To be concerned my DD may be a target in secondary school.

Ah my DD is into anime and manga too. As long as she’s happy with the situation isn’t it?

I have a DD in year 9. She is not into brands and doesn’t wear make up. When I suggested a white fox hoodie for Xmas she told me they are ugly. She wears a backpack from sports direct (not Nike) and doesn’t have a Stanley cup. She’s not bullied, has a few friends. I think it depends on the school like some PP says. DD is not popular and maybe you need all that to be popular. But there is space for teens who aren’t into all the fashionable stuff.

Both my DDs are like this. The 19 year old went though secondary and college without wearing any make up or perfume and wore predominantly non brand leggings and hoodies. My 15 year old wears mascara and lipgloss but has had the same non branded plain back rucksack for the last 5 years and likes a charity shop rummage for clothes. She does love expensive perfume though and wafts round the house in a cloud of Versace, Chanel or Dior! They all find their tribe and it’s great your DD is happy and confident in her choices. That’ll stand her in good stead.

My son has just started year 7. Don't worry. The parents that post on line about this stuff will be the minority who actually care about this stuff and have made their kids care too. The majority won't care just like your daughter and so won't notice or hang around with those who notice!

Haha sol de janero not solicitor 😂

I have two daughters in secondary, my oldest is in yr10 and has no time for brands or names (other than a fairly obscure YouTube brand that isn't "cool" at all) and she has got on just fine and never had any sort of issues with it.

My younger one is in yr8 and wants to follow all the trends, she wants the stuff from Sephora, the solicitor de janiro perfume, white fox hoodies etc and I'm happy to get her this sort of stuff for Xmas if that's what she wants.

Don't be pressured in to it though, it's not compulsory. Although I would say it's helpful not to send them with things considered really babyish like a Smiggle bag or something because kids can be cruel and I wouldn't want to give them a great big target on their back.

Your daughter sounds great - this is how 11 year olds should be!

I would echo what a pp said. Having worked in secondary schools for 2 decades, the brands matter more in the poorest areas. Not that it matters I just find it interesting.

Try not to worry. She will find her tribe. Not all the girls are into the branded stuff. I'd say 50/50 where I work.

I'm not sure if it's different for boys but my eldest isn't bothered either, doesn't have a trendy brand coat or bag, has an old oppo brand phone, and was quite happy with his shoe zone trainers, though I did get him a pair of second hand Nike runners for PE just to try and ensure he wasn't too targeted!

He hasn't been bullied, despite being AUdhd, dyspraxic and not remotely interested in footie, and proudly telling practically everyone he is gay! He's made some good friends who he spends ages on video calls to every night and is enjoying high school far more than I expected him to

He goes to a big town school which has been known on and off for being a little bit rough, not SEN or private

I did tell him when he started to find 'his' people, 'look for the weird kids, we're the best ones' is along the line of the words I used. His school offers some good clubs like coding and robotics as well as sports etc which I think has helped too

Not fussed!

Don’t worry you’re daughter is her own person and obviously has her own style . She’s not a sheep so it’s great she not just copying everyone else. She’s a strong young lady . Be proud of her

My DD goes to a pretty average inner city comp. She gives not a shite about any of this stuff. Some of her friends do but she cracks on with her own style (ie none 😂). Shes in year 10 (so aged 14) and never had any issues.
She has started wearing a tiny bit of mascara and brushing her hair. But other than that it's all pretty low key. She buys her endless nondescript hoodies and joggers from vinted but fussed about brands.

She'll be fine and you need to stop buying into this competitive shizzle!

Pump up her confidence to go her own way and have the courage of her convictions and she'll be reet.

Try not to worry. I’m teaching in a school now where this sort of thing doesn’t matter at all. It’s a secondary school in an affluent area. Previously I worked in a school in a deprived area-50% free school meals- in that school it did matter.