<p>Thanks to everyone again for such quick and thorough responses! I am back from a major Simon Mall, and they have Simon credit cards for sale, which are really VISA debit cards, so not only are they good in any of the mall stores, they are accepted anywhere VISA is accepted. While walking through this particular mall, I did notice a number of the stores which were recommended in this thread. The only restriction on this debit card is that it must be used within 13 months or there is a $2 per month fee deducted from the card. Somehow, I can’t see that coming into play. ;)</p>
<p>my Ds got frustered with Limited Too because of the LT on EVERYTHING…cute dress, but argh the logo</p>
<p>The girls in our area tend to wear Gap, Lands End, LL Bean. Hollister, AE, and Aeropostale are not highly regarded.</p>
<p>I zipped through this thread and I don’t think anyone mentioned Delias! My newly-12 year old LOVES Delias. (They also have 00 jeans that actually fit her skinny, leggy body!) Of course, she also likes Justice and Aeropostale.</p>
<p>Just for future reference, Delia’s and Aeropostale has size XS (I think Aeropostale has some XXS), which is great for the girls who are tiny/skinny.</p>
<p>By the way, shopping at Hollister is Hell on Earth. Super loud music and super dim lights. My kids know I won’t shop with them in there anymore. I complained one time to the sales girl and she said, “Lots of people complain.”</p>
<p>but you aren’t the shopper, the girl is!! and they LOVE the noise and the smell and the darkness</p>
<p>and as for highly regarded… spending double almost for a tshirt…not something an 11 year old would want to do most likely</p>
<p>In my area Lands End is for the mom types, GAP is passe, but Old Navy is fine, </p>
<p>AF is overpriced</p>
<p>Most of my Ds friends LOVE Target though and Forever21 and Wetseal- not the best quality, but they grow out of it anyway at 11</p>
<p>Our area is preppy/conservative. That’s why the traditional styles never are out.</p>
<p>missypie,
I noticed a Delia’s in the mall where I purchased the gift card! :)</p>
<p>Aeropostale, Delia’s, Mandees, 2 Cute, Forever 21 - they are all favorites with girls over 11 - even teenagers - and none of them are expensive. I’m glad you went with the gift card though - every girl is different, so this way, she gets to choose.</p>
<p>Gift cards for Amazon are also great for this age because she can get books, music or even clothes.</p>
<p>D2 (high-school age) loves Forever 21 and, especially, Wet Seal–although I agree with CGM about the quality(or lack thereof).</p>
<p>Pacsun has some good stuff. Old Navy clothes, in our experience, are not very good quality. Old Navy is part of the same group as Gap, and is aimed at a lower price point. Banana Republic is their higher-priced line. H&M is also good.</p>
<p>I think you did great getting the mall gift card. A 5th grade 11 yr old might still love Limited Too. With the gift card you don’t have to guess.
I know my D is now 13 but she loved the feeling of having some buying power of her own. I think AE, Abercrombie, Hollister have some items an 11 yr old could appropriately wear. T-shirts (as long as you analyze the wording), sweats or pajama bottoms. Plus they love the feeling of being able to buy something that might be more expensive then their Mom would normally spend.
My sister would buy my kids Borders cards. My girls loved to read so were happy. My son who hated to read and felt that the music prices were to high always found it hard to spend his Borders gift card. (Usually he would sell it to me) She has since switched to the American Express gift cards and all are happy.
One gift that my girls both loved at 13 was Roxy t-shirts. Or any surf company shirts. Most department stores carry them. I also have had good luck finding them at Ross.
Also whoever suggested PacSun I think that is a great gift card for both make and female. Also for a wide range of ages.</p>
<p>Mom, ask the girl’s mom. Around here, the popular stores for 11 year olds are completely different than they were when my 16 year old D was that age. Also, every family has a distinct idea about what is appropriate for their daughters. I remember having a TERRIBLE time trying to spend Limited2 gift cards back then because the clothes were so darn trampy. I would not allow my 11year old to wear pants with anything written across the rear end. At the time, 90% of the clothes there advertised “juicy” or “princess” on the behind, or were so low cut as to be obscene. Add to that D’s size 00 and shopping was often tough.</p>
<p>Abercrombie (not Abercrombie & Fitch) is geared to that age group & has very high quality clothing & great sales. And with gift receipts, you can pick up a hoodie, for example, so she has something to open but can easily return for full value if it doesn’t suit her.</p>
<p>I know that they OP has taken care of her shopping needs, but in case anyone else is looking for ideas: Both of my girls really like H&M. We don’t have them here, but we’ve shopped there in Barcelona, New York and Boston. Not the highest quality, but inexpensive enough that they can buy the latest trend, then no big loss when it goes out of style.</p>
<p>Just curious as to what in what area the girls this age like LL Bean and Lands End. I know the quality is great, but my girls would not wear their clothes. (Nor will they wear Talbots.)</p>
<p>I agree with the Amazon suggestion. I have a 10 year old daughter and she loves to buy video games, webkinz animals, and many other things that you can buy easily online. The selection is great, and it gives her more flexibility.</p>
<p>Missypie, we live in Northern VA. Certain parts are very preppy although I think Talbots would be a bit too staid for most teens (although we have bought dresses for formal occasions there).</p>
<p>^^ Motherdear</p>
<p>You are so lucky! I’m with StickerShock . . . the most popular clothing stores in our area seem to be Tawdry & Meretricious!</p>
<p>abercrombie (kids), hollister, limited too, gap kids, claire’s, aeropostale</p>
<p>My daughter’s idea of wearable prep is Ralph Lauren and Lily Pulitzer - I told her that’s why kids grow up and get jobs.</p>