Kid Style: Pair and Wear Pieces

The picks below are my fave five items to stock up on, plus a pair of shoes.  The ability to create more looks with less pieces is key to saving some cash when outfitting the kids and their ever changing sizes.  Check out the whole mini series on Kid Style here. 

KId Style by amariebeauty on polyvore.com

A versatility breakdown.  These pieces are perfect for layering, mixing and matching. 

• Leggins are great alone and for transitioning into skirts, dresses and shorts as the seasons change.
• Long sleeve tee's can be layered under favorite tees in cold months, with a cardi, or alone and layered.
• Tee's and tanks can be paired with jackets, worn alone and are a must for layering.  
• Cardigan's can be dressed up or down and also help get more wear through the season's.  
• Flats.  What don't they go with?  Most versatile shoe for little girls.

Choose neutral and favorite colors to stock the basics and maximize outfit options.   

I hope you found some cash saving style inspiration for the little people in your life while reading Kid Style.

Kid Style: Get a Current Trend without Shopping

If you have your basics stocked and picked up extra pieces along the way chances are you can make anything work to keep the little people stylin'.  Some kids could care less, others have fashion on the brain.  For those kids eyeballing the latest looks help them style it with the pieces they have.  

Kid Style: Miss Matched and Managed Storage

The mis matched price breakdown.  My out of pocket cost $3.
headband / Dollar Tree $1
sweater / Target $0 hand me down (hand me down from sister org. $12)
shirt / Gap $0 birthday gift
scarf / $0 borrowed from sister
leggings / $0 birthday gift
socks / Dollar Tree $2
boots / Wal-Mart $0 Christmas gift

Buying ahead, second hand and hand me downs is the only way I keep that budget of $20 for a five year old.  I am a fan of reducing and reusing, clothing applies.  However I am not a fan of hoarding so we have a good system to keep the clothing cycle stored in an organized fashion. 

I have a three bin cart, laundry tote and shopping bag.  The cart is in my laundry room so I can sort clothes as if it is part of the laundry when the need arises and not create an extra sorting pile or task for later on.  Each bin has a job.

• clothes to sell
• clothes to keep for growing into
• shoes and more clothes for growing into   

When someone outgrows something or items come into the house I get it right from the dryer to the right bin.

The shopping bag tucks right behind the cart for clothing items to donate.  When its full I drop it off, after I drive it around in my trunk for weeks.  The small tote goes on a shelf in my daughters closet and is for all the things that she will wear soon, her current size or size up.

I list my good quality clothing that we will not use or have gently used on Thred-Up.  When someone picks a box I print a pre-paid label off their web site and send the flat rate box out.  Once my items are received I get paid via PayPal!  It's a low hassle community.

Kid Style: Current Looks from Clearance Racks, Hand Me Downs & Thrifts

Twenty dollars, give or take a few, is what I spent to dress my five year old this year and in the years before.  I use hand me downs, thrift buys and clearance sales to do that.

The cutest outfits off the ad pages can cost upwards of fifty bucks per outfit.  Not happening over here.  They outgrow those things to quick at this age for me to justify that cost so we use them as style inspiration to pump out cute, comfy and affordable outfits.

To make it work stock up on the basics in the off season by buying ahead for the next size when they are at the lowest price.  Zero in on the solids and outfit staples like jeans, leggings, tee's and tanks.  That way it is easy to pull things together to complete outfits and layer.  Shoes are no exception, boots can be bought for a few dollars in the spring and flip flops will be cents by fall.

What ever look your after or style your kid has give it a shot.

top - hand me down xs junior top restyled as a dress | tights - Children's Place clearance | boots - hand me down

Kid style is a new series I am going run here as it is part of my daily life as a mom to three fashion loving girls.  It makes a return next Thursday when I share how I keep extra clothes around without clutter or creating piles of work to sort out. 
Plus an adorable outfit styled to mimic the look of the pricey Little Miss Matched brand with a full price break down.

Kid Style: A Restyled Skirt

This skirt is a favorite from Abercrombie kids.  It was a hand me down and the distressed hole it came with looked more like a raggedy hole.  It needed to be upcycled for sure.


I wanted the boho-shabby look.  To create the look I added a patch to the hole, and repurposed an old tee shirt into a braided belt and infinity scarf to pair with it.

The patch is part of a embroidered tunic that my little red head wore as a baby.  I cut the piece I needed to size and sewed it on with my machine to insure it was durable for washing and wearing.  The repurposed accessories were exactly my speed because they were a no sew project!  Simple steps of cutting and stretching the fabric and we were in business.