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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Dear manufacturers of clothing for small boys

177 replies

monkeymamma · 07/06/2014 14:57

I am not a dude, or indeed a little man. I may well be cuter than my daddy, or better looking than my daddy, but I do not judge it seemly to declare this publicly. My younger sibling, when he or she arrives, is unlikely to refer to me as his or her "big bro".

My behaviour, within the limits of the capabilities of a two year old, is reasonable if not on occasion exemplary. Therefore I would suggest that slogans which draw attention to it's less pleasing aspects, viz "little but loud", "here comes trouble", "cheeky monkey", "little monster", et cetera, are not appropriate.

I am not in the army, I am not a surfer, a trucker, or a rapper. And I am far too young to have heard of the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, or Guns n Roses, whatever they are.

Like most human beings, I don't suit nasty, dreary, washed out colours such as: faded navy, dung brown, sun bleached green or barely-burgundy. Ditto burnt orange and sludgy beige. I know that the idea of using bright, gorgeous colours and attractive, inventive patterns similar to those used by your colleagues in the girlswear department fills you with worry, but I promise that most mums and dads and other purchasers of children's clothes don't share these anxieties.

And that is all.

Yours,
Monkeytoddler

OP posts:
AWombWithoutARoof · 07/06/2014 17:51

H&M is indeed brill, I go to their boys department when I'm looking for some 'non mini-prostutute' clothes for DD.

eBay has loads of mini Boden and the fab Polarn O Pyret on it.

StillFrigginRexManningDay · 07/06/2014 17:52

I was in primark and Tesco recently picking up some things for my nephew and there was a lovely range of tshirts and shorts all in bright colours and no slogans. Lots of reds, greens, oranges and purples as well as bright check shirts.

StillFrigginRexManningDay · 07/06/2014 17:54

Oh and just to add the girls clothing may be sparkly (Hmm ) but its quality is far more inferior and is usually impractical.

ViviPru · 07/06/2014 18:00

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ikeaismylocal · 07/06/2014 18:15

You need to book a holiday to Sweden and go to secondhand shops and jumble sales ( called loppis) I buy clothes for my toddler ds mostly from jumble sales or when the shops have a good sale. Most clothing in Sweden is bright, practical, free from slogans and hard wearing. Ds has lots of Polarn och pyret clothing which cost pennies to buy, pop clothing is pretty indestructible, ds has some pop clothing that dp wore nearly 40 years ago, it has been handed down to other kids in that time.

I really dislike shopping for children's clothing in the UK, I feel so sorry for the children who end up dressed in the "here comes trouble!" and "pretty like mummy" t-shirts, it's terrible that children are so gender stereotyped rightfrom birth.

If you like the girls clothing but not the boy then just buy "girls" clothes, it's hard to find babygrows with feet in Sweden so I buy them when I'm in the UK, 90% of ds's babygrows are "girls" but they ate much more fun than the boy's ones.

ViviPru · 07/06/2014 18:21

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ViviPru · 07/06/2014 18:25

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EverythingsDozy · 07/06/2014 18:32

Sorry - i haven't RTFT but just adding my two pence! I used to work in pumpkin patch, their clothes are beautiful (for girls) and reasonable for boys. They wash well and are good quality (which is what I would expect for the price!!). I shop at George in asda because I'm cheap and poor! All DS wears is Mickey Mouse.

maggiethemagpie · 07/06/2014 18:32

I don't usually go for slogan tops but found a great little hoody in Sainsbury's for my son with the word DUDE on it. It suits him as he really is a little dude. I like it - what's the problem?

Mozzereena · 07/06/2014 18:37

YABU about The Beatles. My ds (5) heard of them way before he was 2 and they just so happen to be his favourite band!

Dear manufacturers of clothing for small boys
Alisvolatpropiis · 07/06/2014 18:41

One of the worst slogan t-shirts I ever saw was worn by two little girls, sisters of a similar age. Both wearing "WAGs in Training" emblazoned across them. I judged the fuck out of their parents.

Mozzereena · 07/06/2014 18:41

If you don't like the t shirts that are on sale you could always buy a plain one and print your own picture as I have done here for ds. Morrissey happens to be his favourite singer. Grin

Dear manufacturers of clothing for small boys
SecretNutellaFix · 07/06/2014 18:46

I've managed to find some really lovely bright stuff for my nephew who is 3 1/2 years old, (but in size 5-6 clothes for height) from mothercare, boots, sainsburys and h+m.

There's plenty out there- none of the stuff I bought for him has logos like you described, nor skulls nor do they make him look like anything other than a little boy.

Talisawasnotsupposedtobethere · 07/06/2014 18:48

H&M is indeed brill, I go to their boys department when I'm looking for some 'non mini-prostutute' clothes for DD.

What a ridiculous exaggeration, there are loads of lovely girls clothes on the high street that aren't 'mini prostitute'.

Personally I love Next and get pretty much all my kids clothes from there (and supermarkets for the rest). The clothes are pretty cool and nice and bright. And it's really easy to avoid the slogan tops as well. I also really like skinny trousers as DS has short legs and other styles either look ridiculous turned up or just drag along the ground. And the girls clothes are lovely, at least for babies anyway, loads of gorgeous bright colours and patterns.

I will admit I can't stand the boys look of flat cap, Ramones t-shirt (when the parents probably couldn't name a song between them) and hunter wellies/flip flops etc.

ikeaismylocal · 07/06/2014 18:48

I think most of the children wearing "here comes trouble" or "Pretty Like Mummy" have a parent who think that it's just adorable.

I think that is why I feel sad for the children, they have already been stereotyped as a thug or vain "princess" before they even know what a thug or princess is.

I think there should be realistic slogans like "I lick cats" or "I love playing with Tupperware" or "super cute, nothing to do with mummy or daddy, all toddlers are cute"

ViviPru · 07/06/2014 18:51

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HmmAnOxfordComma · 07/06/2014 18:57

I agree with you about all the mini-me slogans and skulls and stuff, OP.

I am also one of those bad Mums who didn't allow character clothing, except for pjs.

I disagree hugely about the colours. Lots of dc suit those 'dirty' colours. I much prefer navy and greens and browns and oranges to primary colours. But you can usually find lots of either scheme if you go for the multipacks of plain tops which Next, Boots, M & S and all the supermarkets always have in plentiful supply.

HmmAnOxfordComma · 07/06/2014 18:58

I would so have bought an 'I Love Tupperware' toddler t-shirt!

ShadowFall · 07/06/2014 18:59

I also dislike a lot of the boys clothes the OP lists, but it is possible to find boys clothes in bright colours and different designs if you look hard enough (and I'm generally looking in high street shops / supermarkets rather than on-line).

spiderlight · 07/06/2014 19:08

www.jako-o.com does nice bright basics. Pumpkin Patch is fab too.

Zara8 · 07/06/2014 19:13

I find a lot of boys' clothes to be dreary dull colours

My DS (19 months) wears a lot of H&M (plain, bright basics), Uniqlo (stretchy unisex toddler trousers! Brilliant!), Gap, Zara and supermarket stuff too.

My absolute pet hate are long sleeved faux layered tops ie trying to look like it's a long top with a short sleeved one on top. WHY?! It's either warm enough for one or the other (long sleeve or short sleeve), or if it's chillier - put a long sleeve vest on and then a tshirt over the top.

fifi669 · 07/06/2014 19:14

My DS when he's born has a babygro with just like daddy, only better. That was more of a joke with DP than anything else. I can't see DS being appalled at 3 months old....

Similarly, DS had a t-shirt saying 'you think I'm a mess you should see my daddy'. Funny to anyone who knew us as his bio dad had left us to continue his womanising, alcoholic life....

The only clothes I object to are the ones from little girls that dress them up like adults. No toddler needs a bikini.

JimBobplusasprog · 07/06/2014 19:21

I like boden and John Lewis for this. Tu from sainsbury has some unexpectedly nice stuff also, and h&m. There's plenty of non grungy stuff out there - but don't shop in next. Gap is another good place for bright boys' clothes. I am also not averse to dressing my sons in clothes from the girls' range and dressing my daughter in stuff from the boys' range if I find the right item. Obv not pink and frilly but up until puberty boys and girls are the same shape so why not. My daughter has boys' pajamas and a boys' hoodie as tje design was right for her. Ds1 has a couple of polo shirts in bright colours that are technically from the girls' range but not feminine.

CharlesRyder · 07/06/2014 19:25

Mozz your DS is SO cute!!

I would also buy 'I Love Tupperware'. vivipru get on that!!

FartyMcGhee · 07/06/2014 19:25

Sainsburu sell some nice things, though not sure what's there for over fives.