Back to School Fashions That Don’t Break the Bank!

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It’s almost that time of year again….can you believe it? Summer flew by, and it’s time to start thinking about back to school shopping! As a mother of six children, I always begin my shopping at Goodwill. I’m frequently surprised by the brands and current styles I can find for each of my children and their varying tastes. They find the styles they desire, and I get the prices I want. It’s truly a win-win!

Here, I’m featuring two of my children and a few pieces we found for each of them. I want to point out that these looks came together with just a couple of trips to Goodwill!

First, on Chloe, we started with this adorable but comfy plaid shirt. A shirt like this is so versatile because you can layer it, making it perfect for those cooler fall days that are just around the corner. The brand is Daytrip and would easily retail for over $25 at the mall. I picked it up for only $1.49. We paired it with a blue sleeveless shirt from Old Navy, also $1.49. I think one of the best bargains at Goodwill is jeans and these were no exception. Only $1.49 for Justice brand jeans? That’s amazing! We topped off her look with a black pair of Toms ($3.99) and this brand new Embark backpack that I discovered for $2.99. Chloe is first-day-of-school ready….for under $17!

For a different look for Chloe, we paired a cute graphic shirt with those same Justice jeans. I love the lace detailing on the shirt. Again, only $1.49.

My middle school daughter, Elizabeth, found some great pieces she can build into her wardrobe. One tip…when shopping for your middle schooler, be sure to check out both the children’s section and the adult section. This red plaid shirt from Hollister is another versatile piece that pairs well with many things, like her American Eagle tee and grey shorts from Old Navy. The shorts where still brand new with the tags and only $1.49. Her entire look comes in at under $13!

For Elizabeth’s second look, we simply changed from shorts to jeans, another great bargain at only $3.99. These Hollister jeans easily retail for more than $50 at the mall. That’s a huge savings! Her brown leather booties are by Top Shop and were just $7.99.

Between enrollment fees, lunch fees and every other expense parents face this time of year, it’s nice to know that back to school clothing shopping doesn’t have to break the bank. Stop by your neighborhood Goodwill and see what you can find!

by Cristy Harder

Cristy Harder is a Goodwill Fashion Consultant. Check out her “Fashion Friday” post every Friday on Instagram. Cristy lives in Newton with her husband and six daughters and loves to write, decorate and workout in her free time.