To think boys clothes are mostly ugly?

[4boys1978]

Random shower thoughts (or bed thoughts, whatever) at 2am.

I have 4 DS’s. Their ages range from 6 months to 8 years.

I’ve noticed I really struggle to find bright, colourful clothing that I actually like for them. I mostly have to order online from next, frugi, JoJo and similar brands.

Whenever I just pop Into primark quickly I can never see ‘nice’ things for boys. Girls have tonnes but never boys! What’s that all about.

Boys seem to be stuck with camo, cars, dinosaurs or really dark colours. It’s all a tad strange.

AIBU? Has anyone else noticed this too? It drives me crazy

@Stringervest if you are looking for girls bits check out H&M. They have an extra 20% off for members before 7am tomorrow. I’ve done pretty well for my difficult to buy for 11 yo DD.

[quote Kanaloa]@CatsArePeople

Are you not able/is it possible for you to shop online? I searched ‘boys cat t-shirt’ and found tons of reasonably priced ones, some plain, some bright colourful ones, some cartoony, some abstract. Lots of them.[/quote]
I googled "boys cat t-shirt" and the first 50ish results are cheap looking screen-printed t-shirts.

I can see loads - on Amazon, from brands such as vans etc, online brands like red bubble. I think if you were desperate for a t shirt with a cat on it it’s hardly like finding the heart of the ocean.

There are options to find one.

Also tons and tons on Etsy. Maybe not to your style but they’re readily available.

www.kite-clothing.co.uk/collections/boys-0-13-years does some nice more colourful stuff for boys. Not cheap, similar prices to Boden but maybe worth a look in sales.

I find that the outdoors shops are best for having colours and an interesting design past the age of 5. Choice goes down again after 8 too as some younger styles cut off at 7-8. I'm looking for 9 & 11 yos, so the cutesy Boden years are long gone.

I do look in "girls" sections and indeed DS1's favourite jumpers are technically "girls" because he likes fluffy things (ASD; I've bulk bought his favourites to tide him over for a few years) but the majority isn't suitable because it's overly clichèd in pastels and trimmings and cut shorter. It is easier for girls to get away with wearing boys clothes as unisex than boys to wear something obviously girls.

It's a PITA buying for lean children anyway, and although girls is cut slim, the shorter sleeves or legs just make a boy look like he's grown out of it compared to his peers in baggier, longer cuts. As DS1 only wears shorts, I've had times where I've bought what I could late in the season to tide him through the winter and bought the "same" in boys/ girls. The girls were clearly shorter and made them look outgrown far sooner than the equivilent boys pair. Fortunately he was forgiving of the token internal pink trim.

Trying to buy boys coats in a safe, not roadkill colour for dull winter evenings is also hard going.

it’s hardly like finding the heart of the ocean

I didn't say it was

Are you not able/is it possible for you to shop online? I searched ‘boys cat t-shirt’ and found tons of reasonably priced ones, some plain, some bright colourful ones, some cartoony, some abstract. Lots of them.

I dislike shopping for clothes online. But for cat-themed stuff -- we seem to find cool things on holidays abroad

I hate shopping online, I don't mind click and collect but it's a pain to return stuff unless there's a physical shop.

@TakeMeToYourLiar

You need to look off high street

Yes these are more expensive but they are much more ethical, last well and have great resale

This is a Norfolk based shop called the Norse nook

Are they colourful? yes. Are they absolutely tasteless? Also yes.

The coat argument is a bit daft, most schools stipulate that coats have to be navy or black anyway. You can get reflective armbands to put on, or they often have reflective strips down the arms etc. it’s not like there’s some societal conspiracy to deprive boys of neon pink parka coats

My 9yo nephew wears a lot of sonetti clothes - very bright, wash well, resell on at a decent price
I suspect these aren’t the ‘right’ type of bright clothes for mumsnet though. Most mumsnetters wouldn’t be seen dead in JD sports with Sebastian and Atticus 😉

@Blueeyedgirl21

The coat argument is a bit daft, most schools stipulate that coats have to be navy or black anyway. You can get reflective armbands to put on, or they often have reflective strips down the arms etc. it’s not like there’s some societal conspiracy to deprive boys of neon pink parka coats

Agreed. DS3's is bright orange and it's spent half its time in the wash this winter. I've got khaki for preschool next year!

I've noticed this as u have one of each a DS and DD. Much more choice for DD even though it is all pink and sparkly. I just want some plain t-shirts for her that don't have slogans or flowers all over them. Just plain for under dungarees/playsuits

From the mother of a daughter, iv found the girls stuff is really poor quality compared to the boys. The boys stuff is thicker fabric, so warmer and will take more washers. Meaning you have to by girls stuff more often. The sizing is off as well, t shirt for 8 year old boy will be at least 2 sizes bigger than a T-shirt for an 8 year old girl. The girls stuff with embroidery and embellishments also make them more uncomfortable.

@LadyWhistledownsPen

I've noticed this as u have one of each a DS and DD. Much more choice for DD even though it is all pink and sparkly. I just want some plain t-shirts for her that don't have slogans or flowers all over them. Just plain for under dungarees/playsuits

I've found this too.

It's impossible to find t-shirts for little girls that don't have capped sleeves or some rouching on. Also anything staple - jeans, dungarees, shorts etc that aren't ornately 'girly' either in fit or pattern.

She's now out of little girl's clothes and I find it significantly harder to shop for her than for DS.

Agree.
I like brights - so Boden, Cath Kidston, Frugi, some Scandi stuff (only on sale or second hand though -phew those prices!). I wish monsoon did boys clothes.
Kidly and Lindex have quite nice, bright, unisex things but hard to find second hand.
If I see bright basic things in sainsburys Tu I’ll pick them up but generally I’m surprised at the efforts it’s necessary to go to to find nice things (or … more accurately things I like) for boys. But then I haven’t tried shopping for a girl, so can’t really compare.

I dress my son a lot like my mother dressed me in the 80s. Dungarees and bright colours. My brothers wore my clothes without issue (I’m the eldest). It makes me wonder if what has changed is more obviously feminine clothes for girls as a default?

@Kanaloa thanks for the tips.
I think if you know where to look and what sizing works etc I think there are definitely options for everyone. I hate shopping and to be honest most stuff I get is second hand so very rarely go. But every store is so different, like my kids are skinny skinny so just need to know the styles in the stores that works and it's fine 😊

I dress my son a lot like my mother dressed me in the 80s. Dungarees and bright colours. My brothers wore my clothes without issue (I’m the eldest). It makes me wonder if what has changed is more obviously feminine clothes for girls as a default?

I remember commenting on this when DS was a toddler, the boys jeans were ribbed top and lined but very plain, could be mini man's jeans. My friend's DD of similar age, had girls jeans, with frills round the bottom and fancy pink stitching with butterfly's and flowers on them. They looked like toddler clothes unlike the boys which looked mini man

yes I find this now. I had some lovely colourful clothes for my ds when he was little but once they get past the age of around 6 and start needing to shop in the older boys section for the bigger sizes the clothes go so boring and samey and dull colours. my ds is almost 10 now and I feel I'm buying him the same boring clothes all the time. I used to love those "shumpers" (jumper with shirt collar attached) as they looked so smart but they don't sell them anymore. I hate boring joggers and sweatshirts all the time.

And we've done the jeans and checked shirt combo to death. my dd in comparison has had a huge variety of different styles of clothing and in lovely colours.

@bigyellowTpot it's harder aswell any kid getting older as they have their own idea of what they like.
Must say I do love how after Easter the girls all wear lovely school summer dresses. I don't have a girl but the boys aren't allowed to change their uniform at all which I hate

@rolllan yes used to love the checked school summer dresses. my boy will wear school shorts instead of trousers in the summer with his polo shirt that's the only alternative for boys . my dd is a teen now and obvs she has her own style now so no longer wearing the frilly dresses etc, i used to love her dresses when she was little. she still chooses some nice clothes though.

The summer uniform for boys at DDs school is shirt, tie and shorts, whereas girls get a choice of skirt/shorts, shirt and tie or dress... funnily the girls chose to wear the dresses in Yr6 to avoid the ties in hot weather...

@bigyellowTpot my boys wear shorts year round, but still summer means buttoned up shirt, tie and a jumper. No polo shirt. Girls can wear a lovely dress with a cardigan which is perfect but for the boys, even an adult would you like having you shirt buttoned up to your neck, a tie and a jumper. It doesn't look smart when you see several kids coming out of clas in summer absolutely dying of heat becUs the teacher hasn't agreed they can take off their jumper.