Sizing Up Kids’ Catalogues : * Fashion: Mail-order shopping can take some of the headaches out of dressing your children.
Dressing a child can be laborious. (Why should your toddler agree to a fresh T-shirt and pants when he can wear his Peter Pan costume--for the fifth day in a row?) And if you want to garb your little darling in something, well, stylish , it can be torture.
Some parents say they cut down on the agony with mail-order catalogues. Clothes arrive at the house ready to be tried on, and garments that either don’t fit or don’t cut the fashion mustard are easily returned. And, unlike catalogues featuring adult sizes, most of those geared for kids offer elaborate sizing charts for ease in ordering. What follows is a sampling of summer offerings for shop-at-home parents and their fidgety fashion plates:
The Wooden Soldier (603) 356-7041.
Sizes: 6 months to 14 preteen. Also junior sizes 3 to 9 and some women’s sizes 4 to 14.
The Goods: Pricey, heirloom-quality apparel for girls and boys. Many styles come in a variety of sizes so brothers, sisters and even mothers can dress alike (or at least coordinate) if they are so inclined.
Extravagances: Everything inside this catalogue is best described as extravagant. An outfit--a crested jade-green linen blazer with jade and white striped shorts, a white shirt and a bow tie--sells for $76 to $115, depending on the size. A teal swimsuit imprinted with giant sunflowers ($34 to $36) is accentuated with a sunflower-topped visor ($12) and thongs with sunflowers attached at the toe ($14).
Kid’s Opinion: “I like the watermelon outfit and all the clothes with appliques.” Meagahn Kilpatrick, 12, Palmdale.
Mom’s Opinion: “Some of the things are pretty cute, and some are very expensive, but I think they are probably worth it.” Karen Kilpatrick.
Catalogue: Biobottoms (800) 766-1254.
Sizes: Preemie through Size 14 for boys and through Size 16 for girls. Some adult sizes. Sizes are described with a code indicating whether items run smaller or larger than standard sizes.
The Goods: Hip sportswear and dressy clothing for infants and toddlers.
Deals: Parents who shop here pay for natural fabrics and unique designs, but there are some bargains. A pack of six pairs of striped summer socks sells for $14.50. A jumpsuit with an innovative flying-fish pattern sells for $22. Most innovative deal: A training swimsuit for toddler girls ($25) comes with pouches that hold removable poly-foam floats.
Extravagances: A beautiful white-collared party dress sells for $80. A tie-dye-patterned, snap-front coverall goes for $40.
Kid’s Opinion: “I like the shorts and stuff, but I am not too wild about dresses, except for that stars and stripes dress.” Lauren Hoover, 9, Calabasas.
Mom’s Opinion: “I thought there were some really cute things in there, probably more as gifts for people than for my girls. They might be worth it for the quality, but for as long as my girls wear them, I try to get their clothes on sale.” Becca Hoover.
Catalogue: Hanna (800) 222-0544.
Sizes: Children’s sizes are determined in height by centimeters ranging from 60 (infant) to 160 (“big kid”). Some adult merchandise is also featured.
The Goods: Fun sportswear and activewear that ranges in price from moderate to somewhat expensive. And there’s a way to reduce your bill. A “Hannadowns” program operated by the mail-order house encourages customers to send in outgrown Hanna garments, which are donated to charity. Customers receive a merchandise credit for up to 20% of the original purchase price, depending on the condition of the garment.
Deals: One-piece striped cotton sunsuits (called little tankers) sell for $19.
Extravagances: A blossom-print romper, $32, and matching sun hat, $14, make for a cool warm-weather ensemble. A fruit-print Danish cotton party dress sells for $58. A gameboard-patterned, pure-cotton cardigan for boys sells for $39 and is coordinated with $14 moccasins.
Kid’s Opinion: “I like the fruit-print dress with its pretty colors.” Julie Nill, 6, Topanga Canyon.
Mom’s Opinion: “It’s a little on the expensive side, but the clothes literally last forever and you can hand them down again and again. It’s real good stuff.” Janet Nill.
Catalogue: Patagonia, (800) 638-6464.
Sizes: Infant 6 months, through kids’ Size 16.
The Goods: Functional but fashionable outdoor apparel for active kids with a sense of style.
Deals: Waterproof shorts made of fast-drying nylon sell for $21 and come with deep pockets so cargo won’t get lost. A white T-shirt featuring an unusual iguana pattern is $14.
Extravagances: A nylon-and-mesh cropped fishing vest ($90) features multiple pockets for novice outdoorsmen.
Kid’s Opinion: “I like to go backpacking. That stuff looks pretty good.” Jimmy Huff, 5, Upland.
Mom’s Opinion: “Interesting stuff--not the usual things you see in the stores.” Lorie Huff.
Catalogue: Talbots Kids (800) 543-7123.
Sizes: Sizes 4 (boys and girls) through boys’ 12 and girls’ 14.
The Goods: Sportswear and special-occasion clothing. Decidedly less preppy than the Talbots catalogue for women.
Deals: A great-looking pair of drawstring walking shorts features one leg of stars and another of red and white stripes. They sell for $20. A pair of turquoise bike shorts with a sea-life motif for girls sells for $24 to $26, depending on size.
Extravagances: A floral dress with a white collar and lace hem, lavished with fuchsia polka-dots, goes for $78 to $80, depending on size.
Kid’s Opinion: “I liked the styles. I thought the stuff was really cute, but some of the stuff was too young-looking for me.” Stephanie Vos, 9, Van Nuys.
Mom’s Opinion: “The clothes are really cute. So many of the styles you see when you shop are too sophisticated and grown-up looking. I did think they were pretty expensive. I wouldn’t pay those prices even for my own clothes.” Cathy Vos.
Catalogue: Maggie Moore (914) 968-0600.
Sizes: Sizes 0 to 14 girls, sizes 0 to 20 boys.
The Goods: Trendy garments featuring whimsical prints and unusual silhouettes. This catalogue is also a terrific resource for kid-sized accessories such as derbies, fedoras, berets, shoes and sunglasses.
Deals: A sleeveless striped-cotton chambray jumper is $21. An Italian sun hat for girls is $12. Cat-face booties in pink or blue are $11. Hard-to-find sunglasses with ultraviolet-protective lenses sell for $8.50.
Extravagances: A watermelon-print sunsuit and matching wide-brimmed hat run $54 for the pair. A cotton romper with a men’s tie print sells for $55. A striped, round-neck jumpsuit and a matching pull-on knit hat are $31 for the pair.
Kid’s Opinion: “I like it all. I want the dress that looks like the mom’s dress.” Molly Campbell, 7, Van Nuys.
Mom’s Opinion: “The clothes are adorable, but I would never spend this much for children’s clothing. Paying $58 for a romper with leggings for a 2-year-old is insane. Paying the house payments we do to live in Southern California, I have to be a frugal shopper.” Barbara Campbell.
Catalogue: After the Stork (505) 243-9100.
Sizes: Sizes 12 months to 14 for girls, to 16 for boys.
The Goods: Affordable sportswear and dress apparel (almost everything is under $20) for boys and girls.
Deals: All-cotton tank tops (available in several colors) are $5.95 each. Neon Birkenstock-inspired sandals are $7.95. Wild shorts featuring multiple-block prints go for $7.95. An unusual pair of terry-cloth slippers with Velcro closures is $8.95.
Kid’s Opinion: “I want some of the swimsuits, and I like those animal fair shoes,” Kira McMurran, 4, Santa Ana.
Mom’s Opinion: “I like their diaper covers. I ordered some from my diaper service one time and they weren’t nearly as nice.” Cathleen McMurran.
Catalogue: Lands’ End (800) 356-4444.
Sizes: Sizes 3 months to 14 for girls, Size 16 for boys.
The Goods: Dressy apparel, sportswear and activewear for boys and girls whose parents don’t like to empty their piggy banks to help pay for them.
Deals: Cotton-knit coveralls with stretchy back elastic prevent droopy drawers and sell for $18 a pair. Boys’ polo shirts lavished with printed dinosaurs and spaceships sell for $12 each. Cotton cardigans sell for $22 each. Man-tailored boys’ blazers in polyester-cotton blends sell for $44.50 to $49.50, depending on size.
Kid’s Opinion: “I like the wild animal (drawing) on the front cover. And I like all the clothes with dinosaurs on them.” Jimmie Huff, 5, Upland.
Mom’s Opinion: “I still get Lands’ End hand-me-downs from my brother for my children. I usually like things I see in the catalogue, color-wise, and I’m glad they have one just for kids now.” Lorie Huff.
