Girls' school uniform without hearts, bows or butterflies all over it??

[AlternateFri]

Buying DD's first school uniform for September. The pinafores, summer dresses and "girl" shoes are frilly, or have butterflies on the zips, heart shaped pockets and bloody bows etc etc.

"Girl" shoes are flimsy, don't fully cover the feet up. I've ordered black Velcro trainer style ones that our school allows that will keep water out and she can run about and climb in, at least. Other "boys" shoes have footballs and dinosaurs on.

Do any shops have school uniform without the stupid stereotypical gendered add ons? I've tried M&S, sainsburys, John Lewis and asda George.

I've managed to pick a few of the least offensive items. But I'd like to support a shop that wasn't doing this at all if possible.

Maybe it's just an age thing but I have a dd who doesn't have any overly girlie uniform. We usually just get ours from Asda.

WhY not just buy 5 pairs of black leggings, five white polo tops and a couple of cardigans in the right colour?

What's 'offensive' about butterflies and hearts ???

Yes maybe it's the things for the really young ages. I'm buying age 3-4 size.

She asked for dresses for school after she saw some bigger girls and I wanted to get her some so she'd feel she'd had a bit of choice and be excited to wear her uniform.

The cheaper gingham dresses at M&S are less frilly, have ordered a couple. Have ordered the pinafores with the buttterfly zip cos it's better than the ones with big bows or heart pockets.

I wish shops didn't push these stereotypes on tiny kids.

Get your DD dinosaur shoes if that's what she wants. The shop won't stop you buying them @AlternateFri.

@lollipoprainbow They aren't offensive in themselves and she has them on some of her other clothes. I just don't think they are appropriate on school uniform. I'd rather young children's uniforms didn't promote such gendered stereotypes. They are little and should be able to choose what they like for themselves.

Next has always been the best for DD.

I'm not convinced there's anything wrong with a little flower or heart shaped zip pull though.

has a star on the zip which isn't girlie

no fussy extras on these

totally plain

plain robust shoes

plain robust shoes

I recommend doc martens shoes as they're simple and long lasting. And for DD I bought a pack of space ship charms and swapped all the hearts and butterflies over after a friend suggested it!

Thanks @Spaghag I had forgotten about Next
Yes @BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz those are some better ones. I don't like Mary Jane type school shoes though, they get wet socks/ tights that you don't get with closed shoes. And all the boys will most likely have closed shoes.

Feels annoying to me to have to pick my way through loads of items to find the non frilly, fancy things is my point. Like frilly, fanciness with "girly" symbolism is the norm.

They can choose what they like for themselves. Unless your school uniform policy specifies a heart shaped zip pull (the horror).

I agree with you about shoes but you may well find your DD wants the girl style shoes (mary janes) like the other girls. They’re very conformist in the first years of school!

Uniform, our school uniform has zero hearts flowers etc. It’s from John lewis.

Brilliant @PaganOfTheGoodTimes !

Yes @minipie she made a beeline for the Mary Janes when we looked in the shop! She's seen the older girls at her childminders with them I think. Doc marten shoes T bar ones might be a good compromise.

Her school allows all black trainers so I've ordered some black Velcro ones that I hope she accepts.

Black Velcro trainers...

I have been browsing at M&S and found this: https://www.marksandspencer.com/kids-leather-freshfeet-trainers-8-small-1-large-/p/clp60466493?intid=mobileappppdpshare

I don't object to subtle embroidery on pockets - my DD loved the pockets and would choose between the star and the butterfly zips!

Biggest hate was the little flower buttons which were impossibly fiddly for me, let alone a child learning to do buttons (Sainsbury's).

DD loved her unicorn embroidered pockets and now (aged six) happily draws unicorns, fierce dragons, dinosaurs, robots and castles...

Kickers are good and not frilly

What colour dress you are looking for?

I agree with you. Uniform should be plain. It annoys me how they try and frillify everything. A polo shirt should just be a polo shirt!!! No need for scalloped collars and puff sleeves and little fussy bits.

my dd has had two pairs of these shoes, they have been excellent. Sturdy, robust, cover most of the foot (I am like you and said no Mary Jane’s, I don’t want you to have cold and wet feet on rainy days)
www.marksandspencer.com/kids-leather-riptape-t-bar-school-shoes-8-small-1-large-/p/clp60497576?prevPage=srp

they also do a version with a bow if your dd does want a slightly fussier option.

with the gingham dresses I went for practicality so chose M&S 100% cotton ones as it will be cooler On a very hot day.

sounds like your dd likes the girl stuff but it's you that doesn't, especially if she's likes the Mary Jane shoes as they're quite girly. my dd had pinfores etc that didn't have girly butterfly or flower zips try Aldi I remember them being quite plain and excellent quality and get the boys polo shirts that don't have the frilly collars.

Asda. They have dresses that are more sport looking than frilly.

Well let her chose the dinosaur ones then. Nothing is offensive about dinosaurs, tanks, hearts and bows, kids like them. It sounds like it's just you who has a problem with them.

I buy from George @ Asda. Always plain, never stuff with frills. Never even seen stuff with rainbows

Clarks, at least in some stores, I have noticed have not labelled shoes as 'boys' and 'girls' which makes it easier to buy some more sturdy shoes for girls (as I did with mine). Start-Rite did for a while did a slightly slimmer-line velcro closing shoe for girls that I bought about 3 times for DD, but they don't seem to do in any more. They have some solid t-bars and laced ones, but they're pricey.

My DD wore 'boys' uniform all through primary school. Didn't bother with dresses. Her feet never got wet in boys shoes either. She loved being able to run around without flashing her pants and much preferred the plain polo shirts.

My dd was excited by the butterflies as she said it reminded her of the ones in our garden, she doesn't know that its supposed to be 'girly', she just likes them!

Thanks for all the links and suggestions.

It's royal blue gingham and grey for the winter dresses.

I've managed it at M&S, and unclenched enough to allow a butterfly on the dress zipper.

I honestly would prefer unisex uniforms at primary. That were practical for playing, climbing, etc.

I do have a problem with society forcing gendered choices on kids, yes. That's what's annoyed me tonight while shopping.

It's been really handy posters pointing out where I can avoid the excessively frilly and fussy things.