Why is it so hard to find clothes for children aged 7-13 in the shops?

[Kendodd]

Just that.

Loads of clothes for young children, babies, then past about 13 they're into adult clothes.

Shops, please take note.

[Bunbaker]

I feel your pain. DD is nearly 13 and tends to find wearable clothes in New Look, H & M, BHS - Tammy Girl, Gap (adult size 6) and Internacionale. The massive Next store in Meadowhall only cater for young children and adults, although they cater for young teens on their website. They say they don't have the space for preteen and teen clothes, but I think they are missing a trick there.

[bigTillyMint]

Yes, age 11 - 13 is really tricky. Particularly bad for boys. And yes, there seems to be a bit more online, but then they can't try on before you buy.

DD is now nearly 14 and is into womens size 6-8, but many of the styles are still way too grown up looking.
DS is just 12 and is in mens S or 26" waist and 30 leg - not that easy to find

[HamletsSister]

Even the shops they want to shop in (in my son's case Hollister, SuperDry, Jack Wills etc) don't do their sizes. Girls seem better catered for as there are small, short women so it is easier. Also, by buying from "adult" ranges you are paying 20% VAT so things cost £££

[spottyparrot]

Maybe because younger children go through more clothes? They have to change more often due to getting messy and grow quickly. I buy in the 7-13 age range and I find it very hard for both dc. In particular for dd who I don't want looking like a streetwalker but also she is tall and well built so it is even harder! I have had to buy a couple of small adult things for ds with vat on as well.

[scrappydappydoo]

I feel your pain. The Sainsburys TU range is quite good for this range.

[scrappydappydoo]

Range? age I mean

[Francagoestohollywood]

I agree, ds is nearly 11, doesn't care about what he wears, but I can't find decent stuff from shops where I used to buy from (namely h&m).

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

DS is 13yo.
I bought him some chino type trousers from Primark (£10) in the adults range . He's a 24" waist, so can wear a 26" waist 32" leg with a belt.

DD wears Primark size 6 womens (but only if I've okayed them.

TBH I found Matalan preen cloth most streetwaker-ishhm]

[Mominatrix]

Really? I don't find this to be the case. I have loads of options for DS who is a tall 9, and I look for girls clothes in the 14-16 YO sizes as they sometimes fit be better than adult clothing.

For boys, between Zara, Gap, J Crew, Jules, Boden, Hackett and Ralph Lauren, I have loads of choice.

For girls, Zara, J Crew, Comptoir des Cottoniers, Petit Bateau, and Jigsaw have a great selection.

[Dereksmalls]

Jigsaw Junior can be good but I can't afford new - luckily it seems to have a poor resale value on eBay so have picked up some real bargains on there! I second Sainsbury's, Boden sale is ok, Joules a bit rubbish of late but can be good. John Lewis has some good stuff though i think their baby clothes are better than for older girls at the moment. Have you tried Fat Face? I have some nice (EBay) things from there as well.

[Bunbaker]

"They have to change more often due to getting messy and grow quickly."

At 12 DD isn't messy and the rate of growth slows down at this age. When she was three she grew four inches in a year. In the last year she grew two inches.

[Bunbaker]

"and I look for girls clothes in the 14-16 YO sizes as they sometimes fit be better than adult clothing."

Mominatrix DD is slim with long legs. Clothes for 12 year olds are massively too wide and too short. An adult size 6 is perfect for her. Also, the shops you name are way beyond my price range or not in my area. Buying online is a waste of time as DD needs to try clothes on before buying.

[hungryallthetime]

I've bought a few things for my 9 & 11 year old boys from River Island. I like it and it looks quite grown up as its the same as the adult range for lots of the tops. Not looked at the girls range. I know that they do not have a children's range in every shop though.

[Francagoestohollywood]

Does j crew deliver to europe then?

[Hulababy]

DD is 11y and fits an adult size 6-8. 8 can be a little bigger at times but depends on shop. In Hollister and Jack Wills she has an XS or S depending on style - the skinny fit ones I prefer her to have a S so not quite as fitted on her!

I find her own "age" size 11-12y in many shops are just not the right shape - no real space for a developing body shape. They are also often too short in the leg/arm and wider than they need to be.

[Bunbaker]

We have had a very successful shopping trip today. DD got these crop trousers, these shorts, a white sleeveless shirt similar to this and this skirt.

H & M sizes seem large so I ended up getting clothes for age 10 - 11 for DD (nearly 13), but the New Look clothes were the right fit.

[Francagoestohollywood]

For dd (nearly 9) i mostly buy from zara and from smallable.com in the sales.

[Mominatrix]

J Crew is now in the UK.

[whatagreatname]

H & M is your friend

[Bunbaker]

J Crew are ridiculously expensive for clothes that don't get much wear in our climate. Actually they are just expensive anyway. £42 for a pair of children's shorts!!!

[girliefriend]

I live in a small town which has very few shops and I am now struggling to find clothes for my very tall 7yo, she is mostly in age 8-9yo stuff.

I got a few bits in Sainsburys today and did get a few things in the mini boden sale, I don't know why but I feel like I should for admitting that!! Also Verbadet (?sp) do some nice bits but I find the sizing quite hit and miss and the waists tend to be tiny!!

[Mominatrix]

The secret to shopping at J Crew is to wait for a sale, which is always occurring. I always purchase when I get 30% of the regular sale price, and the product is worth the price (I get a voucher every month). The quality is excellent, and good enough to last through 2 energetic boys. Yes, you can find cheaper, but not better QPR (from the sale price).

[Nehru]

H and m weirdo ;)

[Bunbaker]

I can't shop online for DD because she is tall and slim and sizing is so variable. Her clothes never get worn out because she isn't hard on them, and I don't have any other children so I don't need to pay way over the odds for extra high quality clothes. I can see the point for an adult because clothes can last for many years, but this time next year everything will be too small for DD.