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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

Sizing for school trousers - is it just me?

28 replies

noarguments · 15/09/2014 09:13

Is it impossible to get school trousers to fit properly or are my kids just a strange shape? We've been backwards and forwards (school uniform shop, John Lewis, M&S etc etc), and the ones that approximately fit round the waist are ridiculously too long, so much so that to adjust the hem would make them look ridiculous.
Any tips?

OP posts:

Sparklingbrook · 15/09/2014 09:17

No it's not you. Boys or girls?

I was doing really well getting DS1's from the school shop until he grew and became between sizes where he has a very long leg but no waist to speak of. Even the ones that on paper should fit him don't. So he is wearing Asda at the moment which were the least worst fit.

DS2 is wearing Next because they seem to fit his shape. It's trial and error.

impatienceisavirtue · 15/09/2014 09:18

All of mine are in next slim fit for the same reason

Original poster

noarguments · 15/09/2014 09:22

Oooh, Next, that's worth a try.... will have a peek and their sizing guide.

Its boys - and of course they love nothing better than to traipse round shops trying on school trousers!!!

OP posts:

ElephantsNeverForgive · 15/09/2014 09:26

No, DD1 has always had M&S ladies black work trousers.

The uniform shops are funny shapes, very high waists and stupid fiddly buttons.

Slimmer DD2 has some M&S school uniform ones, but they are pretty shapeless too. I'm not sure she'll wear them.

Why they can't use softer material and cut teens trousers, to take account of girls getting hips and boys needing a decent selection of waist to length ratios.

They are dreadful, it's no wonder 1/2 the DCs wear black jeans and even leggings and the HT is grumpy.

Sparklingbrook · 15/09/2014 09:26

I order from Next and they deliver to store for free, and I return them to store for free too. Order a selection and try them on at home.

They don't actually have any uniform in the shop AFAIK.

YY boys will not go out shopping for school trousers with their mother.

ElephantsNeverForgive · 15/09/2014 09:32

DH hates buying clothes. DMIL said it had always been thus.

She clearly remembered herself and the gentleman in the shop shouting don't sit down and take those off carefully as he tried to escape in the first (skin tight pair) he put on.

minkymuskyslyoldstoaty · 15/09/2014 09:36

long shot as i have a teenage girl, but have you tried Primark mens section?

dd is in size 8 ladies, straight leg. cheap, and they last. she needed more room for her hips, and has long legs. They have variable leg lengths there.

Perhaps you might find similar sizing in mens?

Sparklingbrook · 15/09/2014 09:36

My DSs try them on and say 'they are ok' before I have had a chance to have a proper look. Mostly they are not 'ok' at all but they just hate trying stuff on.

Doobydoo · 15/09/2014 09:37

Nope ...we have had same issues.15 year old boy...Asda trousers too long,traipsing round..utter hideousness.Heis now wearing Sainsbury ones.Think it is the fact they are between stages.He can wear grown up man trousers!!!!

MrsSteptoe · 15/09/2014 10:09

Same problem with 11 year old boy. It's always been the same - solid waistline, just-on average height = massive hem turnups. Less frustrating, though, than the baby knitwear from John Lewis was. The arm length was extraordinary.

Sparklingbrook · 15/09/2014 11:02

Can I be nosey and ask your son's leg measurements Dooby? My son (15) is 30W and 34L but even that would need a belt.

The Asda ones look okayish but the quality isn't great.

inthename · 15/09/2014 11:33

i've had to go for 'proper' school trousers this time as none of the supermarket ones would go round my ds waist, without going up to age 15 - hes 12! seem to be the preteen/teen age group who have the worst problems.

Sparklingbrook · 15/09/2014 11:35

Ds2 (12) has always worn at least an age above his own age. It's all very odd.

RabbitOfNegativeEuphoria · 15/09/2014 12:03

DS (aged 14) wears trousers a year below his actual age. He is I suppose average height for his age, but the trousers are too long, and miles too big round the waist. The trousers a year younger than that are, however, too short.

DD2 wears 8-9 year old trousers, she is 11, they are miles too big for her round the waist and a little too long, the 7-8 trousers are too short (but fit round the waist if adjusted).

DD1 (16) wears either H&M age 13-14 straight black trousers which fit perfectly or Next size 6 black trousers which are a little too big in all respects. I did buy her a pair of M&S age 14-15 slim school trousers and they were huge (they are also too big for me!).

Basically, my experience of school trousers (and skirts) is that they are massively oversized.

insanityscratching · 15/09/2014 12:14

I've bought dd's school trousers from Very for the same reason. Ir's the only place I can buy them where I don't need to take three inches off of the hem She's almost 12 but I buy age 10 and they are a perfect fit. They aren't as cheap as supermarket trousers but worth it when I don't have to fork out getting them hemmed.

MassaAttack · 15/09/2014 12:48

I used to buy the age up for ds, but in the short length for ds. Now he wears his age, but in long. This is from M&S.

Theas18 · 15/09/2014 13:01

M+S long with the elastic waist adjusting did my DS when he was at that tall and skinny stage

mushroom3 · 15/09/2014 13:46

Hi Sparkingbrook, my son has similar dimensions(34L and less than 30 waist), I've found M&S age 16 tall with adjustable waist works OK.

Doobydoo · 15/09/2014 15:56

Hi Sparkling he is 32W and 30 ish leg.Dp say's Tutex do ones that might suit your son's measurements.

LadySybilVimes · 15/09/2014 15:58

Trutex do a slim fit version of their trousers. My ds actually has trousers that fit him both around his tiny little waist and right down his ridiculously long legs!

ElephantsNeverForgive · 15/09/2014 16:05

The trouble is that school trousers are just cheap and lazily made.

Once DCs hit the preteen years they become all sorts t's of shapes and sizes, so grow up then out, some out then up. Some girls have hips and some don't.

Some boys are still have puppy fat or are developing their muscular adult shape. While others resemble tied together pipe cleaners. DH still did as a serious cycling student.

The badly cut, nasty fabric things called school trousers fit absolutely no one.

Doobydoo · 15/09/2014 19:46

Meant Trutex...in big fat rush!

Sparklingbrook · 15/09/2014 19:52

Thanks for the tips mushroom and Dooby. If the Asda ones fall apart I will try them. It's a bit crap because in Year 11 you really don't want to buy any more uniform at all.

bigTillyMint · 15/09/2014 21:11

Sparkling, I was just about to say M&S age 16 straight legs. Plus a belt if necessary! Though DS(who is only13) is currently squeezing himself back into his M&S age 15 ones with his white sports socks showing. Apparently it's the swag - I do remember it in the 80's

Orangeanddemons · 15/09/2014 21:15

I remember my ds at that size. Asda all the way, they never wore out. Made of steel I think. In fact I think they even went down to a 28 waist and 34 leg. The only ones I could find.

Now dd age just turned 8 wears age 11 trousers

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