to be p***ed off that, according to Mothercare, it's now winter

[susitwoshoes]

I know all clothes shops do this and it hacks me off then, but for some reason I'm even more annoyed that I'm unable to buy DD some summer leggings IN JULY!!!!!!!

FFS!

Grrrrrrrr.

Have you ever thought that maybe they'll have sold out of summer stock becasue it was so lovely in may/june?

The buyers are not meteorological experts and cannot predict the weather over a full year in advance, which is when they buy the stock. Buying too much is just as bad as buying too little, but at least if they buy too little they can buy more, albeit slightly heavier stuff.

Have you had a look online?

All the Back to School stuff in out in BHS...they haven't even broken up yet!!

I know!!! Poor kids, don't even get to start the summer holidays before they're reminded that they're headed back in September.

I honestly don't think it's cos the weather was nice, all clothes shops do it every year. I know they can't predict the weather but surely having summer clothes in the shops in summer isn't unreasonable? Maybe it is. Many a time I've been caught out shopping for a bikini (back in the day, obviously) in August only to find it's winter coats a-go-go. I mean, is anyone actually so organised that they shop a season ahead??

Totally agree.

I went shoppping for a jumper for ds in febuary once and all they had was beach wear and shorts/tshirts.

think about it though.

the past few years, the summers have been washouts with loads of retailers left with racks and racks of reduced stock. So the one year they decide to reduce the amount of stock they buy for the season "given recent weather trends", everything goes tits up and it's beautiful weather.

Plenty of people buy in advance for the upcoming season.

most people buy summer clothes as the weather starts getting warm, when i go shopping for clothes for my ds next i'll be looking for autum winter clothes as i like to buy ready for the next season etc, i thought clothes shops always did this?

ah well, must be just me, I buy when I realise that it's too hot/cold for what's in my wardrobe. And I do this knowing that the shops won't have what I want in stock! For some reason I didn't think this would apply to children's clothes (DD is only 6 months so this is my first year), note to self: buy DD's clothes in advance and don't get caught on the hop when you realise she's sicked/pooed/got food all over everything and you're fed up of doing a million washes a week.

differentid last summer wasnt a washout, the summer started early and then it rained for some of july and then it was a lovely summer, infact i barely remember being stuck in cos of rain!

Surely it's not unreasonable to expect shops to sell stuff for wearing NOW. Maybe some people like to pay up weeks ahead and fill their drawers with unworn clothes, but personally I like to be able to buy something when I actually need it rather than when a retailer decides it's time.

My local Mothercare still has its Spring/Summer stock in. The Autumn/Winter has started to slowly filter in but it's not all they have.

YANBU

DD was born in May - couldn't find anything warm for her to wear anywhere! Hello, it's BRITAIN and even when the weather's good it can get really cold at night. I went to about five shops before finding a newborn sized cardigan. It's okay saying you should buy ahead, but you don't know what size a baby will be unless you've got a crystal ball.

Having read my post back it sounds a bit contradictory, what I mean is this;

it's not unreasonable to expect to be able to buy baby clothes suitable for the current season, but we do not live in the tropics and it's not unreasonable to suppose that newborn babies might need a cardigan to go over their summer togs!

Don't get me started on Mothercare- ours is a two storey one and doesn't even have a lift. Not really accessible to people with young children i.e their main market. I long ago took my custom elsewhere! Also overpriced. Listen to Brightlight and try the supermarket. Sainsburys Tu have lovely stuff too.

You should try living in Ireland, it's so wet and cold and everything in the shops has been summery.

I personally can't wait for the autumn/winter stock!

no, yabu, i'm really excited about the winter stock, my baby is due in november and i can start buying little clothes for her instead of looking at the pretty summer stuff wishing i could buy it!

NestaFiesta - you're so right, overpriced and one near me has only 2 parent and baby parking spaces, and every other space is teeny weeny. That's mental not to have a lift. And their staff . . . I only shop there cos it's the only place in walking distance where I can get stuff for DD, and it's quite a small branch. Tried Saino's yesterday, shit selection (in our branch) and all a vile shade of pink. Guess I'll drag the car out and head off to the hell that is our local Asda.

DDixon - that's a really good point, unless you know in advance you're buying stuff for the here and now with a newborn.

dusty- around here it was a miserable summer. rained/ dull nearly every day

I hate this too. I had the exact same problem with Mothercare, but it was trying to buy some knitwear or footed leggings for a newish baby in February - FEBRUARY - because it was summer hats, cotton dresses, and short sleeves. There was some mid-weight stuff but it was still about 2 degrees outside! I ended up buying some hand knitted stuff off eBay because I couldn't be fagged looking everywhere else.

Same with GAP - tried to buy son some of their fab fleece trackies in January. All sold out, all lightweight jersey lounge style stuff but no trackies. She said "you have to buy them early, at the end of the summer". I said - "I did - but they do this thing - its called "growing"

Sarky I know.

But - we can't have it both ways. Gap, for instance, have been on sale for a few weeks, probably since late June, which is only just summer, weather wise. To be able to pick up their summer items as summer has just begun is not such a bad thing - what with the 30% voucher that comes round at the very start of the season, and the mid and end of season sale timings, I dont think I've ever paid full price there.