Every few months, I take Baguette to Stride Rite so that we can get her fitted for shoes. And every time, she walks away in a new pair of shoes, because (a) her feet have grown, and (b) I cannot resist buying tiny shoes.
Fortunately, I’m able to keep my impulses somewhat in check with the knowledge that Baguette’s shoe wardrobe is already quite extensive–Mr. Sandwich’s mother is a genius at finding cute used baby clothes, including shoes. Seriously, this child is much better dressed–and with much greater variety–than I am.
But right now, wearing the shoes we bought her at full retail price, her feet sparkle like a vampire in the sunlight.
Photo by bondidwhat, via Flickr.
I, too, am a thrift store ninja. I swoop out with incredible bargains. I don’t remember the last time I paid retail for a pair of kids’ shoes. But you can’t put a price on sparkly.
I have mild feelings of indulgence and guilt when I buy her new shoes. But as Mr. Sandwich pointed out, we spend so little on her clothes right now that it’s not really that big a deal.
Although I think the thing I’m still proudest of finding is a 3T shirt for $1 at our nearby Goodwill. I like that shirt more than most of the things I’ve bought new for her, and I think it’s precisely because it’s not new.
I’m a huge fan of used clothing for children, especially toddlers. It makes it less painful when they outgrow things within months or spill something that doesn’t come out. (Sadly, I have to buy my kids new clothes now because they are extremely tall and skinny and require special-orders from online sites. And because middle school girls have a hang-up about used clothes.)
And because they grow out of them so quickly, there are a great many used clothes available that are in just about perfect condition. I know that the day will come when she won’t wear them, but right now it makes no difference to her. Because apparently she’s a nudist. But that’s a different post.