To think nice girls clothes are v. difficult to find?

[littlemissbumshine]

Or very very expensive for something that'll quickly get ruined/grown out of?

Admittedly I like old fashioned looking clothes, e.g. nice dresses perhaps with some embroidery and a pretty collar. Nothing over the top.

However, I'm not prepared to pay £80 for something so simple! Zara occasionally has some nice things, but generally high-street shops insist on stupid graphics, slogans and largely come in sickly shades of pink.

I'm genuinely considering buying some old patterns and sewing them myself

Have you tried jojo maman bebe outlet? They have really good sales, I've got some cord dresses with nice embroidery 22 quid reduced to 7 or 8

Have a look at ‘Blessings and Blossoms’ online- it is a lovely shop in Edinburgh but she is now running online. Has lots of nice things and isn’t hugely expensive.

Agreed but it's the same if not worse for boys. There also seem to be aisles and aisles of sickly pink girls clothes to one rather forlorn looking rail of dark blue, grey and sludge coloured boys clothes, all with tacky graphics, stupid slogans (though on the whole less dreadful than the slogans found on girls clothes) and not particularly well made.

Do you like frugi ? They have decent sales too.

I’ve always liked H&M’s stuff as well as Zara, Boden, John Lewis and M&S.

I get all mine from Zara and Gap. Next has got better lately but still hugely overpriced.

Boden have lovely things and usually have a discount code. I’ve noticed Next started to emulate their designs (particularly for their 0-3 age range), but even the older girls’ dresses began to have traditional smocking and lace collars.

Just a shame my (previously non fussy) 6 year old has suddenly decided she doesn’t like them!

I used to dress my DD in Sainsbury's baby clothes but currently boycotting after the the recent range came out with absolute stupidity printed on it like "Little Lady" and "Pretty Like Mummy" 🤢

My dd is 10 now and just wants to wear jeans and t shirts, but I did well for her in Gap and Boden when she was small - also Jojo Maman BeBe. I find Zara is sometimes good and sometimes too grown up - always worth a look.

How old is your daughter? Fairly young I'm assuming since you're just looking for things you like. If you want fairly traditional clothes (all smocking and Peter pan collars I assume) you do have to pay for them, they require more skill to make than a tshirt with a sexist slogan on it sadly. When DD1 was tiny I though Zara baby was quite good for that kind of thing but that was a decade ago so the fashions may have changed.

If you want clothing that doesn't look like fairy unicorn vomit the following are good places to look (warning, the treasures will be hidden among the pink): H&M, Zara, Gap, Boden, John Lewis, Polarn O. Pyret.

Not as difficult as getting nice boys clothes.

La Redoute is good for girls and boys. There are many things without cartoons or slogans. Land’s End is also excellent for both sexes. These companies have very good reductions in their sales too.

I was going to suggest sewing your own before I got to the end of your post! That’s what I’m currently doing whilst pregnant but have been sewing for friend’s and family’s girls for years! Matalan have some nice smocked type baby dresses but not sure what age they go up to as I’ve only been looking at baby things so far. Let me know if you want any pattern suggestions x

Boden, Polarn O. Pyret, John Lewis. Look out for the sales.

Boots have some nice dresses for younger children.

Next has some good stuff if you sort through. There is the odd bit of fairy unicorn vomit slogans ( @CountFosco) but generally some nice classic stuff. DD looks good in their one-piece playsuits. They were closed but I think they're reopening online soon. Don't get me started on their frightful adult ranges, though.

True

I’m sick of girls clothes not being in primary colours and everything having butterflies/ unicorns/ rainbows/ baby animals/ cupcakes/ sparkles on it!

Oh yes, Boots is surprisingly good and cheap. M&S also, although more pricey.

I was coming on here to suggest La Redoute (I think Vertbaudet might be their kids' range), but I see a previous poster has got there first!

This place currently has a 40% off sale.

No good at the moment but when things are back to normal (if ever), there is a terrific French kids' brand called Okaidi. DH used to go on business to Lille a lot and they have a big store right near the Eurostar terminal. The girls' stuff was way more cheerful and tasteful than most of the UK offer.

Uniqlo have some lovely things as well as the ones mentioned above. They have a Finlayson range in at the moment which is gorgeous.

Boy's clothes are just as difficult. The boys section is regularly less than half the size of the girls', and if you don't want them dressed head to toe in blue or grey you might, occasionally, be lucky to get something in a khaki green. And for some reason even baby clothes have Minecraft or Fortnite on them. Next are good for boys clothes though, they also have some nice girls stuff occasionally.

JoJo Mammon, Boden, Trotters and M&S all have good quality stuff. I do know what you mean though.

You're all brilliant, thank you! I'll have a look in all the places mentioned.

Boden have lovely girls clothes and there are always lots of bargains in their sales . Buy the next size up ?
Also buy out of season . My sons winter coat was reduced to something like £20 from 55ish in early summer months a couple of years ago . He’s had two winters out of it and when it’s too small I’ll pass it on to my nephew .