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Original poster

Boys & School Uniform

26 replies

chillikate · 27/02/2012 20:40

Hi all.

My DS is in Year R. In September I bought his school uniform from M & S (not the Value range), jumpers from the school uniform shop and Start Rite shoes. Naively I thought that these would all last the school year. The first of his trousers were ripped at the knee by Christmas. The fourth and final pair went today. His Start Rite shoes just mafde it to the half term holiday. I've just bought another pair of the same ones in the same size Hmm. A week in and they looked trashed.

Is he a normal 5 year old boy or is he getting through it too quick.

And where is best for robust trousers?? Bought 2 pairs in Asda because I was getting desperate!!

Don't even start me on the logo'ed jumper that went missing in his first week and has still not turned up, despite being neatly labelled.

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SunflowersSmile · 27/02/2012 20:45

I buy trousers and polo shirts from Tescos. I get sweat shirts with logo from second hand sales as my ds a fan of white board pen which never comes off. [No new tops for him!].
Shoes from Tesco too!

welliesandpyjamas · 27/02/2012 20:48

So normal! It gets better by Year 4 IME.

Eglu · 27/02/2012 20:48

It sounds like he is pretty hard on stuff, so I would just buy cheap stuff. I've always got DS1s stuff from m&s and not had this issue.

ggirl · 27/02/2012 20:49

My ds has clarks shoes , they last ages on him , and he's a very active one.
His trousers I get in next because he needs slim fitting ones, they do go bit thin in the knees but his recent ones have lasted since sept.

treadonthecracks · 27/02/2012 20:54

My DS (5), also in reception, has matalan trousers. They are still going but have not washed very well. I liked them because they have a good elasticated waist. They were about £6 a pair I think.

I like Clarks shoes, never tried start rite, I try to put the clarks leather blackener stuff on them every week. I also use leather conditioner occasionally. He's had one pair since September and they look ok, still water tight!

I have a DD (yr 2) and I really like Next uniform for her, it is a bit more pricey but it washes very well.

I have bought DS some Next shorts (early I know but in order to get the sizes you want easily it pays to buy now), so I will see how we get on with them.

You've asked the teacher about the jumper? They are pricey so the teacher will expect you to follow up where it's got to.

Tgger · 27/02/2012 20:54

DS is still in the stuff we bought in September. Tesco trousers going strong. M and S tops looking rather less than white but I guess that is my fault! Keep meaning to buy more from Tescos but they never have his size when I am in. I haven't looked too closely at his shoes, but seem ok! M and S trousers we bought one pair and they didn't fit very well so Tesco for us and been pleased with quality.

Sittinginthesun · 27/02/2012 20:54

Part of the fun of boys! I buy from M&S, although this year, all of the seams gave gone round the bottom. I find the shorts last longer, so my boys wear them as soon as they can bear it!

Shoes - have always bought Clarkes, but I think the value is going downhill. I'm going to shop around next time.

Original poster
chillikate · 27/02/2012 20:59

I think shorts is the answer.

My husband doesn't know but I've kept back the 4 pairs of trousers with holes in the knee!! They will miraculously turn into shortsv at some point. DH thinks its mean but they are still fine in every other way!!

OP posts:
simpson · 27/02/2012 22:00

I have never had any problems with M&S trousers tbh and they usually last a whole year. Ditto the school shirts (although last yr a kid scribbled on the back of his white shirt with a biro Angry).

Shoes on the other hand are a whole different matter Grin I have found clarks are the best (but begrudge the £££)

On the school jumper thing, DS's school has a second hand shop and you can pick them up for 50p each Grin I get to look at them first to make sure they are not too manky used Grin

thehairybabysmum · 27/02/2012 22:05

Geox shoes the best wearing I've found, they are bombproof! Only buy shoes that have the rubbery toe cap protector bits...will be trashed in a fortnight otherwise.

I have had mixed exp with M&S trousers, some last,some don't so I reckon it is more DS than the trousers themselves.

thehairybabysmum · 27/02/2012 22:05

Yes and shorts in the summer term!

UniS · 27/02/2012 22:09

DS went into shorts today. well he says shorts, they are cut down ( and neatly finsihed) trews that the knees went through. DS likes long shorts.

teacherwith2kids · 27/02/2012 22:10

DS's BhS trousers are miraculously well into their second year (he has never had a pair last less than a year ... well, a non-shorts-wearing year, he's a child who likes fresh air round his knees as soon as the sun comes out!). I think I over-shot on the 'buy for growth' in Sept 2010!

SandyChick · 27/02/2012 22:15

I bought ds the m&s value trousers (£3 for 2 pairs) and they have been great. I've bought them the next size up too for when he outgrows his current ones. Look good as new.

He had Next trousers at £6 per pair for nursery school which he destroyed. We went through 6 pairs in one year.

I buy clarks shoes which last really well. I buy the trainer shoe style with the rubber bit across the toes. He has had the same pair twice and has the dinosaur ones at the mo. He's gone up a whole shoe size since sept so have just bought him a new pair. They end up scuffed etc but have held together.

Sweatshirts/polo shirts/coat etc bought from school. Everything is labelled twice!

iseenodust · 27/02/2012 22:22

Tend to buy M&S trousers when 3for2 offer on and then they should last a year. Agree though shorts as soon as possible. White polo shirts from M&S or Sainsburys wash better than Tescos. Shoes aaargh. Agree Geoxx/Primigi something with rubber toe cover no more expensive than Clarks & much more durable.

Original poster
chillikate · 27/02/2012 22:29

His last pair of Geox before school lasted 2 months!!!

Maybe I just need to accept that he is hard on his clothes... LOL. But if anyone has any tips for stopping the "sliding" - whatever that is, please let me know. It usually goes:

Me: Gosh look at the state of your trousers / shoes (or today the massive bruise on his thigh)
DS: I wasn't doing sliding or anyfink

Sliding it was then!!!

OP posts:
ChitChatFlyingby · 28/02/2012 06:55

The thing about M&S clothes is that they are made in different locations. The same style of trousers could be made by 3 different factories in 3 different countries, using fabric from at least 3 different suppliers.

This way they don't ever have a real problem with supply for their standard ranges if one factory is running behind. But it also means that there is a slight variation in quality and size which is highly annoying!!

Ironically DS1 only has 1 pair of normal jeans/trousers left that don't have a hole in them, but his school trousers have so far lasted, and only 2 were bought new, the other 3 were secondhand. I'm very surprised at how well his trousers have lasted him, but they are getting a little thin on the knee.

jubilee10 · 28/02/2012 08:30

Ds3 started P1 in August with 4 pairs of M&S trousers (in the sale) and they still look fine although getting a bit short. I have bought the next size in Tesco but they are too big yet. He has outgrown his Clarks shoes but they still look ok. He is not a very rough and tumble boy though. Ds1 went through a lot of trousers and regularly lost sweatshirts.

colditz · 28/02/2012 08:31

You might as well continue to buy the uniform from ASDA because this is fairly frickin average

You might as well just dress boys in pants and then paint them school colours.

shesparkles · 28/02/2012 08:36

Does no one repair boys' trousers? My ds is 9 and like most boys goes through the knees of his trousers. I have a pair of his old trousers I keep for patches, and sew a patch behind the hole and get loads more wear out of them.
I've always gone for Start Rite shoes too-they look totally trashed until you polish them

Seeline · 28/02/2012 08:59

My DS is not particularly rough and tumble but still manages to go through the knees on his trousers several times a year (regardless of where they have come from) He is now Y5 and has gone through one pair since Sept. I use the magic iron-on patches because I am lazy and that works well. Since Y4 his shirts have lasted longer but agree whiteboard pens and a particular brand of black paint are the killers! Realised after Reception that it was pointless replacing them - they are washed so clean, just marked. Until he grows out of them they stay Grin
Shoes - although pricey, I find Clarks really are the best as long as they are nursed through each week ie 'shoe magiced' during the week and a decent clean with proper polish at the weekends.

Takver · 28/02/2012 10:19

Agree trousers just always go at the knee - I can't decide with dd whether its better to buy cotton trousers (go faster but easier to patch) or manmade which last a bit longer but you can't invisibly patch so well.

I wear these for work - I reckon Dickies should make child size versions and they would make their fortune!

Takver · 28/02/2012 10:21

Agree a patch behind the hole works best esp if you reinforce with wonderweb iron on stuff.

To be fair, its not only school trousers, in fact dd's other trousers get trashed round the hems as well as the knees . . .

UniS · 28/02/2012 11:46

Those dickies trousers would be fab in kid sizes so long as they didn't have quite soooo many pockets. Bad enough going through all my work trouser pockets ( todays pair have7 pockets) removing bits n bobs with out adding another 6-8 on DS school trews

MerryMarigold · 28/02/2012 11:49

Hmmmm...our uniform usually makes it through a year, but is really stained and tatty by the end. Likewise the shoes. I got ds1 Clarks in Nov half term, and they look appalling already, but they still protect his feet from the pavement!

I got ds2's stuff from very.co.uk as it was the only place still stocking his size in October when he started Nursery and it seems really good quality stuff (better than Marks even).