Shopping Tales That Delight and Enlighten
If you haven’t started your back-to-school shopping yet, you’re probably not alone. And if you’re dreading back-to-school shopping, you’re certainly not alone. A few weeks ago we asked for your best and worst stories about stocking up on clothes for the new school year. From your letters, we’ve determined that this is one of life’s more challenging experiences.
But your shopping strategies, as well as recollections of childhood trips to the store with Mom and Dad, were enlightening. We thank everyone who took the time to write. Here’s what you had to say:
“When I was growing up, each year my mom would bring out the Sears catalog, and my sister and I would pick out clothes that were perfectly suited to fall and winter in the East. However, we lived in Southern California, where September and October are two of the hottest months of the year. I’ll never forget how uncomfortable I was during those first weeks of school because I just had to wear my new wool dress, even if it was 95 degrees. Now that I have two school-age children, I hit the sales racks in July and stock up on school clothes appropriate for those hot months.”
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“Thank God for school uniforms! But even with those, there were enough variables to make back-to-school shopping challenging. The scenario of going to the uniform store on the edge of downtown L.A. usually included rising at 6 a.m. The price of tardiness was spending well over an hour in a very long line with three rambunctious children. Often some vital piece would not be in stock for weeks, leaving that child as an un-uniformed pariah back at school. But a big shoe sale at Sears or May Co. could evoke smiles on days when all three kids left the store with saddle shoes or Hush Puppies under their arms.”
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“When our daughters were 15 and 13, I complained to my husband about having to once again drag them through the mall for school clothes. This day my husband said, ‘I don’t see what’s so hard about taking the girls shopping.’ He had never done it. But he then offered to take them! I fully expected to see them come home growling at each other.
“To my shock, four hours later they arrived carrying bags from all the stores--and smiling! I asked the kids what happened, and they said, ‘Dad took us straight to the Mexican restaurant in the mall and pointed to a booth. He said, ‘This is where I’ll be, watching the baseball game. Report in to me every hour on the hour, or the shopping is over. Put everything you like on hold at the stores. At 5 o’clock, when the game is over, come and pick me up.’ At the end of the game, they went back to the restaurant, and the three of them casually strolled through the mall and he picked everything up.”
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“My mom made back-to-school shopping special by taking each child alone for a day of shopping and lunch. The only downside was my Mom’s practical nature. There weren’t any “fun” or trendy purchases. Sensible shoes ruled, as well as clothes that could be mixed and matched and would hold up long enough to be handed down to the next kid. Now that I am a mom, I see her point! I think it is ridiculous when I see Nike shoes for infants that retail for $34.99! My husband and I are planning on sending our kids to a school that requires uniforms to try and avoid some of this nonsense.”
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“Every September my mother took my sister and me down to Marshall Field’s for our back-to-school shoes, and every year we got saddle oxfords. But one year I saw the most beautiful shoes I had ever seen--a pair of oxblood red penny loafers. I was in love. I tried everything a 10-year-old could think of to get those shoes, but to no avail. I vowed to destroy the saddle oxfords, standing in water, dragging them over concrete. Eventually I found my salvation in winter, with the rock salt that was sprinkled on the snow. Sure enough, after one encounter they developed that familiar white outline. As I took off my shoes that night I saw another pair of shoes--the penny loafers. My mother had gotten them on sale. As I sat there a philosophy was born: More shoes are better.”
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“I worked in junior clothing sales for more back-to-school seasons than I care to remember. Adolescent girls are probably the most challenging to shop with, so perhaps these tips will help make this a less stressful experience:
“Find a store and a salesperson with whom you can deal nearly exclusively. You all are better off with a third-party negotiator.
“Parents should be honest and realistic. Tell what you’re prepared to spend on shoes, clothes, a jacket and other gear. If your daughter has her own funds, suggest she bring along some pocket money for unplanned expenses, like accessories. Teaching a child to save is one thing; teaching a child to be an intelligent consumer is another. This is your chance to do both.
“Compromise on one item that is either beyond the budget or beyond the realm of good taste. A child who hears ‘no’ all the time will find ways to procure and wear what they really want.”
Write to Fashion Police, Los Angeles Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA. 90053, fax (213) 237-4888 or e-mail socallivinglatimes.com.
