Back-to-School Clothes
Posted by Sherry McGregor on 04 Aug 2009 | Posted in: Teachers and Teaching
When I was teaching, shopping for back-to-school clothes was an all-in-the-family event. My husband and I were both teaching, and our daughters, Cari and Mandy, just kept growing. So, when fall rolled around, everyone in the family needed new clothes and shoes! Because our small town had just a few stores, we drove two hours to the nearest mall and made a day of it—a full day! We treated ourselves to lunch and snacks in the food court and inevitably stayed until the mall closed. Whew! Our girls are older now and do most of their shopping on their own, but Mark still needs to freshen up his back-to-school wardrobe, and I just might need a pair of shoes! So, this weekend, we’re headed to the mall!
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37 Responses to “Back-to-School Clothes”
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More Comments Pages: [1] 2 3 4 » Show All Comments
I love shopping for new clothes for me to start school in too. That and new supplies. Just like as a kid I used to spend time in front of the mirror trying on new clothes to pick out what I would wear the first day of school. Here I am decades later doing the same thing.
When my husband became an AIG “victim” we discovered the local GOODWILL shop. Because we live in a nice area the labels are just incredible! I am the lucky Mom of four daughters and when all pants are just $4.95 you can’t help but tell them to have a good time in the store! Two weeks ago I GRABBED a beautiful winter wool suit, Talbot’s Brand, for $9.95. OK, so it wasn’t this season but who cares as long as I look professional and feel great doing it? NOW we make a challenge out of it to see who can get the best bargains…the silk Ann Taylor suit I got last month still wins at $4.50 because it was marked down on that particular day…check out you local shop, you might be pleasantly surprised! I sure was!!!
My favorite back to school shopping has always been the school/office supplies! For some reason every year I always feel like I need new colored pens, post-it notes and markers
Sherry, it sounds like you developed a nice back to school tradition with your family which is really what everyone remembers after a few years.
Back-to-school shopping has always been fun for me. Growing up in Michigan, my mother always made sure we got clothes that would last through the cold winter. Unfortunately, that meant that when school started we could not wear many of our new clothes because it was still warm. I now look forward to buying school clothes for myself and my boys. I do make sure they have some things to wear now because it will be awhile before it gets cool in Georgia.
I remember in Jr high & high school, my parents allowed us to spend a certain amount, usually around $75. My Mom was always a bargain shopper, so I was too. I always tried to make that money go as far as I could. I remeber being so thrilled to find jeans for $6!!! Unfortunately, prices have gone up and I am still disappointed I can’t find jeans, even for my kids (8 & 5) for $^ anymore!:)
One of my happiest memories is the summer before I started Jr. High. My family was visiting my grandparents in Oregon and while we were there my mom (a teacher) and I went to a big mall in Salem and bought all of our back to school clothes. This was a huge treat as we usually just bought a few things here and there when needed, but not that year! It was so fun! Now that I am a teacher and I have all boys who would rather shop on-line, I usually just end up trying to shop out of season to save some money.
When I was growing up my mother made the majority of my school clothes, so July and Aug. were months of “Try this on” and lots of straight pins! I’m afraid I was never as appreciative of those outfits as I should have been. I NOW realize how tough financially it was for my parents and I see that the clothing in my school pictures was every bit as good as all the “store bought” clothes my friends wore. I’ve taught for years and my children are all grown, but I must admit that each fall when I pay for new clothes to teach in, I appreciate my mother a little more each year!
I have 3 boys ages 14, 9 and 5. This year, my youngest is starting Kindergarten and he is SO excited to be included, finally in the “Back To School” ritual! We generally wait until the weekend before school begins to search thru the Sunday ads, and they circle the clothing they each like. Then, we make a fun day of shopping and go to a couple of stores, then eat lunch, go shoe shopping and then finally haircuts! Our day is complete, the kids are excited and ready to put their best foot forward on the 1st day of school! Oh, and being the “Scrapbooking Mama” that I am, I always let them pick out their favorite “new” outfit, and I take pictures before we leave the house, and at school…fond memories in the making!
In the 40’s my grandmother worked for Kaufmann’s - a now-owned-by-Macy’s department store in Pittsburgh. They knew their customers so well that the “girls” (and you had to climb up the corporate ladder from “wrapper” to “clerk” to “buyer”, etc) used to call customers when items came in that they thought the customer would appreciate. Or they’d send the clothes (”mix-ups”) out to the customer, who would in turn buy the clothes, or send them back! IMAGINE! But my grandma always used to say, with much disdain in her voice, “You could always tell those teachers when they came in!” Apparently “those teachers” didn’t dress “to the nines” as expected!
I attended private school, so back-to-school shopping was actually uniform fittings — UGH! But I’m heading back to the classroom after a 4-year hiatus, and I hit the mall last weekend for new teacher clothes. Grandma would be happy to know many of my purchases were from Macy’s (during the Georgia tax-free holiday).
I love the memories of back to school clothes shopping. When I was in elementary school, my mom always dressed me in her favorite new outfit (always old-fashioned) and took a picture of me the first morning. It was cheesy, but always made it just that more important and exciting
I still get excited when August rolls around. When my children were little we used to make the day of it and shop for a “September ” wardrobe. Now that my children are grown they STILL go shopping for their clothes as they are both teachers,too!
I use to love going with my mom out of town for back to school shopping. I too lived in a small town and we would have to drive an hour to go to the “big city”. Now I have 3 boys and as someone previously mentioned, boys don’t really like to shop. I take them to get shoes since they have to try them on but otherwise I just pick up things here and there that I hope they will like.