Getting back to school is always a little overwhelming. But shopping for those back to school outfits shouldn’t be! Of course, you don’t want to spend a zillion dollars on clothes they’ll outgrow in the blink of an eye (or more likely stain and/or lose on the playground again) but you also want them to look good. (I mean, you’ve got first day of school photo tradition to uphold!)

Lucky for you, we’ve hunted down some of our favorite looks to create a first day of school outfit that’s totally photo-ready and affordable. With selections from budget-friendly favorites like Target and Old Navy to long-lasting splurgier pieces that always make the hand-me-down piles from places like J. Crew and Tea Collection, there’s something for every style and price point.

All they need is a fresh backpack a cool lunch box and they’re ready to go!

See our top picks below!

Tops & Tees

back-to-basics-tee

Back to basics

$12

You can literally never go wrong with a tee shirt and jeans. A go-to source for all things basic (in the good way), Primary stocks a rainbow of colors in quality fabrics that really hold up.

Hanna Andersson Graphic Baseball Tee

Classic Baseball Tees

$36

We can never resist the retro vibes of a baseball tee! Hanna Andersson has an awesome fall collection that features bold colors and cool vintage-inspired graphics that kids and parents will both love.

Gap Icon Denim Jacket Motherly

A denim jacket

$47 $59.95

Is there anything more timeless than a denim jacket? Gap has been perfecting theirs for decades. The medium wash goes with anything and it can easily be passed down.

Epic Threads Big Boys Cotton Denim Varsity Jacket

A varsity jacket

We have to admit, we’re kind of crushing on the entirety of Macy’s re-imagined Epic Threads line. From the cheerful color pops to the freshness of the cuts and styles, we kind of wish they made everything in adult sizes. One particular standout is this seriously timeless varsity jacket that will have them looking cool while staying warm.

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Basics, but make them stain-resistant

$9.99

​Mamas of messy kiddos rejoice! The brilliant tees from Good Day Lab look just like regular shirts but are armed with superpowers: The cotton fabric repels liquids to to prevent stains from ever setting in! They also do a stellar job of keeping their color and shape no matter how many times you wash them. From lunchtime disasters to art class antics, stained clothes are a thing of the past. They’re available in short-sleeve, long-sleeve, and polo styles.

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A picture perfect polo

$19.50

Back to business. Better look the part, kiddos! Primary’s three-button classic comes in a ton of fun colors to keep on rotation.

Janie and Jack Striped Oxford

A timeless oxford

$30.40 $38

From picture day to the playground, an easy-to-wash oxford is always a staple piece to have in their closet. Janie and Jack has all the classics in their Uniform Shop –as well as any other uniform needs!

Cat & Jack Short Sleeve Pocket Detail Boxy T-Shirt

Graphic Tees

$8

Graphic tees are always a go-to, especially the ones from Target’s Cat & Jack collection. They’re affordable, come with a stellar return policy and offer tons of great styles. And if you’re on the hunt for something that’s just a little elevated, we’re fond of this boxier cut with its stylish embroidered pocket.

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A chambray top

$17.50 $29.50

An adorable chambray top is the perfect way to elevate the leggings lifestyle.

Epic Threads Big Boys Waffle-Knit Over Shirt

A casual button down

$46

Hoodies are great, but they’re not the only layer in the game. This cozy waffle-knit overshirt is ideal for chilly mornings and looks oh-so-fresh.

Screen Shot 2024 07 24 at 11.21.45 AM Motherly

Henley tees

$12 $24.95

Three little buttons give this vintage henley a more sophisticated look than your everyday graphic tee without being too stuffy.

Old Navy Gender Neutral Zip Front Hoodie

A zip up hoodie

$24.99

The perfect piece to have on hand for chilly classrooms and a turn of seasons. This one from Old Navy gets rave reviews for the quality and fit–and at an affordable price to boot! It comes in six neutral colors in case they need a few in rotation.

Hanna Andersson Bright Basics Pullover Sweatshirt

A pullover sweatshirt

$40

Fun pops of color and a fabric that won’t pill after one wash makes the cozy hoodies from Hanna Andersson a total slam dunk.

Cat & Jack Short Sleeve Washed Pocket T-Shirt

Colorful pocket tees

$6

Stock up on these affordable basics and outfit building will be a breeze! They come in six soft colors they can wear all year long.

H&M Fine Knit Cotton Cardigan

A cozy cardigan

$12.99

A practical fall staple that never goes out of style! These lightweight cotton cardigans from H&M can be thrown on over dresses and tees all year round.

Dresses, Skirts & Rompers

Tea Collection Rugby Shirtdress

A dress that's made for play

$49

We’ve loved the classic Tea Collection silhouettes for ages. The unfussy design of this comfy rugby style works with both leggings and tights, sneakers or boots and fits for ages. Best of all, their hand-me-down quality can’t be beat!

Posh Peanut Short Sleeve Ruffled Twirl Dress

A comfy twirl dress

$36

If getting them out of their pjs is a struggle, maybe a dress made from the coziest pj fabric will help! Made with Posh Peanut’s signature viscose from bamboo fabric that’s breathable, hypoallergenic and oh-so-butter-soft, these twirly dresses (with pockets!) are a kiddo’s wardrobe dreams come true.

Hanna Andersson Long Sleeve T Shirt Dress Motherly

A versatile T-shirt dress

$46

Never underestimate the versatility of a cotton T-shirt dress! It’s perfect solo for the warm days and when the temps dip, pair it with leggings and cardigan. Voila! A four season staple. We’re particularly fond of the super durable options from Hanna Andersson which not only fit seemingly for ages, but make it into multiple hand-me-down piles.

Boden Embroidered Sweatshirt Dress

Sweatshirt dress

$59

Special without being fussy, this embroidered apple frock is a great contender for school picture day. (Or you know, just the barrage of photos you’re going to take on day one.)

Cat & Jack Short Sleeve Printed Knit Dress

Pattern play

$10

Play dresses in fun and funky prints are always a winner. This budget-friendly number from Target is a perennial favorite and comes in a variety of kid-approved patterns. (Plus, pockets!)

H&M 3-Pack Jersey Dresses

It still feels like summer dresses

$25.50 $29.99

Just because school is back in session, it doesn’t mean the air is cool and crispy. This trio of affordable flutter sleeve dresses are made from breathable cotton and can easily layer with bike shorts for those dog days of summer.

Bottoms

Epic Threads Girls Cargo Pants

Wide leg cargo pants

$40

Giving Delia’s fall 1996 catalog vibes, we can’t help but feel a little jealous of these raspberry cargo pants from Macy’s freshly relaunched Epic Threads line. I mean, all they need is an argyle sweater vest and some butterfly clips to complete the look which has come full circle.

twill-joggers

Twill Joggers

$8.50 $9.99

If jeans or pants with buttons aren’t their thing but you’ve grown weary of sweatpants, these lightweight joggers will make everyone happy. They’re impressively affordable and come in a great selection of easy-to-pair colors.

Tea Stretchy Everyday Joggers

Checkerboard Joggers

$39

And one more option because that pattern is just too hard to resist. This durable pair from Tea Collection makes a great case for pattern mixing–a fashion choice kids excel at!

Hanna Andersson Double Knee Slim Sweatpants

Double Knee Sweats

$46

Kids are notoriously hard on their clothes and often the knees take the brunt of the abuse. These super cool slim sweats from the always-awesome Hanna Andersson feature an extra layer right where it counts so they can play hard without getting holes before the leaves fall.

jeans-that-move

Jeans That Move

$18 $34.99

You can’t beat Old Navy’s Karate Denim. Designed with an extra bit of stretch in their patented Built-In Tough fabric, they’re comfortable and indestructible.

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Striped Leggings

$19.50

An everyday favorite, but make it fun. We love Primary’s long-lasting leggings in every form, but there’s something about stripes that’s extra irresistible.

Old Navy Girls Pocket Joggers

Sporty Leggings (With Pockets!)

$29.99

From math class to soccer practice, these sporty leggings will keep up with a busy day (and pair perfectly with long tunic-style hoodies!)

Or leave it to the pros with a kids clothing box!

Stitch Fix Kids

Stitch Fix Kids

Like the grown-up service, Stitch Fix for kids sized 2T to 18 mix brands that most of us already know—such as TOMS, Primary, Nike and more—as well as pieces exclusive to Stitch Fix. Best of all? Each box includes eight to 12 clothing items for prices ranging from $10 for leggings to $35 for items like outerwear.

To get started, parents and their kids can have fun creating a Style Profile online, paying the $20 styling fee (that can be applied to the purchase of an item), scheduling the delivery and then waiting for the big try-on session. Afterward, keep what you want and send the rest back—with free shipping both ways. Or, if the whole box is a hit, you get a 25% discount on the purchase.

Kidpik Ruffling Feathers Motherly

kidpik

Eliminate the morning madness with a wardrobe that works together! The rad boxes from kidpik include 8 mix-and-match items that are expertly styled for head-to-toe awesomeness. Just take the 3-minute quiz to capture their style preference and you’ll receive a selection of their signature apparel which is thoughtfully designed with kiddos in mind and similar in quality to Cat & Jack. Boxes are available in sizes 2-16 with the option to add shoes as well! The average item costs $22, but if you keep the entire box, they’ll take 30% off your order. Send back what you don’t love and voila! Back to school wardrobe foundation built.

A version of this story was published June 21, 2021. It has been updated.