How Did Adult Women End Up Buying Their Clothes In The Kids Department?

There is a new trend apparently sweeping the young, thin and fashionable: the kids department.

At least, if the New York Post is to be believed.

After having her mind blown by a leather jacket purchased by an adult (for an adult) at a children’s clothing boutique, one brave fashion maven working at the Post polled Twitter and learned that many were shopping in the kids department already, while many others were thinking about it in the future.

“Did you know that the size two Moncler Moka mid-length down coat is basically the same size as the children’s size 14?” one of the reporter’s friends asked.

And even though the editorial team at PYMNTS needed Google to have any idea what a Moncler Moka mid-length down coat was — or why it was important — we did figure out that the adult version runs around $1,200, while the apparently same-sized kids version is a steal at $620.

Why not just buy a mid-length down coat without the Moncler Moka label in it for a more reasonable price? We have no idea. We assume not having the label is shameful in some circles — eccentric circles (ellipses), where buying your clothing in the children’s department is not considered weird or shameful.

The Upper East Side is a weird place.

And, apparently, a thin and short one.

The children’s clothing trick obviously only works for a certain class of female adult, specifically ones that aren’t any larger than a size four, since a size four adult is apparently similarly sized to a size 14 or 16 child. Unless they are at Gap Kids. Women who wear up to a size six can get away with shopping there, apparently, because the clothing is cut larger.

We note that it is important not to merely be thin; this trick also only works if one is on the short side. One might be a size zero, but if one also happens to be 5’11”, the clothes in the kids department will still be too short. Sorry supermodels; full-priced adult clothes for you.

Debbie Rochlin, who is director of early childhood and admissions at Park East Day School and lives in New York City, told the Post she almost exclusively shops in kids departments, which is cheaper and “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.

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

We assume her children are not yet old enough to be embarrassed by this particular brand of fun.