to be offended at the lack of floorspace and style for boys clothing

[KissingAFool]

I get upset about this every time I go shopping for my loving boys. Wall to wall girls stuff, you can really pick a style and run with it, the variety is amazing. Across all shops. Across all budgets.

However the boys offerings beyond the toddler stages are so dull, limited, stylish. I love shopping, love clothes and am trying to raise my kids with a healthy interest in their appearance but its so hard when there's nothing I even want to see on my boys and they moan that it's all boring.

Its just feels short sighted and discriminatory to have eg one aisle of stuff for boys vs three if girls which is what I'm faced with.

Are ANY shops geared towards equal floorspace? Because beyond h&m and zara it feels extremely one sided and I actually feel quite hurt!

[Troubleinstore]

I am really interested in this discussion. I've not long started up selling boys clothing up to the age of 5 years in response to being asked for it by a friend who makes and sells dresses in the same age range. She was always being asked for buys stuff, but couldn't make it.
I started buying boys clothes that complimented hers and selling alongside, on market stalls, in local shops and in corporate 'pop up' shops.
What I see time and time again, is that the boys stuff is totally overlooked
Scenario 1: Parent with boy and girl: walks up to stall, sees girls dresses... ooh and ah's, buy girls dress, does not even glance at boys clothes.
Scenario 2: Parent walks up to dresses - oohs and ah's... says we've got boys, glance at boys wear and say 'but dresses are so much prettier'
Only if there are parents with just boys do they take a proper look. If there are both sexes the boys are always overlooked for the clothes.
I have watched this over and over again.
I did become paranoid and start asking if it was the clothes I was buying and that they were just not good/nice enough. I get the feeling parents are happy to 'dress up' their daughters but not so much their sons and jeans and t-shirts are o.k.
Don't get me wrong I obviously do sell the clothes, but the buying public are so much more interested in buying for girls and the range they can buy is more varied .i.e. skirts and dresses too.
I try and buy quirky, fun and fashionable clothing for the boys, clothes that stand out and the occasional safe pieces that mix and match.
The general public I encounter buying for boys seems to be rather out of necessity rather than a 'just because it's beautiful' though. The dresses sell for £25 and the highest price boys piece I sell is £25, with most £10-£18, but starting at around £8
I will watch this thread with interest ...

[Lowdoorinthewal1]

If you go to barnyard kids there are loads of scandi brands all in one place.

Smafolk was always one of my favourites.

[Lambert500]

I've just had my 2nd boy & hate that everything is blue &/or superheroes. I favour european brands such as //www.minirodini.com (expensive but good for boys & girls) //www.bobochoses.com (not great quality for the price but unique & bright colours) & then independent UK brands such as //www.beauloves.co.uk & //www.littlekitt.com plus H&M & Zara.

[KissingAFool]

Trouble, I like to accessories my kids, like their shoes, or example to complement their outfits, beanies, scarves, sunnies, belts, trench coats....there are so many ways to make them look amazing. Shame they get overlooked. I love textures and colour. But their word is grey.

[NapQueen]

Sainsburys has great boys clothes in!!

[QueenofLouisiana]

DS is very sporty so mainly lives in track suits from Sports Direct, other options in our rural town are non-existent. I bulk buy from Boden (sale stuff), H&M, Uniqlo when I'm near one.

[AmeliaJack]

Out of interest Kissing how old are your sons?

[PickAChew]

Landsend sell some great stuff and it has to be the most durable of everything I've bought for the boys. Good dense cotton that doesn't pill and rarely twists.

[liquidrevolution]

I dress my DD in Little Bird by Jools (Mothercare), bright mostly gender neutral stuff. If I had a boy I would be equally pissed off as you. I used to dress DD in bright boys clothes mixed up with girls clothes but now she is nearly 3 its all sludge colours and tanks so actually my own choice has lessened despite having a girl (sorry all gin induced waffly here).

#letclothesbeclothes

Hic.

[BertieBotts]

They most definitely are colour coded here in Germany. What you do see is less "grown up" clothing on children. They look like childrens' clothes, not mini adult fashion clothes.

Honestly I never really found finding bright boys' stuff an issue when DS was younger though. Now he's 8 it's harder because we're getting into preteen stuff. But actually, he likes what's on offer and I tend to let him choose, budget permitting, so it works okay even if I'd choose different clothes.

TBH I don't see the point in "accessorising" children. Things like hats, sunglasses and belts I buy for function rather than style. Trench coats? You can't get them for girls either can you? I wouldn't have thought of it as being a children's item.

[stopfuckingshoutingatme]

Offended ! ?!?!?!,!

I feel sorry for girls parents and Ted they might well have rails more , but it's mostly pink vile shit

[KissingAFool]

Believe it or not, my kids like accessories, why shouldn't they? If clothes are full ... You end up relying more on those items.

They are 9&5. 9 is well into sludge territory.

I cannot.raise.them.on.dinosaur.prints and minion merchandise.

[PonderLand]

I don't know if anyone has mentioned it but I quite like GAP for my ds. But he's still a baby so I've got all this to come. I already find it quite dull. I like the little bird section in mothercare but I'm not sure what age they go upto

[AmeliaJack]

Kissing my DS is 9 and isn't dressed in sludgy colours.

He's got interested in clothes in the last few years and always manages to look effortlessly cool.

We don't spend a lot either.

[EggnoggAndMulledWine]

I had two daughters and then a son who is now four. I can't agree more. It's so disappointing. My husband has always said how women have so much more choice and at better value than guys stuff.

Iv been looking for weeks for nice boots for my son and can't find anything nice. The choice that's out there is disappointing. I often have an idea of exactly what I want and can't find it. For instance for my brothers wedding I couldn't find plain navy braces or a bow tie anywhere! Ended up ordering online.

Went into tk max last week for a toy for a little boy. Three sides of shelves of toys for girls. One for boys that was also shared with the baby toys.

Just so disappointing isn't it.

[TaraCarter]

For bright, fun t-shirts, look at Mountain Warehouse.

[fuckingwall]

If you like bright stuff look at miniBoden.

[fuckingwall]

Also qwertee for alternative tshirts.

[NoobThebrave]

It's shocking!! Next has some.ok stuff but not in store??!! When they hit 12 there just isn't anything in store. We have found River Island the best for trendy choice and.xxs.

[rolypolydoll]

Op if you want Jarvis cocker look then keep an eye out on vintage kids section on eBay. I've bought so much lovely deadstock so cheaply, there is a seller called mislaudtreasures who I've got quite a bit from.

[DioneTheDiabolist]

My DS is also 9 and loves colourful clothes and accessories. The shops are woefully inadequate.

[rolypolydoll]

Mislaidtreasures

[lamprey42]

A lot of the girl's stuff isn't very functional for doing active things sadly. My DD is going through a pink phase (despite my best efforts) and finding even good warm trousers rather than leggings was a problem. I like frugi for both my DD and DS - great colours and prints, lots of unisex stuff. Expensive but we get in sale.

[SinisterBumFacedCat]

Ok, or shopping today in my local Next and think this pretty well illustrates the problem. Kids section floor space is probably 70% girls 30% boys. And there plonked in the middle of the boy's section is a rack of baby girls clothes.

[cleo81]

I am not offended but it's very annoying. Ds is 4 and have always found this. I hate shopping for him as I can't find anything decent which I like. I walk past isles of girls clothing and a tiny section for boys full of stuff with 'boy' things on like trucks and dinosaurs or silly phrases on it. I find it very hard to find nice clothes for him.