Home / Child / Child Shopping Guide 25+ outfits every kid will want to rock on the first day of school Sweenshots & Shaymone/Stocksy Affordable must-haves from the places you (and they!) love By Sara Goldstein Updated July 24, 2024 Sweenshots & Shaymone/Stocksy Rectangle We independently select and share the products we love—and may receive a commission if you choose to buy. You’ve got this. 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 $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. SHOP PRIMARY 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. 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. SHOP GAP 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. SHOP MACYS 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. SHOP GOOD DAY LAB 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. SHOP PRIMARY 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! SHOP JANIE AND JACK 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. SHOP TARGET A chambray top $17.50 $29.50 An adorable chambray top is the perfect way to elevate the leggings lifestyle. SHOP PRIMARY 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. SHOP MACYS 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. SHOP GAP 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. SHOP OLD NAVY 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. SHOP HANNA ANDERSSON 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. SHOP TARGET 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. SHOP H&M Dresses, Skirts & Rompers 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! SHOP TEA COLLECTION 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. SHOP POSH PEANUT 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. SHOP HANNA ANDERSSON 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.) SHOP BODEN 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!) SHOP TARGET 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. SHOP H&M Bottoms 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. SHOP MACYS 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. SHOP H&M 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! SHOP TEA COLLECTION 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. SHOP HANNA ANDERSSON 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. SHOP OLD NAVY 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. SHOP PRIMARY 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!) SHOP OLD NAVY Or leave it to the pros with a kids clothing box! 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. SHOP STITCH FIX 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. SHOP KIDPIK A version of this story was published June 21, 2021. It has been updated. The latest Child Learn & Play Here’s how to help kids find their ’emotional courage’ Child Learn & Play Finally! This chic, kid-friendly routine builder helped reduce my family’s daily friction News Picky eating in kids is mostly due to genetics, study says Mental Health Back-to-school can be hard on parents, too