Another school uniform question - where to go for quality that lasts...?

[floraflora]

DS starts in Sept. He has a few taster sessions over the next couple of weeks and someone advised me that some children like to go in looking like the current reception class, so they don't stand out too much in their normal clothes - so I thought I'd order him a couple of plain white polo shirts from M&S online (don't have time to go shopping beforehand). But the reviews on the website are awful regarding quality, especially shrinkage, wear and size variations - confirming all my most recent experience with M&S staples like knickers and socks.
So, where does one shop for school uniform that will last and not look scruffy after a few washes?
Don't mind spending a bit more if it will last...

I wasn't impressed by the polo shirts from M&S, but the trousers I got for him are fabulous; really good. They're the antistain stormwear ones with adjustable waist. Little boys do treat their clothes badly, but these ones are in really good nick after a whole year, and will do for ages yet.

I'm not sure where I'll get my polo shirts for next year. They have to be yellow which is a bit limiting.

Trutex. Google Trutex at the School Uniform Shop, that is where I buy mine (online). Lasts forever.

My DDS board and I get their skirts from M&S. They survive the rigours of the school laundry and last well enough to be handed down to my youngest. No idea if boys trousers are as good or not and nor can I comment on M&S polos as we have to have school shop ones.

John Lewis is another place I like for quality .

I found M&S polo shirts to be fine - got the stain resist ones and they lasted DD all year no problem. I bought them a bit big anyway, but they didn't shrink in an obvious way

A couple of them will survive into next year

The anti-stain thing is rubbish imo though

thanks mum72; will do.

I like M&S trousers, boys and girls, but NOT the really cheap ones, the ones which are £8 are loads better IMHO.

I find M&S polo shirts fine too. My three have had the same ones since the beginning of this school year, and they are doing fine. Have just bought new sets of the same for September.

John Lewis uniform is very good quality, but I'm happy enough with M&S at the speed my three grow. Plus they have everything on 3 for 2 at the moment which is great when you have 3 kids

Not sure about polo shirts, but I buy ds1's shirts and trousers from bhs - they've lasted him all year for each year of infants (he doesn't grow much in a year!)

The trousers have elasticated waists as well, so no problems with zips and buttons for hurried toileting!!

Do you have an Adams near you? Do they still exist? I know the one near me closed but not sure if all of them did. Anyway, I bought DD's polo shirts from here for nursery. For reception I bought them from M&S and they all shrunk, she ended up wearing her Adams ones throughout reception.

She wanted to wear proper blouses for year 1, I bought a mixture of M&S and Asda and TBH there's no difference in the quality and the cheap Asda ones look nicer (more girly).

asda hold their own quite as well as m and s(who do a very small fitting imo so buy big). tesco cotton faded terribly but I'm not sure they're selling them this year. maybe everyone complained

I think John Lewis are the best for decent quality school uniform. You could order online. However sometimes their shorts/trousers are very pale grey and I sometimes go to M and S for a darker tone of grey for boys shorts/trousers.

Banner is a good make for school trousers - you would need to google to see where it is stocked.

ds had M&S polos (read reviews and bought size bigger and they did shrink to the right size) and school polos. M&S ones are a better fit/shaped and after a year are whiter too.

M&S trouser didnt seem to fit ds right last year so got BHS trousers. They have lasted the year, but will probably try M&S for fit this year as they get good reviews too.

Agree m&s polo shirts not great but all their other uniform good quality.