Deals for the Diaper Set : Outlet has cotton fashions for children, including preemie sizes, at a discount.
As a first-time grandmother-to-be, I can attest to the fact that Kid’s Designer Outlet is a danger ous place to go. Or if you look at it another way, it’s a fabulous place to go, because you can get more and without breaking the nest egg.
Owner Kathleen Silvers, mother of two, knew from experience that quality apparel for children is priced higher than it should be. She used her entrepreneurial skills to make it more affordable to other mothers--and grandmothers. Three years ago she opened a store that is a manufacturers’ outlet for past-season styles, overruns, discontinued fashions and remainders. The price tags read just half of what the boutiques and department stores charge, and there’s a solid selection of fashions for boys (sizes 0 to 7) and girls (sizes 0 to 14).
Quality and style are the guidelines for Silvers’ buying practices--not labels, although you’ll find a good mix of names you know as well as quite a few that you don’t. You won’t find much polyester: Almost everything is 100% combed cotton or Pima cotton “because that’s what mothers want,” says manager Julie Nelson.
Starting with preemie sizes, which are difficult to find and priced too high at most places, we liked the Little Me and Creme de la Creme selection. A 100%-cotton sleeper for a smaller-than-infant size retails for $22 but is tagged here at $11.99.
For a slighter larger little girl, there are designer dresses for everyday that sell at a well-known boutique for $42. Here they are $21.99. Some dresses are priced as low as $9.99. A group of special-occasion outfits by Jennifer Lauren and Angel City were selling in specialty shops for $65 to $80 but are on the racks here for $19.99 to $24.99.
Take note of the lovely handmade baby quilts--perfect for gifts--that are $17.99, instead of the $40 or more that other stores charge.
We also loved the little imported sweaters for boys and girls for $29.99 that we have seen priced from $60 to $75 elsewhere.
The hats will drive grandmothers mad, but find out first whether your little charmer will cotton to them. Then you can go wild with woven straws by Carol Ampere for $9.99 that usually sell for $30.
The inventory is smaller for boys than for girls, but you’ll find both casual and dressy fashions by Viaggi, Pour Quoi and others. Some really sturdy T-shirts that retail for $18 to $20 are $7.99 to $9.
On Sundays the prices are even better for the grandparents. That’s when shoppers 55 and older get another 10% discount off everything.
Geri Cook’s Bargains column runs every Friday in Valley Life! Questions about shopping may be sent to her, in care of Valley Life!, Los Angeles Times, 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth, CA 91311. Letters will not be answered individually, but topics of general interest will be discussed in future columns. Geri Cook can be heard from 9 to 10 a.m. on Saturdays on KIEV 870-AM.
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WHERE AND WHEN
What: Kid’s Designer Outlet.
Location: 5170 Kanan Road, Agoura Hills.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Cards: MasterCard and Visa.
Call: (818) 991-8730.
