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.

Decathlon sandals are really good quality but reasonably priced. DD walked many miles at Disney world in the £12.99 ones without any issues

Nothing is wrong with pink if your kid likes it. It's often the most predominant colour available though. Looking on Asda now there are 12 pink tops or T shirts, 12 white and then just 6 blue, 3 green and 2 red items. Matalan has a whopping 53 pink tops and then 25 blue, 20 white 17 yellow etc etc. Next 125 pink (although they have more white in there and high number of blue I suspect it's because school shirts are in that filter rather than just tops and t shirts)

My daughter doesn't like pink (although it was her favourite colour last year) and she doesn't like unicorns either or mermaids. She likes every colour except pink and yellow. The main reason she doesn't like pink is because people at school have told her she must like pink cos she is a girl.

So once you filter out pink and the tops that are teeny or impractical for a child then you are basically left with 3 vest tops in blue and brown. And it's sold out cos that was the only other option...

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.

Who decides what is 'girly' and what is not? What is inherently girly about a unicorn? What is not inherently girly about tigers, eagles, turtles, giraffes or sharks, or even dragons? I read somewhere, possibly on mumsnet, that there was a tendency for girls clothes and other designed things to figure pictures of prey, whereas for boys it was predators. Who gets to decide this?

And of course, the same answer I gave to the problem of pink. Fine, if that's your thing, and genuinely your daughter's thing rather than just what they are told they ought to like. Why isn't there a choice for the rest of us?

I often do buy boys clothes, but I was looking for looser and cooler clothing than t-shirts for summer. We have t-shirts. I can get summer shirts for my ds easily, although they are quite restricted in colour / prints at the moment too.

I have hust bought some gorgeous play suits/romper suits from Little Rainbow handmade clothes In a science print for my 13 year old, a grey floral for my 9 year old and dinosaur floral print for my 7 year old. They are beautifully made, so easy to wear pull on pull off and wash brilliantly - they wont wear anything else at the moment. They are about £30 each so not primark prices but beautiful fun fabrics. Once washed my girls put them straight on again as soon as they have dried. I'm going to get them some 3/4 length ones too when they have chosen their favourite fabrics!
She also makes sweatshirts, leggings, dresses etc, and is so accomodating. Leaving a pocket unfinished so I can tube feed, suggesting alterations to make life easier. Definitely worth a look.

DD is just outgrowing all this stuff but I really liked Lands End and Fat Face for her. She’s tall as well and now I am facing the new issue that everything she wants is black!

Regatta is good for longer length shorts as well.

www.regatta.com/search/?q=Girls+shorts

When mine were younger and I dictated more what they wore - I used to buy charity shop trousers and cut them to shorts the length I wanted if needs be, or buy brights from the "boys" section. These days though they're quite likely to pick the short shorts if they're wearing shorts because it's hot themselves so I've let that battle go somewhat.

Just coming on to say i cut trousers down into shorts. Like pp above me.

I only buy half price or better discount so don't feel ripped off doing so.

H&m and La redoute clothes are good, even Primark have decent tops. Look at all sizes as adult 4, 6 and 8 can work.

Yanbu it needs a complete overhaul from the hot pant shorts to the unicorns.
H&M newlook RI tops are all belly tops or off the shoulder.
My DD now hates pink she is 11 one department store had 6 night dresses for sale all bar one pink the one was coral.
I bought the boy shorts tops are a disaster.

Yes!! Clothes shopping is so hard for my oldest DD aged 12.
Peococks have some lovely bits. I also get her some clothes in small womens sizes like 4 & 6

Ooh, science prints too, forgot them. You don't see many science-themed prints, and most of them are for boys.

@ILikeyourHairyHands it's so difficult, isn't it? My DD has the small feet to go with her small stature. Size 1.5 at nearly 15. She just won't wear footwear for little kids and I don't blame her. I was similarly late in developing but back in the 80's, the clothing choice was much more limited. I still remember the pressure to look the same as all the other girls, though😥

@Pepperwort agree about the ‘predator’ thing for boys!!! So much stuff with aggressive white shark prints on - everywhere even the likes of Joules and Boden which have historically been better with that rubbish.

I had a look on Lindex for you as I love there baby and younger kids stuff. It’s not great tho. Altho there are some nice lose for paper bag waist shorts.

My DD (11) likes Abercrombie Kids stuff. It’s not cheap but it’s v good quality and it wears well. She hates girly stuff like Boden / Mintie but Abercrombie seems to have a good range of fairly simple stuff, and it’s good for skinny builds.

Cos?

Zara is good, and la redoute, and I often buy 'boys' clothes for DD and go fo the dayglo summer colours that she loves. I tend to think of all clothes for under 13s as unisex anyway - put a pair of 'boy's' shorts with sandals and a 'girls' top and it looks great.
Surf brands like billabong and roxy are good - look for sales as it can get pricey.
Also for girls shorts - have you looked a mountain warehouse and the 'sporty' shops? They do good longer shorts in light materials that can be paired with non-sporty tops and accessories to look less nerdy!

I find saltwater sandals are great for all ages

They last forever too

www.salt-watersandals.com/eu-en/retro-tan-kids.html

Dd has these and they look nice with everything even jeans

Boys pj shorts are great, even for outside in the garden. I have two checked cotton pairs of mens pj shorts and wear them out and about as well as for sleeping in.

And they wonder why gender roles are still a thing

But when companies tried to bring out unisex slogans and clothes people kicked off about children getting confused.

I think there is a bit of exaggeration going on as I have just on H & M’S website under girls tops and t shirts aged 4 to 14. Out of the 78 items that come up 2 have a unicorn on the front and there are plenty of plainer options. Yes there is off the shoulder and vest tops but there is also plain, floral print, slogans, animals, birds, stripes so there must be something that is acceptable To you.

We buy DD "boys" T-shirts. They fit so much better, especially as she's tall. They're not tight or short

@Proudboomer if you look more carefully H&M kids have a whopping 46 different unicorn tops, jumpers and hoodies for little girls. (Of the 48 found that includes unicorn hi top shoes and unicorn bikini top).

Yes in the younger age groups but going by the op she has a pre teen so aged 8 to 14 clothing group in h&m

And why do they need to make little girls t-shirts low cut and go in at the waist?
DS (4) has a new harry potter t-shirt, realised when I got home and took it out of its packaging it must be for girls because it goes in at the waist and the neck is quite low. He's still wearing it but I think its silly that they make them different shapes for under 10s.