Back to School Fashion without Breaking the Bank

If you are a NY Metropolista Mama, September 9th is probably a date you have marked on your calendar, since it is the first day of the 2009-2010 school year.

For public school students, part of the prepping for this big day is finding that “First Day Of School Outfit”.  It’s got to be fashionable, its got to stand out, …. and for mom and dad its got to be affordable, which is usually where the challenge lies.

Well if you are reading this, it is your lucky day because I am about to share with you a great hidden gem that will save you hundreds of dollars on those pricey designer labels for your kids.  I am talking about a great little consignment shop, only a ferry ride away in Staten Island, NY, called “Sweet Child O’ Mine“.

I’ve heard a lot about this second hand shop from many people, and always shuttered at the thought of buying second hand clothes. However, being that we are in a recession, I decided to be a little more open minded and give the store a visit, and I was pleasantly surprised.

It was clear from the moment I stepped over to the first rack, Sweet Child O’ Mine, has a high standard for their ‘hand me downs’. All clothes are of Gap Brand and above, clean and freshly pressed and highly fashionable. In most cases these clothes looked brand new & some still had the original tags!

They even have a playroom for the kids, so they can play while Mommy bargain hunts- Perfect!

I was able to score my son 2 pairs of jeans (Gap and Ralph Lauren), a Gap dress shirt and barely (if at all) used Timberland boots all for $31! Now that’s what I call a deal!

I also saw some really adorable girls boutique occasion dresses for just $10! Since these dresses are typically only worn once, it hardly ever seems worth spending the high retail prices to buy them new. I will definitely be checking these out for our next big event!

 And while second hand clothes may not be your style, there are plenty of other deals you can score at this boutique- such as Cribs, Crib sets, Toys, and strollers, I even noticed some Halloween costumes starting to form their own little rack.

Another way you can save is by consigning your own gently used items to sell. Consignees pay a one time registration fee of $5, and can consign up to 20 items at a time. When the item sells, Sweet Child O Mine writes out a check for the consignee for 40% of the final sale price, and you know what that means? –Shopping money!

This great fashion find is located off of New Dorp Lane, offers ample parking directly in front and and is also easily accessible by public transportation.

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