Private school uniforms - from the outfitters or the supermarkets?

[chocolatequeen]

Supposed to be going today to the outfitters for DS1´s school, with uniform list as long as your arm. Does it all have to come from the outfitters (as it did in my day, down to the grey sport knickers), or can you buy the standard grey trousers, white shirts etc. from supermarkets, M&S etc and just get the logo´d things from the outfitters?

I wouldn't want my child to be the only one there in supermarket trousers, but "your mileage may vary" as they say.

Do you know anyone who is already at the school? Every school is different tbh. My school is supermarket or outfitters, but the next local school is strictly outfitters.

Each school is different. Sons school are more relaxed, DS's school HAS to be from outfitters. Part of the private thing i'm afraid. wait till you get the school trip stuff !

That´s exactly what I was thinking Bluestocking - it´s hard enough starting at big school, without uniform issues! MML,we´ve just moved to the area from abroad, so haven´t had a chance to meet other kids yet.

Think I´ll just go with the outfitters.

Thanks!

I'd stick with the outfitters. They aren't that bad for equivalent items of equivalent quality.

I went to a private secondary school. My mum bought everything, down to my knicks, from the outfitters. I was so glad - the girls who had non-standard items (particularly the poor souls whose grannies had kindly knitted them navy jumpers!) were so conspicuous - and all I wanted to do was vanish into the mob.

Ours is strict over certain items - tunic/skirt, blazer, jumper/cardi, summer dress, sports stuff, logoed bags and caps - but basics such as trousers/shorts, shirts/blouses, socks, shoes etc can come from anywhere as long as they are traditional style. Our school operates a second had sale several times a term too, worth investigating for £££ items such as blazer.

if money is an issue you can buy second hand - the school should have a shop itself.

thank god having a uniform irons out any social and class divisions eh

i thought that too harpsi

So true, Harpsi. That particular argument in favour of uniforms is entirely specious, but then I think most arguments in favour of uniforms are specious apart from the one about "not having to think about what you're going to put on that day", and even that falls apart once you get into "customising".

Yes - ironing out social divisions is one of the primary reasons I chose a private school. Near to the top of the list....

yes I imagine so pagwatch, I imagine you are pretty comfortable with children being judged by their peers on the basis on their parent's income and excluded and mocked for not having enough money.
nice.

When DS1 started school we bought everything from the official suppliers as we didn't know how strict the school was. As it turns out it's ok for children to buy trousers, shorts and jumpers from anywhere as long as they're the right colour, so now we do that. Lots of people get stuff from the second-hand sale - particularly useful for spares.

go on then pagwatch, I am interested- what is the point of a strict and expensive uniform policy?

I always buy the non-logo stuff from Asda, M&S etc. As long as the colour is right, in my kids' schools that is all that matters.

HC, it's because it weeds out the povs

I use the 2nd hand shop for most things, not just the large items - draw the line at socks and knicks tho!

Actually in our school you can get appts at the 2nd hand just like the school shop - both housed on school grounds. Most of the sensible parents use this facility, because £36 on a summer dress which is going to get fountain pen(etc) all over it is a waste of money!

Our pre-prep main uniform items can be dyed, no-one has ever been able to tell my dd's stuff ins't new as it is exactly the same colour.

I always felt like a real poor relation at my secondary school - even though my uniform was the same as everyone else's, my family never went abroad, I didn't get to go riding, etc etc. It took me years to get over it (and for once I'm not joking).

Wouldn't it depend on the school?

At my snooty private Catholic girls school - I only stuck it till I was 14, my daft sister went all the way - we had to buy our ickle uniforms from an outfitter.

Oh, that pinafore!

[Cringe]

How about Ebay?

Anyone flogging secondhand uniform gear on there?

cor blimey greeny I think you might just have hit on something there!