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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

99 replies

MinimalistMommi · 16/08/2013 17:58

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 Grin
Shopping for 8 yr old = difficult and frustrating Angry

OP posts:
Bumpotato · 17/08/2013 12:57

I must be shopping in a better stocked H&M than OP. there is a lot it tat but the basics are good. I've always preferred the quality of their long sleeved tee shirts to Next and M&S etc. Debenhams have lots of mini adult clothes and as I don't like next adult clothing, I tend to overlook the kids stuff.

H&M do lots of pretty horse tshirts with no slogans. My DD (8) can't get enough of those.

NoComet · 17/08/2013 13:34

That bumpotato is the major problem with 8-13y clothes, they are the section that is squeezed out in smaller stores and shoved out of M&S and the supermarkets by school uniform.

It's really stupid, just as DDs get to the age where they want a girly day shopping with mum and their sister and lunch in a cafe all the clothes end up on the Web.

It's really stupid, no preteen wants to wait for the postman. Also they all have growth spurts at different points so they need to try stuff on.

fatlazymummy · 17/08/2013 13:47

Don't know if it's been mentioned, but I have found quite a few nice things for my daughter in Peacocks. Their children's clothes go right up to age 14-15, so handy for those who are tall for their age.

orangeandemons · 17/08/2013 13:49

I used to be a children's wear designer. All the store groups made out that younger girls wanted to dress like teenagers. Hence the wide range of teenage stuff for younger girls. I'm thinking about contacting the professional body for childrenswear with this thread. Except I can't remember what it's called

orangeandemons · 17/08/2013 13:51

here it is. Shall we let them have it

WetGrass · 17/08/2013 15:03

Fat face is fresh and wearable.

Noden is far too twee.

GAP for plain basics

Original poster
MinimalistMommi · 17/08/2013 15:27

Yes Orange go ahead! I would love them to read this thread!

OP posts:
LynetteScavo · 17/08/2013 18:49

well, if the professional body for childrenswear is listening - My 8yo doesn't want to dress like me, or a teenager just because she's grown a bit taller. She still wants shorts and t-shirts with no bows or frills. Jeans and sweatshirts, which are bright and practical...which it seems only the higher quality shops provide. Hmm

BorderBinLiner · 17/08/2013 20:04

I was about to post my own AIBU on this subject and here you all are, empty wardrobes, money burning a hole in our pockets and nothing reasonably priced to spend it on.

When I do eventually find the 'right' thing for DD, tall 8 years old, I'm so pathitically grateful I'm often tempted to buy one in every size to last to her teenage years. I'm not even that fussy - no slogans, vaguely fitted, not too much glitter, robust fabrics - although they have been know to climb trees in net skirts with stout boots.

Original poster
MinimalistMommi · 17/08/2013 20:11

I was about to post my own AIBU on this subject and here you all are, empty wardrobes, money burning a hole in our pockets and nothing reasonably priced to spend it on.

When I do eventually find the 'right' thing for DD, tall 8 years old, I'm so pathitically grateful I'm often tempted to buy one in every size to last to her teenage years. I'm not even that fussy - no slogans, vaguely fitted, not too much glitter, robust fabrics - although they have been know to climb trees in net skirts with stout boots.

Couldn't agree more, I just want my DD to look nicely presented, a slim fitting pair of nice jeans with a fitted tee (long enough in length so it doesn't ride up) in a pretty colour. Is that too much to ask? In most shops it seems that yes, it is.

OP posts:
Scruffey · 17/08/2013 20:21

I agree OP.

The answer is Boden. They have completely plain pointelle tshirts in long sleeve and short sleeve versions. They are my dd's nicest clothes. Size up though IMO.

Itsjustafleshwound · 17/08/2013 20:23

I agree with you op - I really find it hard to shop for my daughter who is 8 (8-10 yo clothes).

I have just really resorted to Sainsburys, Next and M&S to get some generic, unglittery clothing.

Zara, Boden and fat face are just too ££££ for my pocket

Original poster
MinimalistMommi · 17/08/2013 20:43

scruff I usually buy Boden but wanted to save a few pounds...until I looked around at what is available...

OP posts:
Lilyloo · 17/08/2013 20:46

''All the store groups made out that younger girls wanted to dress like teenagers. Hence the wide range of teenage stuff for younger girls.''

The girls might but they are still of an age where we can say yes or no as parents.
They have missed the market with something in between teenage and kids.
DD has picked up some nice bits in gap today.

queenebay · 17/08/2013 20:49

Sainsburys have some lovely girls stuff in

BreakOutTheKaraoke · 17/08/2013 20:49

Fleshwound- Zara honestly isn't as expensive as you think. Check out the link up there^^, tshirts start at £3.99 for basic plain ones, leggings £4.99, jeans £15, the prices are almost identical to Next. But everyone thinks they're more expensive as the shops look designer-esque. If you want the plain stuff, as has been said on here, it's really quite cheap.

Today my 9 YO DD has picked out thse trousers and this horse tshirt -mad on horses at the minute. We had tons of the £3.99 tshirts last season, and she lives in the patterned jeggings.

Methe · 17/08/2013 20:53

Most of dds close come from sainsburys or h&m. Clothes shopping for little girls if hard work when the designers seem to think that 8 and 9 year olds ought to be wearing the same as 13 and 14 years olds.

M&S girls clothing is particularly hideous. Is weird as their boys stuff is quite nice and age appropriate.

morethanpotatoprints · 17/08/2013 20:54

I have recently found the odd thing in George or F&F and I do buy the occasional thing from H&M but my dd is quite tall, not fat but quite muscular so she takes anything between an age 10 and size 4 adult.
It is easier once they get a bit taller as the plain clothes in adult sizes are just as cheap and no different to the children's plain clothes, if you can ever find them.
Leggings shrink a little anyway and size 4 are good if you can find them, often in the sale too.

mizu · 17/08/2013 20:54

Totally agree OP. I have 2 DDs who are 7 and nearly 9. Both tall.

Used to love going into H&M as the younger girls' section is great but now they are older.......terrible. Maybe I should consider going to a bigger store.

M&S terrible past 8 too - and have never liked Next much.

Am going to try Zara (will just mean a 45 min trip in the car) - have a few lovely bits from a French student who passed some stuff onto me and it is great.

Boden and Joules are usually too expensive for me. Gap has a few things that are ok.

Thatballwasin · 17/08/2013 20:55

I only recently discovered Fat Face kids stuff. Good selection of it on EBay, I bought a big bundle of t-shirts and dresses, all non-fussy for £15. Sainsbury's I also second. Jigsaw Junior appears to have rubbish resal value on EBay so have picked up some bargains there too.

I get the kid's slippers in the Joules sale - furry boot type things. If the price drops to £5.99 then I stock up.

Got loads of Mini Boden seconds at the last warehouse sale. Hadn't been to one before and was expecting a complete bunfight but was fine. Lots of stuff with tiny imperfections, most of which my DCs would inflict on they clothes within 2 minutes of putting them on anyway!

Thatballwasin · 17/08/2013 21:00

Oh, and P.o.p but only in sale

Sconset · 17/08/2013 21:28

Scruffey- I agree the Boden pointelle tops are fantastic- really goof for layering when it's colder, and DD wore hers up until May this year, when it grew too warm. They're nicely long in the sleeve too... she's very gangly.

morethanpotatoprints · 17/08/2013 21:36

What is P.o.p.? is it expensive.
I think Zara is the complete opposite to all the fussy stuff, and sooooo boring. I really couldn't dress a child of mine in this stuff.
There must be a happy medium somewhere.
Fashionable but not bloody fussy, or boring.

Elsiequadrille · 17/08/2013 22:13

polarn o pyret

Prices about average for high street

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