Should I really have to buy Ralph Lauren for my sons, aged 6 and 9?

[QuintessentialShadyHallows]

I am searching for merino clothing for my boys as a midlayer. I want nice sweaters, in merino wool for winter to keep them snug.

I can only find really expensive stuff, such as Ralph Lauren. I am not paying £79 for ONE sweater, no sire!

Can you please help me find merino sweaters with a more "normal" price tag?

LOL if you think London feels cold you need to try the North West Mind you I'm on the South Coast atm which is positively tropical

You can send your kids out in jumpers from asda or primark, and they will still not get hypothermia in this country you know!

Well, London did not feel cold today, it was 18 degrees!

.....and if you go to Bicester, you can get Ralph Lauren a lot cheaper.

here's the Johny Loulou one

Lol, I guess it is just me. I remember once somebody making a comment that "Quint is from the arctic region of Putney, don't you know" when somebody questioned why my baby was so well dressed, in August.....

Fleeces are good, long sleeve t-shirt underneath, thermal vest. Better to have layers they can take off because if they go out then they might be cold at first, start playing a game running around and become roasting hot, with layers they can decrease them.

.........and the weather is so changeable that I've known it be freezing on waking and t-shirt weather by the afternoon

Have you had a look at Icebreaker?

Marks & Spencer, believe it or not.

I live about 3 miles from Putney, and have never experience artic conditions apart from last winter, when it was bloody bitter for a week or so, but even then it was nothing like the winters I have experienced in the Czech Republic.

good as an underlayer

Here

Well I'm in Putney and have the wind blasting the back of the house from the river and we have never felt the need to compare it to the Arctic (unless it is actually freezing). There's a Millets on the High Street and plenty of ski shops just over the river on the Fulham and Kings Roads

It was very cold this morning though and I confess the heating came on!

Great minds Teth

You lot are wonderful, I have now several sites open with lovely non-ralph-lauren woolly garments.

As we speak I am wearing my own merino base layer t shirt. Jeans, and a sweater, I am indoors, the heating is on, and my fingers are so cold I have a slight problem typing without errors. ....

It must be me.

ebay

I am also wearing a scarf.

Quint... its honestly not all that cold down here at the moment.. you are worse than me.. and I thought I was a bit of a wuss!

You could learn to knit and make them yourself. In fact, aside form merino, which isn't always from well treated sheep, you could knit for them in one of the many lovely, soft, warm british sheep breeds such as bluefaced leicester.

Or you could be less precious and give them a few light but easy care cotton layers under heir outer layer.

Quint - go to the doctor and get them to check your thyroid levels. If you are in Putney it really isn't cold here. The heating's off, I'm wearing a light top and feel toasty.

quint i know what you mean about london feeling cold. I'm from yorkshire and never felt cold till i had to spend long weekends with (future) DH in London. His mates all thought I was soft, but i swear it is a different sort of cold in London. Brrrr.

And it must be you.

Joking aside, I have handknitted sweaters and socks in both Merino and various British wools. At the moment, in the Northeast, I'm sweating in an ancient 3/4 sleeve cotton t-shirt from Next.

But that might just be me.

YABU! I wouldnt spend that much on any of us! Mountain Warehouse thermals, a jumper and a decent weatherproof, windproof ski / horse riders jacket! Im obsessive about my DCs being warm, and we live in freezing North Essex (totally flat for miles/wind off the sea, Tendring Peninsula)!

And I always find London bloody hot.