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Original poster

School uniform - A quick question re boys trousers before I do a big online order.

33 replies

RatOnnaStick · 27/06/2015 08:37

Pleat front or flat front? I have no idea having never bought formal trousers before. Is one better or easier or more practical to look after than the other or is it just a style thing. (this is a 5yr old boy - he won't care).

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CMOTDibbler · 27/06/2015 08:39

I prefer flat front, but it really is just a style thing

SquarePeggyLou · 27/06/2015 08:40

Personal preference. I prefer pleat front as I think it's smarter but DS tells me that flat front is what everybody wears so we get flat front.

afreshstartplease · 27/06/2015 08:41

Flat front for us

dementedpixie · 27/06/2015 08:45

ds has pleated front

daisydalrymple · 27/06/2015 08:53

Flat front easier to iron. Ds also prefers them and they look better on his frame as we can get them in slim fit from next.

Original poster
RatOnnaStick · 27/06/2015 09:48

Brilliant! I think I'll go for flat fronted. Are the Next trousers good quality? Any better quality than Tesco? I like the look of them but I don't want to pay an extra £3 per trouser if they aren't much different in quality.

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Original poster
RatOnnaStick · 27/06/2015 09:50

Trousers

He's not a style magazine with an inability to pluralise

OP posts:
Iggi999 · 27/06/2015 09:55

If you can put him in shorts for a bit do that - they don't seem to need ironing and don't get as damaged as trousers (probably because their knees do instead! Blush ) And they look very cute.

ChunkyPickle · 27/06/2015 09:59

Not in your question, but DS1(4) has had 3 pairs of M&S ones last all year - one now has a scuffed knee (despite falling over many times). They had the extra hem which I took down halfway through the year (creases never went, so i haven't bothered with that for next year), but they look as good as new. They're quite thick, not shiny, feel nice - and DS has had no complaints about them. I think they were 7 quid a pair.

Iggi999 · 27/06/2015 10:02

Extra hem? I did not know about this!

MrsHathaway · 27/06/2015 10:02

Yy to shorts. In Reception I found trousers needed washing daily (grass/mud) and shorts could last all week if he didn't sit on a yogurt or something.

When they start to look bare at the knee, patch on the inside with dark fabric (when DH's work trousers died I cut them up for patches) and the trousers will last far longer.

Original poster
RatOnnaStick · 27/06/2015 10:04

Yes. DS goes through knees on jeans fairly quickly in general so long-lasting ones would be good. Perhaps I'll look at M&S as well then.

On your suggestion I will buy one pair of shorts as well which will hopefully still be ok next summer.

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Original poster
RatOnnaStick · 27/06/2015 10:07

Extra hem? DS has grown 2 inches in 3 months. I think that is a very good idea.

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daisydalrymple · 27/06/2015 10:28

I've always found the next ones good quality. Also I get the cargo shorts in black for summer (trousers look as new at the end of the year, might be due to ds wearing his shorts at any hint of dry weather!) ds is 8 and I've only ever bought next, so no complaints. (Not so great on the skirts for dd mind you).

Clutterbugsmum · 27/06/2015 10:56

I buy next slim fit in either combat or jean style for him they wear well and I like the fact you can buy by age rather then 6 to 7 year for example so they have a better fit. He has shorts on the summer/autumn.

dementedpixie · 27/06/2015 10:59

bhs trousers have reinforced knees

MerryMarigold · 27/06/2015 11:04

I think it depend on the shape of your child. My dses are extremely slim so lots of y trousers look very bunchy and need the adjustable waist tightened ridiculous amounts to stay on! Asda do a slim fit one with pockets on the side which I adore and fit them beautifully. They've never got a hole in and ds2 played football constantly. I prefer cheap ones which can then get replaced when they're too short, but if you want to faff with hems...

Queenofknickers · 27/06/2015 11:07

I have found Tesco trousers better than next (2 boys here). Don't forget everyone that spare/used uniform is needed on the School Uniform Bank thread Smile

WankerDeAsalWipe · 27/06/2015 11:07

Next trousers are good quality except the hems always seem to come down. If you are ordering on line you also need to be careful as the sizing isn't consistent. I.e. I've bought trousers for the next year in the bigger size and found some that are smaller than the same ones from the year before. I've continued buying them up until last year though as the quality is good. DSs at 14 and 13 no longer fit in the age 16 so we've moved to M&S as I can get adult size ones and also take hems down. DS 1 has a 34 inside leg! Happy with them so far.:)

cece · 27/06/2015 11:19

My DS tend to wear shorts right through till the end of Oct and then they wear them from Easter onwards so don't go mad on the trousers front.

kgov1 · 27/06/2015 11:44

Another vote for next trousers here. My boys grow out of them before they wear them out. The supermarket ones seem to go white at the knee after a few years and look awful and if you have to replace them you end up spending more in the long run

Original poster
RatOnnaStick · 27/06/2015 16:04

Right. I've ordered flat front and jeans style trousers from Next so we'll see what works when they arrive. I'm leaving the cargo style for now as ds1 is a stone collector and I can't face turning the extra pockets out every night.

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Iggi999 · 27/06/2015 20:21

Kgov, did you mean a few years ? I can't imagine being able to use the same size for years, happy if they last for one year tbh!

kgov1 · 27/06/2015 22:24

Ha, no I didn't , meant a few wears! Not sure I would want them not to grow for that long...

Iggi999 · 27/06/2015 22:47
Grin