school skirt - please take pity on us and help!

[shiklah]

I cannot find a school skirt or trousers to fit my DD13.

The requirements are:

Either a knee-length straight black skirt with a small vent at the back for movement, or a plain black knee-length skirt with box pleats or a black knee length A line skirt. Close fitting or stretchy material is not permitted. Whichever skirt is chosen the height from the top of the patella (knee cap) to the bottom of the skirt should be a maximum of 2.5 cms.

She is athletic and mixed race and has what was described at the uniform outfitters as an "extreme waist to hip ratio". The outfitters said they could not alter a skirt to fit her.

This year we have had 4 skirts, 1 professionally altered. All have been unsuitable in some way or other. The shirt rides up and gapes or comes untucked, the skirt rides up and is too short, it has too much stretch, it bunches up on her tummy and is too short.

I don't wear skirts and am really struggling with the requirements. Assistants in John Lewis and M&S have just provided a selection and they do not fit.

I am determined to sort this before next school year as she has been getting upset. I am starting to get upset - why can't I get this right? :(

The best thing to do is find a local dress maker.
Ask around local drycleaners.
Sometimes you see cards in libraries or post office

Are you on Next Door/ Streetlife?

DD's school skirt was a kilt.
Would that work?
Buy a generous size and move the buttons?

She isn't allowed a kilt which would work. She isn't allowed a belt. She isn't allowed anything with any stretch (a wide elastic waistband would solve the problem.

She went has been in tears tonight.

We live very rurally and will be making a trip to manchester this weekend to get a new skirt. Round 5 :(

I don't have next door or street life - it's a real rural backwater here. I could ask my DB as he lives in the city and is a fashion photographer but last time I asked he just got the rage "this fucking country should stop policing girls clothes" and it wasn't very helpful!

I am not really sure what sizes you are looking for but I have had an issue finding well fitting clothing for a dd before so I know how frustrating it can be. There are a few companies operating on Ebay or maybe Amazon that can offer a wider variety of sizes - go on ebay and look for ‘sturdy fit school uniform’?

I agree with the policing girls clothing comment - fgs we don’t all suit tucked in shirts, what a nightmare coping with all the gaping and pulling skirt down all the time.

Do you mean she has a small waist and bigger hips? Buy a skirt that fits well on the hips and have it altered

God, it is so unreasonable isn't it.
There must be dressmakers around.
I would do some googling before trailing to Manchester.
Could you get a wrap around skirt and make minor adjustments?
Chop the tapes off and substitute hooks and eyes?
Sew the wrap over bits together so it doesn't flap?

A line would possibly be the easier to do this with.

Yes - I was thinking generous Aline and take the waist band off, put some darts in the skirt, take in the waist band and sew it back on. Or, if the skirt has a zip, leave the waist band off and just turn the top down and sew it.

With baggy shirts I used to take them in by sewing a gentle curve from under the arms to the waist. They looked much neater that way.

There are several dress makers listed on google.

Simply Be do curvy fit jersey skirts.

Thank you so so much. I can't sew at all but will happily pay.

She is a size 4 on the waist and a 10/12 on the hips. She has a round high bottom which in my opinion is being seen as the 'problem'. She would LOVE to wear a stretchy skirt and ALL her normal clothes are stretchy.

When she wears a skirt with a narrow waistband (the A line one I got and had altered in John Lewis) it pulls the shirt up and bags at the front showing her bra. She isn't allowed to wear a jumper either so she can't cover it. It's so frustrating.

I really really appreciate your advice. So so much

See I'm with your DB really, because it's hugely unfair. But I get that she probably just wants to conform and stick by the rules. So Id contact a couple of dressmakers. They could start from scratch which would probably be easier with such a difference between hip and waist. Good luck!

This is going to sound a bit mad, but if she must have her shirt tucked in, would it be worth seeing if you could make the shirts sort of into a body?
I’m not expressing it well, but with poppers underneath to hold it all together. It wouldn’t necessarily have to be tight.
Like this www.amazon.co.uk/LEONIS-Womens-Premium-Stretch-Bodysuit/dp/B014GVY360?tag=mumsnetforum-21

I had a friend who sewed a sort of strap with press studs to the bottom of all her shirts and blouses. I thought it was a very clever idea.

oooo that is a good idea. Her big bust makes it all gape anyway but at least it could stay tucked in :)

When I see her, so beautiful and perfect in her ugly uniform pulling away at it and rearranging it makes me feel terrible - I know I am projecting all the difficulties I have had as a woman onto her and don't let her see.

I agree that she should be able to wear a more suitable skirt - other girls seem to have a lot more leeway with their skirt whilst DD is pulled up all the time. :(

God. I sympathise, I had (and still have!) an enormous bust from a young age. My mum never got me school shirts that fitted & I remember how uncomfortable it is to always be pulling at them and trying to tuck them back in.
Im sure it contributed to my round shoulders, trying to keep everything together at front.

Is there a specified school shirt? Ours were supposed to be Trutex iirc, but actually as long as it was a white button shirt with a collar for you tie, I don’t think they ever minded.

I’m just wondering how far off script you could go with the shirt. If her shirt was quite big, or alternatively had a stretch in it, could you sew up the gaping button? So she would pull it over her head?

I think you need to go in and speak to whoever is in charge of pastoral care.
This really isnt fair.

Why don't you stich her shirt to her skirts so she essentially has dresses to prevent the riding up issue?

That is a good idea racecardriver.

Can she wear trousers?

Might be a bit pricey but could she get shirts from bravissimo or somewhere similar designed for the bigger boobed?

Also, are trousers an option? But yeah, I second PP who suggested talking to someone in pastoral. It's her body shape that's preventing her looking smart in the prescribed uniform. Surely they want her looking smart rather than in the prescribed skirts that obviously aren't good enough.

Would this be the kind of shape? It only goes down to an 8, but maybe some black elastic inside the waistband could be put in?

Or this one? The 50s shape is good for an hourglass figure.

Here

Here

Could any of these work - if you buy to fit the waist, some of the designs look as if they might still have enough room at the hips and length.

Here

Here

Here

Please please talk to her head of year and headteacher. I’m sure they will do what they can to help and can’t imagine the stress she is under!

I agree with @Octopeppa - I googled high waisted swing skirts and found some which will suit - they might be a bit longer than the school regulations but that’s easy to fix.

Your poor daughter, I had a stupid uniform which didn’t suit my shape either - I feel her pain.

I have an pretty exaggerated waist/hip ratio. The only skirts I have found which suit are by Vivien of Holloway. Specifically cut to accommodate a 12 inch difference between waist and hip.

www.vivienofholloway.com/women-c70/skirts-c13/pencil-skirt-weave-black-p3014