What to Buy in the Children’s Section When You Are an Adult (Because It Is Much Cheaper)
As you browse through the kids section of the store, whether you’re shopping for your own child or someone else’s, you might see a product and suddenly think, “Hey, this might work for me .”
It might. Shopping in the children’s department is a well-known trick for our short friends, but people of all sizes can benefit from it. You can find all sorts of things at prices that are usually lower than the adult versions, which means more money on lottery tickets, R-rated movies, and car rentals because you’re still an adult, damn it!
Here’s what to look for when viewing passes:
Cloth
Sally Kaplan of BuzzFeed, who has spent her life shopping in the kids’ section because she is “cheap but also short,” has a strong understanding of how to transition from adult to child . She recommends Gap Kids for jeans because they come in an “insanely large size range,” and Woolrich for winter coats because you can save hundreds . Other kids ‘stores and sections where adults have had success include the kids’ section at The North Face (for example, the OSO branded hoodie costs $ 140 for women versus $ 99 for girls , and the Campshire pullover costs $ 120 for men versus $ 85 for boys ), as well as J.Crew Kids (and J.Crew Outlet), Zara Kids , Old Navy Kids, and H&M Kids .
A few tips for buying clothes in the children’s section:
- Women who wear a size up to about 8 can buy plain tees from the boys section, which are usually opaque like many women’s styles. In fact, what happened to all the transparent shirts?
- “Teens don’t have breasts, buttocks, and hips,” she says , so if you’re an adult shopping in the girls section, choose “wear the least feminine pieces.” Be sure to try things on before buying, or make sure the company has a good return policy.
- For many, the hardest part of wearing baby clothes is sleeve length: everything can look and feel normal until you raise your arms. Short sleeved shirts and tank tops may be your safest choice.
Shoes
Fortunately, shoes are easier. The handy shoe size conversion charts on Zappos.com can help you figure out your “kid size” – just find your size, see what it is in inches or centimeters, and find that same number in the “big kid” chart. I am wearing a women’s size 7.5, so according to Zappos I am a “big child” size 6. Note that children’s shoes are usually too tight, so try them first.
If you fit into children’s shoes, hurray! You can save money. For example, the Nike Free Flyknit 2017 costs $ 120 for the men’s style and $ 100 for the same kid’s version.
On UGG.com, the Classic II short boots cost $ 160 for women versus $ 130 for children .
Furniture
The aesthetics of my home decor nowadays can be described as “preschool chic,” and to be honest, I don’t think it has anything to do with a four year old living in a home. There are so many nice things, designed for children, who can work in adult homes faulty way, including rugs, lamps and wall paintings from sources such as the brand of the Target’s Pillowfort , a Land of Nod (which, unfortunately, is not cheap) and PBteen . Kaplan describes Pottery Barn Teen as “the angelic stepson of Pottery Barn,” a place that “is there for you when you can’t afford the grown-up version of your favorite things.” She notes that similar style queen beds have a $ 650 price difference between the teen and adult versions.
Technics
While my friends were demonstrating their new Apple watch, I kept an eye on GizmoPal 2 from LG, a smart watch for children for $ 79, which allows to make and receive calls. It seems to be perfect for when I want to go for a long walk or hike without carrying my phone in case of an emergency at school. One reviewer wrote that she bought one for her seven-year-old son and one for her 70-year-old father.
The best part is that all of these items can also be purchased online, so you don’t have to stand awkwardly when you walk into the children’s department and the salesperson asks, “So who are you shopping for today?”