Clothes for Winchester College

[anxious2015]

My son is starting at WC this year and is an average size 13 year old. When do parents buy new tweed jackets, suits etc as I am struggling to find any (apart from the few left in the second hand shop)? Thanks for your help.

A friend of mine with a DS at Winchester did a lot of her shopping in (funnily enough) Eton High Street. At least four shops selling suits, jackets etc for boys. She lives in Windsor so it was just a stroll over the bridge for her.

Hi Thank you - that's a really good idea. We're not far away from Eton, so will give it a try. Thanks again.

anxious
Congratulations.

Not sure if of any help as Ds grew quickly early & he has just left (18) so not sure I can remember what the average 13yr old looks like. However, just to say he got his from M&S (but it was men's dept). Suits - M&S / one Peter Jones/ John Lewis. Grey trousers, M&S and once John Lewis although last time I went there was "no demand" for grey flannel trousers sold on their own. But same applied , he was big enough for men's dept.

I hope he has a fabulous time and do pm if you think I might be able to remember anything useful you want to know from when DS started.

DJ

My DS starts in September too. I've sorted a suit - got a dark grey one from M&S in the men's dept - have you tried there? I've yet to get the tweed jacket + trousers and may go back to M&S for that. Maybe check out Next as they do boys clothes up to 16 years and I've seen a black suit on their website.

Unfortunately can't help since we got a warm jacket and first suit from the second hand shop. There are definitely some smaller suits at Next and we bought the trousers from M&S or John Lewis.

anxious2015, you might want to call Billings and Edmonds, Hilditch & Key and Walsh & Jefferies to see if they stock what you need. There's another one - I can't remember the name. I'm pretty sure they will. As an (ex) Eton parent, my favourite was always W&J.

You and your DS will just have to hold your noses around the tailcoats etc!

Well done to you and your DS. Winchester is a great school. My DS was down for an imminent interview there when Eton offered him a place after the test. He was so chuffed he would not look elsewhere. We were calm either way.

My son works in next and has done since he was a v tiny 16yr old. They do boys suits in catalogue but also sell very small slim fit suits in men's dept-34" chest 28" waist if that is any use to you? (He's a bit bigger 18yr old now and loves using his uniform.allowance to buy the LOUDEST suits possible!!)

New & Lingwood? (Though W&J are lovely.)

I approve of loud suits. I miss the 80s ...

grovel

despite occasional other threads with other posters , I also thought Eton was fantastic. Just so happened DS preferred Winchester and has done well.
I hope we have detente

BTW OP I believe my friend whose son went to Radley and was small for his age got his suits from Next. I would second turd (Never thought I would say that.

DJ

DarklingJane, we have detente. There is so much nonsense talked about loads of great schools. 13 year old boys are (if happy) malleable enough to have a great adolescence and rewarding academic/extra-curricular results at all of them. Their happiness will, to a large extent, depend on the cohort of boys/girls who join the school/house with them. That is outside parental control.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. Good luck to everyone starting at a new school this September.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. Good luck to everyone starting at a new school this September.

anxious Have you been following the Boarders thread?

You'll be in excellent company!