to think I should be able to get my daughter

[RosaLuxembourg]

a reflective jacket that isn't going to make her the laughing stock of the school.
We live down a badly lit road with no pavement and since she turned 10 she has been allowed to go to and from school and some clubs alone. Which was fine in the summer but winter is coming and she needs reflective clothing to keep her safe from the maniac drivers who use our quiet little lane as a rat run.
I have searched and searched. Either you can get those ridiculous looking tabards, armbands and so on which she will not wear or you can get 'normal' jackets with very small areas of reflective piping etc which will not give sufficient visibility for what she needs.
What is the problem with making high-visibility children's clothing that is trendy and attractive enough so they will choose to wear it? Seems like nothing has changed since 30 years ago when my mum was trying to get me to wear those stupid Sam Browne belts and I was stuffing them in the bottom of my school bag.
I have spent hours on the net trying to find something suitable and am really pissed off now - can you tell?

You are right it is wrong.

whats wrong with the yellow ones?

you could buy ripstop fabric and make your own or make a patch to go on a bought coat or rucksac. I once made (long time ago) a high vis waistcoat from ripstop. Reversible pink on one side and yellow on the other, it actually looked pretty decent and that's despite my horrendous sewing.

www.safe-kids-walking.com/clothing.html

they look good - high vis clip on attachments / fleeces / waistcoats (not just yellow either)

do from kid-adult sizes

hth

www.safe-kids-walking.com/clothing.html even!

Lewisfan - thanks for the link but I've seen the Bright Kidz website. The stuff is fine as far as it goes - I'll probably get a bag - but there is no way she would wear those waistcoats and while the fleeces would be fine for dry days, she needs a waterproof jacket for school. The problem is the stuff seems to be aimed at younger kids but it is the image conscious 10-15 year olds who are most in need of it.
MTAM - I saw those jackets on Millets website but they only have boys in stock atm. I also worried that she would forget to switch it on. Glad to hear that it works well though, it is certainly the best option I have come across so far.

Ok they are pricey, but I can guarantee that they are so cool that your dd will wear it...heck I would wear it....look here or at the cheaper american site

It might be worth looking at equestrian supplies as quite often jackets marketed at horse riders have reflective strips built in. I found this as an example. I know my 12yo daughter would wear the pink one!

Wouldn't a bright white jacket do the job?

Check Tchibo they had [[http://www.tchibo.co.uk/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/uk/-/GBP/TdUkDisplayProductInformation -Start?ProductSKU=0011141 European style reflective tabards last week, similar to those issued in state-run Kindergartens. You can also get 3M reflective self adhesive stickers to add to a jacket or bag.

sorry here

Sounds like there's a gap in the market. I don't envy you this problem as I know how picky older children and teenagers can be about what clothes they wear. It you get anything by mail order, you've still got to make sure your dd will wear the damn thing. Is she involved in helping you look on the internet and does she fully realise why you are doint it? Have you driven her down the lane in the dark so she can see for herself how vulnerable pedestrians are?

the 'normal' jackets with small areas of reflective piping are actually surprisingly effective when it's dark, and you can add extra reflective strips to bags, shoes and so on. The reflective stuff is good, because it's not bright during daytime, so doesn't attract unwelcome attention at school.

The real problem is dusk, as reflective strips don't work well then. And the only solution is high-vis fluorescent gear, which really doesn't look cool!