Kids clothes not going past age 14

[Username2101]

My DD has a Christmas party Thursday with her drama group. Money is a tad tight so I looked on Asda, Tesco etc for a party dress. Barely any have clothes for children over age 14. She's 10 but very tall and women's clothes just aren't suitable. I don't understand why they have done this? AIBU to complain?

My 11 year old son is the size of a 15 year old, he's very tall. He also has adult size 10 feet. I've felt robbed everytime I've bought him clothes and shoes for years. Not been able to get the required black P.E. plimsoles for primary school for the past 2 years but the school have let me off!

I've had to get his school polo tops and jumpers especially made at the uniform shop for the past 2 years too! They take weeks to make.

@goneaway2 secondary school should be a big relief. They go up to proper adult sizes.

I have a very tall/well built 10 nearly 11yr old too. She’s in adult size 6-8 stuff and her coat is a size 12.

We recently got her a shimmery skirt from Next online (went up to age 16) which we paired with a sparkle t shirt. Did well for a party and still age appropriate.

Too many tops and dresses even in XXS or size 6 are cut for curves which she hasn’t got yet

There is. And if an item is larger than the size guidelines, they have to be able to show the item is designed exclusively for under 14s to be zero rated. Which is probably why that is the general cut off for retailing of kids clothes.

It's frustrating. Next and Very do size 15-16, which tracks as a women's 12.

Have you tried to search for "modest" dresses

Same for my son. He’s 12, 5 foot 8 and a little beanpole. He’s having to go into men’s small for the length but then the trousers are ridiculous around the waist and legs. It’s a very awkward phase and I cant see him filling out for a while so he’s going to be stuck in it for ages. School trousers are fine because m and s do the extra extra long but sports ones are a nightmare

Have you tried next? Not the cheapest though unfortunately.

I think technically many places do up to 16 but hardly ever have them in stock because they don't sell. Teens tend to want to wear adult clothes if they are big enough.
But M&S and Next definitely do do teenage sizes..
(I know because I've bought kids clothing frpm there in teen sizes so I could wear them lmao.. not to avoid vat but because I loved the item of clothing!!)
You'll probably have more luck online than you will in store, in looking for the teen sizes.

I’m a size 6/8 and buy a lot of children’s clothes from M&S & Next. Their ranges are quite big imo

I had this with my lovely third DD. She was 5'5" when she was 10/11 but slim as well. Fortunately there was a range called I think Manteray Junior that went up to age 13/14. I remember the lady thar worked in the shop said thar she could never imagine a 14 year old wearing them, but having met a tall 11 year old she understood the market!
Do next still do decent clothes?

https://www.marksandspencer.com/sequin-dress-6-16-yrs-/p/clp60702907?color=SILVER#intid=pid_pg1pip48g2r9c2

M&S have this in up to age 16

An annoying situation for you and your DD , I feel for her. But complaining wont change anything, they don't sell much in those sizes so they won't make it.

Children’s clothes are only zero rated for VAT up to certain measurements, which are the standard age 14 clothes size, @StMarie4me. Presumably, HMRC set it at that size because any size larger than that would fit adults and businesses could use it as a loophole to sell adult clothing without VAT by calling them “children’s clothes”.

I would say she's around 5 for 4 now. Her dad is 6 foot 8 so I'm guessing she isn't going to stop growing any time soon.

She is a very young 10 in outlook and wants pretty sparkly dresses and most womens I've seen are either tight fitting, short or low cut. There seems to be no in-between

Thank you for the new look suggestions, I will have a look

This really - age 16 clothes are usually identically sized to adult size 10s. It’s a real issue if you have a young/tall child (daughter) who should still be wearing pre-teen clothes, not adults ones. I have a 16yo DS who is 6ft 4, and have struggled to get him clothes that fit him all his life - but mens clothes aren’t so wildly different (ie sexed up) compared to boys.

that said, have you looked at Next? They do ‘Long’ and ‘Plus’ sizes even in the children's’ range?

I agree they should go up to 16 years really. I think people are missing the point that children’s clothes don’t have vat but adult clothes do.

DS went through a period when he was about 12 where he was too big for kid's clothes but too small (skinny) for men's sizes.

It's incredibly irritating!

Are there still places like Tammy Girl and Clock Warehouse at C&A that do teen ranges?

Yes all the places mentioned in this thread

Only children’s clothes up to the age of 14 are zero rated for VAT, @HooMoo Eg the maximum height for girl’s clothes to have no VAT is 161cm.

Supermarkets can't tailor all clothes to suit every age/size/need. Have a look on vinted or depop for the mid-teen sizes to fit your budget

I tend to use klarna or clearpay, or PayPal facility to pay in 3 installments to make it easier

we used to have the same issue wit DS and found a lot of kids clothes from Next online (not in store). They go up to age 16