CHIC on a dime
Zara
Mik Serfontaine’s wife and business partner, Maria, loves this Spanish retailer for its quality construction and smart take on classic design. Girls’ dresses and jackets come in grown-up cuts that mom might covet: a belted trench coat in tomato red for $76 and stylish jodhpurs with side zippers for $27. The boy’s collection gives a rocker edge to classic looks: argyle sweaters, $24; distressed boot-cut jeans, $35; and high-tops with star-print lining, $29. Maria says, “The coordination is great too; it’s very European. When you go shopping, you don’t find one thing that’s cute, you find an entire outfit.” Zara, 1338 3rd Street Promenade, Santa Monica, (310) 458-0892.
--
For Kids Only
Tarina Tarantino shops this Fairfax boutique in search of deep discounts on this and last year’s lines from hard-to-find European designers. “You can get clothes there that you can’t get anywhere else,” she says. “I recently found a pair of Naturinos, the best Italian shoes for kids.” Markdowns include new merchandise from high-end Italian brands Il Gufo, Loredana and Magil. Prices range from $15 to $200 for girls’ skirts; boys’ suits are $49 to $240. For Kids Only, 746 N. Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles, (323) 650-4885.
--
Children’s Orchard
Mik and Maria Serfontaine like to paw through this resale shop filled with recycled kids’ clothes. Their favorite deals include barely worn Kenneth Cole, Burberry, Ralph Lauren and Baby Lulu. “We mix and match a lot so that they can have their own style. Very rarely will you find us at the Gap,” says Mik. Recent finds: an Oilily pink-and-orange cotton top with strawberry graphic, $6.99, and a Ralph Lauren blue sundress, $8.99. A rack of new merchandise held a sweater by Small Paul, $24.99, that sells for $52 at the Paul Frank boutique. Children’s Orchard, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Manhattan Beach, (310) 546-8823.
--
Salvation Army
Kidswear designer Kingsley Aarons is a fan of “the kind of places you pay a quarter for a belt--like the Salvation Army.” He and his wife Amy comb through racks looking for nostalgic pieces such as a T-shirt with a Farrah Fawcett or “Sesame Street” graphic. They’ve scored oodles of playful rocker T-shirts, one-of-a-kind plaid pants and furry Kangol-style hats. “Just make sure that you wash everything,” he warns. “I’ve turned into a germ freak since I had my boy.” The couple’s favorite stops are in Long Beach and Costa Mesa. For locations, go to www.salvationarmyusa.org.
--
EBay
The online marketplace holds plenty of gems in the vintage and ready-to-wear departments. Designer Corey Lynn Calter bids on hand-crocheted vintage sweaters and high-end items from Sonia Rykiel and Cacharel. “I like to mix vintage kids’ clothing with new,” she says. Calter also buys clothing by the lot, which offers a grab bag of styles and sizes--a recent score was entirely Baby Dior. “You’ll get 20 pieces in one lot and maybe 10 will be good,” she says, “but you only spent $40.” She throws the other 10 items into 3-year-old Sadie’s dress-up box. www.ebay.com.
--
Target
Kristopher Enuke’s wife Amy heads to Target to stock up on basics for her three kids at least once a week. “If you layer, it can look really cool,” she says. She chooses brightly colored classic tanks and pants that she distresses herself. “I’ll buy hot-pink tights to wear under a little skirt for my 12-year-old daughter. For my son, I’ll rip out the hems of basic cargos to make them look even cooler. It’s all about ‘funkacizing’ things to make them work.” Enuke’s top buys: ribbed tanks, $7.99; opaque tights, $3.24; and boys’ pants, $12.99. For locations, go to www.target.com.
