Eaton, Fannie Brown

Elmore, Kay

Hard, Graham

Roberts, Hazel L.

Texas A&M University

L-874
BUYING CHILDREN'S CLOTHES
Hazel L. Roberts • Fannie Brown Eaton • Kay Elmore • Graham Hard
Extension Clothing Specialists
Texas A&M University
Planning is as essential for a 6 to l2-year-old
child's wardrobe as it is for an adult's. A first
consideration is to know what other children are
wearing. Plan at home with the child, and make
some decisions before you shop. Keep the plan
fIe ible to adjust to the changing role and clothing
wishes of the child, and growth, color and styles
that are in fashion for children.
When you shop, keep in mind:
• The child's wardrobe.
• What the child needs.
• How the item will be used.
• What size, color, quantity and quality you
want.
• The price you want to pay.
Timing is important in efficient shopping. If
possible, take the child to the store to tryon
garments. One brand may fit differently from
another depending upon how the manufacturer
has designed it and allowed for ease. Care required,
durability, cost and how a child feels in his clothes
are important points in buying. Select clothes that
are designed for comfort, activity, growth and
personal development.
FABRIC
Today's busy mothers want easy-to-care-for fab-
rics. They may be of three kinds:
• Fabrics such as cotton, rayon or blends that
have a special finish added, as Permanent
Press.
• Fabrics made entirely of man-made fibers
such as polyester, acrylic and nylon.
• Fabrics of blends of certain man-made fibers.
Cottons are favorites for children's wear because
they are absorbent, comfortable and washable. The
man-made fibers are easy to care for, and resist
wrinkling, though they may not be as absorbent
as cotton, linen and wool.
Colorfastness, shrinkage control and other fabric
finishes, such as durable press and soil release are
important in children's clothes.
3.7
SIZE AND FIT
Because sizes for children's clothing differ from
brand to brand, it is wise to try clothes on the
child, rather than to depend on the size on the label.
To allow for growth, instead of buying garments
which are too large, look for clothing design that
lnay adapt itself more easily to growth. Features
that allow some growth include:
• Undefined waistlines
• Deep-cut armholes for set-in sleeves
• Raglan or kimono sleeves
• Two-piece garments
• Deep hems or cuffs
• Long tails on shirts and blouses
• No tight cuffs or bands
• Some elastic (elastic should never entirely
encircle the arm, leg or waistline)
• Stretch or knit fabrics.
Sizing of children's clothing is often confused
with age. The age of the child does not determine
the size of clothing, because children of the same
age vary greatly in height and weight as well as
body proportions. The best way to choose the
right size is to be fitted in the store. When shop-
ping without the child, know his height and
weight, as these are factors used in determining
a child's size.
Service • John E. Hutchison, Director • Col ge Station
The chart below gives some standard measure-
ments recommended by Commercial Standards of
the U. S. Dep~rtment of Commerce. These measure-
ments are used by many garment manufacturers.
The most frequent complaints' concerning the
fit of boys' clothes are in waist size, growth allow-
ance, sleeve and pant lengths. Girls' clothes may
not fit at the waistline, be too long in the shoulders
or have overly tight ban·ds on the sleeves.
CONSTRUCTION
To withstand hard wear and laundering, chil-
dren's clothes should be well constructed. Re-
inforcements at points of strain at knees, elbows
and ends of pockets are desirable. Seams should
be finished as needed, depending on the type of
fabric. Firm strong buttonholes and buttons sewed
with a threadshank are found on quality garments.
Interfacing should be used in button and button-
hole areas to prevent the fabric from tearing.
Hems should be even and sewn substantially. Wide
hems are an indication of quality. Stitches should
be close together. Any decoration or trim should
be firmly attached and of a quality to last the life
of the garment.
APPEARANCE
Younger children prefer bright colors. They
often enjoy ex.pressing their own preferences for
color. A feature sometimes overlooked in designing
clothes for the school child is the number and size
of pockets. Children are collectors and enjoy many
large pockets.
Simple uncluttered lines are compatible with a
child's active life. The garments should be amply
cut to allow for freedom of movement, such as
deep-cut armholes, comfortable cuffs and necklines.
The trim should .be interesting and enhance the
design of the garment rather than detract from it.
The wardrobe for a school-age child may range
from a small, well-planned wardrobe to a large
closet full of clothes. No one wardrobe is best for
all children in the school-age group. A child's
wardrobe plan depends on many things - the time
and money to be spent on clothing, climate and
weather, whether the child walks or rides to school
and preferences of the child. A growing child needs
clothing replacements at different times during the
school year; therefore, it's usually wise not to buy
more than is necessary for a child at one time.
Height Weight
Size (inches) (pounds)
7 50 60
8 52 67
9 54 75
10 56 83
12 58 1/2 95
7 48 54
8 50 59
9 52 65
10 54 73
11 56 80
12 58 87
GIRLS
BOYS
Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics, Texas A&M University and the United States Department of
Agriculture cooperating. Distributed in furtherance of the Acts of Congress of May 8, 1914, as amended, and June 30, 1914.
10M-11-69 CLO 1


English

Buying Children's Clothes.

https://oaktrust.library.tamu.edu/bitstream/1969.1/164884/2/874/Leaf0874.pdf

Buying Children's Clothes.

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