School uniform basics - M&S, John Lewis or somewhere else?

[shelley72]

I see that M&S currently have 20% off school uniform. With DS starting reception in Sept, is now a good time to buy or is it too early? Also how does the M&S uniform compare to JL - which is likely to last longest / wash well?

DS is just above average height I would say, but is quite skinny - his trousers are forever falling down as he has no bottom to keep them up (unlike his mummy ). Is there somewhere else that I havent thought of for uniform basics for skinny types?

TIA

yw, I bought ahead for September yesterday from there too! :)

Sainsburys are great - adjustable waists work to the skinniest of my DSs, I've had no holes in the knees this year and its 25% off too until Monday. One thing is, I tend to buy an age younger in trousers else they are too long, so worth checking.

BHS all the way with the only exception being m&s body sensor tights.
I found that the m&s collars on the shirts got tight before DD grew out of the actual shirt.

M&S have been great for my daughter. I get the skirt and dress from there and they have lasted all year - washed well ect... still look great and will be passed down to my next girl in a few years ;) I've just bought her the next size for next year.

Always get the rest of the stuff from the supermarkets - just spend on the main thing. John Lewis do a good range too. Never been to next for school uniform but will have a look!

It could just be a case of try it and see how it fits him...

Hmm may have to try Sainsburys again as reviews here seem to be good then - I was really put off by a school cardigan from there I bought for DD a couple of years back and it was really horrid, washed v badly - M & S cardigans best we've had so far.

M&S non iron shirts and Wool blend trousers with an adjustable waist. Have been using them for 3 years, and they are all good to hand onto DS2. I buy 4 pairs as he has clean on everyday, they wash and tumble dry great. Bought cheap ones once, looked awful really quickly got holes quickly.

I bought a pack of trousers from M&S for DS, and a pack from Sainsbury's, as I wasn't sure which would be best - the M&S ones found their way into the mending basket before the first half term as the hems had come undone, I really wouldn't recommend them! The Sainsbury's ones have been great, and have a good long adjustabley bit so will fit most size middles.

I always get Marks but not the £4 trousers, the better ones. It all wears well, does two boys one after the other no problem. If you want slim fit you get your 12yo age 10 long (well, that's why I do).

I've got 2 boys and they're both grubby little people too, everything gets washed a LOT.
Jumpers: Tesco/Sainsbos (Asda ones faded really really badly)
Trousers: 1. Next for skinny boys like ds1 or 2. M&S
Polos: Anywhere but M&S, they shrink a LOT!
Plimsolls: M&S ones are great and cheap, they have 2 styles which is v.useful for different feet.

DS - BHS trousers, Sainsbury's polo shirts (but go at least 2 years older than your child's actual age, their fit is really small for the marked age). M&S far too wide for him.

DD - M&S skirts (2-3 years older than her actual age, to make them a decent length) and trousers (though will look for something different this year as the fit is FAR too wide for her), Sainsbury's polo shirts.

M&S socks and tights have been good - but again, buy 2-3 years above actual age to get a decent comfy length. My children are tall, and thin without being skinny. The shops definitely have different 'fits' - BHS is skinnier than M&S, Sainsbury's is small in terms of length - so you might need to experiment a bit to find the one which matches your child

M & S boys trousers have become poor quality in recent years - they go faded (white) at the knees very quickly. George are a bit better, they are also cheaper too. George are also better for returns - no questions asked - our local M and S make you feel like a criminal if you return poor quality goods (within the first month of wearing for example). They tend to say "No-one else has complained" which is infuriating.

As for polo shirts, just get George or anything reasonably priced as they will get school dinners, paint and pen all over them pretty quickly.

It's not too soon to buy, get your bargains now because supermarkets and even some M and S's take uniform off the sales floor later in the season.

Surprisingly Primark are okay for basic school socks.

I would recommend John lewis (their own brand) for Knitted jumpers. The ones I have bought from there still look as good as the day I bought them both in terms of colour and shape. Ds1 wore them for 2 years and Ds2 has worn them for 1 year and will be wearing them again next year.

For trousers I would go for sainsburys my Ds2 is also on the skinny side and they are the best fit and last well too.

Shelley, you are not abnormal not really wanting him to go to school ... we are nearly at the end of reception and I still don't really want DD to go.

have to say it, Asda have been brill. dd is ten and i have always reverted to it.

bought some shorts from marks and spencer a week ago and the pocket seam at the side has a bloody hole in it!!

Could I just make a plea as a year 3/4 teacher? Please name whatever it is you buy! I know you will all be thinking " of course I will" but I have just given the PTA THREE practically brand new school logo'ed jumpers that have been hanging around for a couple of week. NO NAME on any of them. Even just initials written on the label is usually enough to ensure their return.
And yes I even gave a note to all the parents to check they weren't missing anything. To be honest I have better things to do at the moment....end of year reports!
Phew...got that off my chest!

Agree about Next slim trousers, M&S trousers are invariable far too wide.

It's true though, splash out on decent iron or sew on labels because they will save you a fortune in lost stuff.

Teacher / 4cats - it's the parents who need to check they haven't gained anything are the problem, I searched and searched the lost property cupboard for DC's meticulously named lost uniform - if it wasn't in school where the heck has it gone?

If you have a small independent shop that sells school trousers, for the love of god buy from them!

We bought DS two pairs of thick, tough teflon coated trousers when he started in reception and they were far, far better than anything we've had since (Tesco, Asda, M&S, Sainsburys). Better fitting, a long hem that could be easily unpicked and resewn, they never developed holes like all the others since and even if they had - the trousers came with patches that could be attached by bondaweb.

Something that's worked really well for us is coloured polo shirts - the uniform is red top (fleece or jumper) and polo shirt (everyone bought white). I bought DS red polo shirts in the summer and they have shrunk the laundry pile by half as white polo shirts show up every bit of grubbiness .

We usually get by with two pairs of trousers, four polo shirts, jumper/fleece and one PE kit.

Fourcatsonthebed - however seems a bit redundant when you spend two hours sewing labels into EVERYTHING including phone nuimbers for it to be stolen go missing in the first in the first fortnight!!!!

I have always bought M&S and had no problems even the cheapo trousers which DS prefers as there are no zips/buttons you just pull them up.

The non iron shirts are fab too!!! And have lasted DS nearly a year (but he is tiny and does not grow).

Do NOT buy from BHS, I bought DS some trousers from there 6wks ago and already there is a hole in the knees.

DD is due to start school in sept and I have bought her pinafore dresses from tescos which seem to be wearing well (she is at nursery school at the school she will attend and has to wear a uniform there too).

Went to Sainsburys last week when they had their 25% off and tried the boys trousers on my skinny ds, they were massive, even pulled in at the waist they were really sticking out at both sides of the bum, will have to do a bit of shopping around and trying on.