It’s hard to believe that Memorial Day is just a week away! The weekend is a big one for our family, as it signifies the beginning of summer at the lake. This year I feel more prepared than ever for the warm weather with the kids, thanks a little to a couple of summers under my belt and thanks a lot to the amount of time I spent researching products, reading online reviews, and doing the purchase/return routine after trying stuff on with the kids before our trip in March. Usually I find myself scrambling for warm weather basics (shorts and sundresses) and lake necessities (swim vests and sun protective gear) in June when styles and stock are limited. I’ve included below my time-tested recommendations and favorites for kids’ clothes, shoes and gear.
Summer Clothes: Boden (above for Ella and below for Taylor)
Link: Ella’s dress
Why I love it: The quality of Boden just can’t be beat. The clothes may be on the upper end of the price range for children’s clothes, but I have found that they are worth it. For both kids, the quality of the fabric and construction make the clothes last much longer than others (for Taylor that will generally mean two years’ worth). For boys I really love that even as they pass out of the teddy bear toddler stage for clothing, the Boden styles are still really sweet. Don’t get me wrong – he has plenty of Batman and Captain America shirts, but when I want him to “dress up” a bit it’s much easier to get him in a fun soccer shirt (like the ones below) than in a plain polo. For girls, I’ve found that the ease of care is far superior to other brands. I’m a wash and wear kind of girl myself, certainly my kids’ clothes need to be of that type. Late last summer I decided to try out some less expensive brands, feeling a little silly that I was spending between $25 and $35 on dresses for Ella. Our summer nanny had Ella in one of the cheaper dresses and I commented on how cute it was. Our nanny replied that she actually kind of likes ironing, so she doesn’t mind these types of dresses. What? Ironing kids’ clothes is not happening when I’m in charge of the laundry. Oh, and the dress ripped on the second wear. My tip for buying Boden is to wait until they have a 20% off sale with free shipping and returns – they happen quite often and are generally the only times I buy. Also, Nordstrom carries the brand, has regular sales, and always has frees shipping and returns.
Boden shirts: Plane | Soccer with net | Soccer and tennis | Dinosaur
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