Suits for 6th form

[MichelleC69]

Have spent my day off work shopping with DD16 for suits for her new 6th form college (I know.....ridiculous that they can't just wear jeans FFS!) and after 4 hours in town we have one suit.....there's nothing but sale crap in the shops! We did all the usual chain shops - Next, M&S, H&M, New Look, Primark.....etc etc. Got the one suit we have in Next. Panicking that I'm running out of time to get her sorted for the new term as she goes on holiday with her dad for 2.5 weeks in a couple of days. Any good online ideas from anyone please? Also need shirts/blouses.

[ICanTuckMyBoobsInMyPockets]

Can't you just get some generic black blazers and black trousers/skirts?

[MichelleC69]

Yes... But even those are proving hard to find at the moment.

[writersbeenblocked]

I would recommend Shein, but a) you'll never escape their adverts and b) their clothes are pretty shit quality. You could give them a try though?

[Sparklingbrook]

Have you looked at Next online? They have a huge range compared to going to a store.

[AlpenCrazy]

Have you tried Zara?

[BloodyhellMartha]

They have to wear a suit? . Not a uniform - but a random suit that you are supposed to track down?

Bizarre.

[GreenTulips]

Matalan trousers are good with a bit of stretch
Shein - we’ve had T-shirt’s that are good quality - bit blouses etc bit rubbish

Try Top Shop

[skeemee]

Another vote for Next online. Much bigger selection than in store.

[Fairenuff]

Never heard of this for sixth form. Just wear casual business wear. Smart but not too formal.

[Scarydinosaurs]

Primark for pencil skirts.

Marks and Spencer for blouses/shirts.

Boohoo do nice jersey blazers too- that will go with most stuff.

[Milliways]

My DS had to wear a suit, and grew through 3 sizes in 2 years!

However, it meant he had a suit for his part time jobs, work & uni interviews, formal events etc, and also for his summer placements from uni.

We had to buy slim or super skinny, mainly M&S or Next.

Debenhams is worth a look too as they often have a good range of slim/skinny/tall ranges in the sales.

He also learned to iron the shirts properly which stood him in good stead for working life living away from home.

[Reasontobelieve]

When my dd had to get a 'suit' for sixth form, we managed to get a school blazer from M&S (much more useful than a woman's suit jacket as it has pockets) and matched this with a straight black skirt from H&M.

[Hotterthanahotthing]

So glad my dd will not have to wear a uniform.
Why do you needire than one suit?Surely a couple of skirts/trousers In the same colour as the jacket will do.Also does suit mean like a school uniform or can she wear long/short sleeved jersey tops with it.?

[DotOnTheHorizon]

How strict is the uniform? DD is required to wear a suit, but as long as they are business smart school are ok with it.

The girls wear a combination of stuff from designer to supermarket. Asda blazers are good and lightweight and washable, H&M are cheap and cheerful but last well. Next quality can be variable....as can their sizing. Their tops and linen dresses for summer are good quality and a fab price.

All of them prefer to mix and match suits as well so get stuff you can mix up.

[MichelleC69]

Thanks all for the suggestions. Not sure how strict they are as it's a new school she's just starting.

[WarriorsAll]

Sympathy - we have the stupid suit thing - they are supposed to dress like every day is an interview - they have a stricter and smarter dress code than the teachers. We are doing black.. I think it's idiotic, the sixth form students dress in cheap polyester suits - nothing classy about that!

[MichelleC69]

@WarriorsAll I agree - I work in financial services in a senior role and I wear jeans to work most days, it's mad! I guess it at least keeps their weekend clothes separate.

[WarriorsAll]

I don't know why the schools do it and it's all the schools in our town! They are so wrapped up with uniform and presentation, yet the teacher's look like their clothes could do with a good iron - I just wish they'd focus on bloody teaching!

[Lwmommy]

Asda do a 6th form uniform section direct.asda.com/george/school/girls-college-sixth-form/D10M2G3C1,default,sc.html

[Frazzled2207]

What about a dress with a blazer? What I wear to work

[FamilyOfAliens]

I think it’s just schools that do this.

My DC went to sixth-form college and they could wear what they liked.

[GreenTulips]

DD wore a nice top, black ribbed, high neck, dogtooth checked skirt, black tights and Dr Martins black flat.

This was induction day and she was told she wasn’t smart enough

[WarriorsAll]

@Frazzled2207 Our school rules say that it has to be a suit - so a dress and a jacket would need to be the same colour. - I don't know of many workplaces that would insist on this ..the reality is that a term into the year they lighten up a bit - or so I've heard - they want the kids to look corporate but cheap, badly made, polyester suits look like what they are - a bloody mess!

[Frazzled2207]

This is completely bonkers imo

[Leakinglikeacolander]

Also having this problem for my dd, strict suit policy.