Uniform advice - socks and pinafores

[thetropicmama7]

DD is about to start Reception and I know this may seem such a random question but I would really appreciate advice on which type and where to get school socks. They are allowed black or white, which would you recommend for a DD who would be wearing mostly navy and is generally quite neat and tidy? We also have the issue of knee socks that won't stay up-where can I find ones that will? I know it will depend on sizing and style but I would be grateful for anyone who can share what worked for them On the pinafore front: I was amazed on how many different ones there are! jersey/zip-up/double breasted/bib style...but really, what would work well with polo tshirts?

go for white socks and in the winter black tights rather than knee socks

I've bought socks anywhere and eveywhere and can't say I have a favourite! I don't know about knee socks that stay up: do they have to have knee socks? DD1 veers between wearing knee socks and ankle socks, as do her friends.

With pinafores, they all seem to look fine with polo shirts under them and very cute. DD1 won't entertain pinafores .

Can she wear trousers in the winter? DD1 prefers trousers tbh, in which case ankle socks are fine.

I get DDs school socks and tights from Primark. She has ruined so many from falling over or catching them on something that "cheap and plentiful" is best!

Pinafores I would go for plain and unfussy with a zip for ease of changing at PE time.

She is a bit hesitant about trousers and still struggles with putting on her own tights so I thought knee socks would be a compromise.

When they have PE they need to be able to dress/undress themselves. So pinafore with double breast buttons is going to be a nightmare. Try something simple!
Our school specifies white socks OR navy tights. I always buy from M&S.

The socks with little bows/butterly pattern etc are cute but a nightmare to pair up. Go for plain simple white ones.
Good luck :)

Thank you so much for all your brilliant advice! I really appreciate it. Off to search for socks and pinafores tomorrow

If you get black/navy socks, make sure they're the sort with a white strip inside the top (eg M&S) for you to write her name on with a sharpie.

Zip-fronted pinafore, and everything as 'easycare' as possible!

DD wears either grey knee heights with her skirt or pinoforte or grey tights. White socks/knee heights are for Summer dress only/

I found the knee heights and socks from M&S the best. Tights - John Lewis or Sainsbury.

I bought the pinoforte with a zip and maybe a size larger, it is easier to take on and off. Larger only if it doesn't look like a potato bag.

Pinafores and tights in no PE days, skirt and socks on PE days

M&S tights are nicest, size up, they are small and DDs wreck them pulling them up if they are difficult.

Trousers are cheaper than tights, they last far longer, especially on falling over YRs.

White socks are pointless, by the end of primary DD2 even wore grey in high summer.

It saves a vast amount of shouting "Do not go out to the trampoline in just your socks!"

Sainsbury do a 2 pack zip up pinafore for £6 will have two kick pleats which stay in well.Pinafores are great for making your shirts last a little longer as schools don't tend to invest in washable crayons and pens and lunch always seems to include something that won't wash out of white shirts.

I would buy plenty of knee length black socks from asda or tesco as they don't last. White I would forget about until summer term as they get worn without shoes, get shoe polish on them or grime marks you can't get out after a bad weather day.

I make DD wear grey socks in the winter as white never stay that way. We have 2 dogs and the carpets get grubby. Grey hide it better.

I'd avoid white socks, even with the worlds neatest child a couple of walks to school and days in a wet playground makes them an odd grey colour that will never quite wash out and I'd get a zip up pinafore she can manage by herself.

I go grey or black socks every time - white are a night mare to keep white. They are so cheap I just get tons. Zip up pinafores are best. M&S or tesco do them. My dd wears trousers most of the time anyway - adjustable waist ones just pull up and down

DD had knee high socks from Aldi and they are great the elastic at the top is great and they stay up.
She is very tall so M&S for tights they are not bad for bobbling .
Pinnys are great for reception i think DD use to get her knickers stuck in skirts alot but with pinafores they drop back down better

DD had white socks last year without a problem, from B&M homestores, of all places!

I preferred the jersey pinafore dresses - much softer than zip up ones and easy enough to get off as they are stretchy.

The little ones in my class find front-zipping dresses MUCH easier to manage than side-zipping ones.

I'd recommend tights, but give your DD some lessons in how to put them the right way in once they've been turned inside out when taking off for PE.

Also, a thick line of bright stitches that DD knows means "this side goes at the back" will also help DD easily identify front from back.

Thanks so much! It looks like majority says dark socks and zip up pinafores (with trousers for PE days). This narrows down my shopping list considerably and will save me from buying items which probably won't last/get used much

Also don't buy a lot of reception uniform. DCs tend to grow a lot by Y1.

Their their up primary, last years uniform will often do as spares, reception things will be too small.

Further up (sorry autocorrect has been drinking)

If you get tights from John Lewis they have a label at the back. So its easy to get them the right way round, and you can write their name on the label.

Once you get a feel for the school you might find that you can get away with black leggings & socks instead of tights. Dd2 has been wearing them for two years now. She can't stand tights and doesn't want to wear trousers.

My daughter has knee socks from marks and spencers and a jersey pinafore from there too. Black or grey tights in the winter.

I've tried knee socks from most shops, from primark to m&s, and none seem to stay up unless they're either brand new or very tight at the top and therefore uncomfortable.

I'd go with white ankle socks for warm weather and black tights for cold weather.

It doesn't seem to matter where the socks or tights are bought from as to how well they last either. I have found the ones that fold over at the ankle to be a pain to sit right on my DDs, the best ones IMO are the ones the gather at the top which were from bhs, or ones that sit flat and don't fold over IYSWIM.

Socks from sainsburys or m&s seem to be the best for dd. Primark tights were ok but the fabric wore quickly. The socks were ok though.