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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To want to know if you kit your kids out with a whole new 'wardrobe' each season?

136 replies

Nonalphamum · 28/08/2013 16:09

I don't, but DD's friend's mum was most surprised when I told her earlier today that I don't. She then went on to tell me that at the end of every season she totally re-stocks both her DCs wardrobes with new clothes for the coming season and gets rid of things from the previous one. She also buys them 3 or 4 pairs of shoes per season.

She was genuinely shocked when I said that I don't do this, and things get given to the charity shop/Ebayed when my kids have grown out of them and not after just 3 or 4 months' wear. She was even more shocked when I said that DD will be going back to school in September wearing - shock horror - the shoes I got her in June, as they still fit perfectly and look new.

OP posts:

Arisbottle · 28/08/2013 16:32

If by season you mean new clothes for each summer and winter, yes because the old one's don't fit. They sell their old clothes on eBay, I match what they make and they buy new stuff.

chickydoo · 28/08/2013 16:33

Dear God no!
I only buy when I absolutely have to
Eg. Today
DS 15 new blazer £98, shoes £46, school jumper, £28, 2 trousers £25, 4 shirts £24 and new footie boots £54
Total over £250 on re-stocking school uniform for one child.
DS 9 just needed shoes and trainers £70
DS 18. Shoes £48
DD 17 trainers and bras £45

Total re-stock just for school/college £400+

That is without any casual clothes at all. If I were to re-stock all clothes each season, it would utter madness.

I also need to buy them all new rucksacks & stationary........

sittinginthesun · 28/08/2013 16:36

No, but I also do an "audit" twice a year.

In fact, reading HappyMummyOfOne's thread, I seem to be her!

I'm in the middle of the Autumn audit right now. I've done the school uniform, pants, socks and vests, and I'm just about to start on the long trousers and socks. DS2 has grown about a foot in the last month, so I think I'm going to have fun with his trousers...

Lampshadeofdoom · 28/08/2013 16:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MoominMammasHandbag · 28/08/2013 16:43

Yes I do a spring and an autumn audit and restock. Buying at the start of the season means more choice and it is easy to buy fewer clothes that all mix and match into different outfits. I have friends whose kids have four times the amount of clothes that my kids have but nothing goes together or fits well.

Awomansworth · 28/08/2013 16:45

No, I don't replace complete wardrobe (why would anyone).

I'm actually in the process of going through wardrobes, packing away what no longer fits and writing a list of what is needed to replace.

They have school shoes, wellies, snow boots (we live a mile down a single track lane) one pair of converse and trainers.

QualityScout · 28/08/2013 16:49

Yes i do the twice a year audit thing too.

Then i sell at the nearly new sales and volunteer to help to be able to cherry pick the best stuff. I usually spend 30-40 pounds and we're sorted for another 6 months. That includes coats.

Do fork out for ONE new pair of shoes though.

BanjoPlayingTiger · 28/08/2013 16:56

You lot doing audits twice a year have my admiration. I always intend to do that but end up only doing an audit when I notice one of the kids wearing trousers that look half mast.

My kids wear clothes until they grow out of them or wear them out, then they get passed along to a friend who has kids a bit smaller than mine. I can't imagine changing them every season.

The most ridiculous thing I heard along those lines was when buying a high chair for ds. We were given 10% off as it came in last seasons colours.

Crowler · 28/08/2013 16:59

I can only guess that people who do this really want their children to inherit their consumerist impulses.

My kids don't really give a shit about their clothes. I weed them out as they outgrow them. My youngest seems completely unfazed by never getting anything new.

elvisola · 28/08/2013 17:01

I buy new each season as I love shopping for the children and they enjoy choosing new clothes, it's certainly not a whole wardrobe though and new things are bought to complement what still fits from last season.

MoominMammasHandbag · 28/08/2013 17:07

I would say my audits are the opposite of consumerist; designed so I can buy as little as possible and all in one go. I find shopping a chore rather than a pleasure. It is all done on line too.

neunundneunzigluftballons · 28/08/2013 17:08

Mostly yes in that summer clothes are too light for winter and they have grown out of them. If they get suitable second hand from friends and family we use those and dd2 gets a lot from her sister but ds and dd1 get new clothes each season winter/summer season as they need them.. I would not have thought that uncommon when kids are young and grow like weeds. I do not spent a fortune by the way.

PersonalClown · 28/08/2013 17:13

Good grief NO. Although it does feel like it right now as Toad is having a growth spurt and I've cleared out most of his wardrobe.

Thank god for Primark and the few other places that stock 26 inch waists or poor Toad would be in trousers that swamp him.

HappyMummyOfOne · 28/08/2013 17:13

"I can only guess that people who do this really want their children to inherit their consumerist impulses."

PMSL, i'd guess most are replacing worn/stained/outgrown clothes. Most children go up at least one size in a year and not everyone buys three sizes too big in the first place. Maybe a few do it to boost the economy

Banjo, its the bags to school that always makes me do it as I know if i miss the collectiom i have to store things until the next one and hate clutter. I do keep a running bag of stained or worn items so its only the outgrown ones to weed through. Makes it less of a chore.

fatlazymummy · 28/08/2013 17:16

No, but I do buy them a few new things around September, and again in April or May. I put them together with the things that still fit them from last year. I do the same for myself, so that I have one or two new outfits.It's just the way I organise things.

KatyDidItAgain · 28/08/2013 17:19

I tend to buy new stuff on a two year cycle - for example I'd buy a 6 year old age 7-8 clothes to get two years out of them. That way I get my money's worth and they get decent clothes that last longer.
Clothes that are nearly outgrown are kept for playing out clothes - as mine is tall and skinny he can fit into tracksuit trousers from two years ago, they are just a bit short but they are great for climbing trees and so on.
Other than that I just buy stuff when needed.

DragonsAreReal · 28/08/2013 17:20

Well there is an obvious difference between summer and winter clothes, I wouldn't send my dd out in the winter with a flimsy summer dress on or little vest tops so yes I do buy two sets of clothes each year. But now they are slightly older they don't tend to grow so much and I pick up stuff in the sale so for this autumn and winter dc only need a few bits and bobs as loads of stuff still fits or is to big from last year.

Portofino · 28/08/2013 17:23

I do the twice a year audit too, and pass on the small stuff to friends. Dd doesn't have school uniform so she needs more clothes. I tend to buy a load of shorts/cutoffs and t-shirts in the spring, with an outfit or 2 for holiday evenings. Today I have just been to H&M and bought a couple of track suits, some jeans, t-shirts and couple of fleeces. And a denim jacket that is a bit big that should cover Autumn / next spring. She's nearly 10 and I notice the girls are starting to pay a bit more attention to outfits etc. I wish we had uniform here.

Portofino · 28/08/2013 17:27

And Asda.

TheUglyFuckling · 28/08/2013 17:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Inclusionist · 28/08/2013 17:37

I've just bought DS 4 long sleaved tshirts, 2 pairs of cords and 2 jumpers with his birthday money from one set of GPs and the other GPs bought him the fleece/outer coat combo from Polarn, so yes, he has had pretty much a whole new wardrobe for winter.

This, however, is because he has not a stitch that still fits other than a couple of pairs of trousers from last winter/spring.

Nice to get it all at once so it is all interchangeable though.

SPsTotallyMullerFuckingLicious · 28/08/2013 17:38

My son is nearly 4 and only just growing out of his 18-24 month clothes.

2 years I haven't had to buy load of clothes for him. Now I need too!

Sirzy · 28/08/2013 17:38

What a waste of money!

DS is 3.10 and some of his clothes from last winter still fit him so he is wearing them, I am hopeful not to have to buy him anything new for a long while yet.

mrsjay · 28/08/2013 17:43

I wouldnt be talking to anybody who talks about clothes and seasons in the same sentence

I just got them new clothes whent hey needed them

nokidshere · 28/08/2013 17:43

I hardly ever even look at clothes these days and only ever replace them when one of my boys says "err mum I think this might be too small now" (with arms up to elbows lol)

I keep some of my older ones stuff for his brother but jot much because the eldest lives in trackies and the younger prefers "real" clothes (and thinks his brother is a slob haha)

I have only once had to replace a whole wardrobe full and that was the summer of yr7 when the oldest grew a full 8 inches in under 6 weeks!!!!!

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