To think it is really hard to find nice clothes for 8+ girls on high street?

[MinimalistMommi]

Went shopping for DD today, found it so hard to find 'plain' clothes like fitted t.shirts in pretty colours without tacky slogans/pics plastered on the front. Everything was so fussy (H&M), glittery or bows/fuss (Next). I just makes everything look 'cheap'. It was easy shopping for my 5 yr old DD.
It's so frustrating!
Shopping for 5 yr old = easy and fun
Shopping for 8 yr old = difficult and frustrating

Thing with Sainsbury is they never have anything in stock.

Sainsburys, Debenhams and Zara are our mainstays for DD - although she's nearly 12 so Sainsburys is no longer an option. Mixed with sale and offer code Boden and Joules and we get by.

Monsoon often have coats and dresses hugely discounted. DD's winter coat last year was from monsoon and was reduced from £68 to £19!!

I was forced into Next yesterday when Clarks failed to have a single pair of school shoes and the glitter / tacky sequin hearts / stupid animal transfers hurt my eyes.

Ugh Next is awful, just full of tack. Agree that Sainsbos often don't have sizes. They don't do online either which is a real pita. Am sure their profits would be much higher if they did

Wish M &S would wake up. They have some nice stuff for little ones but the older girls range so age 7 plus is dire.

My DD is 7 but v tall and needs age 9-10.

I buy mini boden - sales/ebay, agree debenhams has some ok stuff, gap, monsoon - they did some jersey dresses last year that DD loved - great with leggings.

I also buy Gymboree in US or off ebay.

I agree OP.

H&M boys department has some lovely stuff which is fairly unisex if you're looking for something casual. Their girls stuff just seems to be tacky.

Next has nice stuff but you have to hunt for it.

I've resorted to ebay for mini boden and Joules. There's quite a lot of brand new stuff on there or like you I wait for a discount code. I quite like the look of Lands End but again expensive and I've not bought any yet.

I just want my tall 7 year old to look like a little girl not a wanna be night clubber. She mainly wears 9-10 or even 11-12 stuff

Next, M&S, H&M, Primark, Matalan, New look 915, in about that order, oh and Gap, but that's a trek. Debenham's occasionally, but by 8-9 the choice is thinning out.

Fatface stuff is lovely, but ££, Boden is too £££ and too twee

But I agree it's hard work, there is an awful lot of skulls, slogans and utter tat. You just have to keep looking and accept sometimes you spend a lot and somedays nothing.

It gets better, but more expensive, once your DDs can wear size 8 adult (DD2(12) just can for Tshirts, but not trousers).

Johnnie b is a little more expensive than Mini, but the designs are a little more grown up
.

My sister got some lovely things for my niece the other day from Morrisons new nutmeg range

Totally agree that's why I make almost everything myself now.

Now and then Monsoon, Gap, DPAM, Trotters, Pumpkin Patch, John Lewis and Zulily have really nice stuff, but all comes down to timing I think.

Also, I'm lucky, while big for her age DD1 was really difficult to buy for.

Exactly average sized DD2 is much easier. a) stuff fits, b) slightly 'older' rock chick legging, shorts and animal print suits her as does older teen uniform of hoddie and jeans without her looking older than she is. Pretty dress suit her too, but she only does those for weddings. She will do the odd flowery or floaty top as long as she chooses it.

I'm very , I look daft in anything that isn't pretty middle if the road.

Another one in agreement. I have a very tall 9 year old who usually needs 12-13 in tops as she has a long torso and 11 in bottoms. From when she was about 6 I've found buying stuff quite a trial because so much of it was inappropriate and/or vampire-esque or plain vile.

Sainsbury's is generally very good for that age group - especially as they quite regularly have 25% off clothes but the range carried varies hugely between stores. Tesco / Asda is hit and miss .... the occasional nice T shirt but lots of nylon, lots of black, lots of very short shorts (why are little girls' shorts so extremely short FFS ?!?) and very short skirts dominating their ranges.

Someone mentioned Debenhams - have found they often have very nice, and appropriate T shirts in a wide range of colours (and not just bloody black or cerise) and designs but are particularly fond of sequins (IMO) which aren't always especially practical. But much better than most of the high street - only complaint is that Debenham's prices edge towards being on the expensive side for me, being that little bit than I'd prefer to pay but they do have decent sales with generous reductions so it's worth looking to stock up for next year ... have had some very nice cotton dresses from the sale.

I really really like John Lewis - as do most mums I know - but again it's on the expensive side really for anything except special occasion outfits for me. Wish I could afford to get most of her stuff there - it's not identi-kit and again, has a good range of colours and different fabrics.

I used to think younger girls' H&M were good - but last time I looked, the older girls' stuff was dark and tarty so have pretty much ruled that out.

Next is hit and miss IMO - have had some lovely things, but you look at others and think what on earth were they thinking. Their nightwear and underwear is usually nice though.

Oh - and the BHS older girls' range is foul and plain weird. I still have a Xmas present gift voucher for DD and haven't yet found anything either of us want to buy. It just seems .... eerrrrr ..... odd, with strange designs and cheap scratchy fabrics.

So ...... it's a lot of hard work to get what we want/need because there is so much "unsuitable" stuff about. I realise it's all subjective and that the stuff I hate must be getting bought by someone but think there's a definite gap in the market for a John Lewis-like range - but cheaper - and more widely available on the high street.

H&M is fine for basics - T-shirts, trousers, cardigans, hoodies etc, but their dresses for older girls aren't great.

I got DD a couple of fantastic dresses in the Love it Love it Love it sale, for around £10-15, so it's worth keeping an eye out for. They go up to age 10.

I have just refilled DD's wardrobe, mostly from TKMaxx. She's tall, and wears 2 sizes above chronological age now, but skinny, so still needs the adjustable waistbands.
I got shorts by Roxy, which are not short shorts, but more boardshorts length, plain t-shirts (boys' in fact, but she's not to know, she just liked the colours), a sweater. We also got t-shirts from sports direct ( yeah- I know- who knew? though the wait to pay was something else!!) they had a good range of colours, as she doesn't do pink either.
Then a sweater from H&M, a couple of plain tops, and some of their boys' trousers- the girls' trousers are too skinny cut even for her- goodness know who they fit! I agree with whoever said the older girls' stuff in H&M is nowhere near as good as the younger girls'.

I wish I could find slippers though- cannot get any in size 13+ only the mule/slip-on type, which aren't safe on the stairs (slippy)- any recommnedations? She needs the type with a strap across, Mary-jane style really.

This thread title interests me as I have a 9yr old DS and I get massive clothes shopping envy every time we go shopping as there is so little choice for boys, every shop seems to have the same clothes, with varying price tags! If i see another set of t shirts in pastel city scapes with LA/new york/london on them and chinos to match i think i will scream
I always think "wouldn't it be nice to have a girl to take shopping! There's so many nice clothes to choose from!"

scon also looking for Mary Jane style slippers. Non to be found last autumn. My DD is size two.

dd1 is 6 but in age 8 clothes because shes so tall. We're tied as her bottoms need adjustable waist band as shes so skinny as well. Shes like a long stick.

I shop for her at George (asda) and mainly on ebay second hand for her as there is a distinct lack of clothes shops over here and what we do have i find, like you, that its all slogan or waaaay too old for her.

My 6 year old does not need a t shirt saying 'future footballers wife'.

And why is it as soon as a girl is older than about 3 they are expected to be in hot pants? and short skirts? I really have to scour ebay to get shorts and skirts that are longer than my dd's arse cheeks :|

I agree. No fun at all! I stick to Gap, and plain leggings/ jeans. For taller/ bigger ones, have you considered Hollister/ Gilly Hicks?

Hadn't heard of Zara when DD2 was 8, , but she'd have worn pretty much any of these. much less twee than the next fairies her sister handed down to her, which she didn't like.

Nothing new about short shorts on small girls, we all wore short often towelling shorts in the 70's. most of my dresses were too short (my brownie uniform was positively indecent).

No one cared, there wasn't this horrible sexual view taken of everything.

Reading this thread over again makes me realise just how hit and miss the high street is. Our nearest town has sainsburys, tesco, next, primark.... but they are all crap! Both Sainsburys and Tescos have trouble with restocking. The Next store only sells toddler and adult. And I've already mentioned the materials of choice that our local Primark sell.

I'd never thought of Zara. I find Boden too expensive.

I've found this too this Summer. DD is 7 but needs 8-9 clothes. H&M basics were brilliant last summer, especially the basic dresses @ £3. But they have nothing like that in their older range.

Never heard of Johnny, will go google now. Also hardly ever look in supermarkets as I don't think of them so thank you.

Spotty have you checked the children t.shirt shelf in Primark? Seriously, the kids ones I bought yesterday were either 100% cotton or 95 % cotton and 5% elastine. My older DD is wearing a nice thick white one from there with her new gap shorts and it looks lovely! I am pleasantly surprised with their t.shirts!

Our local sainsburys sells only toddler clothes and very, very small range for older children.

Kit Johnny B has gorgeous clothes but pricey compared to Mini Boden. I'm used to Mini Boden prices so I need to re-adjust expectations!