How to Find the Best Deal on Kids Clothes

• Shop for quality at the best price. A piece of quality used clothing is a better deal than a piece of cheap new clothing. Shop in thrift stores, consignment shops, Ebay, Freecycle (a yahoo group where people give away what they no longer need). Accept hand-me-downs from friends. You can pass on the stuff you can't use or don't want. Take it to the thrift store to donate the next time you shop there.

• Buy off-season at the sales. This is better if your kids are bigger and not likely to grow two sizes before the next season, but you can anticipate. Buy large. Quite often the end of season sales are still in the middle of the season you want anyway.

• Never pay full price. Look for coupons online and in the paper. Ask the store clerk when the item will go on sale next. Look for online deals - clearance sales, coupon codes.

• If your kids outgrow some nice pieces that are still in perfect condition, consider opening an ebay account and reselling them. This is a great way to cut down on the bottom line. If you have a good kids consignment shop nearby, take the things there to sell. It's easier than ebaying and you can pick up some good deals while you are there.

2008-2009 winter hottest fashion trends

What to wear this winter? The bright primary colors of the last year are gone, but this doesn't mean that 2008/2009 winter is going to be dull and boring. The hottest looks of winter demand colorful choices, architectural clothing shapes and bold combination of different pieces. Tomato reds, teal greens, indigo blues, subtle tones of apricot and honey and rich tones of aubergine purple are going to compete with come back of the grays.
Think bold when choosing clothing for winter 2008-2009, especially if you're looking for a coat. The shape of clothing should make a statement. Fashion designers offer pyramid shaped coats, emphasized hour-glass shaped coats and dresses, clothing with emphasized shoulders line, tulip shaped skirts and carrot top pants. Shapes like those are very expressive, so the garments are mono-colored or indistinctly ornamented and contain as less decorative details as possible. If trendy shapes are too daring for you, go for compromise: variations of large collars. Knitted or furry, modern or vintage style - collar must be big and make a contrast to either texture or fabric or color of the clothing. Collars are not for coats only; they adorn jackets, vests and cardigans tooThis winter is the right time to become romantic biker. Glossy leather clothing, biker jacket and shiny zippers are the must-haves. But this image is neither heavy nor aggressive; leather clothing is combined with fur, knitwear, see-through fabrics and puffy playful skirts.
Grey used to be the new black on the last winter. This color is very gratifying as it goes well with all the other tones and makes a nice background for bright colors. However, the shades of dark slate grey said good bye a year ago and softer silverfish tones appear to accompany large variety of rose quartz, pale taupe, lavender, lemon chiffon and other beiges. The creamy tones work well all together, but they also compliment rich colors that are trendy 2008-2009 winter.