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.

Oh yes, posted too soon…

DD has worn M&S Velcro trainer style shoes to school since about Y2. She plays football at break time. Her DM’s lasted a term and a half before they fell apart.

The shoes used to drive me crazy. I tried to steer mine towards the closed shoe style but they just wanted the Mary Jane style that all the other girls had. My youngest is Y5 now and I never did succeed in getting either of them into sensible shoes. Wanting to be like their friends is a huge thing at this age.

Mine had Mary Jane or T Bar (drew the line at absolute ballet flats but they were usually older sizing anyway!)

My child and their friend were able to run ,jump, climb, play, go the park and all the rest - i think they werepretty sensible shoes really 🤷‍♀️. Really hard wearing!

But no one is forcing you to buy the ‘girls’ option, why are you taking the choice away from others? My daughter wanted a bow on her dress, I couldn’t care less but she has a sense of what she likes. What is wrong with that? Why are we not able to give children a chance to express their likes and dislikes? My will encourage my daughter to continue to express opinion and preferences in these small ways because I actually thinks it’s important. Her opinion matters. There are things I do put my foot down in but bows on a uniform and a scalloped collar , why not?.

Most little girls like hearts, flowers, butterflies it’s just the way it is. I’d rather care about the quality of the clothes than a little heart on a zip.

I prefer sainsburys for quality, I’ve had pinafores go through 2 girls then passed on to friends still in good condition, and my DDs prefer the boys trousers for comfort when wearing trousers. They stopped wearing pinafores after year one and opted for either skirts or trousers.

My DDs school gingham dresses arnt worn till summer term, I don’t know any other school that has gingham dresses in winter. You might want to check with the school before buying.

I bought one of my DDs Nike Air Max trainers as she needed the ankle support, they were fantastic, she wore them everyday including PE days and weekends, was well worth the cost.

My other DD prefers kickers, she had girly light up ones she wanted in reception & yr1 as well that’s what most 4yo girls want.

I haven’t started shopping for my youngest but I guarantee she will want girly pinafores and shoes. I’m happy to indulge in reception as long as they support her ankles, they grow out of shoes quite fast anyway. I’m sure by year 1 she will be wanting the same as her sisters.

nobody is saying girls can’t like bows/butterflies, but why can’t there be dinosaurs/space theme buttons/zips on dresses too?

More choice would be great, but some posters are literally arguing for no choice or calling certain choices ‘trashy’.

I mean, theres no law against it, and there are Dino clothes in the 'boys' section. I don't know why people don't just think of it as the masculine and feminine sections, that's all it is. But in honesty, is there any demand for Dino dresses from children themselves? The Dino kids would just wear a Dino top and a dress the next day, if they like.

And why not hearts and butterflies on boys, it's always pink that's seen as pathetic and such, but there's really nothing wrong with typically girly things. More plain selection would be helpful, mind.

I put both of my girls in "boys" shoes.

Mary Janes/other girls shoes are not practical and not good for playing/running/winter.

Wound me up something chronic. DH thought I was being stupid until one day, he got the youngest some replacement shoes in my absence and she came home with wet feet and blue toes after it rained.

When I reads these threads I’m so glad my DT’s went to a non uniform school and wore jeans, trainers, T-shirts and hoodies from age four - 18.

I think you are making a bigger deal out of this than it needs to be. I don't think my DD has even noticed what shape the zip pull is on her various bits of school uniform. As for shoes, she's not once come home with wet feet.

Your DD had expressed a choice regarding what she wants and you are denying that based on your own ideas. Surely teaching her to be her own person and make her own choices is better than such deliberations over a butterfly zip pull?

I agree with all that.

Don't worry about my Dd, she has plenty of chances to express herself and make decisions.

She was asleep in bed when I was looking at M&S website for uniform at 9pm the other night.

Also, @Elmo230885 the reason I was shopping for dresses is she asked for dresses rather than trousers for her uniform, like I said in a previous post.

DFOD

Wow nice.
But just to defend PP about your DD’s choices, you did say she made a bee-line for the Mary Jane style shoes.

Now wrong with rainbows..... pride may think they own the rainbow but they don't!

Pinafores are way more practical on young primary age kids than most skirts or trousers. They don't generally have a waist as yet so things that are supposed to sit on the waist don't actually sit well, skirts spin and trousers get uncomfortable when pulled in a long way with the buttons.

I'd put boys in dungarees but not practical for last minute toilet trips...

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

Why are you trying to steer her? Why can't she choose what she wants?

Honestly can’t think of any girls in my 8 year olds (admittedly small) class who would be caught dead wearing black Velcro trainers to school 😕

Dont over think it. They're only going to wear that stuff for a few months

And you cant stop them liking butterflies. It's just an insect

It's not necessary to get the clunky unisex ones though. OP's dd may well agree to them but then be sad on day one when all the other girls have prettier shoes. A quick look on Asda shows plenty styles like this that fit the practical bill but with a 4 year old girl appeal. If you want something higher quality that can be fitted, I've had similar styles before from geox, startrite and Clark's. I work in primary 1 and 2 (reception and y1) and as you say I've yet to come across a girl in boys or unisex trainers so she'd likely be the only one