Am I mad to think about taking daughter clothes shopping on Christmas Eve?

[LineRunnerBonfireMother]

All my DD (15) wants for Christmas is clothes. It was the same last year, and I gave her New Look and Debenhams vouchers. But it just seems so impersonal.

I daren't buy her clothes because they won't fit and she won't like them and she'll end up with the chore of taking them back.

So I wondered about a Christmas shopping trip treat, where she can actually try the stuff on.

Christmas Eve seems less horrendous IME than any day in the week prior to it - maybe everyone's given up by then and gone home to crack up?

Well, true - generally very quiet, but a lot of the stores will close early, so you may want to go first thing.

Do they shut at 4pm, or even earlier? Hadn't thought about that - thanks!

It will be nice... but she will get twice the amount of stuff for the same money if you wait until boxing day.

Big box of money, then?

How can I make that seem more Christmassy?

How old is she?

Could you give her an invitation to a shopping trip?

Get a teen girly mag & cut up pix inside & decorate them in a Xmasy way all the models holding tenners, she gets to open one envelope at a time?

Although a big box of money is the gift which keeps on giving

I cant think of anything worse than shopping on xmas eve! Its always packed! But on the plus side everyone is always in a really good mood!! :)
I agree though that you will get twice the amount on boxing day probably the same clothes but half price!

If you get an early start you could have a great girlie day! I love shopping on xmas eve as the shops tend to be quiet, yet full of bargins. Aim to finish by 3pm though.

Would she appreciate a handmade shopping 'voucher'; 'this voucher entitles you to an awesome day of non stop shopping & lattes with your fab mum!' so she could choose when to go with you? Or would she rather just take the vouchers and run?

I think most places shut at 4-ish on Christmas Eve.

Christmas eve shopping is full of hysterical people grabbing anything to get. It's a horrible atmosphere. Don't go.

Either go a few weeks before and then wrap all the gifts, or give her money.

Lots of stores start their sales before Christmas, and the stuff is much nicer then than in the scrum / jumble sale once the real sales start. I often shop on Christmas eve, I think it might be nice, and surely the specific clothes stores will be less busy than more "presenty" shops.

So yes, if that's what your DD would like, I'd go for it - even if you get a couple of fairly cheap things and give her some more to spend in the sales. At the risk of being sanctimonious, it has the potential to be special time spent with your daughter.

Thank you for all these ideas!

And I'm glad you don't all think I'm barking. I just want to show her I'm making an effort to make it special, I suppose.

I also have a DS (14) who also wants clothes and shoes, but he's just easier somehow to buy for.

Maybe if I compromise and take her out to to buy one nice thing to wrap, and do the decorated box of money thing, that would work.

Just think, all the things you buy on x-mas eve will probably be in the sales a few days later. I would give her the cash and take her after christmas then she will get a lot more for her money. I will probably do this with dsd this year.

Someone told me recently they always go to Debenhams about 3pm on Christmas eve because thats when they start marking down all the aftershave box sets for the sales and you can get them half price. As I have practically all my shopping done by now, due to the stress levels I reach if I am worried about not getting something, its not for me, but I thought some of you might find it useful.

i would go with buying a nice money box and stuffing it with notes!!!! something to open then, and something to spend. maybe a few little bits too like smellies and chocs etc

Actually, even if we just went window shopping together on Christmas Eve, it would be a nice thing to do. Like Dilys says.

marne and was and elves are right about the sales!

herbie I guess all teens want clothes. I was the same. Never got them, though!

Lydia, seriously the shops are always dead on Christmas Eve afternoon where I live. (Big city up north.) Well, dead-ish. Like everyone's done a runner to go and sob over the credit card bills at home or in the pub.

Awoman I doubt she thinks I'm a fab mum. I think she thinks I'm fairly eccentric!

tether she's 15, at the box that keeps on giving... and ragged love the box decoration idea!

Thanks, everyone

What about booking a personal shopper session for the week after Christmas - sales prices, and protected from the scrum by the personal shopper doing the legwork?

The openable pressie can then be an invite to the appointment.

IME the sales start well before Xmas these days and the busiest time for shopping is the weekend before Xmas day (so avoid).
I've always got the best bargains a week or two before Xmas day before the dregs are left for the Boxing Day scrumdown.

jennie, forgive my unworldliness but what does a personal shopper actually do? My entire experience is based on Rachel from Friends.

morag, Yes I have just seen sales on in town, although sadly in all the wrong shops!

Personal shoppers can be great, but they're very much for adults not teens. What they do IME is whizz round the store for you and come back with a huge rail of appropriate clothes in the right size, colour and shape, provide you with nice cups of tea, and run around getting stuff in different colours/sizes, matching belts/shoes etc. If you absolutely have to have a dress for a wedding or a suit for work then they can be very useful.

Dilys Topshop do personal shoppers now. I'd have loved that at 15.

yanbu. When I worked in a shop Xmas eve wasn't too busy. The real rush was the weekend before Xmas.