am I the only one...

[hatstand]

who thinks it's totally unnessaery to buy 2 pairs of shoes for a 5 year old. Am I the only one who suspects that this dichotomy between clompy black horrible school shoes and fancy suede boots with flowers on is just a con to get us to buy more then we need. What on earth is wrong with navy shoes with a couple of small details on taht they can wear with everything? grrrrrr.

who would like to buy a pair of "covered" (ie not t-bar and not mary-janes) for my daughter for winter. Or is it only boys that need practical shoes?

who thinks soft baggy velour trousers are ideal for a 3 year old until she picks them off the rack and finds they have "babe" written on the bum?

who is annoyed by the fact that she picks up two mroe pairs of velour trousers to find they all have writing on teh bum?

who thinks we have less choice, less quality and more tat "these days"?

who doesn't want to dress her dds exclusively in pink and purple?

who had a really bad retail experience today?

sod the lot of them. It's enough to turn me into a hippy.

I think 2 pairs minimum - if you wear shoes every day they get very smelly as they don't get a chance to dry out ever, and the bacteria that cause stinky feet proliferate!

Twinset, you've struck a chord tonight! Having a v v bad evening and the mention of Lytham perked me up. Used to go to school there many years ago. Incidentally my kids have far too many shoes.

boys clothes for girls is the only way to go.

Haven't ventured into the shops yet this fall, as dd wears a school uniform now. Thanks to the mild temperatures, we're currently making do with clothes from spring/summer, but with a fleece or cardigan. In the past I've had good luck with Zara (for dresses mainly), and H&M (for casual/playclothes), with the odd item from Gap or M&S. I don't even venture into Next, as the view from the street into the shop is enough for me to keep walking! We're a "no slogan" family!

Didn't think I had been so extravagant with dd's shoes, but perhaps I have. She is 4.8, and currently has:
school shoes
everyday shoes to be worn with skirts, trousers
trainers
party shoes
boots (we walk alot and when weather is bad, her feet/legs would get soaked in shoes)
Wellies (good for playing, not good for walking distances - hence the need for boots and wellies)

However, should be noted that I buy trainers and party shoes in America where they're much cheaper (sometimes almost half the price). Also can find trainers there that are plain instead of the plethora of pink/purple flashing butterfly models that fill shops here.

My problem with clothes for toddler girls is that it is hard to buy trousers that look comfortable and don't restrict their movement. Who on earth came up with bootleg hipster jeans for an 18 month old? We were given a pair of embroidered jeans (hand me downs) that I detest. She walks funny in them and they always slip down over her nappy.
I do put DD is pink and lilac though ... not because I like it but I am sick of people telling me what a beautiful little boy she is if she is wearing blue or red (she is rather follicly challenged you see, and I can't even put a cunningly placed hair clip in her hair to give old ladies a clue!)
I am a strict shoe person. Firstly I refuse to buy cheap crap shoes and so my DD has one pair of (good quality) shoes and one pair of wellies. DS has a pair of good quality trainers, a pair of wellies and a pair of (regulation) school shoes.

lol at parign here

Try having 4 girls!!!!! All wanting to wear different shades of pink, lilac, and especially turquoise (ffs there isn't any turquoise anywhere!!!!)

And they all want the latest boots with certain designs (which they DON'T get)

Dd1 is 10 and now wants kitten heels

Katie is 2 and the only one who SO FAR hasn't insisted on anything other than wellie boots with EVERYTHING!!

ghosty - I agree - bootlegs just don;t do it for little kids. even Boden come a cropper on that one.

ooh Hatstand
me... me... me... me... me... me... me!

I have to admit, Custy has a point about boy clothes, particularly boy jeans. MUCH better cut - not bootleg, too long in the leg (I have a tall girl, 2.3 and 3ft., 3in. and the legs on most jeans made for her age are still too long!), and don't interfere w/movement.

She has a few pairs of plain, unadorned GAP jeans she wears all the time.

She's thin, and most jeans cut for wee girls bag at her waist as well.

Might have a look in H&M one of these days. . .

This thread has entered by subconscious, am listing dd clothes on ebay ( her old ones I am not that mean!) and I keep typing - a great alternative to Barbie pink!

I was in an H&M store yesterday buying cute winter hats for dst, ones that don't look like they are about to mug old grannies! There was a gorgeous little girls dress in the window and despite not having a dd I was sorely tempted to buy it! Not pink, not tarty, no awful slogans, a very pretty, very girly dress. Oh and gorgeous embroidered shoes to go with.

I did get dst lovely Racer Racoon wooly hats that look quite Norwegian when on them.

I had a look at jeans for DD1 in H & M, and ALL of the girls' jeans, over age 6 were low cut, bootleg, very fitted with no elasticated waist. The boys' jeans, in contrast, all had elasticated waists up until about age 13.

Why?

There is a fantastic shop in Brussels (well, it's a chain) called "Dod". We buy lots of the DDs' clothes there - lots of really well made and designer stuff at H & M type prices.

because boys run around doing sporty stuff not caring how they look while girls preen themselves and play indoors. didn't you know?

Has anyone noticed that the shaven-headed little asbo-in-training at preschool running round with the 'bad to the bone' t-shirt IS invariably the foulest kid in the place. Or the little dear with 'born to shop' sequinned accross her chest or buttocks IS always a spoiled brat? Are the parents brutally honest about their children's shortcomings or is it some sort of weired self-fullfilling prophecy? And does anybody know where I can get a t-shirt with 'Rich Geek' on it for my ds