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.

Can't you just buy her some boys shoes then? I'm really not that kind of parent but my DD and DD just like gender stereotypes! I expect the shops just sell what sells!

Yes I bought the unisex Velcro trainers I linked a few minutes ago.

Try Shoe Zone for shoes.
www.shoezone.com/Kids/Back-to-School/Girls

You don't want to just be boring though, I don't think there's anything wrong with kids expressing themselves a little through a fairly dull uniform. Just show her round and see what she wants! If that's Dino shoes and a unicorn zip on her otherwise boring dress then great!

Matalan has a couple of pinafores without bows or frills

www.matalan.co.uk/product/detail/s2681297_c228/girls-belted-box-pleat-school-pinafore-3-9yrs-grey

www.matalan.co.uk/product/detail/s2774339_c228/girls-grey-double-breasted-school-pinafore-3-9yrs-grey

Also I've never really noticed DD have cold wet feet and DS not. I think you are over thinking it.

I hate all the stereotyped clothing. My DD hates bows but likes butterflies. My DS hated dinosaurs, cars amd all the usual boy stereotypes. Sometimes it feels like we're regressing on the stereotyping.

I think your overthinking this…
buy what ever you want for your DD but make sure it’s what she wants… Doc martins, plain black trainers, black trousers (boys or girls) boys or girls shorts and jumpers… take your pick!!

My dd had these shirts from Next all the way through school. They are really great. Soft and you don't have to do loads of buttons.

www.next.co.uk/style/st255099/563272#563272

She also wore treggings from H&M.

I've looked online at the M&S school shoes, there are some without bows, butterflies etc. Stores don't always hold the full range but you could take her in to have her feet measured, then order online.

I see where you're coming from. I just went online to order some white polo shirts. I clicked on uniform and then girls and then polos and they all had puff sleeves which are much shorter than regular sleeves - therefore offering less sun protection.
I had to navigate back to find the unisex ones which have longer sleeves and will cover all of the shoulder and top part of the arm. With only being able to put sun cream on at 8am to last the day I want to make sure as much as possible is covered.

It's a small thing and there was an alternative but honestly why are they even making puff sleeves.

Just buy plain ones from all the places that do them
Do you not have a school uniform shop anywhere ? Really making something out of nothing

You can buy plenty of plain polo shirts without frills , some people do want them though so want that choice
Shock horror girls can also wear trousers and your daughter wanted a more girl shoe , you just didn't want her to
The boys socks get wet as well through many of the school shoes i can assure you having had two boys

Sainsbury's do really lovely pinafore dresses without frills and good quality packs of tights....I dislike all that stuff on uniform too. Got to have matching hair bobbles aswel.
See also Next for girls city shorts and Clarks for nice plain shoes.

I would say a lot of dc in EYFS wear trousers, especially in the winter. Tights and skirts and toilets are a lot to deal with.

This sort of shoe is popular.

www.next.co.uk/style/st743840/466050#466050?i=Uk10eu28

Do they have wellies for outside?

There are a lot of plain ones OP. Tbh I'm thankful that there are heart/bow ones as this is the only way I could make DD wear a uniform! Nothing wrong with liking hearts/bows or girly stuff, just get the one that your DD likes

@DuggeeHugPlease because some people like puffed sleeves
Some like butterflies just because others don't
Like you said there was a choice as not everyone is the same and some like the hearts and bows or dinosours and cars
There are tons and tons of clothes around that don't have these things though , people really do look for a problem and then post about gender stereo types , when they are the worst as assuming all football things are for boys etc

I have both boys and girls and I think the girls school trousers are infinitely better than the ridiculous boys pretending to be office trousers which rip if you skid in them and have silly “flies” rather than just being pull up. My girls liked dresses in the summer because they are cooler but mostly just wore their trousers.
I think it’s fine to like butterflies and hearts and frills whatever sex you are so I can’t see a problem with that. The scratchy lace on some girls nighties on the other hand….grrrrr

Double check that she can wear the gingham dress in September, DDs school only allowed them from May half term to July.

Best uniform I found for DD was M&S easy dressing range, particularly the shirts that were velcro for the top half of the buttons and had elastic on the buttons at the wrist to make it easier to put on. Their jersey pull on trousers were thick and warm, looked smart but felt like soft tracksuit bottoms- Sainsburys did a thinner pair but they didnt wash as well. GEOX Savage shoes were great in the early years when the top of the toe of the normal shoes got scuffed all the time from when they were kneeling down.

DD LOVED all the more feminine touches and everything pink and princessy upto about year 2. Then she lost interest, decided she wanted short hair as she didnt like having it done in the morning and has worn it in a pixie cut pretty much ever since, shes 12 now and generally found in anything khaki, baggy boys or mens tshirts that are comfy and wouldnt be seen dead in pink. Equally her best friends younger sister would happily live in a sea of pink glitter if she could. Childrens own personalities soon shine out when allowed to express their own interests no matter what gendering shops put on their clothes.

Have you trued an independent school uniform shop that sells uniforms for the local private schools?
They might have the items you want without the silly zips snd details .

I do get that and am not opposed to girly things. The pinafore dresses we bought have butterflies on the zips and she had girly shoes. I just despair that girls sleeves are typically frilly. I once bought a pack of boys t shirts as I liked the design and holding them up against the girls ones (same size) they were much bigger with longer sleeves. For sun protection reasons alone I don't think the default girls option should be frilly shorter sleeves.

I’m a primary teacher in Scotland. We really try and encourage parents to get children of both genders wearing comfortable, robust school shoe or trainers as we notice that children wearing the ‘prettier’ (usually flimsier or less practical) styles do a lot less running around at break time.

Because lots of girls like girly things.. which is ok!! Also Ok if they don’t and there are plenty unisex options or boys. A girl in my DD primary wore boys clothes for the whole time, now in high school has gone more girly again..

Ugh. Yep, I didn't like any of that cutesy stuff on DDs uniform either. Didn't look smart to me. Then I found John Lewis and Next. Thats all shes worn from reception. Good quality stuff and the jumpers/cardigans hold up well after weeks of washing. The shirts are perfect fit too. Pinafores and skirts iron nicely and are a sensible length on DD who is all legs.

Do you have to send her in a dress? Will trousers not do?

There are lots of styles of school shoes at Clarks from trainer style, to brogues, to TBar shoes.

I always get polo shirts from Tesco

I think you're being a bit ott.