I have had good luck with the basic Target Cherokee ultimate t. Basic tee, not boyish or boxy, not tight. They have held up really well. My kids are much younger and are on the slim side so I can't vouch for sizing. Our store has a lot of different colors, v-neck, and crew that are not shown online. Good luck!

http://www.target.com/p/girls-.....timate+tee

Cathy, I haven't read the comments because I'm on my phone. But try Lands End, Eddie Bauer, Athleta and Target.

Also, clearly I know nothing about raising kids. I wonder though if focusing attention away from clothes and onto hair, shoes and nails is a fun idea.

Looks like I am not alone Go moms! I am well-armed with a list of places to check, thanks to you all. I really appreciate everyone's input! Will let you know if I find something that works.

Sarah -- Thanks for the link! Fit looks good but neck may be a bit low. Will check out other Target offerings!

Meredith -- Hm, I will have find a Loft near me to check out. And another vote for Target!

Suz -- Yes, I agree that dressing "sexy" would be harder to deal with. Ugh. The tween fashions I see these days, ugh again. And shopping for two generations (3 including yourself) must be very interesting! My DD wore a dress once (piano recital). Hasn't expressed an interest in wearing one again...

DonnaF -- Hm, I must have missed the crew neck ones -- the ones I saw were too low. I will have to look again!

Echo -- I hear ya and feel your pain!

Elpgal -- Ooh, I really like the look of those. And Blue Canoe, I totally forgot about that brand, which is funny because I have several pieces of loungewear/yoga wear from them! Will have to check it out.

Sparks -- Haven't looked at the TRF range (is that like a juniors line for Zara?) -- thanks for the pointer! Hope shopping is a bit easier for you now.

jackiec - I think it can be hard for boys and girls, if the kids are adamant about what they wear but can't pick out anything. It's easier when kids don't care, some care but can articulate what they want.

Inge - Is Massimo Dutti available in the U.S. I hear a lot of YLFers raving about it!

crutcher - Hm, no I haven't tried consignment stores. Great idea. And yes, I would like her to tell me what she likes, which would be easier to work with than what she doesn't like...

Glory -- Ahhh... commiserating right there with you. And I will definitely put Costco on my list! Joe Fresh, I wonder if that is Canadian-only?

Elly -- Ah, another store I haven't thought of. Thanks, the tee sounds like it might fit the bill!

Neelie -- What is it with that age? I am in the U.S., so TJ Maxx could work. Haven't been there in awhile -- maybe it's time to go back

carambola -- Good idea! Let's see if that works.

E -- I'll show her Threadless and maybe something will pop up. She did talk about getting a Lil Bub tee, so there's that...

Laurinda -- Heh, I mentioned that most people need to alter their clothes to get the exact fit they like. Even though she's been sewing for a few years, she claims to not be good at sewing clothes -- although she has made a tee, dresses and skirts before! Maybe I can start her with a simple alteration.

Rae -- Oooh, another good suggestion. Will check it out!

Rachylou -- She hates stripes. Not sure about the layering -- that's a thought!

Marin -- Another vote for Target! I will definitely put that shirt on my list to check out when I go to Target.

Angie -- More Target And Athleta, another one I hadn't considered -- thanks! Interesting point about focusing attention away from clothes. Basically, I want her to have enough shirts to last through laundry day -- last time all three of the shirts she wears were dirty, so we had a big struggle getting out of the house because she didn't want to wear anything else! She does like to fiddle with her hair, hmm...

Wow. Thanks for your name checking thorough response cciele! TRF is slightly cheaper and stocks the younger trend stuff. I dress from it and I'm in my 30s but as I say, a lot of my students shop there too.

Thanks for the kind words-yeah, I grew out of the awkward phase, shed a lot of weight and became much easier to shop for. I wasn't 100% happy in my skin until fairly recently though. Still, I think a lot of people are like that.

Good luck and definitely don't forget the accessories!

My girls are nearly 8 and very tall. I am not looking forward to the tension that I anticipate in a couple years when they show more preferences as well as the struggle with modesty which is very important to me and DH.

Someone mentioned consignment and I suggest hitting thrift stores. Not because I suggest you buy all used but because, if it is a neat organized store, you may be able to quickly flip through dozens of brands and find the perfect shape and cut that tics off all her preferences. Then you can google/ebay to find the best source of that top and buy multiples. I have wound up with a few items I love in brands that I never knew about. It's a benefit of thrifting that a lot of folks wouldn't consider, because you are exposed to so many brands and style eras in one rack. Good luck!

I will try to remember this, DD is only 6 and already has strong opinions on what she will wear so we are starting the negotiations for school now. I would also suggest LandsEnd, H&M (online is so much easier to shop than in store especially for the basics) and American Apparel (very plain and basic) . I also noticed this weekend all the sporting goods stores (Dick's, Sports Authority) are having major clearances and have a lot of sporty tees and sweats. It might be a good idea if she finds something she likes to double up on that so you don't have the laundry issues. When my DD decided she would only wear My Little Pony undies I bought 2 10 packs so there are always a fresh pair ready even if I only wash once a week.