| Millions of web sites offer designer baby clothes, just | | | | you buy it. So shop smart and err on buying larger |
| enter the term in any search engine and see how | | | | rather than smaller.o Look at the fabric content and |
| many results you get. So how do you separate the | | | | make sure that it is comfortable for kids. Make sure |
| wheat from the chaff, buy the most expensive? | | | | it will not be too harsh on infant or toddlers' skin. The |
| That doesn't sound right. And how furious would you | | | | last thing you want to happen is have your child cry |
| be if during this awful recession, you bucked the | | | | or complain about wearing clothes you invested in.o |
| trend, chose not to buy cheaper mass produced | | | | Buy clothing made of fabric that will wear well |
| baby clothes and spent more money on "designer | | | | through numerous washes. Buy natural fabrics, but be |
| children's clothes" only to have them fall apart after a | | | | careful since all cottons for instance are not the |
| short period of time or, just as bad, not get any | | | | same quality. Look carefully and consider how the |
| wear out of them? Well fret not, the following guide | | | | fabric feels and ask the boutique what if any |
| will help you, not just avoid a disaster, but put a smile | | | | problems people have had with the fabric. Beware of |
| on your face while dressing your kids during this | | | | synthetic fabrics because they can be itchy and don't |
| economic downturn.o Look for boutiques that have | | | | breathe, but don't dismiss them completely since |
| been covered by the national press: New York | | | | some can be very soft and have great longevity. |
| Times, Vogue, Elle, CNN, NBC etc. This suggests that | | | | Again, seek counsel from a competent boutique.o |
| their children's clothes has been vetted by | | | | Look at the label. Does it have a French name, but |
| professionals who review clothes for a living and | | | | has nothing to do with France? Not designed their or |
| would only publish what they believed were quality | | | | made their and is in fact mass produced? Not that |
| designer kid's clothing.o But avoid just looking in | | | | there is anything wrong with mass production, but be |
| magazines and buying trendy baby clothes, buy what | | | | sure you get what you pay for. Higher priced baby |
| appeals to you. But don't let your initial attraction | | | | clothes should be either hand made, have great fabric |
| determine your decision. Consider if the baby dress | | | | or detailed work that warrants the increased value.o |
| for instance will be as appealing now as it will be in six | | | | Finally, buy clothes that you can layer with during the |
| months or as a hand me down in 4 years. Ask | | | | winter & spring and wear alone in the summer. |
| yourself if the color & style is sophisticated | | | | This way, the clothes are wearable no matter the |
| enough to last or are they just flashy and nice until | | | | weather. |
| the second or third wear?o Buy one size bigger. | | | | Taken together, all of the above will help you get the |
| While you don't want your kid to be swimming in | | | | most out of your investment in designer baby |
| their clothes, they do grow quickly and it would be a | | | | clothes during these economically challenging times. |
| shame to have them grow out of it so soon after | | | | Happy shopping! |