Zannee’s Blog at BargainsLA.com

Back to school shopping? Not around here. Outside of basic school supplies like paper and pencils, we like to wait.

First, as a parent of a fashionista tween, I have learned the hard way that anything we buy before school starts usually is regulated to the back of the closet and is never worn. Though you’ll find similar designs and clothing all over, what you can’t do as a parent is ascertain is what the style is at your kids school. There is always that one girl or guy that sets or starts the “in” cool trend.

I have a real distaste for buying clothes my daughter won’t wear. Though I have access and inside fashion scoop from a lot of cutting edge fashion showrooms, that doesn’t translate to knowing what my kid will like and what’s considered cool at her school. I do long for the days of uniforms, but I don’t have that now, so I deal with it and waiting gives us a better chance of getting what is cool at her school.

Second… This is Southern California. The weather doesn’t really turn cool until late October. Even if I bought my persnickety kid clothes, she’ll be wearing most of her summer stuff for another 5-8 weeks. In 8 weeks she could easily have outgrown half of any back to school clothes I bought her. Again for me it’s a waste of money and effort.

Lastly, almost all back to school fashions will be drastically discounted in the major stores and boutiques around Oct 1st. Though we don’t have a seasonal change till later, the manufacturers and stores all operate on the same seasonal schedule nationwide. By then, they are bringing in their Winter goods. So we tend wait.

During August I like to get her room organized, notebooks, backpacks and schedules down and afterward we start to look at clothes in magazines and in stores to get an idea of what’s out there at what the trends are. However, if my daughter thinks I think it’s cute first, she’ll shy away and pick something else. I have learned to play dumb and just ohh or ahh at her suggestions unless of course it’s really awful. Of course if we find something truly special at a great price we may pounce and break our own rules, but rarely does that happen.

Even, if you’re a parent of an older teen or younger kid you may find that waiting may work for you too. Enjoy these last days of summer in the outdoors away from the mall.

A visit to my local TJ Maxx ( La Canada) had me oogling over the rather large collection of La Rok that was there at a good 40%-70% off. I even found one piece for just $20. Though most were 3 time s that price or more.

Great designs for stylish women… for less!