School uniforms- would it be weird to buy cotton chino pants instead of usual school pants?

[heun817]

My son is starting reception at fall and I am looking into school uniforms. I really don’t like polyester pants, and I am wondering if it’d be too weird to buy cotton chino pants in school colour instead.

My only thought is that your son needs to be dressed the same as everyone else. Chinos aren’t school uniform and he will only ask you to buy him trousers like everyone else.

You'll need to check the uniform code allows this. Also some brands are softer than others, M&S do nice soft school trousers and we've had nice ones from tesco too, they're not all the same. Try a few different places.

Chinos are likely to wear quickly at the knees too.

The school might not allow them. Are joggers allowed?

Trousers?

Your use of the words “fall” and “pants” suggest you are not British and presumably not used to the strict uniform system here. It’s not a dress code, it really is a uniform and you have to buy what’s on the list. Chinos won’t be on the list.

I dressed my DS is h&m twill trousers or cords. They comply with the uniform policy as they state 'black or navy trousers' and no one has questioned it. I dont like uniform trousers either as they are usually very synthetic.

My DS always wore cotton chinos at primary. He had terrible eczema and couldn't wear the bog standard trousers. No one ever questioned it.

Check with the school. Also consider whether he will be happy to look 'different'. Some kids hate this. I would also look at cost. Trousers are ripped and get very muddy. You might be better with something less expensive.

Eco outfitters do school uniform that is cotton rather than synthetic materials. They are good quality but a bit pricier. I found my son would go straight through the knees of his cotton trousers, so you may end up having to buy lots!

The reason apart from the fact that theyre presumably cheaper to mass produce that so much of school uniform is synthetic is that it is much, much more durable that natural fibres and primary school kids can be unbelievably hard on their clothes. Cotton chinos will cost more than standard school trousers (pants are underwear, and should always be cotton) and will wear out much, much faster.

Also second PP who pointed out that uniform in UK schools is a strict business, and going off piste is usually not allowed.

This would have been fine at our school but the school uniform just said something like; navy trousers, no denim but corduroy is fine. Other schools say that the school uniform must be school uniform.

Some places do chino style trousers with pads on the knees so they don’t wear out as fast. Try Boden and Landsend.

If joggers are okay the unisex pack of two from M&S are indestructible and have a high percentage of cotton.

Thanks for all the comments!!! I have just moved from the US so I have little knowledge about what to expect and prepare when it comes to school in the UK. Thanks so much!

Depends on your school. Find out how strict they are. Ours was quite relaxed and as my eldest had terrible eczema, they wore joggers in grey instead of school pants all the way through until secondary. Fine at primary, wouldn’t be tolerated for a moment at secondary!

We use eco outfitters grey school trousers. Ask the school, my sons both have eczema and we work around the school uniform. We use mainly eco outfitters, marks and spencer’s skinkind, and little green radicals bottle green shorts

Thanks so much for the recommendations!!! Will definitely look into these brands

www.landsend.co.uk/Boys_Iron_Knees_Chino_Trousers/pp/P_34775.html?cgid=11422&dwvar_P__34775_color=%20LHB are the Landsend chinos.

Boden doesn’t have much stock in due to Covid but when they do you’re looking for styles with Warrior Knees I think.

www.marksandspencer.com/unisex-joggers-3-16-years-/p/clp60206885?color=INDIGO Are the M&S joggers that may not be to your taste but worth a look.

H&M is usually good for plain coloured cotton trousers as a pp mentioned.

OP just to let you know, in the UK, 'pants' are your underwear that you wear underneath your trousers and 'fall' means tripping over. We would say trousers and autumn. Chinos would not be suitable as school trousers. Have a look in supermarkets or high street shops (popular ones are Marks and Spencers, Next, John Lewis) for school trousers and you will see the usual sort of school uniform that you will need to purchase.

I would definitely check with the school. The whole point of uniform is that the kids all wear the same thing. Some schools are stricter than others though.

Just to let you know John Lewis and Marks and Spencers sell school uniform trousers made entirely of cotton, they look like usual uniform trousers but are breathable. Much better if your son has eczema.

My DS had quite bad eczema when he was little, especially on the backs of his knees and inside his elbows so I always tried to get pure cotton for all of his uniform. I found between John Lewis, M&S and this company he was usually ok.

Check. It wouldn't be allowed at our school. If they weren't from the nominated uniform shop they had to look as similiar as possible - same material, same colour and style.

My son did but they aren't strict with the uniform in his school, it's just navy trousers.

It really depends on the school, but plenty are very relaxed about what kids wear on their bottom half. My eldest daughter, at Secondary School, wears jeans (they almost all do), and my youngest, at primary, wears track pants. Neither of them have ever worn those awful school trousers.

Agree with the pure cotton ones from m+s .. look enough like school trousers with all the coatings and plastic !

@SunflowerProsecco actually pants means trousers in some parts of the North too (I'm in Yorkshire and people say it)