BEING chronically online means I’m inundated with all of the latest trends – whether it’s the latest must-have accessory or ways to save on cash.
And like everyone else, I’m trying to keep to a budget during the cost of living crisis without missing out on the latest styles.
In recent months, fashionistas on social media have sworn by buying from the kids’ clothing section to save cash on their summer wardrobe.
Paige Joanna, a size 12, revealed she regularly shops Next kids’ clothing, while Regan Ellis, a size 10 to 12, swears by Primark’s clothing line for children.
In the UK, clothing for children is VAT so in theory, it should be cheaper than adult sizes, which have the tax added.
And savvy shoppers have spotted that sizes 15-16 for girls often fit women of a size 12, with Next sizing guides even promoting it on their sizing chart.
At 5ft 6″ and a size 10 with DD’s and a need to update my wardrobe whenever the season changes, I decided to give it a go myself to see if it was cheaper, on trend and if they really fit.
The British store is widely loved by parents for its quality baby clothes.
So I decided to see if the kids’ clothes were any good as well.
I picked up this on-trend sardine T-shirt in a kid’s size 16 for 拢15 and was pleasantly surprised.
I assumed it would be a tight fit, but it was actually oversized and was a whole 拢5 cheaper than the women’s version.
I then tried on a dress as I assumed it would be harder for a woman with DD’s to fit into and was correct.
I tried the fitted Pink Mesh Flower Sequin Party Dress that was 拢31, but it was super ill-fitting and tight around the arms.
It also wasn’t much cheaper than other event dresses in the women’s section, like this pretty pink bandeu number that’s 拢36.
My next stop was Primark and I was hoping to see some much more affordable prices.
The clothes sizing in Primark stops slightly younger at 14-15 years old but it didn’t put me off grabbing a selection to try.
The first was an adorable Lemon Print Bubble Hem Dress for 拢12, which honed in on the Mediterranean trend, but I never found out how it looked on as I couldn’t get it over my shoulders.
A similar puffball dress from the ladies’ collection was 拢25.
Next was a pair of trendy barrel leg jeans in grey for 拢14 compared to the women’s 拢16 version.
The trousers were a perfect fit, as well as saving you a couple of quid, so I’d call it a win.
Next was a striped shirred cami top for just 拢4, it fit perfectly and actually was a little big in some places.
The price was an absolute steal compared to the Gingham Shirred Top in the women’s section, which was 拢13.
Last but not least was a knitted button-up waistcoat from the girls’ range that was 拢8.
It wasn’t quite the right fit around the chest, but I could only get it in a size 11-12 years so a couple of sizes up would have been perfect, and yet again was a bargain compared to the Rita Ora Knitted Waistcoat that was 拢13.
The last place on my shopping spree was New Look where I got a range of items.
First, I tried the Yellow Ditsy Print Tiered Mini Dress in a size 15 for 拢22.99.
After the last two dresses failed to fit, I figured this would be the same but because of its stretch cotton material it fit like a glove.
It was slightly cheaper than the women’s yellow mini dress on offer which is 拢25.
I also picked up these on-trend cow print barrel leg jeans that are on sale for 拢16.79, These were a tight fit but I loved the unique print.
Plus, they were half the price of the leopard print jeans in the women’s section for 拢32.
I tried a blue striped bandeau top for 拢12.99 which did fit but the women’s version was actually cheaper at 拢7.99.
Then there was the denim skort which again was a tight fit and cost 拢19.99 compared to the grown up tailored version that was 拢29.
Final Thoughts
While some of the clothes fit perfectly, others, clearly, did not.
You can save some cash shopping in the kids’ section but not enough to make me start shopping there all the time.
I’d also steer away from shopping online, as you want to try the pieces on before buying.