics for any taste. Prices range from $11.90 to $13.90. More than reasonable! My personal favorites: Fearless Crewneck Tee (futuristic beetle), Exclamation Tie Tee (conversation starter), Cali State Flag Tee (sorry, can't help it), Racecar Driver Tee (cool graphics plus red and black color combo is a MUST!) and Mixed Shades Tee (a Winner!).
Knit tops and sweaters have a very distinctive European flair, kind of strolling down Nice Promenade, sailor chic. Prices range from $12.90 to $15.90 and $25.90 for 2-piece ensemble. You can never have too many striped tops in your boy's closet. Check out Basic Striped Tee (sailor tee in a variety of colors), Striped Knit Tee (Love the mixed pattern: solid white and stripes), Striped Ease Knit Top (long sleeves sailor tee) and American Trad Cardigan (duo colored placket trim).
Sweaters do not disappoint either. Hip and laid –back take on preppy chic. Prices range from $16.90 to $24.90. Your heart would start beating harder just imagining your little hunk wearing these effortlessly cool cardies. Striped Sweater Cardigan (sailor shirt gone knit), Varsity Stripe Cardigan (elegant in its simplicity), Preppy Zip Up Cardigan (absolutely fabulous, very Manhattan-ish), Chest Patch Cardigan and Preppy Argyle Cardigan are the witty attack on the bastions of Preppiness. Please, restrain yourself from Preppiness overload! Pair these sleek cardigans with hip skinny jeans to create the slightly ironic vibe of effortless coolness.
Good selection of casual and dressy woven shirts with ties. Price range: $17.90- $18.90.
Very Californian Outerwear collection has an unmistakably 80-s vibe. Vivid colors, shiny polyester, bright windbreakers. There is a lot to choose from: Zip Up Stripes Jacket (shiny purple, slanted stripes, modern take on 80-s 100% polyester), bright windbreakers, Urban Snap Jacket (Hello, 80-s Must Have Members Only jacket!), Zip Me Up jacket (very hip!), Zip Hood Denim Jacket (removable hood, nostalgic 80-s acid wash), Reversible Bright Nylon Jacket (well, very bright), California Rulers Jacket (mustard yellow is so cool), Rugby Zip Up Jacket (contrasting stripes, reserved dark color), Classic 2-Button Blazer (very versatile, endless possibilities! I can totally see this blazer hijacked by older sis to create boyfriend's jacket looks), Plaid Woven Vest (resolutely gorgeous! Must have!)
Well, bravo HTG81! The collection certainly looks cool and hip, lots of wardrobe staples, very reasonable prices. My only concern is quality of course. The quality always tends to be sacrificed to keep the prices in a low bracket. Forever21 is notorious for their deconstructing in two weeks clothes. So, I hope HTG81 clothes feel as good as they look and will hold for at least one season.
Any style conscious person would tell you that “shoes will make or break your outfit”. Accessorize with impeccable shoes and the entire outfit will come to life. Why should it be any different when it comes to your adorable little man’s shoes?
Cool pair of shoes is the glue that holds the outfit together, it’s a spark that lights it up, and it’s a magnet that pulls people from across the street and throws them at you with a cry: “How cute! Where did you get those?” Those are the confidence building blocks, please don’t call me vain.
2.Growing feet need the best support they can get. Usually, the cheap stuff is short on quality and support, but not all the cheap stuff is bad. Crazy 8 and Children's Place slip-on sneakersare great steals at $8 to $16, and they worth every cent spent. These are the thrifty way to add some colorful and funky variety to your boy’s shoe stable.
3.There are plenty of cool and affordable shoes & boots out there, considering the fact that you would get at least two seasons out of a pair. The shoes’ life expectancy might double if your precious boy is not on a growth spurt or his tiny feet grow slowly. Some of the shoes featured here might be sold out by the time you get to read this post. Sorry, but this is a downside of the bargain hunting:“Sleep on it rule” does not apply here. Blink and it’s gone. It happened to me zillion times. The main purpose of this post is to give you an idea where to shop for this perfect bargain and what to get to make everyone involved blissfully happy:your little star, your refined taste and your valet.
Zappos.com can pretty much satisfy all your shoes cravings as one stop shopping destination, plus free shipping both was is always a nice bonus. I favor Zappos.com for their enormous selection and absolutely outstanding customer service. The package arrives next morning; seriously, they treat every single customer as a VIP. If the shoes don’t fit, just pick up the phone and let the friendliest customer service rep know the right size. They would send you a new pair right away and just read this… THEY WON’T CHARGE YOU for this pair! Just don’t forget to return the wrong size. No double charge! No kidding! What a huge relief for the budget stylistas!
Like these Converse Kids All Star Specialty Ox - Animals: Hoow cute! Iconic Converse with a fun, fresh animal inspired design. What is this? A mouse? It looks so, judging by the ears:) Upbeat orange color powered by a black trim elevates even the most understated outfit to the new level of cute hipness. And these shoes are FUN! Your little tyke will love them!
Or, these Converse Kids All Star Specialty Slip - AnimalsYour kid sure will turn heads wearing those green feisty slip-ons. Scary teeth, predatory squinted eyes... Don't mess with this cool dude. BTW, if he happened to be a dinomaniac you can totally satisfy his cravings with these groovy shoes without compromising your refined style. Let these Classic Vans adorned with the cutest colorful monsters do the walking while your little Monster does all the charming.
Instant "coolification"! Add the touch of effortless hip chic with these impossibly black-and-white checkered vansSo 80-s! So cool!
You can count on Adidas to come up with something stylish, colorful and completely adorable like these Street Run Series for your little hunk. Besides being incredibly comfortable they would go just with anything in your kid's closet. I've got the cheerful orange, last year predecessorfrom these series (my son named them "rainbow shoes")and I've got to say, people have been making beelines across the store/street demanding to know where I've got these incredibly colorful sneakers as the opposite to all the boring gloomy stuff available for boys elsewhere.
Those Yellow Reeboks are some awesome for a larger than life personality (yours/your kid's) your kid's fashion choices are actually reflections of your style and fashion preferences, so who are we kidding here? :)
Amazon.com is a place to search for “the last and only in this size” crazy deals if you must get the high-end designer shoes for your little hunk. You can score iconic L.A.M.B. Love II and IIIwhite and red sneakers you’ve seen on the royal feet of his Highness Kingston Rossdale for $25 down from $65or D&G patent leather sneakers for $45-$5o down from $180, if the remaining size is the one you need.
I had finally found these fantastic Dr. Martens patent leather boots online! The best pair of boots Dr. Martens had created so far! Mega shine of the patent leather amplifies the popping brightness of cheerful yellow. Besides the fantastic versatility and ability to spice up any outfit these boots will make you child stand out in any crowd. Literally! You would be able to spot your kid miles away and people won't help but notice her/him, which is very helpful should you lose a sight of your child in an overcrowded mall, God Forbid! These boots sell out in a blink of an eye but they get backordered every season. If you are on a super tight budget, check out Wal-Mart’s knockoffs. They might not be as sharp and neat as the originals but they are quite convincing, shiny and bright.
Check out Diesel Toddler/Little Kid Ice Cool Lace-Up Sneaker, if you are into laid-back hip white sneakers. These sneakers completely justify their name. Ice Cool! Hip and laid back California style. You look awesome, Dude!
DrJays.com is a treasure trove worth mining. Sometimes they run crazy sales on hot brands selling $150 L.A.M.B. sneakers for $23! Eco Unltd. Rd Hardy-esue slip-on sneakerswith bold tattoo print graphics are the phenomenal deal at $2o! These ultimate head-turners and “Oohs and Aahs” inducers look at least quadruple their price and instantly elevate even the most humble outfit to the new groovy level.
Tough Timberland’s boots get stylish update in these European Hikers boots for boys. Hiking, camping or just moving around the town, the ragged charm of your tough little man would be absolutely irresistible! Pair it with a red plaid shirt and skinny jeans to update the traditional look.
YOOX.com is by no means cheap or budget friendly. It sells huge variety of European brands and requires careful scanning and patient combing of its endless inventory. Seek and you shall be rewarded.Sometimes true gems might be unearthed as some remaining sizes go on sale. If this size happens to be the one you need… Bingo! You scored a great deal.
Like these grooviest Combat Boots in their upscale reincarnation by MOMINO. Rich chocolaty leather with stain effect. $49 down from $85.
Interesting observation: huge selection of greatly reduced European brands, such as D&G, Byblos, Naturino, Alviero Martini, Walk Safari in the size 13! Since my son is still in the size 8 departments I never really spent my time pondering over possible disastrous consequences of wearing something in this size, but seriously… This weird size 13 collection makes me think that parents really do avoid buying shoes in this size for their kids, especially European parents. In Europe anti-13 sentiments still run very strong. In some countries you will not find apartments #13 in the apartment complexes, or rooms #13 in the hotels. So, if you are not superstitious and size 13 means nothing to you but the current shoe size of your precious boy, then go ahead and help yourself to this great selection of size 13 rejects .
While Zappos.com is remaining an ultimate online shoe empire, piperlime.com is quickly transforming into a mighty force to reckon with. Their selection is not as massive as their formidable competitor’s but the sales are totally worth mining.
Just take a look at absolutely, impossibly awesome Diesel Exposure lace-up sneaker! Their distressed denim upper would add a rock-n-roll edge to skinny jeans worn with cool t-shirt and blazer.
Wanna know what's all the buzz about the hottest sneaker in LA? It might pass tomorrow but today it's Creative Recreation, baby. Just ask Gwen Stefani, whose little fashionistas are flaunting their cool CR kickers around LA.
Hopefully, this review would help you find an ultimate head turner, a pair of shoes that would stand out but blends seamlessly into your little boy’s wardrobe and enhance his awesomely stylish outfits. If you know of some cool places to shop or some groovy shoes to take a look at, please share with us! Sharing is CaringJ
From ragged to totally fabulous, from cozy to playful, from edgy to hip: Whatever is your style question the season's plaids have got the answer.One of the most common yet versatile patterns, plaids and checks make themselves comfortable in ours and our boys' closets. They are here to stay, and overwhelming majority of brands make sure of that. You can find cool and hip plaid shirts for your little prince for as little as $10-12 or you could shell out $30-$49 for the glam Guess shirt! Click on the shirt you like for the shopping details.
Boys Be Cool!
You might complain that the light in the end of the proverbial tunnel is the gloomiest on Mondays… but it's all in the attitude!
The numbers are really fascinating stuff and Math does not sick as bad as we tend to think. Well, I used to. What is 100%? What is to give a 100%, to get 100%, to deserve a 100%? If using the numerology principle we allocate the number to each letter of alphabet, we will get an astonishing revelation! The hard work accounts to 98%, the knowledge comes up to 96% and guess what makes the 100? ATITTUDE!
Well, I will post this amazing chart later. You will love me for that, trust me! Now back to the attitude, which is everything. So, let's view Mondays as a wonderful new beginning, fabulous and promising start!
Let's see what the fashion and retail Gods have in store for their favorite Recessionistas?
Hautelook.com announced a sale, which is absolutely a MUST! Kids Ink! Please, mark your calendar and make sure you have an access to this site on Friday, Jan 29th at 11:00 am ET.
For those who are not in the know, yet, Kids Ink is an ultimate collection of insanely cool and colorful graphic prints, softest fabrics and sophisticated silhouettes. So, the next generation of movers & shakers would be utterly pleased, not to mention the parental satisfaction levels. Leave aside the throngs of star babies and kids flaunting Kids Ink's standout pieces; any artistic eye with fleur for style and uniqueness would rest happily on this megawatt cuteness. HL would probably sell t-shirts, hoodies and rompers in a range of $14-$25, which is a great deal, considering $34-$55 prices out there.
Another HL sale, which opens on Friday, Jan 29th at 11:00 am ET, is OLA LOLA, a swimwear line that combines Brazilian flare, vibrant fabrics and hand-embroidery for toddlers through teens. I suspect these vibrant, colorful pieces were not created with the boys in mind, but who knows. Maybe we will be blessed to find some psychedelic swim trunks amidst this rainbow of bikinis, hats, cover-ups and dresses? Check it out. YOOX.com, European brands' online discounter announced arrival of New Kidswear Spring-Summer Collection. The brands include EVISU BONSAI, ARMANI JUNIOR, MERREL, DIESEL, D&G, MOSCHINO BAMBINO, MOMINO, IL GUFO, BIKKEMBERGS, MAURO GRIFINO KIDS, ARMATA DI MARE and others. Prices range from $35 to $325.
I won't be untying strings of my puny purse in this case but I am perfectly aware that budgets may vary wildly, so go and find you a good deal. Hey, and don't forget to share your bargains with your fellow chic-onomic parents!
Friday is the day when the light in the end of a tunnel is the brightest. The colors are the shiniest, the mood is the moodiest and we are the cooliest. The attention span though tends to decrease on Fridays, sometimes even beating the notorious in the attention department fly. So, in order to keep up with you and your Friday mood, I will throw in some bits and pieces, creating beautiful and pleasant kaleidoscopic patterns to entertain your Friday brainJ
Forever 21, the down market retail empire selling cheap-chic runaway knock-offs has announced the launching of a new Kids line HTG 81. The new line is expected to launch on January 29th and will follow in the footsteps of its older sibling Heritage 1981 (an attempt of Forever 21 to penetrate the midmarket). According to company's statement HTG 81 is "all about comfort with casual-cool edge and with a full assortment of apparel at the same affordable prices." So the BOYS and GIRLS ages6 to 14 will soon be set to make their own style statements.
What does this mean, my dear fellow budget stylistas? It means lots of things: 1. GAP, Crazy 8 and other retail behemoths be afraid, very afraid: the constant turnover is a key to the chain's appeal: "Typically, midmarket competitors like the Gap, Old Navy, and Urban Outfitters need three months to take an item from design to rack. For Forever 21, the cycle is reduced to a matter of weeks. To produce on such a tight schedule, the company depends on flexible, eager manufacturers, and doesn't waste time on original designs. Instead, immediately after the season's latest styles hit the runways or trade shows, they are duplicated by the company's journeyman designers around the world, and often arrive on shelves before the originals do". To read more about the amazing success story of the Korean immigrants turned retail moguls check out Jeff Koyen's article here.
I will review their firstborn collection as soon as it becomes available. Should we expect dirt cheap prices? I don't think so (camouflage cargo shorts $21.90, beat boy cream hoodie $18.90). Should we expect these clothes to disintegrate in two weeks, I hope not (an attempt at the midmarket, remember?) But we shall see. One thing is loud and clear: children's market is well and alive and shows NO signs of slowing down. At the hard times, we, parents would rather cut all their expenses than skimp on our little treasures. Right?
Speaking of these adorable little treasures…It's our parental duty to make the most of the years in which we can dress our children, by using their bodies as a canvas for entertainment and a channel of our own style. So, you would appreciate these humorous onesies by Pre.K Even when you are losing your mind try to hang on to your sense of humorJ
They are adorable and on sale. Sale prices range from $11.95 to $16.95. The regular price is $22.00 and if you can't resist the uber cuteness of the tux onesie, than just send this link to the loving Grandma.
I think it's hysterical; so, if you can afford it then go for it. BTW, I didn't know Karmaloop.com carried kids' clothes. Good to know we have another source for inspiration and digging.
I am always happy to point out the proverbial silver lining, no matter how thin it is. The other day I was caustically complaining about www.77kids.com customer service, which was just conformed yet again by another rep hating her life and annoying people bugging her with ridiculous questions, like availability of the certain size and a possibility of exchange. This sheer chutzpah! The brazen audacity! Anyway, on a hunch I dialed their number again and there she was! The Customer Service Fairy! Suddenly everything was possible and all the options available, the shipping fees waived and discount applied! Wow! I felt loved again and therefore, I am coming back.
I wish you a fabulous weekend full of joy, produced by your little treasures.
Boys Be Cool is a style and shopping resource helping parents dress their Boys like stars on a tight budget. From dressy to casual, BBC covers it All with sales, new trends and boys' clothing lines, giveaways, reviews and more. Don’t forget to LIKE BBC on Facebook for daily stream of carefully curated deals, the coolest finds and the opportunity to mingle with like-minded parents who believe that Boys Have Style Too!
Julia Angel, Publisher & Everything Else, an international business development exec and a wanderlust queen in her former life, had been blessed with the opportunities to travel, experience different cultures, live in different and exciting places. Driven around the world by her insatiable wanderlust and curiosity she had learnt to absorb and embrace different styles and fashion choices blending and melting them into her very own cosmopolitan style, where everything was possible. She applies this crazy mix to styling her son’s Tyler Max aka Pookie the Incredible outfits
When unable to satisfy her style cravings in the boys’ fashion department on a tight budget she had set out on her Boys Be Cool style crusade with an ambitious goal to change the bleak landscape of the boys’ fashion. She shares her valuable skills and thrifty fashionista’s resources with other parents who believe that boys and style are not mutually exclusive.
Naturally, she strives to maintain her reputation as the most beautiful and the best dressed mommy in the world (her son’s opinion) and doubles as the Style Maven in the adult world.
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