Back to School Shopping: Where to Find Easy to Match Outfits, Uniform or Non-Uniform

Although it seems like it just started, Summer is winding down. It is almost time to get the kiddos ready to go back to school. In addition to getting them registered and taking care of necessary paperwork and medical records, it is also helpful to make sure they have enough back to school clothes. Summer is a time for a break, and sometimes a growth spurt! You don't want to discover the night before the first day of school that nothing fits!

Before you start, make a list of what still fits to help determine what is needed. A great way to get the most for your "buck" is to purchase back to school clothing pieces that easily coordinate with each other. This also helps you foster your child's independence so you can let him or her pick outfits out ahead of time and, not to worry...they will actually match!

Luckily, many stores have lines that coordinate making many outfits out of only a few pieces. This can make mornings much easier and give your child the independence to pick out his own outfits! It is much easier to have pieces that coordinate than to buy single items here and there and try to match sets.

This year, I have found several stores that offer quality clothes including school uniforms at affordable prices for back to school shopping.

The Children's Place Without a doubt, The Children's Place tops my list each year for back to school shopping. They sell clothing from newborn to ten years old. According to its' website, they sell high quality value priced items online and in stores (over 800 in the United States.) They have a flexible return policy and in my experience, excellent customer service.

The Children's Place has all kinds of themes such as sports for boys and clothing for girls with cartoon girls, flowers and other choices as well. They have a great color palette and it always amazes me how many pieces you can get to coordinate. One great item they have is a rain jacket that is easily folded into a pouch-style pocket and fits in a backpack well. Our children are always prepared for unexpected rain. They also sell backpacks, lunch boxes and other accessories. They make the clothes "fun" which pleases the child and they make them kid-durable and appealing to parents. You can also view items online in "outfits" as well as "create a look."

Coordinating lines? Yes. They have many items that are from the same color-palette making coordinating outfits easy.
School Uniforms? Yes, they also have a wide-variety of uniform-style clothing.
Online or Store? Both

Gymboree Gymboree also has clothing lines that have coordinating items. Although I find prices to be not quite as good as The Children's Place, in the past, I have been able to save money using their "Gymbucks" promotions. The idea is that you accumulate "gymbucks" when you shop during a particular time period, then you are able to redeem them during a specified time. Since a belt is required at my son's school, one of my favorite items they have is a black/brown reversible belt for boys.

Gymboree always comes up with cute names for their coordinating lines. This year's back to school lines include "Dinosaur Discovery" and "Sports Star" for boys, and "Bon Voyage" for girls. They also sell backpacks and other accessories.

Coordinating lines? Yes. They have coordinating lines with "cute" names making it easy to make outfits.
School Uniforms: Yes they sell coordinating uniform pieces for boys and girls.
Online or store? Both

GapKids Whether ordering online or in the store, it is fairly easy to find items that coordinate into multiple back to school outfits at GapKids as well. The boy's clothes often come in colors like red, blue, khaki and "camo." My son likes the "ringer T" shirts that say "Gap" on the front and the sporty style shirts. For girls, you can visit the Trend Shop to find outfits in the latest trends.

GapKids also sells clothing items suitable for back to school from their line called "Product Red." According to their website, half of the profits from items sold from this line are donated to help women and children in Africa fight Aids. There are also "Red" products in women's and men's clothing as well.

We usually get a couple of items from GapKids each year during back to school shopping, but I do not find that I get as big of a value from GapKids as I do some other stores. Online, you are able to buy multiples of an item to save money, which seems to be the best savings.

Coordinating lines? Not necessarily but boys clothes stick to classic "boy" colors which makes it fairly easy. The girl clothes are a bit more of a challenge.
School Uniforms? Yes.
Online or Store? Both.

Land's End Lands' End sells some items in Sears Stores. In addition, they also issue catalogs displaying choices for back to school shopping. Online, they have a large selection of uniforms for girls and boys.

One feature online that is most helpful to those whose school requires a school uniform, you are able to search for your particular school's requirements right on the website. They also sell backpacks and other accessories including a lunch box that separates warm and cold items. It is a little pricey, but is well worth it when it comes to health.

Coordinating lines? Yes but mainly uniform-style pieces. Many appeal to non-uniform shoppers as well.
School Uniforms? Yes.
Online or Store? Online mainly as well as catalog sales. The brand is sold at Sears, however not all items found online can be found in the store.

My favorite individual picks of the season: Gymboree's girl's backpack in leopard print accented in pink with matching lunch box, boy's "Sports Star" line from Gymboree,

ballet flats for girls at GapKids cute and rubber-soled, Gapshield flat front Khakis from GapKids are treated to resist stains, Cricket Vest for boys in navy, wrinkle and stain resistant chinos from Lands' End, smocked top for girls at The Children's Place, pink top with leopard tank at The Children's Place which is adorable, loveable t-shirt for girls at The Children's Place is only $7.50, and the ringer t-shirts and football jersey style shirts for boys at The Children's Place.

Whether you shop either online or in the store for "back to school" clothes, don't forget your coupons when you go shopping! Many of these stores send coupons in mailers this time of year. Sign up on the website if you have not received any. Also, if you are ordering online, be sure to check to see if there are any valid online coupons on www.couponcabin.com, or www.dealhunting.com, as well as many other websites such as these.

For back to school shopping, follow this guide to get more mileage out of your money and you and your children will be happy!