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AIBU?

To think this is odd (children’s clothes related)

48 replies

Emboo19 · 22/04/2018 12:41

Putting the issue of ‘boys and girls’ clothes aside.
I’ve just been looking for some summer clothes for DD, to be fair only looking in a catalog at home (rather well known for kids clothes) so not representative of every store. But it struck me that all the shorts in the ‘girls’ section are short, stopping more than half way before the knee, yet all boys shorts are around knee length.
I know women’s shorts tend to be short and men’s knee length, guessing as that’s the fashion (although weird as more women than men seem concerned with how they look and like to be covered up) and I guess that’s why it’s the same in children’s clothing.
But with general advice of keeping covered up in the sun, I find it odd girls shorts are so much shorter than boys. There also more strapless tops and spaghetti straps, where as for boys much more choice in standard t shirts.

I know I’m being unreasonable in the sense that it must sell so obviously clothes shops make and sell it and I know I can (and do) buy from the ‘boys’ section.
But when and how did this come in?

OP posts:
KurriKurri · 22/04/2018 12:51

I think it is because children's clothing is becoming a simple imitation (and smaller version) of adult clothing without any regard for what is suitable for children to play in.

Although having said that a glance a Mand S site (which I just picked as anexample of a shop that does kids clothes) there are quite a few t-shirts with sleeves and knee length shorts and culottes/mid calf summer trousers in the girls section. (They also have knee length grey shorts for girls for school)

KurriKurri · 22/04/2018 12:57

Another quick glance around a few more clothing sites - I can find a reasonable amount of t shirts with sleeves, but you are right about the shorts - they are mostly short-shorts, or tight fitting cycling shorts fro little girls.

Emboo19 · 22/04/2018 13:04

Yes that’s is quite a few t shirts, just that there also a fair few sleeveless tops or the t shirts have more of a cap sleeve compared to boys which seem longer.
But the shorts are all shorter, there’s dresses which are longer I’m not keen on dresses for her though as they tend to get in the way of her climbing and playing and I end up tucking them in her knickers.

OP posts:
ToesInWater · 22/04/2018 13:06

You are right. We are in Oz so shorts are worn pretty much nine months of the year, short shorts are the norm for girls/women, longer shorts for boys/men. It is so ingrained that girls just don't want to wear longer shorts, recent attempts at making more gender neutral school uniforms available are also met with indifference from most girls who want to keep wearing their dresses as they find them cooler/ more comfortable. I'm glad there are options for the people who want them though.

girlinleeds · 22/04/2018 13:08

We find it a struggle every year to find shorts, dd is very tall for her age and in age 11-12 clothes trying to find suitable clothes, with an adjustable waist is a nightmare. This year I've given up with supermarkets and clothes shops and got her some from mountain warehouse

Emboo19 · 22/04/2018 13:11

I’ve never noticed before, but then DD wasn’t even 1 last summer so I wasn’t looking in the same way. But I’m thinking if she’s climbing and playing on slides, swings etc in hot weather. Having the tops of he legs covered would be better. In the girls shorts I imagine once sat down they will only cover her bum and not her thighs much if at all. That seems impractical.

OP posts:
QueenofSerene · 22/04/2018 13:17

I don't know if it's possible in the UK but here in Aus my mum used to make my own school outfits using the same material but would sew my skirts/skorts to be longer than the minimum. Is that an option for you OP?

Caulk · 22/04/2018 13:18

There was a thing on Fb last summer where people were comparing the length of children’s shorts. Photos were taken in different shops. It’s worth searching for so you can shop accordingly

Ohyesiam · 22/04/2018 13:18

It’s because women’s bodies are public property, there to look good and be done unto.
Men’s bodies are their own, so they get clothes that work. They cover them up, have pockets, are generally practical.
I know this is a very black and white version of something that can have shades of grey, and that as women we don’t have to conform, but given that most/ many people want to fit in , its a powerful message.

sentMai · 22/04/2018 13:19

It's a patriarchal conspiracy. They want us all to catch skin cancer so they can erase us and stuff

A few minutes on ASDA, Tesco, Next and GAP don't tie-in at all with your quite banal GFery. Just-above-the-knee shorts are available and common for either sex.

www.gap.co.uk/browse/category.do?cid=1049671&departmentRedirect=true&mlink=noPage,,flyout_girls_Shorts#pageId=0&department=48

KurriKurri · 22/04/2018 13:20

My DD just wore her brother's hand me downs as she didn't like short shorts.

Can you get some cheap summery trousers and cut them off ?

Another quick google and it seems you might have more luck in sports/outdoorsy type shops.

these from Mountainware

or

these from trespass

tesco also stock various styles of mountain warehouse longer girls shorts (although interestingly several of the longer more practical shorts are sold out, while there are plenty of the short-shorts - seems you are not the only person who prefers the longer version ! Smile)

Melassa · 22/04/2018 13:31

We have the same problem, we used to get military style shorts from Gap that came down to the knee, but they stopped making them for girls and DD is too skinny and slight for the boys' ones. To fit her bum and waist without the nappy effect she'd need age 7 which would end up being too short. The girl bermudas on the Gap link below are still too short, she needs knee length or longer for school and is not allowed to wear leggings. I've ended up just cutting down jeans that have become too short, but it's such a pain I can't buy them off the peg.

It was never this bad a few years ago!

TheHandmaidsTail · 22/04/2018 13:31

This is my pet peeve - I have 2 DD's and a DS - DS is now wearing his sisters shorts as I always had to buy boys shorts to get anything practical. All the girls shorts are short and "show off" legs, when I wanted knee length.

Really pisses me off.

user1471426142 · 22/04/2018 13:34

At toddler age, I’ve not found this a problem. I can see it can be harder with older kids though. You just need to look a bit harder. There are 7 different colours of these ones for example www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk/girls-twill-capri-pants-b8320.html

FiaMarrow · 22/04/2018 13:37

To be honest I'd always assumed Men's shorts were longer to avoid accidental flashing. Plus their undies are usually longer.

Emboo19 · 22/04/2018 13:41

All but one pair in the gap knee length are denim and look really skinny fitting, tight denim not what I’d consider cool for summer and in particular I’m looking for holiday shorts so a definite no. Plus they all seemed to start at size 4yrs, my dd is only 18 months.

I’m sure I’ll find some, but it’s annoying that the majority for girks are short, short where as boys all tend to be knee length. To be fair to the boys though, more if there’s seem to be in heavier materials jogging bottom style or denim, a few linen chino style ones, but the girls have nice loose cotton ones, just really short.

OP posts:
MerrilyWatkins · 22/04/2018 13:43

Boden used to do fantastic jersey bermuda shorts which my girls loved. Trying to find shorts for a tall, skinny 13 year old who finds denim too uncomfortable is practically impossible.

Thespringsthething · 22/04/2018 13:43

If you look at 1970's footballers, they wore very short shorts compared with today's standards! Daisy Duke type shorts or hotpants have been around since 1950's for women.

I've no idea why men's shorts then became long and women's did not apart from the obvious.

I agree that hot pant type shorts aren't exactly what you always want for girls who also need to cover their legs/not get burned/don't always want to expose all of their legs- a choice at least would be nice, but cheap hot pant type shorts have been in the shops several years in a row. My girls wear them a bit longer, usually with turn-ups or we make our own from long jeans.

It's like at school- we had knicker shorts which were basically a thick Bridget Jones type of pair of knickers worn in public for ultimate humiliation, and the boys had long to the knee shorts. It was unfair then!

Emboo19 · 22/04/2018 13:45

They’re not shorts though user1471 there’s plenty of cropped leggings etc, it’s actual shorts.

OP posts:
WeeMadArthur · 22/04/2018 13:47

Is the same with leggings VS jogging bottoms, there is an inbuilt presumption that girls will show off their figures.

Thespringsthething · 22/04/2018 13:50

A few minutes on ASDA, Tesco, Next and GAP don't tie-in at all with your quite banal GFery. Just-above-the-knee shorts are available and common for either sex

If you go on the Gap website, you will see the difference! The majority of Girl's Shorts are mini or midi, which are really short, and there's one section of longer length which is suggested for 'school or weekend' not for usual wear! If you go to the Boy's short section, every single pair is long! Not one boy is wearing shorts as short as the vast majority of the girls section.

A quick glance reveals the OP to be spot on!

www.gap.co.uk/browse/category.do?cid=1049671&departmentRedirect=true&mlink=65659,,flyout_girls_Shorts#pageId=0&department=48

www.gap.co.uk/browse/category.do?cid=65659&mlink=1049671,,flyout_boys_Shorts

Emboo19 · 22/04/2018 13:51

I think football shorts have gone back to breing shorter and I know swim shorts for men started being shorter Thespring. Although they don’t seem to be for boys.

OP posts:

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Jaxhog · 22/04/2018 13:52

It's because women and girls are STILL judged by their ability to attract men and boys. Even tiny girls. No wonder we have so many paedofiles, sexting etc. I do sometimes wonder what all that fight for equality really got us.

pullonyourjudgypants · 22/04/2018 13:53

I just like young child to look like babies or toddlers not mini adults. I've noticed so many girls in teeny shorts Hmm

We have H&M boys shorts ( My DS is nearly 2) many that come in a pack could be for boys or girls as seem to do bright colours which I like best. Same with mothercare, sometimes I think his shorts look more girly !

H&M - the palm
Trees & Coral

m2.hm.com/m/en_gb/productpage.0622341001.html


These would be ok for a girl too

www.mothercare.com/trousers-and-shorts/blue-yellow-and-grey-shorts---3-pack/LPG078.html#q=Boys+shorts+pack&start=1

Or these

www.mothercare.com/trousers-and-shorts/blue-boat-red-stripe-and-blue-shorts---3-pack/LPG265.html#q=Boys+shorts+pack&start=3

PurpleTraitor · 22/04/2018 13:54

I want to buy some long sleeved, preferably plain colour, t-shirts, in age 11-12. I know I could find these online, probably, if I looked harder, but I thought it was such a simple request I just assumed I’d pick them up at the (massive) supermarket as I was going about my day. No long sleeved tops. Ah well, there was a matalan next door so I looked there. No long sleeved tops, not one. Considering the amount of clothes in there I was a bit surprised. Didn’t think about it too much but was then in a big outdoor clothing store a couple of days later buying an inner tube for my bike so I thought, ah, there will be some here. No. No long sleeved t-shirt tops. In an outdoor clothing store. Checked one more supermarket the next day when passing, again drew a blank.

Now I have to go on a specific online search to buy long sleeved tops for a child. It’s weird and annoying.

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