In the summer of 1994, I received my first issue of my W subscription. After an initial perusal, I went to my mother and told her very matter-of-factly that I only wanted to wear Moschino from then on. My mom clucked at me and said, “You better get a good job.”
Fast-forward 20 years, and my love for labels has yet to dim, but there’s no way I can purchase everything at retail price (yet!). I’m always on the hunt for new ways to procure designer goods at normal-ish prices. I’ve already described my love for consignment and thrift store shopping. But there is another way.
Go to the children’s department.
The children’s departments, tucked away in the upper floors of the nation’s bastions of luxury, are hidden caches of luxury dresses, coats and sweaters that look virtually identical to the adult versions. I recently visited Saks and Barneys to try my luck. At first, I was a little embarrassed hauling armfuls of clothes into the children’s dressing rooms — until the salespeople told me that half their clients are adult women shopping for themselves. The practice has gotten plenty of attention lately (most recently when Bethenny Frankel wore her child’s pajamas on Instagram)
Here’s the scoop:
In the girls’ section, your best bet will be dresses — but choose a version without many buttons, zippers or fastenings. Sadly, T-shirts won’t wriggle over womanly anatomy. And as for the pants — let’s just say I didn’t even bother.
But dresses tend to have a more forgiving fit, and even shorter hemlines can be rectified with a strategically placed pair of tights or a slip. The Jean Paul Gaultier girls’ sweater dress above looked as flirty and funky as an adult version. And at $175, it was fairly affordable to boot.
By far, the most sumptuous children’s clothing comes from Dolce & Gabbana. (The offerings were virtually identical to the adult runway shows, down to the whimsical owl and brocade prints.)
My problem? Even the tween sizes were just too small. The forest green and gold brocade dress above may LOOK like it fits — but that’s because I couldn’t zip it up. I’m not sure I would have taken the plunge anyway. At $725, the dress was still very expensive, albeit more affordable than the $3,000 these dresses typically command.
By far, the most forgiving designer in this category is Ralph Lauren. I found a delectable tweed coat with a flared skirt. The size 14 even buttoned all the way (although only with a T-shirt underneath — a sweater would have meant disaster). The other problem? The sleeves were about an inch too short.
With mixed luck in the girls’ department, I tried my luck with the boys’ selection.
Bingo.
The boys’ gear was revelatory — unlike the largest girls’ clothes, the boys’ cuts gave me plenty of breathing room. One Vince piece — a classic navy peacoat — was so swingy and slouchy, I kicked myself for buying an $800 women’s coat when I could have gotten the Vince boys’ version for less than $300.
Shopping the boys’ department is so life-changing, it’s like waking up in the Matrix and finding yourself in a reality of half-priced goods. To wit: A fur-trimmed Moncler puffer jacket, which could easily run you $2,000 in the women’s department, cost $725 in the boys’ department.
Some last tips:
- For the most bang for your buck, stick with the outerwear. Coats, parkas and cardigans have the most forgiving fits and best savings-to-original ratio.
- Avoid buying online. Fit is crucial, and every single brand is different. You may be a 16 in one and a 12 in another.
- Forget T-shirts completely. Unless your shoulders are as wiry as a hanger, you’ll be digging teensy tees out of your armpits the entire day.
Would you buy from the children’s department? Share your advice!
