8th grade graduation dress shopping

My daughter will be graduating from 8th grade in June. She does not want to shop for dresses at department stores or anyplace where her friends/classmates might also be shopping in order to reduce the risk of getting the same dress as someone else. Any suggestions? We are in Walnut Creek, but I am willing to travel anywhere in the Bay Area. Thanks!

Clothes for a very small 14 year old

My daughter is almost 14, and very small for her age (as was I). She's a scosch under 5 feet tall (with most of her height in her legs), weighs around 84 pounds, and is early in manifesting puberty physically. I'd say her body is most like that of today's 10-11 year olds. She is also quite slender. None of this is a problem, except that she is tired of dressing like a little kid. She is rather modest, so she isn't looking to show skin, just looking for clothes that are cut with a little more sophistication than those made for the elementary school set. The only pants we can reliably find which fit her are jeans (she wears a 12S or 14S), though she doesn't like the ones with a low rise. She is still too small for sizes 0/1 in misses/juniors - we tried buying some and taking them in for alterations, but she's so skinny that they couldn't be altered to fit.

Any thoughts on where to find clothing that fits her? Or brands that might work? She loves buying clothes second hand, which is terrific if unreliable. I've even taken her to have a pair of pants made, though that approach is too expensive for us to rely upon as the solution. Petite Skinny-Minny's Mom

Teen daughter clothes shopping ideas

Dear Friends, Where do your girls shop for clothes? Our daughter, now 16 1/2, will be entering her junior year in high school next fall and would really like to revamp her wardrobe. Shopping is one of her least favorite pasttimes and has said she doesn't think there's a store out there for her - she's not especially trendy, mostly jeans and tshirts -she was a Land's End, LL Bean kind of kid growing up - she doesn't like Juicy Couture (too trendy), Old Navy (too tacky); sometimes finds things in Nordstroms and Macy's (but feels they are a little staid/grown-up). She likes J Jill and Eileen Fisher sometimes, but they cost a fortune. So we're in a quandry and could use some suggestions as to where to shop without spending the king's ransom. Names of stores in Oakland/Berkeley, greater East Bay, SF, Marin, even the Peninsula(and specific locations if possible) would be much appreciated. Thanks!

3 locations - the one in Berkeley, on Telegraph, seems a bit more ''Berkeley'', and my teen isn't in love w/ the location/feel of the store. Also, one in Alameda, when you're over that way.

We/she generally shops at the one on Lakeshore Ave, and LOVES LOVES LOVES it. Jeans, t's, layering tops, *cute* summer dresses, and some shoes (tho' a lot of them have heels that are not for school...)

Also, nice accessories (earrings, scarves, bags).

Most everything she's brought home has been good quality and reasonable prices. Nordstrom and McCalou's carry the same brands, but often charge much more (esp. Nordstrom).

She's also found some cute tops at the resale shop on Lakeshore (down the street from Sway), but that's hit-or-miss. (I've found nice things there, too... but then, I'm ''old''....)

Good luck! It's a challenging time. Mom to a teenage shopper!

I like J Jill too, and I stop by whenever I can and look ONLY at the sales rack. I often find a piece or two, but if not, it is a quick stop in. I have their credit card (automatically 5% off) and get their emails, which often have good offers. Once she knows her sizes, she can check the online sale items regularly and buy that way.

''Thrifting,'' as my friend calls it, is a great way to find good clothes and can be fun too. It is pretty time-consuming. After she explores some different second-hand stores, she will have a better idea which ones she likes and she will get faster at going through the racks. Goodwill, Salvation Army, Thrift Town are super cheap; consignment stores like Rockridge Rags less so, but more pleasant and still cheaper than new. Ross has new clothes but it is about like going to one of the consignment stores in terms of work and price. Also, one store that comes to mind that she might like is J Crew (but prob not cheaper than J Jill). frugal shopper

Buffalo Exchange www.buffaloexchange.com 2585 Telegraph Avenue Berkeley, CA 94704 (510) 644-9202

They have a lot of different clothes and it is a second hand store so you can get very well made clothes. It has a very easy atmosphere, she can sell clothes back - though they are very choicy when it comes to selling clothes.

Also H&M - there is are several in the Bay Area - the clothes are not that well made, but they are not expensive, and she can try things on.

Also if she still likes LLBean - Lucky Brand has a full line of tops and jeans. They are more pricey but if you get to know your closest store they have great sales. The clothes are well made and are sewn to fit real people so they tend to look great. Just watch where my daughter shops

1) The teen department at McCaulou's in Lafayette. Highly recommended! My daughter and I shop here at least once a month. There are two keys: shop only the sales racks and ask the salesgirls for help locating the items you're looking for. The full-price items are expensive. The sales racks are plentiful and items seem to be marked down every few weeks. If you find something but it costs too much, ask the salesgirls when it might go on sale.

2) eBay. We have found some terrific clothes (Abercrombie and Fitch; American Eagle, etc.) at amazingly low prices. Look at the pictures and read the descriptions to make sure items are new or gently used. Make sure the seller has a high rating (I look for 98% or more) and a reasonable return policy (if none is listed or it is unreasonable, I pass). The eBay site explains how to join and purchase items. You also can sell her outgrown or unloved items here.

3) My daughter loves Hot Topic on Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley. She shops here with friends and I've approved of everything she's purchased here. Have fun shopping! Nancy

Crossroads (Berkeley) - affordable; range of styles (secondhand)

H&M (SF) - prices range from affordable to slightly pricey; can be very trendy but good for items like blouses, blazers, black skirts, slacks, & has lots of jewelry

Forever 21 (SF) - affordable; slightly trendy; but very cheap jeans, t-shirts, & sweaters

Thrift Town (SF) - very affordable; huge selection; range of styles (secondhand)

Sarah

Clothes for 11-year-old: kids' sizes don't fit, neither do adults!

We have reached a bit of a fashion crises and I am looking for suggestions. Target and Old Navy's children's sections are no longer of interest to my 11 year old but the adult clothes are still too big, especially when it comes to pants. Are there any inexpensive places to shop for tweens??? Fashion hungry

I'm looking for jeans for my 8-1/2 year old. She is at the top of then weight range so slim pants don't do it. Usually pants either fit in the waist & are much too long or vice versa. Anyone have success in finding jeans & other pants that are designed for the non-slim child in mind? Thanks! Rebecca

Does anyone have ideas of stores and/or catalogs to buy stylish young teen style clothing for a girl with a thick waist? We went shopping yesterday and nothing she liked fit. My daughter essentially has no waist although she is not heavy. She has always worn elastic waist pants and shorts, leggings, or men's jeans and has not cared, but now she wants girl's bell bottoms with embroidered flowers on the legs and clothes that fit at the waist. We tried some women's clothes since she is tall, but the proportions were wrong for a young girl. I don't want her to be unhappy about her natural body shape, but fashion is working against me.