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You’ve emerged from the newborn trenches, when you were washing the same eight tiny footed sleepers on repeat night and day. Then you conquered the toddler years, when a certain increasingly raggedy dress was on daily rotation and every pair of playground-tested pants developed at least one knee hole. For the elementary school years, you’ll want clothes that are practical, durable — and, of course, still cute. Here are our go-to retailers for this age group, where you’ll find everything from sports-friendly pants, cozy PJs, and hand-me-down-worthy coats to special-occasion wear everyone can get excited about.
Looking for more affordable, stylish clothes? Here’s what to wear when working, traveling, and playing — and picks for your kids, too.
We have to give credit where it’s due. For the price, Old Navy has everything we’re looking for. It’s just trendy enough that kids will enjoy picking out new things, but it’s also practical and affordable, especially when there’s a sale (which is often). Whether you’re looking for uniform-friendly basics, layerable dresses, or character-themed T-shirts and sweats, you’ll find them here.
For high-quality dresses, PJs, and basics like leggings and underwear, we keep coming back to Hanna Andersson. It certainly isn’t cheap, but there are sales frequently enough that you never need to pay full price. Their organic cotton long john pajamas come in whimsical patterns that change seasonally, with big releases for Halloween and the holidays, and their skater dress, character sweatshirts, and underwear multipacks are also perennial faves.
While the high quality of Boden is similar to Hanna Andersson’s, the brand has a design sensibility all its own, and if your kid loves bright colors and bold patterns, it’s a good one to add to the mix. Since the price point is on the higher end, we think of it less as a source for stocking up on basics, and more as the perfect place to find a few beautiful, occasion-worthy dresses, or a fall jacket or winter coat that really pops.
Here’s one you might have overlooked in favor of more obviously trendy brands — but it’s worth revisiting for basics like kids’ sweaters, hoodies, jackets, and more. If your school has a uniform or dress code, there’s also a robust uniform department.
Gap is still a great spot to shop for denim, plus basic sweaters, sweats, dresses, and more. With plenty of character collabs and nice cotton PJs, it’s a pretty good all-around clothing source. While the price is higher than Old Navy, there are extremely frequent sales here as well. We’re always shopping here for gym-class-friendly pants, cozy sweat sets, and even puffer jackets.
It’s always worth checking Gap Factory’s site, where you’ll find a more limited collection of different styles. We always check here for new pajama styles, coats, sweaters, and more.
This is one of our go-to brands for fancier kids’ clothing, especially for holidays and special events. There are plenty of casual options, like cute tees, sweaters, and sundresses, but we’ve found even the nicer dresses and suits to be incredibly easy to maintain. We’ve put pretty much everything we’ve bought from here through the washer and dryer, and we haven’t ruined anything yet. The accessories, like sunglasses, tights, hats, and more, are also great accents to any outfit.
If you’re looking for a closet full of plain neutrals, this isn’t the place for you — but for colorful, globally inspired prints (highlighting a different part of the world every season), Tea Collection is a wonderful resource. While patterns change often, with whole collections inspired by countries like France or South Korea, many of the actual styles, like this wrap dress, remain the same, so it’s easy to refresh kids’ wardrobes with familiar pieces as they grow into new sizes. For dresses and bold graphic tees in particular, we love keeping Tea Collection in the mix.
For a really bold (and often very sparkly) pop of occasion-ready color, here’s where to look. This maximalist brand is always doing the most, in a way elementary-school-aged fashionistas will most definitely appreciate. Whether you need a fancy dress, eye-catching holiday outfit, sequined bomber, or just some feathered athleisure, you know where to look.
A great one-stop PJ shop for the whole family, Little Sleepies has wildly popular baby pajamas — but they also sell two-piece sets for kids that go up to size 16. The bamboo fabric is soft and stretchy, and each size is designed to last a long time. Plus, there are no buttons or tags to bother sensitive skin. While you may know the brand most for its sleepwear, they make super-soft play clothes, too…like twirly dresses, cute sweaters, and more.
All the things we love about Carter’s for baby clothes still hold true when your kids get a little older. You’ll find a big selection of cotton and Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified pieces (which means everything has been tested for harmful chemicals), and with frequent sales on already-low prices, you’re unlikely to feel ripped off. We shop here for essentials like easy dresses and sweatpants, and we also always check out their rain and winter coat options, where you can find great deals on products that are super pricey elsewhere.
Another destination for reliable basics, The Children’s Place has great essentials like tops and leggings, but is also good for buying in bulk, with large multipacks available in case you’re shopping to fit a uniform or dress code. Another thing we appreciate: There are extended sizing options for both plus and slim sizes in girls’ clothing, and husky and slim in boys’ clothing.
If you can spot this monkey pattern a mile a way and know exactly where it came from, then Roller Rabbit needs no introduction. If not, know that this is a great place for cute, wonderfully comfy cotton PJs — but also dresses, skirt sets, and more.
It’s hardly a Target run without some impulse buys from the clothing department, but Cat & Jack, one of the store’s biggest in-house labels, is also a destination brand for many parents. That’s because you can find affordable, on-trend outfits that are pretty durable for the price. (There’s also a one-year guarantee, so you have a huge return window.) We always stock up on plain leggings here. Other hard-to-beat basics include $6 t-shirts, $8 uniform polos, $12 pants, and extremely affordable first bras.
Girl moms — if you don’t already own the $4.99 summer dress in several different styles, now’s the time to stock up (for next summer, if need be). But there’s plenty more here for everyone, from sweet waffle-knit henleys and basic sweatshirts to PJs with their favorite characters and beyond.
Whether it’s a holiday matching PJ moment you’re after, or you just want your kids to look extremely put together at all times (including bedtime), Petite Plume has a dressed-up set that will fit the bill. These pieces are not just beautiful, though — they’re also cozy enough to earn a favored spot in the PJ rotation. Go for a classic soft pima cotton pair, a twill set with a button-down top, a classic toile nightgown, or an adorably sophisticated baby romper.
If L.L.Bean was your own parents’ go-to when it came to buying outerwear, they were onto something. A generation later, the quality is still excellent. This is one of our first stops for fleece zip-ups, winter jackets, or any type of snow gear — and the fact that it can all be reliably handed down is just one of the many things we love.
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