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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

The elusive boys cardigan....

39 replies

thatgirlsevil · 04/09/2012 10:30

Did I miss a memo or something? Since when did the simple boys cardigan fall so far out of fashion that I cannot track one down ANYWHERE?

I've managed to cobble together DS's first uniform on a reasonably tight budget but I can't for the life of me find a blue cardigan suitable for a 4-5 year old anywhere?

I thought a cardigan would be best as he can open/close/remove the garment with greater ease and cardies look infinitely smarter (and cuter) than a fleece or sweatshirt.

I also find it more practical to wash and dry. I don't like how fleeces tend to become mishapen and bobble and I wouldn't throw one in the dryer for practical reasons.

I've tried Sainsburys, M&S, H&M, George, Tesco, TK Maxx, John Lewis and more...so now I'm asking Mumsnetters if they can help out and find me a blimmin' cardie....??????

Phew.

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Lovemy3kids · 04/09/2012 10:33

My boys won't wear cardi's to school....which is just as well as I could never find any anywhere! I settled for the knitted jumper.....only problem with that is that, after a few wahes, they start to fade :(

scaevola · 04/09/2012 10:45

Although this says 'girls', I cannot see anything about it that makes it unsuitable for a boy; royal blue cardigan, also available in navy.

I really dislike the pervasive attribution of gender to children's products.

Original poster

thatgirlsevil · 04/09/2012 11:03

Thanks scaevola...I do agree with you about the gender issue. The reason I was asking specifically for a BOYS cardigan as the ones I have seen tend to have scalloped hems or don't nip in as I think a smart cardigan ought to.

The one you've linked to looks more unisex than most but it's perhaps a little bit out of our price range (also confused by the sizing )...will see what DP thinks.

OP posts:

seeker · 04/09/2012 11:08

Just make sure that a cardigan is part of e boy's uniform- there was a long thread about this a while ago and many people said that it wasn't at their schools.

Also, even if it is, be prepared for him to refuse to wear it. Kids get into gender stereotyping very quickly at school, and it's a waste of money to buy something that he just won't wear.

AngryFeet · 04/09/2012 11:08

www.uniform-direct.com/acatalog/Boys-School-Cardigans.html

Gumby · 04/09/2012 11:09

Ours just wear sweatshirts

AngryFeet · 04/09/2012 11:11

Although I don't see why a V neck jumper is less smart than a cardie and way easier to get hold of. It doesn't have to be a sweatshirt. DS wears these and these and looks very smart.

TheCunningStunt · 04/09/2012 11:13

Next have some...maybe to chunky for school. DS has one from newlook too.

beachyhead · 04/09/2012 11:16

He won't be allowed to wear it open and flapping around, so he might as well wear a V necked sweater.....

seeker · 04/09/2012 11:22

Or even a sweatshirt like all the others? Just a thought.

Lancelottie · 04/09/2012 11:26

It depends on the school. Some will be happy with it, some not. Ours would allow flappy cardigans, gingham shorts, boys' cargo pants on girls, grey instead of blue jumpers, whatever. Many won't!

(It does mean that when I had a trio of little girls round to play at the end of term, they had not one 'uniform' garment in common save possibly the knickers...)

catwoo · 04/09/2012 11:37

scaevola that cardigan buttons the girls way !!

angryfeet those cardigans are age 9-10 upwards

OP please don't send your DS in something only girls will be wearing.You are just asking for trouble for him

Original poster

thatgirlsevil · 04/09/2012 11:39

To clarify, I will be getting him a sweatshirt but I can just imagine the rigmarole of him putting it on and taking it off every 5 minutes. He tends to overheat fairly quicky and he also isn't the most graceful and co-ordinated of children. He usually wears hooded sweatshirts and has a nice Royal blue H&M one but I'm sure that won't be suitable for school.

I'm not trying to be a awkward twat or ostracise my son...I just thought it made sense for him to wear a cardie in the same way as having velcro shoes makes sense. The aesthetic appeal is secondary.

Also, I did see a boy wearing a nice pale blue cardie on DS's open day so I'm pretty sure there are no rules against them.

Angryfeet - Those v-necked tank tops are lovely and I can't imagine DS having much trouble removing something like that...I didn't even think of anything sleeveless so thanks for that.

OP posts:

TheCunningStunt · 04/09/2012 11:44

Cardigans are not just for girls! I remember that other thread....tank tops are veyr nice. DS has a grey Christmas cardigan he wears to school too. His school are quite relaxed about uniform...DS always looks smart. I really don't like sweatshirts and polos.

Original poster

thatgirlsevil · 04/09/2012 11:45

I honestly don't think putting him in a cardigan is setting him up for a mighty fall of some sort. He is 4...and besides, if other kids take the piss out of his clothes he will soon refuse to wear offending items, I'm sure of that much. I also asked him if he would prefer a cardigan and he agreed as it's better for his fingers and he doesn't like when he gets his jumpers stuck on his head and his hair goes fluffy.

He might be a bit of a lummock but he's not backwards in coming forwards.

OP posts:

TheCunningStunt · 04/09/2012 11:49

People wonder why gender inequality exists....a girl wearing trousers is no big deal, a boy wearing a cardigan is no big deal. I don't know one 4 year old who would think it was "odd" or "girly" and if they did, I'd look to their parents with a face and hoick my judges pants over my head

AngryFeet · 04/09/2012 11:49

I got them for DS as he came home everyday from reception with his polo shirt covered in paint that never came out. I figured if that part was covered in something black it would make my life easier . He has gone in today wearing one as it is warm here.

perfumedlife · 04/09/2012 11:56

You're not wrong op! I've been hunting for a grey cardigan for ds for two years. They are nowhere. I got a lovely lambswool cardigan for him two years ago in the White Company but they don't stock them anymore. I love the way little kids look in cardigans. The navy sweatshirts for our school are hideous. Nothing smart about them.

catwoo · 04/09/2012 12:39

a 4year old wouldn t probably think it odd or girly but i don t think it would be long before an older child enlightened him

ReshapeWhileDamp · 04/09/2012 12:53

Could someone you know knit one, OP? DS1 is 4 and has a lot of lovely handknitted cardis. Not that I'd send him to school in any of them, as my mum's choice in knitting yarn tends towards the colour-changing and is not at all uniform-compatible!

TheEnthusiasticTroll · 04/09/2012 12:58

boys here

here

very have one but it is black and buttons up the feminine way des[pite being fashioned for boys.

Startailoforangeandgold · 04/09/2012 13:02

V neck jumper or a tank top.

Haven't seen a male in a cardigan since my lovely grandfather died.

The girls only wear cardigans so as not to pull their hair clips and plaits out.

You don't want them. DD2 has just gone to senior school, no more cardigans until the 6th form. by then she can sew her own twating buttons back on!

TheEnthusiasticTroll · 04/09/2012 13:06

start all the boys round here wear cardigans, however none of them seem to wear them to school. But I dont think it will be so far flung if they did. Maybe your ds will set a new school style president OP.

roundtable · 04/09/2012 13:16

Star, you obviously don't live in Essex, cardigans are seen on all age males here.

It's a shame op, however the buttons can be tricky for young ones, especially after pe or swimming. Hope you find what you're looking for.

Original poster

thatgirlsevil · 04/09/2012 13:23

catwoo - I honestly wasn't aware that cardigans were considered 'girly' until, well...just now.

ReshapeWhileDamp I'm not familiar with any knitters as far as I'm aware. I'll be on the lookout for them now though...

TheEnthusiasticTroll Thanks for the links. The Uniform Direct ones appear to be for older lads but the Ebay one could definitely be an option.

Sidenote.

My DP has, oh probably between 20-30 cardigans, the majority of them vintage, others from H&M, Top Shop et al...he's not some skinny jeaned, twatty Hoxtonite...he's teams them with t-shirts, cowboy shirts shirts and Farrah pants. He rarely leaves the house WITHOUT a cardigan.

Blimey, I bet everybody thinks he looks like a right berk.

OP posts:

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