or is it really hard to buy decent clothes for 9 year old girls?

[Cambington]

I can't find any decent jumpers that aren't thin, scratchy, frilly, short sleeved (!) - plenty of hoodies, but no jumpers - I just want to keep her warm! Without having to resort to boys clothes. Come on, retailers - help! And what's with the school skirts so short that even she refuses to wear them cos they show her pants!She's nine years old, not a lapdancer! GRRRR - sorry, my morning rant! Resorting to layers and boys sweatshirts.

Yanbu, my dd is 5 but the height of an 8yr old and lots of the clothes aimed at this age have more than a hint of slapper wannabe!

Have a look at H&M and pumpkin patch as they've usually got a good selection of jumpers and cardigans. The Next school range has got some cullotes which are quite nice, and are not revealing.

I made this comment to our DD only yesterday. She is on half term at the moment and the weather has really cooled down. We got her some vests but jumpers, forget it. I am waiting now till we come to england for the weekend next month.

Short-sleeved cardigan

Long-sleeved cardigan

Woollen hoody

I think all these three are lovely and Parisian 9 year olds would definitely wear them all - my DD (almost 6) has the last one and lives in it.

DD has this top in Ivory and Navy which is a huge success (very soft, pretty and fashionable) and goes well under jumpers.

Dress which would look lovely on a pre-pubescent girl, with thick tights and boots.

I was going to suggest Monsoon but Bonsoir beat me to it!

My Dds 11 & 8 love Monsoon clothes. I also love mini boden and Gap sell some cheaper everyday tops that are good too. Joules have lovely hooded sweatshirts for girls bought DD1 two in the sale.

I am not a fan of H&M or Next for the reasons the op has mentioned.

Second the Next culottes - very nice quality and adjustable wait. Gap for hoddies and cardis -all mine have a gap fleece hoddie every year probably their most useful piece of clothing - ebay for Monsoon
La redoute and verbertet for colourful basics

My daughter is 10 and I buy her clothes from Asda's, Sainsbury's and Tescoes. No problem at all, I could quite happily have bought her much more if finances allowed!.

It's trousers I find difficult for DD1. Just leggings at the mo, which she refuses to wear, but won't wear skirts! Is wearing trousers from two/three years ago.

anyone know where I can buy cheap hoodies/fleeces for an 11yo boy? I despair - tried supermarkets, primark...ended upspending a fortune on two hoodies at M&S, but he's really hard on clothes (typical tree climbing mud wrestling boy) so would like some cheapie basics.

shongolo I bought my son a fleece from Peacocks for under £10.

Zara do plain cardigans in varieties of colours all the time and they are under ten pounds. I find Millets is good for warm fleeces but on the whole I buy clothing second hand. Gap outlets are amazing if you can find one fairly near. They sell school uniform at the same price as ASDA but brilliant quality. Lovely classic skirts and a decent length. I have three girls and a lot of friends with children we do regular clothing swaps this is very very helpful as well.

shongolo TKMAx has wonderful boys fleeces at the moment

shongololo - ebay buy a job lot second hand for play/hardwear and buy one set for ''best''

Also, you can get lovely thermal vests from most supermarkets and Primark.

Next have a big selection,