To ask what idiots design girls' clothes??

[Pepperwort]

And who decided that 9 - 13, 14 ish has to be a new group for marketing, and wearing those adult-like, almost aggressive (can't think of a better word) fashions?? I'm not advertising sexuality for a 'tween' or whatever they're called, creepy men can get their kicks somewhere else. I just want something nice that suits the weather! I hate hate HATE clothes shopping.

It's lockdown, so I haven't had my act together and wanted to get some summer tops for my dd, 11. Designers - summer is hot, and the sun burns. What you need is something covering the shoulders, light, loose, in natural cool fabrics and nice prints. Something patterned in nice colours.

NO MORE damned slogans or flipping' unicorns or what-have-you, scrap animal prints. Ffs ditch the polyester, and kill the 'cold shoulder' rubbish already!!

HOW HARD IS IT??? REALLY?

Ahem. As you were. And if anyone could possibly point me to some nice simple (very simple, I can use a sewing machine but I'm not a whizz) and new sewing patterns for tunic and 'peasant blouse' types, assuming I get my act together next year, I would be eternally grateful.

@WhatWouldYouDoWhatWouldJesusDo

It tends to be the cheaper end of the market that is worst for it and got many of us they are the only options.
Asda, morrisons, primark etc

Mountain warehouse can be good , i got skorts there last year

For

I've found since my DD turned 10 I have been able to buy xxs (size 4-6) from shops like Asda and Primark. Although they are adult clothes they tend to be a bit more generic than teenage ranges

How about somewhere like Mountain Warehouse

www.mountainwarehouse.com/kids/trousers-shorts/

Some of the tops have unicorns etc but they do have plain Tees too

www.mountainwarehouse.com/kids/tops/kids-t-shirts/

ouch most my dds clothes came from Asda / Matalan / trespass / winfields. Type shops. Oh and tesco.
Multipacks of plain t-shirts are available everywhere and I've just picked my niece up some longer length, denim shorts in Tesco.

As for sandals then what's wrong with crocs / walking sandals. There are plenty available.

We got some nice bits for our 11yearold daughter in Sainsbury, shorts are a decent length, though not knee length, and the tops are sensible shapes and cotton mix fabrics. Worth going to the biggest branch you can find, to get the widest selection. One of our local ones is much better than the other according to how much floor space they give to Argos.

Mountain warehouse are quite good for t-shirts and sandals. Lands end good for skorts too. My DD is quite enjoying wearing her big brother’s hand me down shorts at the moment, but she loves skorts as well!

I agree. I have an 8yr old (9 in Sept) and I hate the belly tops, strappy tops, short shorts look. She also isn't a fan of showing off her belly. I also hate the slogans on tops so it is difficult to find suitable clothing.

I have a few DDs and find it difficult. While I agree with the pp who said that there are many ways to be a girl/boy and each is ok, it is however remarkable just how difficult it becomes to find comfortable, practical clothing for girls from 10/11 up.

How much would you like to spend?

@Ouchjuststoodonlego

I've just had exactly this conversation with dh. Dd (3) has outgrown her sandals And the only placed open are local supermarkets. All of the girls sandals are little strappy gladiator type things, even some with wedge heels. Half are covered with glitter and would rub horribky and have no support In the soles. The boys are all robust, velcro and adjustable. They have proper soles. It's like designers don't think that little girls run or jump. Just sit still and look pretty

Have a look on Amazon @Ouchjuststoodonlego.

I just got DD walking sandles, but in navy with pretty pictures on. They were mountain warehouse, but there are loads of others too. These were in a 12, but there were lots of sizes. I had a look at other brands and kept accidentally finding ones too small.

These ones are good for a walk to the river and can be paddled in too and were about £16. I've done far better on there than shops for kids sandles.

For any adults wanting longer shorts I did actually find some in Tesco that are knee length.

For sandals definitely mountain warehouse, sports direct. Karrimoor are an excellent brand, proper soles and comfy with a bit of support. For a slightly more fashionable sandal try Hotter. Expensive but I did find sandals that don’t slide out from under me

@fairislecable

DS has a couple of T-shirt’s from H&M and primark that are those reversible sequin tops - 1 is Lego batman and the other is Jurassic park. The picture changes when you run your hand over the sequins

My dd(7) is currently rocking a pair of boys storm trooper baggy swim shorts.
Passed on from a friend.
Lots of spf50 on the top half.
Had to get her new trainers over the weekend.
Only choice nearby was asda
Pink, plastic sparkly, sweaty feet, show the dirt...
Or plain blue mesh ones from the boy section.
No prizes for guessing what she chose

I completely agree about the impracticality of girls clothes. Even baby girls clothes can be absurd (buttons on the back for a non sitting baby )
I just don't get being annoyed that girls are seen to be limited to liking certain things and then being proud your girl likes less girly things and making fun of girls who like unicorns.

Unicorns are only not cool because girls like them and people make fun of things girls like. It's like a child version of 'you're not like other girls'

I know exactly what you mean.
I’ve had good luck with Mountain Warehouse, some lovely dresses and tops with age appropriate prints. Also got some cargo trousers that have the button inside to tighten them up at the waist.

She would usually have webbing/velcro outdoor sandals, but cant go and try any on at the moment.

We have had lovely stuff from mountain warehouse too.
Cant we claim they are an essential shop?

Definitely agree OP, such a bug bear if mine that so many girls clothes and shoes are impractical and sometimes just plain inappropriate.

My daughter has been wearing ladies size 4-6 since she was 9/10. She has always had tops from the boys section as she likes characters like sonic, adventure time and minecraft! But sometimes the fit isn't quite right. Shes 11 and lives in skater skirts and baggy Tshirts. I shop in primark, h&m, qwertee for her. I did recently get some nice dresses and jogging bottoms from tesco for her as she had a growth spurt just as we went into lockdown!

My youngest is nearly 8, and she is the girliest girl so wears tutu skirts and sequin tops. she loves dinosaurs but I cant buy from boys section as shes quite small framed and they hang off her (shes got one 3-4 but it's more like a crop top now but still too wide!)

What about Tevas? They are good sandals

North Face shoes are great for kids also

It's a bit of a self sustaining circle. Pink/frilly/unicorns/nice slogans sell so shops sell them but then half the time you can only find pink or shorts that are too shorts so you buys them because there isn't an alternative so that What's the shops stock and round it goes.
There is nothing wrong with pink being one of a range of colours but there is something wrong with it being the only colour.
The thing is it's like wonky veg in supermarkets they stopped buying it from farmers because the customers would pick up the nicely shaped, even unblemished veg and leave the wonky stuff. Sadly lots of people do buy flimsy and skimpy and frilly for girls so that's what the shops stock. They know that if they put a blue t-shirt, a green t-shirt and pink t-shirt on the rails the pink will sell best and they will be stuck with lots of the green ones so they either don't stock them at all or they get fewer in.

Bershka is good for this age group - size xxs is a small size 4 and they have loads of fab t-shirts etc which are cool. You have to wade through the sort of stuff a 17 year old would wear clubbing but once you do, there are some lovely things there.

@Chiwi

not unicorn- proud

What is wrong with unicorns? Why is it ok to like things considered boyish (dragons) but not unicorns? Just as bad as forcing gender roles is considering anything seen as girly (unicorns) as silly frivolous and not cool.
Liking unicorns, make up and glitter isn't something to be ashamed of. We are told that to further insinuate that girls stuff is stupid and boys stuff is cool.

My little girl can dress in pink, unicorns or whatever she wants. Pisses me right off when people say they're proud of their girls not liking 'girly' stuff. There are a billion ways to be a girl and all of it is good

Because not all girls or boys like unicorns or glitter. Good that yours does. Wait until she doesn’t want to wear pink, glitter or unicorns.

I will argue though that boys clothes and men’s are so dull. As they become older teens, beige shorts, tracksuit bottoms, plain t shirts. That’s about it. But men seem happy with that otherwise there would be more male designers.