Published: September 01, 2007 10:39 am            

KIDS SHOPPING: Cool Clothes Hot Trends

BY MARISA MUSCOREIL

niagaraliving@gnnewspaper.com

Two-year old Madeline Naab pranced around gracefully in her red flowered dress, proudly flipping it back and forth through her hands, making it flow with every touch. The bright array of colors and girlie feel seemed to make Madeline feel like a princess. Her mother, a clothing store owner, looked cheerfully at her daughter, pleased to know that such a dress could be had at an affordable price.

Madeline’s mom thinks everyone should be able to find great clothing at a fair cost, especially in the Western New York region. Since styles are constantly changing and children are constantly growing, she knows that keeping up with the latest trends can be more of a burden on a budget than a blessing. That, she said, is one reason why she opened her shop in Kenmore, Nabkins Children’s Boutique. Another store owner had similar feelings and opened up a shop about two years ago, Lollipop Loft Kids Consignment Shop in Tonawanda.

Lollipop Loft is a place to bring gently-used name-brand clothing, such as Old Navy, Aeropostale, Gap and Limited Too, that kids no longer want and sell them for money or credit at the store. Sizes range from infant to preteen and as long as there are no stains, holes, or missing buckles, buttons or snaps, Lollipop Loft will resell your clothing for you.

Deane McGloin, owner of Lollipop Loft, said she found “a real need to help families” who are looking to save money, plus everything in this store is up to 75 percent off retail prices.

“People bring in clothing and we sell the clothing for them,” McGloin said. “Everything’s computerized.”

McGloin said the hottest trends for this season are plaid skirts with leggings, cropped sweaters, dresses and jumpers. Subdued glitter on articles of clothing as well as distressed jeans are more popular than ever.

“This really helps the families,” McGloin said. “Kids take such better care of their clothing because they want to sell it.”

Nabkins is a small locally owned shop that sells children’s clothing and accessories in exclusively boutique lines including ELand Kids, Tea Collection, Mulberribush and Robeez in sizes ranging from infant to 6x/7.

Kirsten Naab, owner of Nabkins Children’s Boutique, said she opened her boutique because she feels most children’s clothes lines are not age-appropriate. She said her boutique also allows parents to dress their children in clothing that they won’t find in any other place.

“We try and keep prices reasonable,” Naab said. “We try and keep some modestly priced lines and some higher priced lines.”

A typical pair of shorts might be priced at $11.95 and a T-shirt at $19.95, while a formal dress might be $104.

“(The clothes) wear so well,” Naab said. “You get quite a bit of use out of them. The quality is very good.”

As for the trends this year, Naab said young girls are layering up their outfits, while boys are keeping it simple and preppy with polo shirts, khakis, sweater vests and cardigans.

“The dress with the jeans underneath, that is huge this year,” Naab said. “Boy-wise, they go very traditional. Preppy is very big this year.”

For more information about Lollipop Loft Kids Consignment Shop visit www.lollipoploft.comor call 693-2989. For Nabkins Children’s Boutique, call 447-0524.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.