Niceish clothes for DD (6) who is a committed leggings and t shirt wearer

[wanderingwondering]

Comfort is key in dd's world-she will only wear leggings which are slightly too big and cotton t shirts. She hates waistbands being even slightly tight (even though she is tiny-it's not like they're digging in!) and can't abide jeans, cords or even tregging things.

She has a couple of party dresses which she will wear once in a blue moon (rarely for parties!)

But she is starting to look like a bit of a scruff in comparison to her peers and I'd like to introduce her to a couple of outfits which would be nice to wear for parties or days out. We trawled the h&m, next and Boden websites today and nothing really grabbed her attention.

Any ideas?

[Cocoaone]

Following! My DD is nearly 6 and exactly the same. Occasionally she will agree to a skirt over said leggings (usually in a completely mismatching pattern and/or colour)

[TheSpottedZebra]

Have you looked at Uniqlo ?

Would nice leggings and t shirts/tops work, or are you thinking of things like jersey dresses?

[KenDoddsDadsDog]

I get a lot of stuff for DD from Zara . She's similar and announced last night that she won't do her communion (in three years time!) as she won't wear a dress

[wanderingwondering]

I'll look at uniqlo and Zara thank you.
It's not the leggings so much as the pairing of them with t shirts-I'd love to tempt her into tunic type things or dresses but as much as she dislikes waistbands in trousers she also doesn't like the look of dresses without a waist!

[wanderingwondering]

And yes, cocoaone-we get the mismatching skirt over the top look occasionally too.
Even though I try to buy things that coordinate she will manage to find the one combination that looks terrible! (To me-I'm sure she thinks it looks great!)

[TheBigRedBoat]

Does it really matter? I mean she's 6. If she's comfy in leggings and Tshirts just but her some nice leggings and Tshirts and let her be happy. As long as her clothes are clean and in good condition I doubt she really looks 'scruffy'

[wanderingwondering]

It's not the end of the world and I want her to be happy and comfy but she is beginning to look noticeably different to her peers and I want her to at least have options if she is going out for a special occasion.
So yes, nice leggings and t shirts are fine but I'd like ideas for things that might work well instead

[AnotherStitchInTime]

Playsuit or jumpsuits? M&S have some nice ones.

Tunics and leggings? Try Vertbaudet maybe.

Dress and leggings?

[AmberNectarine]

My DD Likes jersey dresses or jumper dresses over leggings. Comfy but a little bit smarter. Usually with a little cotton cardi on top

[OooohHorlicks]

T shirts with ruched shoulders help make leggings look smarter. I have also introduced a collection of harem style trousers from Gap which also look slightly smarter. They get picked just as often as leggings now.

Short, corduroy pinafore style dresses over leggings and t shirt I can sometimes negotiate too although on the whole I'm just grateful when they've managed to get dressed at all.

[trufflesnout]

I don't think there's anything wrong with her taste at 6, or at any age actually. Your daughter and I share a fashion sense

You can get her some nutty ones from Boden's kids range I've never shopped there MN must be getting to me, some nice but interesting ones from somewhere like Next, and some good quality staple ones from Uniqlo.

[Believeitornot]

Honestly just buy her some nice dresses and be done with it. Don't trawl the websites with her! Getting her into shopping habits at such an early age. And worrying about her appearance. You can get plenty of nice leggings (hennes do do thicker leggings) and smarter jumpers.

Other option is jersey type dresses (again hennes) and thick tights.

Try vertbaudet- they have lovely stuff (but only when reduced)

[SqueegyBeckinheim]

www.landsend.co.uk/Sale/The_Great_Winter_Sale/Girls/Tops/ix-6090_3506?sz=all&endless=true

Lands End do some nice tunic/dress type tops. Slightly smarter than t shirts but still soft and comfy.

[Micah]

My dd looks scruffy compared to her peers.

She doesnt care. She isnt bothered about her peers judgements of her opinion. So why should i be.

She has favourite leggings and t-shirts for special occasions, but thats it. I had a mother who was very aware of "looking nice" and placing high value in others opinions. The result being always feel i dont meet others expectations.

I think dd's dont care attitude is far healthier.

[Branleuse]

I really really suggest, you just continue to allow her to wear comfortable practical clothes. Leggings and Tshirts are fine. Shes only 6.

[wannanewone]

At 6, my dd chopped all her hair off, and only wore clothes bought from boys' section for the next 4 years. Including boys underpants. Friends accepted her as she was. She had no trouble at school. I got admiring comments, about how independent my dd was
She now wears clothes from girls' section and even wore some skirts last summer!
I would get her nice non scruffy stuff she likes and then you are both happy!

[wanderingwondering]

Oh wows lands end actually have things called 'leggings tops' they should fit the bill perfectly.
I am aware I may be projecting and be caring too much about what other people think but I feel there is some value in fitting in to some extent especially when one is quirky in other ways which Dd certainly is!

[Micah]

No, theres no value in fitting in :)

I am much, much happier having stopped trying to fit in. Wish id been allowed to discover it as a child :)

[herecomesthsun]

Dungarees are very fashionable and funky - and comfy.

[BackforGood]

Another who wouldn't feel they needed to try to change what are very practical and sensible clothes for a yr old.

[Believeitornot]

am aware I may be projecting and be caring too much about what other people think but I feel there is some value in fitting in to some extent especially when one is quirky in other ways which Dd certainly is

Seriously you're storing up trouble. She isn't dressing as a vagabond. You buy her clothes and make sure they're clean. Honestly she will learn that appearances are everything. She is 6. 6!

I know people who's mothers valued appearance over everything and it has not served them well as adults.

[HoneyDragon]

The op is asked big for slightly smarter versions of what her dd already wears I don't think that's too traumatising

[HoneyDragon]

No idea where the errant big came from.

[Believeitornot]

I think it was the talk of trawling websites with her dd and talking about her fitting in which was a bit I assume the OP makes sure she is clean so what's the issue? Just pick stuff without checking with the dd. She's 6.

But point taken!

[wanderingwondering]

Thanks-I'm really not trying to dress her as a mini adult or anything.
The website trawling (prob wrong word) was because I'm fed up of buying her things I think she'll like and her then refusing to wear them.
Fitting in-well, yes-this is probably my failing. She is much more her own person than I've ever been.