A great packable down jacket for a good price...

Can you tell from the sign where these coats are?  That's right... Costco!  The other day I was shopping for my weekly $4.99 roast chicken and 40 bars of soap when I came across these kids' coats.  They are remarkably soft and on the thin side, though seem quite warm.  They are made by Snozu (I hadn't heard of this brand, have you?) and come with their own small pouch which can hold the entire coat.  Very packable.  The price? $29.99 and they come in gray with green lining, black with chartreuse lining, navy with royal blue lining, periwinkle with aqua lining and pink with orange lining.  And hoods!  The girly colors (pink and periwinkle) have a faux fur trim around the hoods that is, thankfully, removable.  I was a bit taken with this simple little coat and decided to try it for one of my kids.  I do wish that the not-so-beautiful Snozu logo were not on the front of the coat, though I have some plans for hiding that with a cool patch.  Or not.

If they sell these here in Phoenix, my guess is that they sell them at your Costco too, regardless of your climate.  They come in sizes 5/6 through 14/16 which means that this could even be a packable, practical winter layer for small adults as well.

What Petit Bateau does best at an extra 30% off sale prices...

I posted a few weeks ago about some Petit Bateau items on Snapdragons Baby.  They were running a promotion that involved an extra 30% off of sale prices plus free shipping for any order over $10.  Well, the promotion has been extended until Monday, October 1st!  For Petit Bateau, Snapdragon Baby's prices really are a huge discount.  Here are some of the things that I liked, all blue and white and in harmony with my very real weakness for good stripes...

Clockwise, from top left:

marinière short sleeve dress $68 $24.49

marinière stripes footie (note the back snap flap!) $49 $18.89

marinière tiered ruffle dress $59 $20.99

navy leggings $29 $12.59

French terry overalls $58 $22.39

There are many other Petit Bateau sale items on Snapdragons Baby, all of which qualify for the additional 30% discount (babies here, kids here).  Between the quality and classic style of Petit Bateau, you can't go wrong.  Unless of course you pay full price.

Cheap Converse at 6pm...

There is a Converse sale today at 6pm.com!   Converse for women, men and kids are marked down up to 70% and, as always, shipping is free!  I happen to love the kids' classic Chuck Taylors (as pictured above), though there are many, many styles that are drastically reduced in price.  For kids, many of the styles are under $20.  I did post about these same colors last month, but they are still available and the price re-dropped.  These deals are really too good to not pass on to you (again)!

Dazzling blue: hi-top  $12.15

Aruba blue:  hi-top, lo-top  $13.50

Note:  from the time I wrote this post last night to this morning, many colors and sizes sold out.  The sale ends Sunday, so hurry!

And for the baby boys...

Since the baby girls got a good basic staple post earlier today, here's one for the baby boys.  Charlie Rocket stripe jersey pant in charcoal gray and pear.  And I really didn't mean that these are only for boys... they would be great on girls as well!  I love these colors.  But here's the catch:  They only come in size 6-9 months and quantities are very limited (sadly, this is most often the case with the best deals). They are available on 6pm.com for $9.99 (68% off of the $31 retail price) and shipping is free.  These little pants are so, so cute.  I would buy these in my size in a heartbeat.

Note (9/29):  These sold out very quickly.  I hope some of you got a pair before they were gone!

Tea indigo baby leggings for $11...

If you have been buying Tea Collection clothing for a while, you know that indigo is a color that they offer every single season, for boys and girls.  It is their trademark shade and it goes with everything thanks to its perfect mixture of blue and black.  You may also have noticed that the indigo leggings hardly ever go on sale because they are such a versatile season-less staple.  Well, Amazon has these elusive indigo leggings for babies sizes 6-24* months on sale for $11.00, 50% off retail price.  And because they are sold and shipped by Amazon, shipping is free!  They tend to run a little short, so order up a size or two (they are tight enough around the ankles that the extra length doesn't detract).  They are super stretchy, but don't get baggy in the knees or bottom.

When you look for the $11 pairs on Amazon (see link above), just remember that you have to choose the color, indigo, and then click on the sizes "small" (fits 6-12 months), "medium" (fits 12-18 months) or "large" (fits 18-24 months)* to find the deal.  Sometimes Amazon can be a bit confusing and the clothing items can be badly labeled.  Case in point: the header for these leggings says that they are "radish" color, size 12-18 months.  This seems to be an error based on the offerings in several colors and sizes.  You won't be sorry you bought these and may even go back for a second pair!

*Note:  I mistakenly had the sizes wrong in a previous version of this post... Tea Collection baby sizes are XXS (0-3 mos), XS (3-6 mos), S (6-12 mos), M (12-18 mos), L (18-24 mos).  So sorry if there was any confusion... I hope that you caught the error before ordering!  If not, Amazon offers free returns and you should feel free to leave me a nasty comment.  Many apologies!

Splendid Littles striped tween dress...

This striped dress from Splendid Littles is a great multi-season piece for your 7 to 14 year-old.  And, at 60% off or more (depending on color choice), it is a pretty good bargain too.  The price is $26.99 to $29.99, quite a markdown from the original price of $75.  The best part is that, because it is found on 6pm.com, shipping and returns are free!

Ducksday on Gilt for all inclement weather...

Ducksday rain & snow suit $125 $70 

The Belgian kids' outerwear company Ducksday makes smart clothing in versatile layers that works for both rainy and snowy conditions.   The concept is quite Scandanavian: you buy a warm, breathable, moisture-wicking and insulating under-layer and then add a breathable waterproof/windproof outer layer for protection against the elements.  Add some seriously cute patterns and colors, and you have Ducksday!!  I daydream about this clothing for my small people as I sit here in Phoenix, Arizona where we have about three minutes of inclement weather a year.  But I know that some of you live in areas where rain and snow are big factors.  For rain, try the one-piece rain & snow suits above.  If it is cold or snowy, add one of the fleece coveralls (pictured below in those awesome colors) underneath.  The one-piece items come in sizes that range from 6 months to 5 years.

Ducksday fleece coverall $59 $32 

And for kids from 5-10 years old, try these separate jackets and pants combos below:

Ducksday jacket & pants set $174 $99

And now a word on cost.  These items do not fit the profile of most things on The Diminutive Review in that they are on the pricey side.  However, sometimes there are great quality items that just need to be highlighted based on their merit!  Ducksday has thought of everything, even down to the reflective silver taping that make your child more visible to headlights.  This is the kind of solid, unisex outerwear that will be handed down from kid to kid to kid, so it might be worth the investment.  I also like to  spread the word about good brands that may not be so well known.  The good news is that these Ducksday pieces are not full price; they are all about 43%-44% off right now on Gilt.  You need to be a member to purchase items on Gilt, but it is free to join and I do occasionally find a steal hidden in their sales (once I got a $60 Egg by Susan Lazaar denim girls' dress for 50 cents on Gilt... no kidding).  But, like all sales on Gilt, this Ducksday extravaganza will not last forever.  Sale ends 9/29.

Three cheers for getting our kids outside to play in any weather!

Sassy rain boots for $16.93...

These fur-topped silver rain boots by Sperry are too much.  If this is just your style and you are looking for a size 5 (US, big kid), you are in luck today!!  Endless.com has three pairs of these boots left in a size 5 only for $16.93 instead of $45.00.  Free shipping and free returns too!  Remember that US size 5 big kid is equivalent to a US woman's size 7, so don't assume that the tweens will have all the fun where these crazy boots are concerned.  Real sassy.

Update: You were fast.  These have completely sold out in silver!

50% off Kate Quinn Organics at The Mini Social...

When my babies were tiny, I had a few Kate Quinn pieces and I loved them.  They always seemed so appropriate and comfortable.  Starting today, The Mini Social has a good collection of Kate Quinn, all 50% off!  I chose some blue and white pieces to show you below, but the sale also includes items in a rainbow of other shades.  Prices for the items below range from $13 to $16.  Perfect tiny basics, in my opinion!  And, if you are not already a member of The Mini Social, it is free and easy to join.

Great $12 pajamas on Amazon...

Leveret is a new-to-me brand, though I am really excited about these pajamas.  Retail on these long-john style pjs is $26.50, though these are all marked down to $11.99 on Amazon right now, with free shipping!  The customer reviews are overwhelmingly positive and there are some very cute styles (my favorite is that navy blue multi-stripe on the top row).  Sizes range from 6 months to 5 years.

$10 Winter Water Factory Tees...

Modern Kids' Stuff has some past-season Winter Water Factory tees for babies and toddlers on clearance for $10 each!!  These tees are USA made and stand out in a sea of badly-designed children's clothing graphics and logos.  Simple and cute.  And that little brown owl shirt is the best Halloween-ish shirt I have seen in a long time.

If you like what you see above and want to check out their current products, go to the Winter Water Factory here.  All of their inventory is 40% off right now!  It is still a bit pricey, but you are paying for organic cotton fabric, simple, modern pieces and whimsical prints.  They even carry some women's clothing and home goods/fabrics.  Worth a peek!

Four dresses at $14.50 each...

These four summery dresses from Tea Collection are just $14.50 each!  That's just over 50% off.  Now, you may be hesitant to purchase these as we are heading into fall and winter, but the thing I love most about Tea separates is their ability to become multi-season pieces.  Add leggings and a long sleeve tee and these dresses are ready for cooler temps.  Or, buy ahead for next summer!  Tea Collection offers $7 flat rate shipping for orders up to $150; over $150 ships for free.

from left to right: plumeria dress, kupu kupu dress, Gili Islands dress, lotus blossom dress

30% off sale prices at J. Crew...

Top Row

Rope tank swimsuit $18.89

Starry tights $7.69

Knit bubble skirt $10.49

Jitterbug dress $20.99

Bottom Row

Cut-off camp shorts $6.99

Moon-dot knee highs $6.65

Letter pin $3.49

Long-sleeve jersey tee $9.45

Tiny gathers tee $5.59

All prices above reflect the additional 30% discount.  Shipping is free for all Crewcuts orders... additional 30% off promotion ends 9/21 at midnight EST.

Coupon Code:  LOVEIT

This might be the perfect baby shoe...

This great little baby moccasin by Nuborn might just be the perfect footwear to get your baby through the chillier months.  It is great for a boy or a girl and I imagine that it would stay on squirmy baby feet, thanks to that adjustable ankle tie.  Plus, it is 50% off at Amazon right now, just $18.00!

Polarn O. Pyret sale items...

The fantastic Swedish kids' clothing company, Polarn O. Pyret, has some serious markdowns on many clothing items right now.  While I love the quality and style of their clothes, I am not the biggest fan of navigating their website!! Without having a little online PO.P experience, it is easy to miss things.  So, I spent some time this morning sifting through their massive sale offerings to find the best and least-expensive (pictured below).  These low-priced sale items go really fast, so hurry!  Keep in mind as you are browsing that most items come in a few different colors/prints, so be sure to click on the thumbnail to see the complete offering.  And, FYI, all of Polarn O. Pyret's inventory is also available on Amazon, same shipping costs.  This allows you to bypass frustration on the Polarn O. Pyret website and take advantage of Amazon's search and sorting tools when browsing the inventory (such as sorting by price, finding items that qualify for free or Amazon Prime shipping, etc.).

Top Row

Vintage travel T $25.50 $6.37

Velour stripe romper (more colors available) $35.50 $10.65

Smocked clover check dress (also available in child sizes and in a boys' shirt) $42.50 $10.62

Eco urban track pants $21.50 $8.60

Dancing dot romper $35.50 $10.65

Bottom Row

Dot & Bloom tunic $35.50 $8.87

Staple eco T $21.50 $5.37

Dotted bodysuit (also available in child and baby tees) $21.50 $6.45

Signature stripe eco T $21.50 $5.37

Summer strolling skirt $35.50 $8.87

Stripes for boys at Gap...

Gap is offering an additional 25% off of all sale merchandise right now.  I took a peek this morning and found some great stuff for little boys in the 1-5 year-old range.  Stripes!!!  I love little boys in stripes from shirts to socks to underwear.

Stripe tee, stripe beanie, stripe socks

I certainly don't want to leave out the older boys, especially where stripes are concerned!  Here is Gap's older boy version:

All of the prices marked above take into account the additional 25% discount.  For mamas, maternity tees were drastically marked down (see here).  I also happened to see that one pair of boys' long john race car pajamas was marked down from $25 to $5.99 with the discount!  Lots of sizes still available... find this crazy deal here.

Coupon Code:  GAPSALE

Promotion ends 9/21 at midnight.

Sperry Oxfords at $16.73...

The Sperry Top-Sider Tevin Oxford just might convince the boys in your life that dressing up is not the end of all happiness. Comfortable, classic and just enough fun with that unexpected clay-colored sole. If the contrasting sole itself does not win him over, adding some colored shoe laces from J. Crew should do the trick! They are $4 a pair and ship for free. I suspect that, with these oxfords on his feet, he may even develop a better attitude about getting dressed up for that upcoming wedding or grandma's 80th birthday dinner. I am counting on this effect to get one of mine in a better mood about attending church each week! The price today on Endless.com for these great shoes is $16.73 (instead of $48 full price) with free shipping and free returns. They seem to have almost all sizes from 9 toddler to 5.5 big kid.  I can't come up with a reason why these shouldn't be ordered immediately before the price increases!

More Hanna Andersson PJs on sale...

This is not a 50% off or more kind of sale, but these long john pajamas from Hanna Andersson are on sale for $28 right now (normally $42).  These just don't go lower than this very often, so if your small people need new PJs, hurry.  The cute colors sell out really fast.  Just buy them big so that you can get enough use out of them to justify the $28!!  I love their classic stripes, though that bicycle pair is fantastic!  All of the styles above (and many more) are available at Hanna Andersson (online and in stores).

More great deals at Nordstrom today...

First, for the infants:

Stem  Baby wrap sweater and leggings, $42 $20.90

Tea Collection solid footie, $26 $13.90

Nowali moccasins, $35 $15.90 (other styles available)

And for a little girl... really cool striped seamless leggings, $14 $6.90.

All items qualify for free shipping and free returns!

Further price cut for tween cardigans at Nordstrom...

Design History Boyfriend Cardigan, $42 $14.97

This great fall cardigan from Design History that I posted about here has recently moved from Nordstrom to Nordstrom Rack with a further price reduction.  It is now 65% off and only $14.97 with free shipping and free returns!!  The long-sleeve polka dot tee I mentioned in the same post has also dropped to $7.97.

Tucker + Tate Cardigan, white and alabaster heather, Nordstrom

Here is another great cardigan for your tweeny:  this simple Jackie-style cardigan from Tucker + Tate.  Nordstrom has this sweater in both white and alabaster heather at crazy prices: $9.97 for the white and $13.90 for the alabaster heather.  Free, free shipping too!  This is so versatile and can be worn through all four seasons.

I love when prices keep dropping... happy Monday to you and your tween!

Danish MP tights and a big discount...

Have your kids ever worn MP tights and socks from Denmark?  They are so soft and really do wear like iron.  I started investing in these about 6 years ago for my small people and they have been fantastic hand-me-downs.  The tights are my favorite!  Beautiful patterns and stripes in every color imaginable (see some examples above).  However, like almost anything, this type of quality comes with a price.  They are expensive.  And very difficult to find (although I noticed that Garnet Hill recently started selling some of their tights).  I was so happy to find the online retailer Kids Fashion Brokers, that sells the complete line of MP products to US customers.  Here's the good news for today:  they are currently running a promotion of 40% off any order of $100 or more.  I know what you're thinking... who would pay $100 for a shipment of kids' socks?  Well, you may not want to, but if you ordered with some friends as a group, this promotion absolutely makes sense.  They sell MP socks and tights in solids, stripes, patterns, wool or cotton and have the best selection of knee socks.  Oh, and did I mention that they also sell adult sizes?  So, you could conceivably cobble together a $100 order with friends and get all of that beautiful Danish workmanship for $60.  Plus, if you took advantage of the Sanita kids' clogs promotion at 6pm this week (see this post), you could now order something to wear with those great clogs.  Vidunderlig!!

40% off coupon code: HUGESALE

(promotion ends 9/17)

Atsuyo et Akiko bags for $5...

These perfect little tote bags from the Brooklyn-based apparel and accessory company Atsuyo et Akiko are so simple and sweet.  I have had my eye on these for years, but the price tag prevented me from ever pulling the trigger.  On the Atsuyo et Akiko web site today, these simple totes are only $5 a piece (retail price is $16)!!  And the larger, more substantial day of the week tote (last three images above) is 50% off at $20 (normally $40).  Shipping is $6.95 for any order up to $100.  A couple of these totes made it onto Gilt.com this week, though their price is $15, one measly dollar less than full price.  Buying form the source is a much better option today!

Whenever we move to a new place (which has been often over the past 10 years), I like to join the local library as soon as possible.  My kids love library outings and we always have a couple of designated "library totes" at our house.  I think that these $5 beauties would be a perfect addition to our collection.  So, if you haven't already, go join your local library and get yourself a new tote bag to mark the occasion!

Danish clogs from Sanita...

image from the 2012 Sanita catalog

Clogs seem to bring out strong opinions in people.  I, for example, love the way they look and my husband does not.  To keep the peace at home, we don't discuss it much.  I don't think we're alone: it seems like most people are polarized about clogs.  (As a side note, I would much rather talk about clog opinions these days than almost anybody's political opinion!  I think that it was the current election that drove me to starting this blog.)  Opinions aside, it is hard to argue with the incredible discount on Sanita clogs from Denmark at 6pm.com right now.  These clogs will last and last and last and last at price that screams "disposable".  Perfect!  6pm has several colors available currently in kids' Sanitas.   Most are now marked down 50-70%, from $80 originally to the $30 range.  Shipping is free on all orders from 6pm.com.  A little folklore in her winter wardrobe would be charming, right?  Plus, they provide excellent arch support and the curved sole is designed to correctly align everything from legs to backs for unbeatable comfort.  If you think that these are cute rather than costume-ish, we should meet up for lunch.  And if you don't like them, let's meet up for lunch anyway and discuss our personal views on religion, since politics and clogs are out.

Here are some of the Sanita Kids offerings on sale at 6pm.com right now:

Red patent Gitte, $80 $29.99
Black patent Gitte, $80 $36.99 $31.99
Navy Gitte Cabrio, $73 $29.99 $21.99
White patent Gitte, $80 $31.99 $44.99
(prices keep changing...)

Like they say at Sanita, "50 million Danish toes can't be wrong!"

Vintage Tea Collection items, all at least 50% off...

Have you ever come across the online kids' clothing and furniture retailer ModernKidsStuff.com?  If not, I recommend having a peek.  Particularly if there was some piece of Tea Collection clothing from years ago that you have kicked yourself for not having bought.  They still have lots of items from the past!!  And they are all on sale here.  I selected some of my favorites for little girls below:

clockwise, starting at top left:  

Istanbul top in apple, $15

tango silk dress, $96 $35

Taquile canvas skirt, $40 $18

Nevado cape sweater, $76 $38

Taquile canvas pants, $42 $19

Istanbul top in lily, $15

As is always true with clearance items, sizes and quantities are limited.  Orders over $50 at ModernKidsStuff.com ship for free, though if you fall under the $50 shipping can get pricey.  Might be worth adding something to your order to reach the $50.  The tango silk party dress is only available in a 4, but at a 64% discount!  Not bad for a fancy holiday silk party dress.  Anyway, they also have boys' Tea items and the discounts are generally great.  I hope you find a treasure from Tea's past for your small people.

Willits first walker, half off...

If I were buying a little one year-old boy a pair of first walkers today, the Euros Halen oxford by Willits would be my pick!  I think that ankle boots for new walkers are a great way to give them additional support and stability.  Endless.com is selling this lovely little pair for $33.36, about half off of the original $65.  Shipping and returns are free.  They are, however, only available in tiny sizes (European sizes 19 and 20).  Also available at the same price in brown.  These would hold up perfectly to all indoor and outdoor adventures and would hide their mileage well, thanks to that rubber toe cap.  Perfect.

For the 10-14 year-old crowd...

I have had a few emails recently begging for some posts on tween girl clothing.  I get that this is a hard age.  Most clothing for this demographic is seriously awful and I feel for those of you trying to buy for older girls.   I did, however, feel like this cardigan was a hopeful piece in an otherwise bleak sea of skimpy, cheap-looking clothing.  At 50% off, it is not quite the sort of bargain we earnestly hope for here at the Diminutive Review, but is a decent price nonetheless.

This cardigan can be found at Nordstrom.com, where shipping is free on all orders.  I like the long length and the colors... perfect!  And, if you were wondering what to put underneath it, here are two suggestion that would go well with all three colors above:

Navy stripes* and dark pink dots... classic but not boring!  Long sleeve ruffle tee from Pockie K, also available at Nordstrom for $11.90, 50% off retail price.  And like the cardigan, it too ships for free.  Just add some skinny jeans or dark leggings and you have a practical, body part-covering outfit for your tweeny-bopper.  Now let's all just cross our fingers that she'll actually want to wear this...

*Note:  I just checked the link for the tee and the navy stripe has sold out!  Sale items go so fast sometimes.  Good luck snagging the pink dots before it is gone too.  If you want another stripe alternative, try these.

Hanna Andersson Halloween PJs 43% off...

Hanna Andersson makes my favorite kids' pajamas (see the second half of this recent post).  They are soft, comfortable and they wear like iron, kid after kid after kid.  Their Halloween pajamas just went on sale for $24, 43% off of full price ($42).  I included an image of the bats long johns above because they are my favorite for a boy or a girl.  However, if your girl just must wear something more girly, they have a pink cat version as well.  Remember to buy them a couple of sizes too big, however, because they roll up really well (both at the cuffs and ankles) and will last your child at least a couple of years.  Hurry... they are selling out really fast!

American Apparel sale on Amazon...

I have noticed over the past few months that some of the kids' American Apparel items on Amazon have been really cheap, as in 'I am sure that that this is a mistake' kind of cheap.  Here are some of the best deals I found today:

top row, L to R:
webbing belt, all colors: $2.50, Helvetica "N" tee : $3.00, full woven skirt in red gingham and blue gingham (except size 4): $10, two color tights (2-4 years) in sangria/asphault: $3.00

bottom row, L to R:
Opaque footless tights in light poppy (all sizes) and sand dollar (6-8 only): $3.00, stripe raglan pullover in cappucino (2 and 4 years): $5.00 and $6.00, respectively, purple (2 yr is $7.00)

All of these items are between 50% and 80% off.  Shipping is not free, though $5.00 will cover multiple American Apparel items in an order (not $5.00 per item).  Amazon's clothing and shoe item description interface is not always easy to navigate.  You often have to click through each size/color combination to see the different prices and this can be a bit tedious (this is why I tried to be specific on sizes and colors available at the low price).  Please note that there are many other styles (as well as letters other than 'N') in the Helvetica letter series for kids and many of them are on sale as well... they are worth looking at (they have a onesie, tees for older kids, etc.).  I was especially pleased to see the low price of the cappuccino stripe raglan pullover... yes, this is the one that you see everywhere (in magazines, TV commercials, etc.).  AA makes it in all sizes and for all genders in both pullover styles and hoodies, though I have never seen it for $6 and under!  It is a great color in person.  And who doesn't love a full woven skirt on a little girl?  At this price, I am particularly smitten.