Every August brings the same negotiation: what outfits will kids actually wear that also look polished enough that parents don’t feel like they’re sending their children out the door wearing whatever was on top of the laundry bin? For Pittsburgh parents worrying over back-to-school shopping, stylist Dominika Bronner, a mother of four, has a roadmap. Here’s her Pittsburgh shopping strategy, which mixes local kids’ boutiques with big box basics.

If she likes jimmies on her sundae, she’s bound to like them sprinkled on her backpack. The backpack from The Picket Fence comes in two sizes so that the littles don’t get weighed down. Fill that pack with Dandelion Kids’ kaleidoscope of pencils, watercolor paints, and other delights. And add a Dandelion Kids’ water bottle with an easy-to-identify pattern. TABLE stylist and shopper Dominika Bronner loved the ice cream cone pattern shown here because it paired so well with the jimmies on the backpack.

Tips for Shopping for Kids in Pittsburgh

“You don’t have to be a stylist to pull this off,” Bronner says. “You just need to hit a few good stores.” She starts local. At The Picket Fence, with locations in Shadyside and Sewickley, she found classic layering pieces — t-shirts, light jackets, jeans, corduroys, cardigans, and collared shirts — with quality that survives a full semester of recess (and laundry). “The design sensibility at Picket Fence is also something I really admire. They keep it fun and nice all at once,” comments Bronner, noting their delightfully graphic backpacks, which come in a couple of sizes to accommodate little and not-so-little kids.

Keeping watch on the household budget makes some big box shopping inevitable. Lean into places like Gap for basic t-shirts, socks, and other things your kid needs for everyday wear. We surrounded these simple t-shirts with fun accessories and a lovely book from Dandelion Kids. The checked shirt is also from Dandelion Kids.

Dandelion Kids in Dormont also supplied a lot of personality. Alongside high-quality basics like striped lightweight sweaters and sturdy corduroy pinafores, their lighthearted assortment of pencils, markers, and learning aids added a layer of pure fun to her annual shopping. Dandelion’s playful taste “lets younger kids feel like they had a say in the outfit,” which, Bronner notes, is half the battle. Their eye-catching water bottles were a useful, practical standout, as were fun keychains, hairclips, and other small accessories.

After visiting her favorite local shops, Bronner made a pragmatic pivot. “You cannot do a back-to-school wardrobe in Pittsburgh, or anywhere, without a big box stop,” she admits. A trip to Gap rounded things out with basics — plain tees, socks, a sweatshirt or two. These essentials stretch a wardrobe across a busy week without stretching the family budget. We all know the names of the other big box resources, so no need to repeat them here!

A sporty striped shirt with collar from The Picket Fence pairs super-well with faded jeans and a raincoat in a noble shade of cobalt, also from The Picket Fence, as is the dinosaur backpack. The outfit is shown with art supplies, learning tools, and a water bottle from Dandelion Kids.

Go for What They’ll Actually Wear

The outfits that came out of a single afternoon of shopping aren’t precious or overly dressy. You won’t need to worry about ironing them. But they do represent something most kids would put on without a fight.

Bronner’s takeaway for Pittsburgh parents facing the back-to-school countdown: “Shop local for the pieces that need to last and feel special, and then lean on the big, national stores for the simple basics that you need in multiples, like socks and underwear and leggings and hoodies. Also, don’t confuse ‘put together’ with ‘complicated.’ A few smart stops are all it takes. Not a shopping marathon or a run on the bank!”

The sunny sun-patterned raincoat from The Picket Fence is perfect for the undimmable personality of your young person, as is a simple, white t-shirt adorned with embroidered crayons. Represented by just a sliver of reddish purple in this photo, stylist Dominika Bronner finished the outfit with a pair of corduroys, as well as a backpack from The Picket Fence. The fun art supplies and accessories come from Dandelion Kids.

Shopping Local for Kids Back-to-School in Pittsburgh

The Picket Fence

5425 Walnut St, Shadyside and 417 Beaver St, Sewickley

Located on two great shopping streets, this “easy to fall in love with” boutique is a study in curation and fun. There’s lots of designer clothing for babies and kids, but also thoughtful gifts for new parents, home accessories with genuine personality, and lots of little surprises. Everything reflects the vision of the store’s owner, making a visit feel less like shopping and more like discovering someone with very good taste.

When cooler temps hit, a Gap sweatshirt slides neatly over a collared rugby shirt from The Picket Fence. Perfect gear for coloring with markers from Dandelion Kids on a rainy day.

Precious + Posh

638 Allegheny River Blvd, Oakmont

Precious + Posh is a resource for special occasions for babies and children. You’ll find beautiful first communion collections, dresses for flower girls, trendy pieces of great quality, and cute gifts for babies and children. 

Periwinkle Fox

5910 Bryant St, Highland Park

This woman-owned kids’ boutique carries sustainable clothing, which is a great way of teaching our kids the importance of responsible consumption. Also available: quality clothing for expecting moms, birthday gifts, and accessories.

A striped cotton sweater, a corduroy pinafore, and ballet flats from Dandelion Kids are all spiffily practical choices for later on in the fall season when temperatures decline. You’ll also find little details like hair clips and fun markers at Dandelion Kids.

Dandelion Kids

2892 West Liberty Ave, Dormont

There’s a memorable and effervescent combination of secondhand clothes and new toys, learning tools, and accessories here. If you bring in lightly used kids’ clothes, you can ask for cash or store credit. If you choose the latter, you’ll feel great about staying within the ethic of “recuse, recycle, reduce.” Either way, you’re likely to go home with something that makes your kid happy.

The Nest

425 East Ohio St, North Side

There’s a great mission behind this non-profit kids’ boutique: The Nest serves young moms in need with everything they need, for their kids and themselves. Donations of gently used items are encouraged, as are financial contributions. At the store, you can shop for great pieces at affordable prices.

The backpack from Slate, which Dominika found at The Picket Fence, is patterned with an archeologist’s dino skeleton pattern. She humorously pairs it with a Dandelion Kids water bottle whose aliens and UFOs look to science fiction as opposed to science.

While you’re getting ready to head back to school check out our recipes for simple school lunches that’ll keep the kiddos well-nourished.

Story by Keith Recker and Dominika Bronner
Styling by Dominika Bronner
Photography by Keith Recker

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