Everyone Had It In The '90s — Now You'll Want This Item To Organize Your Kids' Stuff

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For '90s kids who were just getting into makeup, nothing compared to stocking up at their local drug store. But where to store this bounty of sparkly eye shadow, frosty lipstick, or vibrant nail polish? Caboodles, of course! Plano launched this makeup-storing powerhouse in the late '80s after the company became aware that people were using fishing tackle boxes as caddies for their beauty products. Plano took the compartment-centric design, added a mirror, and swapped the beiges and browns for a mix of bold neon or pastel hues. Word traveled fast — a 1992 New York Times article noted that according to the manufacturer's marketing research, a whopping 80% of girls knew about the brand.

While Caboodles never actually went away, the company expanded to other product lines, like totes and train cases, which never loomed as large in the public imagination as the OG plastic case. However, after Plano relaunched retro-style Caboodles in the late 2010s, their popularity exploded once again. Nowadays, they're available from a variety of retailers in person and online, including Caboodles' website. With their impressive range of compartments, it's time to think beyond makeup storage and use these colorful cases for corralling all kinds of kid stuff.

From hair accessories to sidewalk chalk, Caboodles can be perfect for keeping your kids' small items organized. The company also offers cases in multiple sizes, from the spacious multi-tiered case to more pocket-sized options. For example, the vintage-inspired cases come in sizes ranging from the larger On-The-Go Girl style with multiple tiers and divided compartments, to smaller options like Pretty In Petite and Take It Tote, each with two to three compartments.

For busy parents, Caboodles On-The-Go Girl is perfect for using as a portable art station. Crayola did a collab with the case maker and highlighted how the compartments can be used to store crayons and markers, or paint and brushes. This setup is great for home use or longer car trips. Kids can quickly set up their materials on the kitchen table, then pack everything up easily before mealtime. Caboodles could also be used for other activity stations, with stickers, beads for making friendship bracelets, or other crafting supplies. For outdoor play, load up a Caboodle with chalk and bubbles, along with wet wipes to clean off messy fingers. The smaller compartments can be an ideal spot to place the more worn pieces of sidewalk chalk, so you know at a glance which shades need to be replenished in the future.

For toy storage, these larger Caboodles are perfect for smaller dolls, like Barbies, as well as their clothes, shoes, and accessories. With the mirror, kids and their Barbies can admire the different outfit combos they create. Caboodles are also a great way to organize collections of other smaller toys, like squishies, Calico Critters, Littlest Pet Shop, or resin animals. 

The tinier items would also be a great fit for the smaller-size Caboodles. In addition, parents can also stow the Take It Tote in a purse or bag, so they always have a few crayons or small toys at the ready to alleviate boredom at a restaurant or office waiting room.