DD has had a growth spurt. She needs everything. What are essential items for a 6yo?

[Pavlovthecat]

I sorted out all DDs clothes last week, and most of it is now too small (you know when you put a pair of trousers on your child and wonder how long they have been walking around half mast). So, I have chucked most of it out (charity shop) and need pretty much everything. Obviously she does have clothes! But needs a refresh.

But I get so caught up in beautiful things I end up buying lots of lovely things, spend too much money and then find there is so much more I should have bought/things I did not really need.

I have just done that today in sainsburys 25% sale I was lured in and now, after browsing M&S found things I like much much more and for not much more money.

I am going to make a list of essential items. Like t-shirts etc. So what is essential for your DD, and what quantity?

I have so far on my list of things to buy:

Boots (she has one pair, but needs another because M&S have a lovely red pair)
Coat - this has probably wait til next month as she has one that fits her, I just think it's a bit scruffy now
Trousers/jeans - how many?
Leggings - how many?
Dress - how many? (not pretty party dresses she has plenty of those!)
Skirts - how many?
Tights - how many?
Cardigans/jumpers/fleeces - what do you buy?/how many?

And what neutral type things do you have for your DD that mixes well with everything, you know, that one item that goes with most of the wardrobe?

She is definitely a skirt/tights or dress/tights type of girl. She likes girly, but also funky, not necessarily pink and in actual fact her favourite colours are 'silver/gold' right now! So, are there other things I need? So that once I have done this big shop we have it all and then next month I can just buy one or tw things I like Just Because.

[forevergreek]

If she's a dress/ tights child then I wouldn't go crazy on jeans/ bottoms etc

Something like:
4 dresses ( knitted short sleeve best as she can wear in winter with long top under/ vest, and in spring alone)
4 leggings
4 tights
4 long sleeve tops
2/3 warm cardigans
1 jeans
Couple of different tshirts to wear as layers under dresses or with jeans
1 pair joggers/ yoga pant style for when they need for gym/ school farm trip/ Friends party at climbing place etc
1 fleece/ hoody to go with joggers

Roughly above as min I would say

[Pavlovthecat]

thank you! I agree with the point about jeans. Made that mistake before. I have always had lots of trousers for her as they are so practical and warm in the winter, but she is forever pulling dresses out of her drawers and saying 'but i want to wear this mummy' and so it seems she has like 3 dresses and nothing else in her wardrobe!

I love knitted dresses - with stripy tights, lovely!

[Pavlovthecat]

and leggings can double as tights can't they? under skirts/dresses.

It was so much easier to dress her when she was younger, I got what I wanted and that was that!

[dairymoo]

I am assuming she is at school, and so wears uniform for most of the day?

If so, I would say:

One pair of: boots / wellies / smarter shoes (for parties) and possibly a pair of trainers (depending on whether she's a run outside like a mad thing, or a stay inside colouring/dressing up kind of girl - I have 5 yo twin DDs, one of each persuasion!)

One of my DDs prefers dresses & skirts so I don't even bother buying her trousers, as they just never get worn. She has about 3 'day' dresses and 2 skirts, and a couple of pairs of co-ordinating tights and a selection of coloured leggings, say 3-4 pairs. I try and keep everything sort of colour co-ordinated so that dresses / leggings / skirts / cardis can be mixed & matched.

She has a few long sleeve t-shirts (prob 4 that fit at any one time) and three cardigans, I think. Again, not a huge fan of jumpers / sweatshirts, but she does have a Mini Boden towelling hoodie that gets thrown over everything if it's a bit chilly outside.

She also has one pair of jogging bottoms that can be used for swimming days / lounging around the house.

I'd say that my DDs prob have the minimum that we could get away with, as I just hate buying clothes that never get worn. I'd rather spend a bit more on a few nice things than have loads of stuff that only gets a few outings. Realistically, as long as they manage to keep their supper off their clothes, they only need a few outfits for a school week as they spend so much time in uniform.

[Pavlovthecat]

diarymoo where do you get the leggings from? all the ones I can find seem to be either black, or twin sets of black/grey and gastly flowers! I would like a selection of different colours, as you say, to mix and match! She has one pink pair of too small leggings (ok as she wears them with her boots) and one black pair. Maybe white/cream and one other colour? Can't find them...

[Pavlovthecat]

like the idea of joggers for swimming days, she has lessons on a sunday and it is much easier to have clothes to slip on and off easily. She keeps asking for trainers but they are so ungirly! However she is indeed a 'running around like a mad thing' type of girl, even with skirts on, and loves riding her bike so maybe I should invest in a pair.

I have never spent too much on clothes really for the same reason as you say. She is hardly out of her uniform, and some joggers/slack pants would do for that as I normally get the kids to put on their jimjam bottoms and a t-shirt when they get in from school/nursery (and I do too!)

[dairymoo]

I normally buy H&M because they are cheap and cheerful. Have to say, they aren't the best quality (have found M&S & Boden to be better) but they last my DD 3-4 months and for £3.99 or however cheap they are, it's pretty good value.

[Cherrypie32]

Gap always has lots of leggings in bright colours. Bought my DD some nice patterned ones in Sainsburys last week too.

[dairymoo]

I have to say, my girly DD sounds v similar to yours and I too miss the days when I just bought what I wanted, and she was happy to be dressed by me. Now, all of a sudden, she has an opinion and would happily wear the same three dresses on rotation.

I bought both of my DDs trainers from sports direct - think they were £10 or £12 for Nike, and a good thing too as one grew out of hers within about 3 weeks!

[dairymoo]

Oh yes, forgot Gap - v good for leggings and often have 2 for £X deals or some such.

[Pavlovthecat]

oh i wonder if they are the same boots

I can't find any coloured leggings now, am on their website now. Is there more selection instore?

Problem is, I can't really do trawling around shops, as sking not my strong point at the moment. I like M&S clothes for the children, well, not so much for DS, but certainly for DD, and like that I can order and collect in-store so as to avoid the delivery cost, and return if they don't fit (and it is right by the lift to the carpark!)

I don't mind H&M for out and about stuff, as if it gets ripped I feel less upset! DD had the most beautiful playsuit from Monsoon (admittedly not too much money in a sale) and she ripped a huge hole in the front swinging on a tree! I was very sad (not so she would know!).

Maybe I should take a look in M&S and H&M tomorrow, with my list, and hold of buying it online for now. I can manage an hour, if I am proper organised.

[Pavlovthecat]

they are not patent leather so probably not the ones, but they are just fabulous. She is having them, and wearing them, whether she likes it or not

[Pavlovthecat]

ok, I am Going In! I have to finish tidying DDs bedroom for half hour, and give the kitchen a quick clean, then I am going commando shopping in H&M and M&S (near each other) for:

leggings x 2
dress x 2
maybe a skirt
tights x 2
cardigan/fleece x 1
t-shirt x 2
boots (not on the list as she has them but nevermind!)
(plus some lovely chelsea boots for DS, they are so cute and he actually does need some new shoes).

I have already bought 4 long sleeved tops for £7.50 in the sainsburys 25% sale, just plain ones (spotty, stripy, white, grey) but that will do for the basics. I also bought a denim skirt and tight set, and another dress, but once I got them home I decided I don't like them, so they are going back, along with a pair of furry boots, as I am getting the other ones instead and they will last so much longer. I also bought another 7 pairs of socks as they seem to get lost in this house.

Thanks ladies, shall i tell you what I bought when I get back?

[Pavlovthecat]

I always think of bright colours as autumn/winter colours myself, odd.

[dairymoo]

Here are some leggings from H&M

They have some knitted ones too, looks like a lot are sold out online but you might find they have more stock in-store.

[forevergreek]

Yep I would personally use legging more than tights as easier and warmer.
Legwarmers! I found them for mysel last year and they are great. Stick on over leggings and by the time they are pulled up/ boots high up leg/ dress down to just above knees it's actually v warm for the winter. Also means the same clothes can be used longer as you don't need, shirts/ trousers/ thicker trousers, blah blah
Good luck!

[Pavlovthecat]

oh i like those stripey ones with pink on! see those and the others linked are idea really. I will take a look instore, save on the delivery fee, although if I don't find what I want, I will be happy to pay delivery, still cheaper and nicer than the others I have seen!

[dairymoo]

I went into H&M today and bought a pair of the knitted leggings - really good quality and value for £5.99. The normal ones did seem very thin.

What did you end up with Pavlov?

[Pavlovthecat]

I bought some knitted tights from H&M too! only one pair as not sure of the sizing, but they look fab on her and so I am getting another couple tomorrow when I go back in to exchange something I bought for DS. I bought the multicoloured ones with the sparkly pink elasticated bands on ankles and waist. She loves them!

I also bought a green spotty fleece from M&S which she also loves, and the most wonderful sparkly charcoal grey dress, which was not on my list, but I fell in love with it, as it is so DD! So that is for christmas as she always gets a new dress at christmas.

I bought the boots, but then took them back as I could not find anything to go with them, none of the colours matched in H&M or in M&S!

She also has her 4 long-sleeved tops. so, just need one more cardi as she has a couple already, couple more leggings and some dresses.

I did not really see enough dresses to make me go 'wow!' in either shop tbh, well M&S had some fab ones but not everyday wear ones.

I did not get as much as I wanted as I dithered a lot! Next time, instead of going in for everything and get overwhelmed, I will just have two things on my list and ignore all the other sparkly pretty things!

[Meggles76]

I always find that I could buy forever for DD who is 7. This season I have tried to spend less and go practical.

1boots/wellies / trainers
2coats - navy duffle style and colourful Joules padded jacket
2 jeans
2leggings
2 dresses - 1 pretty and 1 casual
1 skirt
1 jumper
1 cardigan
6 Ts and tops

[Shoshe]

I used to buy DGd stripey tights from Verbaudet like this and get long sleeved t shirts to go under them, always found they waashed up brilliantly.

[Pavlovthecat]

oooh i wish i had remembered verbaudet before now! I could have got free delivery, i love their clothes but never remember to look!

[applecrumbleandcream]

Loads of nice stuff in Asda at the moment. I bought this for my daughter with a 2 pack of black and pink leggings. Both look lovely on with little black suede boots.