Eton uniform shops

[Eton2017]

Does anyone have an opinion about any of the Eton uniform shops? Or are they practically interchangeable? DS's dame says they aren't allowed to make a recommendation.

As DS is growing like a weed, if any of them are better than others for good quality second hand tailcoats, that would be particularly interesting - v possible he'll have outgrown one that fits now by Christmas!

[Michaelahpurple]

They are very good at sizing up and letting out for growing lads - I know quite a few families who have squeezed three years wear out of the first set. He won't be the only new boy with quite a bit of room in the shoulders of his jacket on day one. The style of the outfit also lends itself to this - it tends to fit where it touches and all just hang off the shoulders.

No one really knows re the tailors I think as one only ever tries one. We used Welsh and Jefferies which seemed to get a good general write-up and they had a big stock of second hand ( the uniform list specifies that one can have one second hand but must have one new too - a bit odd as there is no scope to make sure one has the new one available for special occasions etc

[Eton2017]

Thanks (also to the several people who replied by PM). For what it's worth, this year's uniform list does not have the "one must be new" restriction, so possibly they realised it made no sense!

[peteneras]

When DS entered Eton, on Induction Day in early summer just prior to the September entry to College, all new boys and parents alike were taken by the Assistant Matron-in-College i.e. Assistant Dame, first, to nearby Barclays Bank at the High Street to open a bank account for the boys and thereafter straight to Welsh & Jefferies the bespoke tailors a few doors away. So much for Dames not being allowed recommendations.

Only College has an Assistant Dame and two Assistant Housemasters instead of one of each everywhere else. This is because College with 70 boys is about 1½ times larger than all the Oppidan houses each with appx. 50 boys.

Welsh & Jefferies gives a very good service, not just initially when you purchase the uniforms, but throughout the entire 5 years at the college. They are obviously very experienced in the needs of a fast-growing teenager and cut their uniforms with this firmly in mind – altering them as the boy grows in the months and years to come. I’m very pleased with them (but not so much when I receive the bill at the end of each half - just joking!

They also stock a large range of used items. We bought everything new.

[Moominmammacat]

How much does a full set of uniform, including sport, casual etc cost?

[Eton2017]

I haven't added it up (ask me again in a couple of weeks!) but here's a price list:
www.tombrowntailors.co.uk/college.cfm
and here's the sports shop:
etonsport.co.uk/index.php?route=product/category&path=59_64_72
The list of what they must have is in Information for Parents of New Boys, to which I can't do a link on my phone but it's googleable.

My impression is that it's not as wildly out of line with other school uniform as one might fear, though it being a boarding school has consequences, eg they must have a shirt for every day of the week, you can't decide to buy fewer and commit to washing midweek.

Worth noting that full bursaries can be more than 100%, so as to cover uniform etc as well as fees. Eton now has more than 70 boys who pay nothing, and roughly a quarter of all boys get some reduction (and that's not engineered by lots of trivial bursaries: average reduction is by about two-thirds of the fee). So, still exclusive obviously, but not so much so as is sometimes assumed.

[DopeyMum16]

Another vote for Welsh and Jefferies - and their second hand stock. They are charming .They also offer to put names on everything for you which saves sore fingers .
The sports shop charges you a one off fee for name labelling all your sports kit for the 5 years.
They both will keep a stock of name tapes for your son. If you ever need anything at short notice you can call up and pay over the phone and your son can pick up his named item the next day.
Very handy .
If you buy during the summer holidays the clothes are delivered to the house.
My son's first tailcoats just about made 3 years so good value in the end ,

[Michaelahpurple]

Had a look at last year's spreadsheet. Spent £1340 on uniform

[Eton2017]

Our total stands at just over £1k - but that doesn't yet include any shoes, which we'll get at the last minute.

Both W&J and Eton Sport were lovely, very helpful, no hard sell.

At least you only buy a full set of uniform once!

[Alhambra1611]

Jumping on the thread a little late but for what it's worth I would strongly recommend Welsh and Jeffries too.
They have always given great friendly service and will always offer an alteration service. My DS has had his first set of tails (x2) for 3 yrs. He's grown considerably over that time and Welsh and Jeffries have altered his tails accordingly every time. Only now do we need to replace them. They offer good deals on new tails and second hand.
Never go to Tom Brown! They are horrific. I'd always heard bad things but now experienced it myself. Rude, obstructive and lie continuously. Only had to contact them because they had my sons tails ( each house is allocated a tailor for dry cleaning purposes). We have no choice but they have now lost my sons tails and after a considerable period it appeared they were in their shop. Always extremely unhelpful and rude.

Eton Sports and Eton Stationers also offer an excellent service!

Hope your DS enjoys his time at Eton, it's a great place.

[statesmom]

At Eton, does anyone know whether one can clip a reading light on the bed frame for extra light? Or is a bedside lamp more common/popular method of lighting?

[Alhambra1611]

Hi Statesmom. I can only speak for my son's house but I think all the beds are the same in that they do not have a bed head and there isn't anything that you can clip a light on to. I believe most boys have a bedside light. You can always get one locally.

[Michaelahpurple]

Our house also no bedhead (or foot). He has a little ikea stool as a bedside table, tucked under his desk and his lamp (also ikea) and alarm clock sit on that.

If you didn't do it when you visited, I suggest that when you help him set his room up in September you have a play with the layout and work out what he might need and do an ikea or similar run ready for the first short leave

But definitely get a bedside lamp from the off.

[chadlingtonchadders]

Hi- so you went for Eton rather than Westminster then?

[Michaelahpurple]

Yes, after much havering and some lingering uncertainty