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.

Mark's and Spencer's are pretty good..according to DD11 they are fashionable and they arent revealing. Weve also had some success with next...mostly in the boys section

My DD loved pink sparkles with unicorns until age 7 or 8 no she wouldn't be caught dead in pink she is body conscious she'd prefer to fit in with plain clothes.
Sports wear is a pain too she prefers joggers everywhere sells sports tights with bra tops.
To designer's stop the logos, use more material.

It is age group 9 - 14 ish I was looking at. I often wish that they would carry the younger designs over to a higher age group. The younger designs are often ok, and there really isn't any need to change it until round about 13 imo.

@Pepperwort

It is age group 9 - 14 ish I was looking at. I often wish that they would carry the younger designs over to a higher age group. The younger designs are often ok, and there really isn't any need to change it until round about 13 imo.

Both of mine are tall so have to buy clothes from this age bracket despite being slightly younger - one absolutely loves the unicorn obsession and has a wardrobe full of the pointy headed pests... the other does tend to wear a lot of "boy" clothing as she loves superheroes and dinosaurs. Next had some dinosaur stuff in their "girl" range relatively recently though.

I just wish relatives (MIL) would stop buying them identical sets of clothing with fucking unicorns on as they are very different kids and one is distinctly anti-unicorn (she likes dinosaurs because they could eat the unicorns)!

I despise slogan t shirts etc. but never struggle to find clothes for my 10 year old DD.

Zara is great for this - think someone up thread was looking for longer shorts / skorts and without scrolling far down at all I found lots of options:

www.zara.com/uk/en/long-linen-bermuda-shorts-p01326225.html?v1=100784307&v2=1675289

www.zara.com/uk/en/shirred-floral-bermuda-skort-p01379437.html?v1=102596342&v2=1675289

www.zara.com/uk/en/textured-bermuda-skort-p06201604.html?v1=102330326&v2=1675289

Hundreds plain t shirts and tops in natural fibres too.

My 13 year old refuses to show any skin, even on hot days.
Finding long sleeved tops in shops in summer is very difficult.

M&S has basics in plain colours, and StartSmart is traditional clothing like the 1950s style stuff Kate and Willy dress their kids in. That will have plenty of non-unicorn, glittery, slogan, cropped or thigh slashed gear.

[StartSmart www.startsmart.co.uk/girls-clothing]]

www.startsmart.co.uk/index.php?route=common/home

Try again with link

I love Zara and Mango kids clothing. Fashionable, but not trashy. Good quality clothing that lasts.
I don't mind spending a bit more for better quality and my Daughter is a slow grower so clothes last her years!

YANBU. I was appalled recently on going to M&S and seeing shorts for two year old girls on sale that were crotch skimmers. I couldn’t believe it. Meanwhile the ones for boys were nearly to the knee.

I was staggered. If I had a DD I’d just be tempted to dress her in “boys” clothes.

If you can sew basic patterns then Waves and Wild patterns are very beginner friendly. They come with instructions and there's people online who share their makes/offer help to those new to sewing.

Try Lindex.com, I get most of my kids summers clothes from there , it’s mainly unisex and the material is great it’s a Scandinavian shop so they have longer skirts etc.

Landsend?

@OverZoomed

It’s frustrating. Dd(12) wanted a skort- she doesn’t like tight or denim shorts and the boy ones would get her teased - and she wanted something for the hot weather. Could we find a plain skort? No - only Boden kiddy bright patterns.

Could we find long shorts for girls - no, not in the loose, light fabric and cut she wanted. Could we find t-shirts she liked - no, they were either for boys (which come up too wide) or cold shoulder (no sun protection) or had slogans.

She wants plain basics and it just seems almost impossible - Uniqlo have done well out of us but their range is limited.

I’m tiny with narrow hips. I’m a UK size 4 so skorts in the ladies section might fit her, unless she’s very small for her age.

I know the thread is almost a year old, but ILikeYourHairyHands if you're still looking for trousers for your DS, DH has the same issue (short and broad) and buys all his from M&S. They last ages and wash well. Might not be much help to you now, though, with how fast kids grow!

Had exactly this today. DD8 is tall so in size 11-12y. Cold shoulder tops, crop tops, tiny shorts, friends slogans etc. in nearly all the high street stores. Came home empty handed.