Kids clothes, and new area/school

[Starlive23]

I wasn't sure where to put this!
Please be gentle with me here, before we start I know my kids don't mind what clothes they wear, and I also know keeping up with the Jones' is a slippery slope..but here goes.

I'm from quite a poor background. Very happy childhood etc, well looked after but historically a very poor area.

Myself and my husband have worked hard and have managed to move with our 2 DC to a much more of a traditionally 'nice' area with better schools which I hope will translate to better opportunities for our DC.

Problem now is that where I lived before people mainly bought their children's clothes from tesco/asda (Next considered quite posh!) But where I've moved to its quite frowned upon and I have found myself learning the new rules. I don't think its sensible to suddenly start spending a fortune on designer clothes but I don't want my kids to be singled out because we are different (ie not traditionally middle class).

Feeling a bit out of my depth here, school mums seem quite judgemental of my accent anyway, but sending my daughter to nursery in a trolls top from asda was obviously a faux pas I didn't know I was making!

Got a few t shirts in the Frugi sale and they seemed nice but any other suggestions?

Sorry, I dont know why the paragraphs didn't translate to the post!

What was said about the trolls top? I live in a fairly mixed middle class area and I've never had negative comments about supermarket clothes. People I know buy their kids clothes from all over the place.

What was the reaction to the Trolls top that made you think it was a faux pas? Are there seriously no other children in nursery with character clothing?

I’m not a fan of character clothing so I tried to limit it to PJs but lots of DC love it and they’re the ones wearing it.

Also, clothing tends to get ruined at nursery so I would have thought supermarket clothes are perfect for that.

If you’re wanting to buy something different and along similar lines to Frugi look at Kite, Piccadilly, JoJo Maman Bebe, Boden, some Scandi if you like colourful clothing. Indie shops like Babipur, Beaubaba and Little Footprint are good. There’s also a thriving 2nd hand market on Facebook groups if you don’t want to buy new for nursery.

Don’t fall into the trap of feeling like you have to buy all certain brands to fit in. It’s just clothes and anyone who is going to judge a child or you on what they’re wearing isn’t worth getting to know.

Honestly I doubt anyone cares but I like h&m and it's very affordable and really nice for kids

The comment wasn't made directly to me, bit it was along the lines of 'you can tell it's that manc's daughter because her clothes are all from the supermarket'!
Personally I thought it was uncalled for but I'm fairly thick skinned. I'm of the opinion like a PP that nursery clothes get absolutely ruined so I'm not putting her in anything too nice but wondered if I should get a few nicer bits for the park etc just so we don't stick out like the dodgy folk we are

It's funny you can tell the more affluent families at my kids school by how scruffy they are and they generally don't wear anything designer and quite often it's out grown as well! Try not to worry what others think wear what you and your kids like. I bet the other kids are jealous of the trolls t-shirt!

I wouldnt have a clue where someone clothes came from! Keep going as you were. Anyone who is that fussed about your clothing brands probably isnt going to fit into the rest of your life anyway. Their loss, your gain.

How rude. I get loads of clothes from supermarkets.
If you want to sail under the radar check what other people are wearing. Every area has its vibe
Where I live the more middle class/wealthier sorts don't really do designer. There's quite a few arty/environmental people and it's very common for clothes to be passed between friends for their kids. So quite a lot of kids in Boden/Frugi etc but a lot of it will be second hand.
You don't see a lot of kids in Disney/cartoony clothes. Nice bright, colourful stuff generally - H&M do great and inexpensive kids clothes, good basics from supermarkets (I particularly like Sainsbury's but have had some lovely bits from Asda) M&S. Personally not a huge fan of Next. Primark excellent for leggings and the odd more 'fashionable' item.
But, spend more on decent shoes/boots.

Omg that's so rude!!! She sounds awful

I live in a v posh town... and my son wears H&M, Marks and Sparks and matalan! Only because Asda is miles away 😂

If he could wear football kit all day he would...

So don't listen to that dreadful woman

Middle class children clothing rules - no characters, from a friend or charity shop, lower middle class from some kind of designer kids stores which is organic and made from knitted lentils and never ironed.

I live in a naice area.

I would just carry on as you are, the woman sounds incredibly nasty and not typical of anyone I've ever met in so called nice or posh areas. The children in my DD's expensive nursery all wore supermarket clothing and character clothing. I used to send my kids in the cheapest clothes ever as they just got covered in paint and ruined anyway.

The richest people I know are also the scruffiest and least bothered about clothing.

Don't listen to that woman and please try to put her comments out of your mind.

Hi

Sorry that this has happened to you. But you definitely don’t need to get caught up in this level of parenting competiveness.

Just stick to what you know as much clothes you cannot tell where they are from (plain T-shirt from next vs marks vs Sainsbury’s)
I deliberately try and avoid labels that appear on clothes ask stick to plain where possible.

I mean I bought my son denim shorts from primark and hnm and next and once on you cannot tell which is from which shop. I do not see the point in spending my hard earned money on a kids £20+ t shirt when 3 for £12 will do. I grew up poor but have a very good salary now and can afford it but choose not to.

If you feel you should then second hand is an option to look into.

DS goes to the most expensive nursery in our middle class area, kids go in wearing everything from Spiderman costumes to bog standard supermarket/high street to full football kits to designer outfits. I don't think anyone bats an eyelid.

I don't like character stuff personally so we mostly stick to bright colours, stripes and nice patterns. I've got the kid who comes out head to toe in assorted muck every day so I'm not spending loads on clothes for them to get ruined.

Wow rude
Says more about them than you

I wouldn’t bother trying to keep up with the Jones. Most outwardly critical people are freaking out inside trying to make themselves feel better

How do they dress their children?

The nursery comment sounds horrible.

That’s incredibly rude. As long as she’s comfy and practically dressed, what does it matter.

Middle-class families in “naice” areas I know buy a lot of supermarket clothes (and H&M) , especially for nursery but would generally avoid anything with a character, or anything very glittery/frilly. Cartoon characters more likely to be worn for pyjamas. Lots of bright colours, stripes etc., nothing overtly branded. Lots of hand-me downs between siblings and friends and charity shop buys. Good quality/expensive shoes and coats from John Lewis, Boden, Scandì brands but spending loads on kids clothes otherwise would be frowned on and considered wasteful, a bit nouveau riche.

I live in a fairly posh town (no Primark or asda nearby). Plenty of kids in Tesco/Sainsbury's stuff but I would say you don't generally see kids in character clothing. I buy my kids character PJ's but not daytime clothes. For nursery I get bundles of second hand clothes on eBay (normally Next, H&M, M&S type of thing) as they get wrecked.

Very rude of them to pass comment though.

Thank you all for replies, very interesting actually to hear of other's experiences and comforting to know I'm not the only one who doesn't give a shit about where other parents buy their clothes!
Also an interesting observation earlier in the thread re: clothes not containing characters etc as actually I hadn't noticed but absolutely spot on, not another princess poppy to be seen!

Gosh, they were very rude! It's them, not you, don't let it get to you.

Plain, no pictures, no logos, striped tops sometimes acceptable, occasionally spots for girls, non pink for girls, non-blue/sludge for boys.

Available at H&M, Sainsbury's, Boden etc etc in natural fabrics.
Second hand absolutely acceptable.

How ridiculous … I’d go for H & M , supermarket and next …. We definitely live in a naice area . There are kids that look like they’ve been dressed in Joules but I reckon they’re the minority

And no denim until teenaged.

Oh and Boden sale for little kids - older tweens will hate it

Just dress your child in what you want!

I am very middle class in my choice of children's clothes (no denim, no characters, lots of Frugi, LGR, Kite etc). However I couldn't care less how other parents dress their DC and I think that other parent was extremely rude. If you and your DC are happy with the clothes they wear then ignore everyone else.

Although this thread was semi-lighthearted, it's actually been a bit of an eye opener! Really appreciate all the suggestions too.

I think I will keep hold of what we have and wear them out but will perhaps calm it down a little with the brights and the characters for future purposes. Think I'll get a few nice bits and just get the rest from Next and Marks and pick up the odd bit in the sale.

Obviously I'm not too bothered myself but I really wouldn't DD to stand out more than she has to as a new kid with a strange accent. She's quite shy anyway.