I am still single; no kids. But I have two nephews whose wardrobes consist basically of torn jeans, shorts, t-shirts, tennis shoes and sandals; basically whatever you might find in the bargain bins at K- and Wal-Mart.
Can anyone suggest a source for respectable good-quality children's clothing? Perhaps not as formal as a 1950-ish "blue suit" but something along the lines of "sport casual", say slacks and a polo shirt with a pullover sweater for winter and some leather dress shoes. Something which would be suitable for church, visits to nice restaurants, possibly even an outing to the theater. (Or an Amtrak trip in First Class, to keep things peripherally On Topic!)
Suggestions welcomed.
Posted by Ocala Mike (Member # 4657) on :
Eric, are your nephews orphaned? If not, are their parents victims of the Bush economy or what? Anyway, that's what kids wear today, even to school. There's always Sears or Penneys, not to mention Goodwill. Don't laugh; our Goodwill store down here has wall-to-wall Lexuses, Lincolns, and expensive SUV's in the parking lot.
Posted by train lady (Member # 3920) on :
If you know quality you can add Walmart and Target to the list. I have found name brand blouses that sell for $35 at a dept. store for $12.95 at Walmart.I don't think kids are ever too young to learn what is appropriate for what occasion. that doesn't mean a shirt and tie for school unless of course they go to Catholic school. Their ages will make a difference as well.If you have a Macy's near you they also have nice clothing. But whatever you do take them with you and give them a reasonable choice. Oh yes, even in first class Amtrak not only do the kids wear jeans and t-s but some of the adults look even worse.
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
Yes this is about as Off Topic as one can get!!!
But then, people (jerks in this case) have been known to place calls to 9-1-1 for just such information.
Finally, Mike, take it form this regular 'Jaques Pini" shopper; Lexus singular; plural also Lexus.
Presumably I'm "in the know" on this point.
Posted by Judy McFarland (Member # 4435) on :
Lands End sells children's school uniform classic clothes which are just plain, tailored ("preppy" if you will) shirts, pants, skirts, and sweaters. Lands End guarantees your satisfaction with their clothes & will accept returns even of worn items for full credit. (but please don't abuse this wonderful customer service). You can find Lands End items at clearance prices at their "Inlet" stores. Sears also sells some Lands End items, but not usually the clearance things. You can get better deals online or in their catalogs.
Disclaimer: Lands End is a Wisconsin-based company, but I have no financial interest in them - I just wear their clothes. Unfortunately a most of their items are not "made in the USA".
Posted by RR4me (Member # 6052) on :
Well, I think JC Penney has good stuff. But one warning, even if you buy it, they may not wear it. Even now, in college, my boys wear jeans and T shirts, although they will clean up without argumetn now, when approporiate. And as train lady pointed out, sometimes it's the adults that needa little fashion help.
Posted by Henry Kisor (Member # 4776) on :
Judy, I'm a Lands' End fan, too. Their jeans fit me. Nobody else's does.
And I have a story about Lands' End.
Back in 1963 I worked for a sailing magazine for a short time while in grad school. At my good-bye party a fellow named Gary Comer, who advertised his sail loft and sailboat racing paraphernalia store -- called Lands' End -- in the magazine, announced that he was thinking about turning it into a mail-order business.
"Don't do it, Gary," the magazine's publisher pleaded. "You'll lose your shirt."
The publisher eventually lost his. Comer didn't.
Posted by sbalax (Member # 2801) on :
I like Lands' End, too. Good quality and good prices. And you can order anything in the catalog at a Sears store with a Lands' End section with no shipping. You can also do returns there.
The misspelled name is a good story, too. I've heard they realized the mistake but too late. It was supposed to be Land's End like the one in the UK.
My six year old grand-nephew's "good clothes" mostly come from Steinmart or Target.
Frank in dark, cool and soon to be wet SBA
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
Finisterre?
Now there would be the name for an outdoor apparel retailer.
Beats me where some of these retailers come up with their brand names.
Cacique....huh?
Usushia....huh? (OK that's on Tierra del Fuego)
Posted by Henry Kisor (Member # 4776) on :
Ushuaia, and I don't know how to pronounce it either!
In the Chicago Sun-Times parking lot this sign stood for years:
"PHOTOG,S ONLY"
We copy editors complained and complained but nothing was ever done. Finally the building was torn down for a Trump tower.
Posted by smitty195 (Member # 5102) on :
quote:Originally posted by sbalax: And you can order anything in the catalog at a Sears store with a Lands' End section with no shipping. You can also do returns there.
Thanks for that great info---I didn't know that. I always order from them online and pay shipping (and sometimes returns). There is a Sears just down the road from me with a Land's End department. Cool.
Posted by Mr. Toy (Member # 311) on :
And for the first time in Railforum history, a Google ad for a popular women's clothing chain appeared on this page this evening.
Posted by Doc Brown (Member # 4724) on :
Well, I think you are to be commended. Then again, I'd hate to see your nephews view you as a stodgy nerd. Knowing how my daughter viewed clothing as a teen, and even how I did 30 years ago, I can't see your nephews appreciating even what you're refering to as "sport casual", or what I know today as "buisiness casual". As a kid, I would have been terrified that someone who knew me would have seen me dressed in such a manner.
Might I suggest a compromise, think about getting them nice jeans, a polo shirt, and casual shoes (something like nice leather Rockports). In time they will grow to appreciate nicer clothing, and the circumstances where one should wear them. For now, they will feel more comfortable wearing what is closer to thier norm.
Even at my age, I'd still rather wear a comfortable pair of jeans and a tee shirt or polo shirt. But I also know when I should wear a tie, or dress buisiness casual. Still, when I travel, even first class, I wear jeans and a tee shirt. Nothing torn up or sloppy. Its just me.
Posted by train lady (Member # 3920) on :
Eric, why don't you just ask them what they would be comfortable in? As long as it is not dirty, or shredded, don't worry. Everyone else's kids will look the same. you know kids want to be independent that is as long as it is what everyone else is wearing. If you are talking about church, a wedding or some fairly formal affair that is when as an adult you need to step in with thou shalt and shalt nots. Children do need some guidence andlimits.
Posted by Henry Kisor (Member # 4776) on :
This thread has given me a flash: GBN boarding a train wearing saggy jailhouse trousers.
I hope this doesn't give him a migraine . . .
I should admit that my wardrobe contains jeans so rump-sprung that people sometimes mistake them for jailhouse saggies. (They're for painting and gardening, not polite society.)
Posted by Mike Smith (Member # 447) on :
Henry are you talking about monkey-butt pants?
Every time I see someone wearing pants below their butt, I immediately think of those monkeys {gibbons?} that have the bright red butt at the zoo. They like to flaunt their red butts. The people with their pants below their butts must like to flaunt their butts, like those monkeys {hence monkey-butt pants}.
Posted by Henry Kisor (Member # 4776) on :
I haven't heard the term monkey-butt pants, but they do sound like jailhouse saggies. Often, I understand, the waistband and considerable southern acreage of boxer shorts shows above the saggies' belt line. Sometimes the shorts are absent and the result might be called extreme plumber's crack.
Posted by royaltrain (Member # 622) on :
Mr. Norman. Shouldn't the plural of Lexus be Lexi, such as cactus, cacti; hippopotamus, hippopotami etc.
As for the subject of clothing for the younger set, I recall in my youth that the prep school look of blue blazer and grey slacks went well with any occasion except for the most formal.
Posted by TwinStarRocket (Member # 2142) on :
I have also wondered of more than one Ford Focus should be Foci.
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
Mr. Royal, check with your friendly Lexus salesman, and he/she will tell that the plural of Lexus is same as singlular, as is the case with the recognized English language word, Nexus.
Posted by Henry Kisor (Member # 4776) on :
Go ahead, wring the neckses of those who say "nexuses" or "Lexuses." (We need Ira to view the entire matter in poetic perspective, or perhaps put a few hexes on nexuses, or whack you and me in the solar plexuses.)
Or buy a Honda, as I have done twice, and then there would be no argument.
Posted by PullmanCo (Member # 1138) on :
Land's End for khaki pants or chinos, polos, and such. Boys and Girls.
Recreational Equipment Incorporated (www.rei.com) for outer clothing (fleece/down).
HTH.
Posted by Ocala Mike (Member # 4657) on :
I don't know how to pluralize Lexus, but getting back to my original observation, I believe the number of upscale luxury vehicles sitting in Goodwill's parking lot at any given time is a good leading inverse economic indicator. It predicted this downturn pretty accurately.
Disclaimer: Former CSX shareholder; now retirement account fully invested in money market accounts, hoping they don't "break the buck."
Posted by Doc Brown (Member # 4724) on :
Hmm...
Do the rules of plural apply to made up words?
Posted by Henry Kisor (Member # 4776) on :
Tom and Ray of "Car Talk" fame have something to say about this issue: