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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:
TigerTrumpet · 07/06/2014 19:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CharlesRyder · 07/06/2014 19:27

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....

You see, no, I don't think that is OK to put on a child, especially because of the reason you think it is apt.

Dornishwine · 07/06/2014 19:31

Next used to be good.
Packs of 4 long sleeved and short sleeved tops, lively bright colours.
Don't seem to do them anymore.
Do still like their pjs though.
Had some lovely stuff from John Lewis and boden.
Unsure of the quality of h&m
My sil buys the dc stuff from M&S which is usually nice.

OutragedFromLeeds · 07/06/2014 19:39

Next have the four pack plain tshirts on their website.

ViviPru · 07/06/2014 19:39

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Mozzereena · 07/06/2014 19:40

Oh thank you CharlesRyder
I agree DS is one cute son-of-a-bitch Grin

McPhee · 07/06/2014 19:43

Character clothing. Eurgh! Can't bare it.

Oriunda · 07/06/2014 19:46

I get nearly all DS' clothes from Zulily. Great choice of brands (mostly european - the Scandinavian and German brands in particular are great) at really good prices. Also Achica. I particularly love La queue du Chat (but only at sale/Achica prices). Lots of brands I've never heard of but really great stuff. Plus occasionally Polarn in the sale.

TiredFeet · 07/06/2014 20:01

Yanbu op. I hate shopping it takes ages trawling the shops for cheerful clothes of decent quality that won't break the bank. Especially for boys. I was just complaing to dh today that all the boy clothes either look like mini versions of 'boy band" outfits or like mini versions of something a petty criminal might wear.

I take the point though that retailers are only following the sales figures

hiccupgirl · 07/06/2014 20:28

Some of Sainsburys clothes are ok, H&M do lots of bright colours but their sizing is huge if you have a slim boy, Morrisons have a few nice bits and M&S are worth a look too.

Otherwise I totally agree with the OP. It's gets worse once they're out of the toddler sizes. My DS is 4.5 and at the bottom end of the boys sizing in most stores. It is mostly completely inappropriate slogans/pictures for a 4 yr old or dull, boring colours. Don't get me going on shoe choice!

monkeymamma · 07/06/2014 20:31

thinkive top marks for guessing the exact shop!

littleprincess love that top. It's sold out in ds's size (2) but it's opened my eyes to george (think I've fallen for mumsnet general Asda prejudice).

SKULLS! Knew I'd missed one. I really hated it when he was especially little, why put a horrible symbol of death on something so small and gorgeous.

H&m I agree is fab, but less so when they hit 2 and it gets very 'street', no more unisex basics or cute animal cartoons.

Stone roses fans and mozza I was being tongue in cheek about that one really. Ds had his own Beatles tee shirt when he was smaller :-) love the idea of printing your own - where do you get it done mozza?

vivipru you're my hero! So fab to hear the commercial perspective. I actually work in a very similar industry creating products for this age range (not clothes though). I always hear very similar criticisms about my industry from friends, relatives etc and have to explain, somewhat wearily, why we do what we do ie it's because most people want it (in particular the gendered products, pink for girls and so on). It must be very frustrating being asked to design yet another moustached meerkat (think we need a moustached meerkat emoticon).

Pleeeease can someone make the "I love Tupperware" tee shirt?!

OP posts:
Icelollycraving · 07/06/2014 20:31

I hate skulls,I hate black on toddlers. H&m coloured trousers wash brilliantly & are £6ish. I find polarn trousers lose their colour but their t shirts,jackets & socks are good.
White company pjs wash the best & are lovely & soft.

CantEvenKeepAnOrchidAlive · 07/06/2014 20:41

Search around if you don't like all that dreary type clothes.

We like H&M, Vertbaudet, and Frugi. I would buy all of Frugi's stock each season but as it is pricier than the likes of Next and Mothercare, I only pick up a handful of 'must haves'.

Next shoes for boys are shocking. I bought a pair of trainers there 2 weeks ago and they look like they've been worn everyday for 2 years. Tesco hold up better than that, I now vow to never shop in Next.

Sirzy · 07/06/2014 20:41

Donish next still do the multipacks with the bright t shirts, DS has one that was bright orange, bright blue, white and another I cant remember that I got this year

Dornishwine · 07/06/2014 20:42

Isn't it funny?
I don't rate white company at all.
Boden wash very well.
I will check out the next website, thank you! I used to get my dc packs of those all the time.
Ds2 wore a next short sleeved buttoned shirt to a party today and got lots of compliments on it.
Wrt h&m - are they ok for chunkier boys? Ds1 is 11 next week and quite solid.

ViviPru · 07/06/2014 21:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Mozzereena · 07/06/2014 21:07

You can print your own picture on a t shirt using a product called Image Maker, OP.

mrspremise · 07/06/2014 21:13

What's with the numbers? The inexplicable '86' drives me potty...

EagleRay · 07/06/2014 21:34

Ok, so this stuff sells, but is it really the parents buying it? At a boot sale recently I spoke to a couple of mums selling children's clothes and they both said they were getting rid of the logo'ed stuff as they couldn't stand the sight of it (bought as gifts)

Nephew has ASD and has a huge dislike of clothes with any sort of pattern on them (he can just about cope with a stripe) and so DSis has a nightmare trying to find clothes plain enough for him (and he will only wear new things and is extremely tall and thin but that's another story).

95% of DD's clothes come from Ebay, boot sales or nearly new sales. Have so far managed to virtually avoid the pink stuff altogether and dress her in bold/primary colours. Really, really love Scandi clothes, especially the retro-style stuff! reckon I have about 6 months left before she starts talking and demands Peppa Pig t-shirts

Dornishwine · 07/06/2014 21:42

Yes yes to ebay!
I get lots of boden for the dc from there.
I buy from a great seller who sells lovely stuff.
Prior to the PO putting the postal charges up I got some fab bargains....£11 for a bundle that included jumpers, shirts, tops and trousers - it even had designer stuff (Calvin Klein etc) and some stuff still with the tags on.
I only buy in sales now...sainsburys, next etc.
I do like 100% cotton stuff for my dc. It's so much nicer to wear and wash than synthetic stuff.

EagleRay · 07/06/2014 21:46

I expect this is a 'boy's' t-shirt but DD loves it

Dear manufacturers of clothing for small boys
Orangeanddemons · 07/06/2014 21:51

Tee hee. Let me enlighten you. I used to be a boys wear designer.

The average age of a children swear designer is well under 30. Ditto the buyer. They are often a couple of years out of university. They have no children. They like doing childrenswear because it's fun and cute. None of them have a clue about what parents want, and tbh, they don't care. As long as it sells that's all that counts.

I guess, dudes, surfers, rappers, dinosaurs must all sell. So they will keep making them. Just like ladies wear shops are currently full of polyester shit. Someone keeps buying it, so they will keep aiming as low and safe as possible.

It needs someone on the High Street to totally break the mould like Next did in the 80's. But I just can't see it happening somehow.

startwig1982 · 07/06/2014 21:56

I buy mainly sainsburys with a bit of Boden and jojo's stuff when there's a sale on. I do despair a little but we also have a lot of second hand stuff from various people which is great. Have you tried charity shops?

MrsMook · 07/06/2014 22:10

DS mainly wears Morrisons and Sainsburys. I don't mind vehicles as that's what he genuinelylikes. I've succumbed to character tshirts for his two favourites recently ss he has strong opinions on what he wears, and I think it's fair enough that he gets to wear clothes he likes. I check they're not too plastic first though.

My problem at the moment is a rather large, but very baby looking (and still crawling) 13m old who is too big for baby ranges, and looks daft in mini-teenage wear.
I have to admit, I'd love a tshirt with a "trip hazard" warning on the back for him!

DrCoconut · 07/06/2014 22:19

Agreed about the slogans. And why are little boys trousers so huge in the waist? DS2 is 3 and wearing 18- 24 months shorts at the moment, long trousers are harder as the legs are too short if we buy the waist to fit.

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