"But, they always made it a point to have their daughter in POLO clothes and brand name sneakers."
That stuff doesn't bother me. As a Mom who could've easily afforded those types of clothes for her kids, I bought them...used, at Goodwill, LOL! Maybe your SIL is doing the same? It's amazing to me what the Rich Folk donate, but it makes the rest of us look good, too.
That whole "designer duds" fight started for me when the kids were 12 years old or so. If they wanted "designer" they bought it with their alloted breakfast meal money and went hungry. (Just kiddin'!)
I'm really surprised there hasn't been ONE voice of dissent here on this issue. I thought for sure some bleeding heart would show up and accuse us of starving little non-aborted children and being Evil Conservatives. Maybe it's still too early? ;)
When I got around to it I'd eat breakfast at home. I'd usually make my own lunch.(happy to- Much better than school lunches up to high school)I'd get what clothes I liked. Didn't care to make sure it was by certain companies. I've always wondered why people will spend more money on basically the same clothes because of brand. Often a name brand shirt will be perfectly plain except for the name on front and cost a lot more.