Gingham school dress for taller/bigger girl HELP!

[GinghamMistress]

Really struggling to find flexible material gingham school dresses for my 8 year old. She’s wearing 9-10 clothes. She was wearing the Tu Generous Fit dresses but they don’t have these this year. She finds the arms quite restrictive and we just need a bit more give as she’s one of the tallest in her class. We’ve tried Asda, Sainsbury’s, M&S. can’t get hold of the Matalan ones as they’re out of stock. Any recommendations would be amazing. We’ve even tried the half gingham half white top dresses but the middles all have a band on them.

She’s NT but has issues with clothing materials.

Next do them up to age 13 or 14, I don’t know how flexible the fabric is though.

Does she have to have a dress? My daughter has the m &s playsuits 3 sizes bigger than her to give her room for running.
i cut off the sleeve where it’s gathered and hem it straight as mine also hates the tight sleeves. Who thinks of these ridiculous designs??

Have you tried Vinted for the generous fit ones? Or another brand but the fabric might be softer if they’ve been worn more?

What colour do you need?

One of my schools had a summer dress in the uniform that had to be made from a specific Laura Ashley print.
You couldn't buy one ready made and had to buy a pattern and either make the dress yourself or pay someone else to make them.

Standard school summer dresses tend to be simple and easy to sew, so you might consider getting a pattern and making them yourself.
If you don't sew, do you know someone who does who might help you?

Gingham fabrics tend to be easy to get hold of, no matter what colour the school require, so it shouldn't be too hard.

Can you not just size up?

M&S gingham playsuit. My daughter ended up in their largest size in the last year of primary school.

No one is going to make their kid’s school uniform dress.

So did mine. Not Laura Ashley. It was 1971 though. I have always been grateful that my mother didn't sew and mine were made by a local dressmaker so were nicely finished and fitted properly.

@GinghamMistress DD was tall and an early developer. John Lewis were good.

Asda has the gingham dresses as separates now, with skirts and blouses, or shorts in the same fabric. Would they be better for her?

My local Tesco has them up to 13-14 in several colours. The ones I bought for my daughter were fairly soft, but I agree that second hand may well be softer.

https://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-anyday-kids-gingham-school-summer-dress-pack-of-2/royal-blue/p110443979
my daughter is big for her age. This material has a bit of give and loose elasticated waist

My dd is underweight and finds the capped sleeves on them too tight. It's the design. I just cut the seam on the underside.

We have these too. They are loose at the waist and sleeves and come up fairly long. Also wash well and tumble dry without creasing if that matters!

Belted gingham school dresses from Next and John Lewis. You can buy bigger sizes but use the belt so they're not baggy round the waist. My 9 year old has age 14 dresses from both shops.

I was so going to say John Lewis. There seems to be more fabric in them and they have the elasticated waist.

You don’t have a choice if you have long, lanky DC. “Standard” sizes are far too short, going up a size results in oversized sacks which still barely reach the knees.

Its maddening because with the boys I could get different lengths/widths (as you can with mens trousers) but women and girls all come in one height apparently.

John Lewis were the closest I ever found off the peg. I would be nice to think things were better now but it seems not.

DD is really tall- I get her age 14 ones from M&S. The sleeves on all of them are rubbish though.

Af your school has polo shirts would she just wear a light skirt and a polo, or shorts? Or you could try some 'easy dressing' ones for ND kids which are sometimes a bit looser. Asda have them and Matalan I think.

Might be slightly more expensive but I’d be tempted to try an actual uniform supplier. They tend to have many more sizes available.

I did. 😁

Both dd1 and dd2 had dresses made by me through infants and had some made by me at juniors. But that was because I liked sewing, and they helped design them too. One of dd1's had a little cat embroidered into a cuff and cat buttons for example.
Dd2 used to prefer old style gym slips to shop bought pinafores too, so I made those.

However I wouldn't particularly think that a child who already may be feeling they stick out a bit, would want a mum-made dress.

Ebay has these in size up "age 20" if one of the colours does

Ages 3-20 Girls Summer Gingham School Dress Pleated Sky Blue Purple Red Green | eBay

tell me something true the fabric shop in a town near me holds stocks of the gingham colours worn by local schools and also has recommended patterns. Some people do indeed make their daughters' summer dresses.

The shop also has details of two or three seamstresses who will make dresses for you. It is a very helpful service for children who are not a standard size or shape.

If I size up they become too big in other places 😭

If I could I would! The drama this has been! Just got hold of the Matalan one…also a no go (and yes sized up x2)

Thanks all, the John Lewis one looks fab and I can get it C&C to my local Waitrose! Wish me luck!

We have just bought these gingham dress separates, for skinny DD. I've had to take the waist band in on the shorts or they fall down, but that's not that difficult to do. The tops the knot at the front is literally just that, so can easily be tied tighter. The Asda separates go up to age 13-14.

The normal gingham dresses are baggy sacks on her to get the length, and adjusting them them to sort that would be well beyond my sewing abilities!

https://www.sturdykids.co.uk/stretch-gingham-dress.html