Why kids clothes for adults is the latest thing

ONE morning a few weeks ago, my sister Ilana walked into my apartment wearing a killer leather jacket. From the scalloped lapels to the silver zippers, I immediately fell in love with it.

“Whose is that, and why didn’t you tell me about it?” I exclaimed. (Editor’s note: When a fashion maven asks, “Whose is that?” the answer is not “mine” — it’s the designer who created the clothing.)

“Isn’t it cute?” she said. “I picked it up at Lester’s for $49.”

My jaw dropped. Aside from the fact that at $49 the jacket was a steal, Lester’s is ... a children’s store.

I’m no size 2, but that didn’t stop me from heading to Lester’s and picking up the same jacket in a large. It fit perfectly — even the arms were long enough.

This entry into new sizing territory opened up a whole new world: Was everyone shopping in the kids’ department except me? I decided to ask Twitter with the hopes of discovering whether my friends and peers were already in on this secret.

Five hundred and forty people responded, and the results were pretty surprising: Nearly 37 per cent said they’ve shopped for themselves in the kids’ section, and more than 90 per cent said they’d consider buying in another department if the clothes fit.

I posed the question to a group of mums at a children’s birthday party: “Do you guys ever shop for yourself in kids’ stores?” “All the time,” they chirped in chorus.

“Did you know that the size 2 (Australian size 6) Moncler Moka midlength down coat is basically the same size as the children’s size 14 (Australian children’s size 12)?” asked my friend Jen.

No. No, I did not.

A sales associate at Bloomingdale’s had told her to go to the children’s floor to compare the sizing. The difference was minimal — not enough for her to spend $1195 for the adult version versus $620 for the kids’ version.

Generally, women who wear up to an Australian size 8 can fit into most of the larger kids’ sizes. Children’s brands that cut more generously — like Gap Kids — might even work for an Australian size 10.

Debbie Rochlin, who’s the director of early childhood and admissions at Park East Day School and lives in New York City, almost exclusively shops kids clothes. Aside from the fact it’s easier on the wallet, the 44-year-old loves buying children’s clothing because the styles are “cuter, hipper and more fun.”

“They fit better sometimes, and there are more options, too, since they have different styles,” agrees Lori Zaslow, a 38-year-old matchmaker from the Upper East Side.

And, if nothing else, it’s a cool way to bond with your children.

“I can also share clothes with my kids — for now — which is fun!” says Zaslow.

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