Wednesday, January 31, 2018

What Tot Wore



One of the most frequently asked questions I get is, "where did Tot get her                    ?" Having a girl is a LOT of fun, but can also break the bank if you're not careful. With how quickly little ones grow through clothes, I didn't think I'd ever be in a position to purchase brand-name designer clothes for Tot throughout these early years. I mean, seriously - they're like weeds but in a nice peony sort of way.

When I was pregnant, I obviously did my fair share of online shopping looking for cute little outfits to pull together. I mean, don't we all? One thing led to another, and I started realizing there were a ton of really well-priced options out there for quality designer clothes. SECOND HAND SHOPPING. Hallelujah. Another discovery? There were so many wonderful small-business owners with clothing lines I knew I needed to dig deeper into and boy, am I glad I did.

I mean, I could go on and on about all the neat things, sales patterns, etc. I found. Instead, I thought I'd just share my own personal shopping list of where I find most of Tot's favorite things for her #ootd and the links to get your shopping started!

Let's start with the basics...

GapBaby and GapKids

I could spend hours in this store shopping for Tot, but that wouldn't be saving me any time or money. Instead, I've switched to really relying on their online store and the email thread with relevant sales. Those 50% sales + an additional 10-15% really make your shopping efficient, but be prepared to buy in bulk. By that, I mean that I will often shop for spring clothes in the fall, and winter in the summer. Those are the items that tend to have additional discounts and once you really understand your little one's growth patterns, it's pretty easy to predict sizes. Plus, the entire Gap brand is phenomenal with returns and customer service in general.

Some of my favorite things to stock up on? Obviously, denim. Their jeans just fit my skinny minny the absolute best. Their PJ's may be a bit pricey, but the quality is over the top and they last such a long time. And lastly, holiday tees - that nice Christmas shirt for school parties, the valentine's dress etc.

Check out a few of their current sales here.


Gap jeans, Old Navy tee
Shoes, Amazon


Gap PJs

Poshmark

When I was first introduced to Poshmark, I wasn't sure what to think. To me, it seemed like an online portal just filled with a mix match of items that was incredibly hard to navigate. You know when you show up to TJ Maxx on like a Sunday evening and it's utter chaos? That's what Poshmark felt for me the first few times. After gathering my bearings, I realized how easy it was to not only list my own personal items to sell, but to search between brands, types of clothing, and for different members of the family (i.e. Kids, Women, Men, etc.). 

Some of Tot's favorite things are a bit pricey. While I'm OK with splurging on a few items because I know I can list them on Poshmark once she outgrows them (i.e. Hunter Boots, Uggs, etc.), there were certain things I just couldn't justify. Instead, I turned to Poshmark and realized there were so many options in almost new condition...flabbergasted. 

To get started, you do have to start your own profile. While you may not be comfortable with selling anything, I do suggest completing the profile to the best of your ability so you can begin building your followers. It's almost like Instagram in some ways - the more Poshers you follow, the more new items hit your newsfeed. Plus, once you're finished with an item you'll be tempted to try and sell it so you can get a credit to buy that next fun shirt for your little one. I know you will. 

You're also able to search for just about anything. You want a new pair of Quay sunglasses and you know exactly what style you want? Great, I bet there are about 30-40 different Poshers with those items all at different price points. Once you've decided on what you like, I typically like a few of the same item from different Poshers so I can be alerted to any discounts etc. offered. And, when you've found the perfect item + perfect price? Hit offer and give them your best price for the item! Typically, there's a bit of back and forth if you're below the asking price but that's the fun part of it. 

Below are a list of some of the best items I purchase for Tot on Poshmark regularly:

Mini-Melissa

As you can see - these shoes are not cheap (here), but they happen to be the most durable and cutest shoes that Tot adores.  I've found about 7-8 pairs on Poshmark for a 1/4 of the price (yes - she has about 30 pairs of shoes - she really does love shoes plus they're CHEAP). When Tot outgrows them, I post them back on Poshmark to sell them before purchasing a new pair. 




Winter Jackets

I've purchased both of Tot's current winter jackets on Poshmark for under $20 each. They're both Gap brand, and came new with tags. It's definitely the first place I look before hitting up any store for any type of winter gear. Plus? You can shop all year with pretty much the same inventory. 


OOTD: Gap - Poshmark


OOTD: Gap - Poshmark

Uggs

As a Mom, I'm sure you have a pair yourself...or 4. No one's judging (certainly not the Ugg Queen over here). You also know how expensive they are even in infant size. I mean, how can shoes that small cost $75? I just don't get it. But, I do know they're beyond comfortable and great for running around in outside so I can't NOT let her wear these adorable little things, right? I couldn't fathom paying full price and the outlets don't have the infant and toddler stock you'd want to really make a bang for your buck. Instead, I purchased several pairs from Poshmark NWOT (in Posh-speak, this means new without tags) for $10-15 and voila. My daughter now has an Ugg collection that rivals her mother. 


Bottom line? What are you waiting for - check out Poshmark 

Amazon

Now, I know Amazon can be hit or miss. But for me? It's been more hits than misses which is why I'm going to share all my favorite vendors. 

When Tot was still a tater, we loved dressing her in little moccasins and rompers. I mean, it doesn't get much cuter. And, I found that as a new mom getting to the store was nearly impossible. I was ordering diapers on Amazon one day because who does Target on a weekend (not this Mom) and randomly stumbled upon an entire deep dive of great infant and toddler clothing. From dresses and shirts to rompers and moccasins. I decided to order 1 of each to test out the quality and see which vendors worked best for me. Here are some of our favorite vendors and items:

Bows

Sizing is everything with bows for little ones. These are the current ones Tot wears (below) and a picture to give you an idea on sizing. 




When she was a bit younger and I was a bit hesitant on the whole idea of bows in her hair to begin
with we purchased these and still use them on the regular. 


Rompers

Check these out!








Moccasins

When I first started reading baby blogs while pregnant, everyone gushed about Freshly Picked. And guess what? I loved them. Big problem was that they were just out of budget for me. I wanted about 20 pairs and I couldn't possibly justify those expenses. A quick search on Amazon and voila. Quality wise - they definitely get some wear and tear so I tend to use these as her school indoor shoes, but she still wears them daily even today. Sharing a few of my favorite brands

Livebox 




Voberry 





Small Businesses

Another fun thing I realized is that with my purchases, I could support other Moms by purchasing from their small business which makes shopping even more fulfilling. After a night of rabbit hole digging on Instagram (you know how it is) I found two great brands that I really believe in and want to send your way. And by believe in, I mean I order on the regular so I'm sure you've seen them make an appearance or two on Instagram.

Rory Jae Co. 

An amazing Mama who hand sews each and every outfit, Rory Jae Co is just a fantastic small business with stunning rompers that also caters to custom orders. Tot owns a couple of these and I can't say enough about the quality and sizing. She utilizes a hybrid of vintage fabric and new materials to handcraft these masterpieces. They wash incredibly well and are just the most precious outfits. I'm already counting down to the spring release! 


Little Roxx Clothing

Tot has a favorite piece of clothing, which I'm sure you've all noticed. It was gifted to us by the sweetest friend and she wears it just about everywhere with just about everything. It's her personalized jean jacket. She was close to outgrowing it a few weeks ago and I raced to order her a new one from Little Roxx Clothing, along with a few other pieces for our trip to Disney and we just can't say enough. This jacket has been washed a million times and literally has seen it all. But, it has survived and that's all thanks to this wonderful little shop. Everything is 100% customizable and you can really order anything your heart desires for children and adults. 



Wylo + Co

I would be an awful Canadian citizen if I didn't take a moment to share some praises of a Canadian brand I just adore. Originally Teepee Tots and Co, Wylo + Co is a unique take on quality classic pieces for the little ones in your life. With amazing sales year-round, they're incredibly affordable and represent such a cultivating part of Canadian heritage with some of their designs. Tot's first outfit was Wylo + Co and I'm so honored I was able to dress her in the cutest Canadian garb for her first day escaping the hospital post-world entrance. 

(SO LITTLE OH MY GOSH)



Busy Bod Leo's 

Over the past couple months, Tot has really grown to love rompers and leo's. They're easy to throw on, cover her tooshy to my complete satisfaction, and probably the most adorable thing in the world. Tot also started ballet a couple months ago at Bella Ballerina (more about that collaboration in another post) and these have been a lifesaver for her during class. She pretty much begs me to wear them whenever humanly possible so I'm incredibly thankful to have found Busy Body Leo's and the sweet Mama who runs the shop. Whether you order a pre-made design or a custom order, everything is sent incredibly fast and wash amazingly well. Check them out for yourself here!





So there you have it. Tot's long-sought after #ootd post. Feel free to give all of these fun brands and designers on Instagram a follow and message me with any questions on sizing or ordering. See you online!

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