Name Brands and Kids

No you are not the only one. When all my children were small they did not have name brand clothes or shoes ect. Now they have moved out of home with their partners they have decided all they will wear is name brand clothing. These clothes don't last any longer than cheaper clothes but cost heaps more. I don't see the sense in this at all. One of my daughters took my youngest son out for his birthday and got him name brand clothes for his birthday. She spent over $140 for a shirt, shorts and hat. I could have bought at least 6 or 7 different outfits for this amount.

I hate the favoritism to brand name clothes. If the clothes are well made and look good, what does it matter? I think I own maybe two bran name pieces of clothing. One was a gift and the other I found at Goodwill. I think it's insane to spend money on brand name clothes. I don't see the point to it. People want status symbols, and it bugs me. Status symbols do nothing but further rifts between the ''haves' and the 'have nots'.

it is harder as they get older, mine are 7 9 and 11. They have been taught the art of being thrifty. When we go to the store, they will pick the store brand cereal instead of the expensive brand, put it in the cart, and tell me how much money they saved by doing it. I guess it rubs off after a while.

Tell that woman a bit of advice from a mother of 4 who raised them alone. Beggars can't be choosers. How old is her daughter? My daughter is also a setting herself up for some heavy duty crap later on down the road when my grandson comes of age when he will refuse to wear anything other than name brands. She will buy him name brands and tells him that it is the best. He is only 5 years old.

I have a friend just like that which is nice for me in a way since her daughter is 10 months older than mine. So I get the hand me downs. My kids are almost 3 and 8 months. I shop for most of their clothes at the dollar store or walmart. I hit the clearance racks and have been known to but discounted stuff a size or 2 larger so that I don't have to worry when the time comes. At their age all that matters is that they have clothes on. Why pay for a high dollar outfit when all their going to do is go play in the mudd. Her kids are older and need to know that mommys not a money tree. 20$ jeans at walmart are just as good as tommy or mudd jeans are.

Well Tommy isn't real the highest end stuff anymore. It can be bought at discount stores now. Is it possible she thrift shops, ebay's, or garage sales for this stuff? The only good thing about buying name brands is they can be resold for almost what you paid for them. That's the great part of Ebay! I don't have kids yet, but I know I'll buy them nice things I can resell when they outgrow them. Now if she's paying full retail, not reselling them, and can't afford them..Then she shouldn't be buying them. It sounds like the daughter is a spoiled brat.

My kids do not care, the 7 year old used to have designer when he was small but now there is 2 of them I do not buy it unless it's on offer. I think I may have problems later on but right now I'm getting Supermarket clothes and crossing my fingers it lasts.

She is nuts. Like others said "beggars can't be choosers". If she is going to a pantry for food she should not be spending her money on name brand stuff. That is just wrong. The money should be going for food first. I can't stand people like that. I have 4 kids and the last time I bought something name brand for them was when my oldest was about 4 months old and I bought a dress and 2 shirts at the Gap for her. I had a gift card and got the stuff on sale. I spent $15 total, lol. The shirts are now being worn by my youngest. They have been through 4 kids and are in great condition but I can't afford to shop at places like that any more. I only buy at Wal-mart of Target, that includes clothes for myself. My kids do have name brand stuff in their drawers (mostly the girls) and they are all hand-me-downs or I bought them at the Salvation Army. Just a couple months ago a friend gave me some boy jeans. They were for my son but too small but I took them anyway and gave them to my 4 year old daughter. They are Tommy Hilfiger, Gap and a pair of Ralph Loren overalls that she loves. There was over $100 worth of pants. Most of the stuff the girls has came from my friend whose daughter is 1 year and 1 day older then my oldest. I got all of her old stuff and she had so much that most of it was only worn once or twice. Hand me down's rock! So does the Salvation Army. I wish we had one here. We have a thrift store but they have almost no children's clothes. I got my son an Old Navy shirt, got the girls 2 jeans and 2 shirts (1 pair of jeans was designer and the shirts were from Children's Place) and a pair of jeans for my son at the Salvation Army one day and spent like $8. My son wore the shirt for his birthday pictures when he turned 3. He finally outgrew it and I had to pack it away.

I agree with you. It doesn't make any sense does it? Because of it there is an awful lot of kids being brought up not having a clue of the value of a dollar! They want it! They pitch a fit until they get it, and get away with it! Go figure!

I can see this situation from several different angles. When I was little, money was tight. My mom bought clothes for my brothers and I at places like Kmart and thrift stores. The worse thing was having Kmart shoes. For some reason all the kids at school knew what brand of sneakers Kmart made, and they would make fun of us. We were so embarressed. I really would look forward to Christmas when my aunt would buy me an outfit from the JC Pennies catalog. My cousins were the exact opposite. They always got name brand stuff. Even if their mom had to put in extra hours. Sometimes they got hand-me-down from the neighbors. But it always was Bennington, Guess, etc. The outcome? I refuse to spend excessively on clothes. I have guilt when I do. My brother went to the other extreme and will only buy trendy hipster clothes with Diesel labels. My cousins are going to school and working full time so they can redo their whole wardrobe every season. So I agree, you should teach kids value... but at the same time - has your friend checked consignment shops and thrift stores to find name brand stuff really cheaply? I think that it's important to have clothes you feel comfortable in for self esteem issues. I disagree with allowing your child to say they will only wear one brand. How old is her daughter? Maybe it's time for her daughter to get a job.

Unfortunately she probably sees that if her daughter doesn't "fit in" she will be marked as "one of the poor kids" and made fun of. Children can be so cruel. I for one have always taught my children that you are what you are and money does not make the person. I've dealt with multi millionaires that I wouldn't give the time of day to, simply because they lack in morals. While I've had bums on the street share a table with me and enjoyed their company more than anything. It's sad that it happens, but I can understand in some ways too. What I used to do was buy the name brand items from the Salvation Army in mint condition. Nobody knew the better!

As a teen, usually I'm expected to appreciate brand name clothing over all. I have my favorites, but I'm not limited to them. I buy certain names because they fit me better. I'm a 5 foot nothing 18 year old with strong thick legs. It's difficult to find jeans that fit properly. Usually if the leg fits, the waist is to small, or if the waist fits, the legs are much to long. Sometimes names such as Bongo Jeans fit me well so I stick to them. But I also have a job. My parents haven't bought me clothing I NEEDED in forever. They buy me it because they feel like it if they ever do. I can't speak much for Americans, but I've noticed that it's not many Canadians that care about brand name, unless as I noted above, it's just what fits. Of course, not all people are the same, and we have those that just LOVE their brandnames. Especially with West Edmonton Mall (worlds largest mall) near by.

If she needed to go to the food pantry to get food, then she should NOT be worrying about wearing name brand clothes! I think that's a crock. Thank goodness, my girls could care less if there clothes are name brand. We buy almost all our clothes from Walmart of some other discount store. You can get three or four outfits for the same price as the name brands and they are just as good!

Every once in a while I'll buy a name brand clothing item but for the most part it doesn't matter about brand name to me. I think it does to kids because of peer pressure. Trying to fit in with everyone else, and a lot of parents given to help their kids fit in.

tommy hilfiger isn't that great of a brand name, I'd rather let me kids wear mossimo (target) than tommy hilfiger. Tommy doesn't have much style. oh well, to each their own. I think it's important to teach your child style and fashion. and to work hard to earn these brand names if you know how to wear them. Like I said, to each his own. kids at school will be looking to my kids for advice when it comes to what they should be wearing and I'm going to be one proud momma.

I feel the same way you do, I try not toput any name brand on my children becasue I do not want them to adapt to that type of life style. Don get me wrong I love dressing them in nice clothes but not something that is going to cost me more them a care lol! But I have ran into many people just like that and it s horrible. I have 5 yr old twins and on time I brought them a pair of timberlang boots and the next day they were destroyed. So I learnd my lesson!

I see the problem. My mom is on disability and I never asked her for those kinds of things. I was always taught if you want something really bad go out and work for it dont sit around waiting for someone to buy it for you. I really feel for your friend cause my mom always felt the we needed the best to fit in properly so she went without alot of things while me and my sister had everything. Im now grown and my mom barely gets by on what she gets now and shes had an anurisum (I know its spelled wrong)so she can barley walk so working is out of the question. I try to help all I can but again I know excatly how your friend feels and it very sad.

Its a horrible world we live in when the children won't wear anything but name brands. As usual mum or dad would have gone without so the kids have it, instead of teaching them that the name doesn't make you a better person. My daughter is 12 and she will wear most things as long as they look good. She has a unique sense of taste and can put together some inexpensive things that look great. She also tries to get expensive stuff at times but knows we can't afford it, so I do give in for a special occaision.

are u kidding me..? even i cannot afford Tommy Hilfiger although i work full time job..ur friend needs a reality check and her daughter too. she needs Pantry to help out and her daughter needs dseigner clothes..?? its crazy.

Yes I see this as a problem. Children don't value the dollar anymore. I think that it is the fault of the parents because they give in to the children's ridculous requests. Therefore, letting the children know that paying for name brand clothing all the time is ok. Why not let the child know if we buy this cheaper pair then maybe can get 2 pair instead of one pair, or if we buy the cheaper pair then we apply the rest to grocery. I know being a single parent I have taught my children that I am on a budget, there is nothing wrong with wearing clothing from Walmart. I emphasize as long as you are clean (physically and clothing) that everything is ok. The bottom line to this discussion is peer pressue. Teens trying to fit in with their peers. We need to teach our children that is ok to be different even if others are not willing to accept it.