Back to school is around the corner and many parents are still scrambling to get that last-minute shopping done. Houston has plenty of big box stores and malls to shop for back to school wears but you shouldn’t miss a visit to these small local shops that offer carefully selected clothes and accessories for your little ones. Tax-free weekend from Aug. 10 to 12 so what better time to pay them a visit?
Big Blue Whale, an independent toy store in the Heights, carries an amazing selection of toys, puzzles and books. For back to school, they’ve stocked up with adorable Skip Hop backpacks and lunchboxes for the smallest ones.
Native Houstonian, Susan Watt started Itsy Bitsy Boutique after moving back to her hometown from San Francisco. With a background in kids fashion, Watt stocks up her boutique on Westheimer Road with and incredible selection of unique and hard-to-find brands like Elephantito, Rylee + Cru, Fiona Walker and Rachel Riley. Aside from carrying the cutest clothes for boys and girls in sizes from newborn to tweens, the boutique also carries shoes and accessories.
Thrifting is a wonderful way to save money on clothes that kids will quickly wear down and outgrow. In the Heights, head over to Thread Houston, an adorable locally owned children’s resale shop where you can stock up on brand name clothes and shoes for babies and kids of all ages.
At Little Lord & Ladies, a children’s boutique west of The Galleria, you’ll find an exclusive selection of boys and girls’ clothing, shoes, hair accessories, tights and socks. The shop also has a children’s hair salon where your kiddos can get their hair trimmed and styled just in time for the start of school.
Even though it’s the local outpost of a national franchise, Kid 2 Kid is a great spot for back to school shopping. Shopping at this kid’s resale shop located between The Galleria and Uptown Park will save you money on back to school clothing. You’ll find clothing brands like Gap, Gymboree, Janie and Jack as well as an assortment of shoes at great prices.
Rattle Tattle has been bringing a wide selection of children’s apparel and footwear to northwest Houston since 1990. The small, independently owned boutique offers shoppers personalized service and affordable prices on clothes, shoes and backpacks. If shopping on tax-free weekend, make sure to check out their summer and clearance markdowns for extra savings.
On the west side of town, Sweet Bambini offers fashionable finds for your little one. The Energy Corridor shop is well stocked with clothes, accessories and shoes for girls and boys. You’ll find adorable dresses, collegiate wear for kids and a great selection of brands like Kissy Kissy, Mustard Pie, Giggle Moon, Florence Eiseman and more.
