Value Village for ski clothes?

[Anonymous]

So we're going to make a ski trip nearby in a couple of weeks. With the weather the way it is and the fact that we only go once or twice a year, I'm loathe to spend lots of money on outfitting my kids, but they need new stuff.

Has anyone gone to Value Village or similar to get ski pants and a jacket for girls? Which location and any other advice?

I'm embarrassed to admit it but I have never been to a thrift store before.

[Anonymous]

I bought my son snow pants and a ski jacket there a few months ago. I paid under $10 for each of them (I think the pants were $5 and the jacket $7). The pants are a brand I don't know and the jacket - in perfect shape - is LLBean.

You can find snow boots too, probably under $10.

Definitely worth a trip IMO. Bear in mind, though, that it is very much a luck of the draw thing and they may not have what you need in the right size the day you go. (I'd suggest you look in both the boys' & girls' sections for both items; some of these things are unisex.)

If you don't find what you need, try Target - I imagine all the winter stuff is on sale now.

[Anonymous]

Thanks PP. Which location did you go to?

[Anonymous]

There's a large element of luck in thrifting. I'd advise you to choose the two Value Village stores closest to your house, as well as at least one non-VV store, and visit each one of them to look for what you want. Make sure your kids are OK with whatever color you bring home.

Also, try to familiarize yourself with a variety of brand sizes. I know that my son is a S/5-6 in most clothing, but Land's End runs large and I can't go above 4 in that brand, for example.

My other piece of advice is to put your new purchases in the dryer for at least 30 minutes on high heat immediately after you get them home, before any washing and even before trying on. The vast majority of purchases won't have moth or carpet beetle eggs, but you need to protect yourself against the .001% that do.

One more thing: Have you looked at Children's Place & Target, particularly online? Winter coats are at least 50% off at this point. You might get something closer to what you need for only a bit more $ and a lot less work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks PP. Which location did you go to?

I go to the one on New Hampshire Avenue, just inside the Beltway - that location actually has a "sister store" adjacent called Unique Thrift. If I don't find what I'm looking for in the store on the left (VVillage) then I just go next door.

If you find nothing, you can then take Powder Mill Road to Target (five minute drive).

[Anonymous]

TJ Maxx in Friendship Heights has ski pants for women for about $35.

[Anonymous]

OP, I routinely shop for kids clothing at Value Village. I live near the one on Route 450 in Landover Hills.

http://www.imunique.com/pages/LandoverHillMaryland/

I have had great success finding almost anything I need for the kids there -- but the caveat is, you can't find exactly what you need on a given day. And the younger your kids are, the better your chances -- because little kids outgrow things quickly and they get passed on.

[Anonymous]

PP again -- sorry I hit enter before I was done.

So if you have small children I'd go ahead and look at a couple of VV stores -- I'm sure they will have snow gear because it hasn't snowed hardly at all this year. But if your kids are older than 8, I'd go ahead and look for sales at other stores, or just borrow the clothes you need, unless you are willing to make a few trips.

[Anonymous]

I'm mostly looking for DD who is 10 and wears a 10/12. I'd really like to get her a jacket somewhere.

I decided to just order some pants for DS because he's hard to fit.

[Anonymous]

I'd say you have a good chance of finding her something that would do, as long as she isn't particular about color; but you might need to go to two stores at that size. On the plus side, the coast are really cheap -- under $10 for sure.