“Second hand” Eton uniforms?

[DoMyBest]

A bit early (DS starts in September 2022) but we’re one of those families who struggle to pay fees so need to reduce costs as much as possible: are there any second hand Eton uniform sales before the summer holidays? That would really help. Thanks.

Did you not ask the school?
Could you not find anything second hand at Welsh and Jeffries ?
welshandjefferieseton.com

You could keep an eye on school notices or preloved.
www.schoolnotices.co.uk/for-sale/

Welsh and Jeffries sell second hand, although I wish there was a more direct way to pass uniforms on, like a school sale, as their mark up on the v low amount they pay for returned uniform is quite large, and they only handle jackets and waistcoats.

The good news is that unless your boy hasn’t done any of his adolescent growing, the uniform lasts for ages. Generally boys only need two sets in their time there and you only have two of each suit item (the whole wearing the same pair of trousers for a fortnight thing is a bit gross but that is how it works). So I think I may well have spent less on uniform at E than for my day school boy who has a v not standard suit. Buy generously for size. It all just hangs from the shoulders anyway.

Games kit is, as ever, more of a problem. Unless your boy is a superstar, don’t bother buying the school representative kit until you know he will need it. Don’t buy summer games kit until nearer the time and you know what sport option he has chosen (ie cricket gear).

Thanks that’s really useful (rudely late reply) never thought of preloved & love the ‘wait for sports’ tips!

Talk to your dame! Some dames operate an informal second hand uniform stash. Also @Revengeofthepangolins your dame might be able to pass any outgrown uniform on more directly than the tailors.

Will do, such a good idea.

I have PMd you.

Try The Friends of Eton End, they have a preloved sale every half term,

Alas a different school and uniform, thanks though (I got so excited!)

@TonTonMacoute

I have PMd you.

Do you mind sharing any helpful information? My DS is starting in Sep 2022 too. Thanks

I was going to PM, but this might be generically useful so I'll say it here instead.

I managed to find some bits of uniform on Ebay before DS started. Not many, but a few. His Dame sold us some second hand (she has a good stash). The only things I bought new were one pair of school trousers (because he needed a second pair, and they didn't have two second hand pairs in his size), some collars and studs, basic PE uniform (Eton Sports will advise), and a navy blazer for 'smart change' (I bought an M&S school blazer, as they don't wear them much, and they don't need to be fancy). When DS was selected for a school team in C Block, it was a sport he already did at home, so only needed a school shirt as the rest of his kit was generic and was fine.

As he made his way up through the school, the Dame just exchanged his outgrown uniform for bigger items from her stash, and continued to recycle it that way. It is fantastically good quality (made in the UK) and would last for several boys. It ends up being a bit scuffed if you look closely, but they all look the same, and they all look fabulous.

You and your DS are so, so, so lucky to be at the start of this wonderful adventure of a lifetime. I am deeply envious!

(I'm stopping short of offering to post you anything, as I have absolutely no idea where it has got to - DS may have left it all at school as his time there ended abruptly during lockdown 😢. I'll ask him if he has any idea, though).

What house is your son in @EtonianMother? Sounds like a good dame to have! We are waitlisted for 2023 so keeping fingers crossed and eyes and ears open

Visions of Dames leading us through, cigar in hand, to a speakeasy full of black market second hand uniforms 😆

@BilboBagginsoftheShire

What house is your son in *@EtonianMother*? Sounds like a good dame to have! We are waitlisted for 2023 so keeping fingers crossed and eyes and ears open

I am going to PM you.

@mumcreates

I have copied below what I said to OP in my PM, however I realise with amazement that it is nearly 10 years ago that we were in this position, so current Eton mums will have more up to date, and more useful, info than me - it was just that I still have 2 W&J suits which we haven't got around to returning yet.

This is my contribution, for what it's worth!

The thing about Eton is that it is a very well-oiled machine that you get sucked into. They don't really do uniform sales like prep schools (I don't think they did anyway, you might have needed to be more local than we were) they have their own system.

What happens is that you will be summoned to a housekeeping meeting with your dame in May, and she will pack you off to the house's preferred tailor (they say something like 'I am not allowed to recommend a specific tailor, but...' and then you go to the tailor your dame hasn't recommended). Your son will be measured up and then everything is ready and waiting for him, all name labels sewn in (the dame will allocate a special laundry number, so make sure you find out this number if you are having your own done or your son will never get any of his stuff back) and will be in his room on his first day. It's very impressive!

The tailors usually recommend that you buy one new and one second hand suit, and they do all the upkeep and dry cleaning during his time there so the suits last pretty well unless they are outgrown. The suits were actually not as expensive as we had been expecting, it's all the sports stuff, ottomans and other stuff that adds up

Of course none of this stops you from being prepared and picking up some bargains beforehand and many boys wear hand me downs from older brothers so it's not a problem.

Why not buy extra trousers and pay to have them cleaned? I worked in a men’s’ store thirty years ago when second pair of trousers was more common.

They seriously only wear one leaf of trousers day-in, day-out? Isn't that totally grim? Surely the trousers are standing up themselves after that time?

The boys have to have two suits, they are regularly dry cleaned. It is usual to buy one new and one second hand to save some money.

@TonTonMacoute and @EtonianMother….thanks for the tips, very helpful. Exciting times ahead, just need to get the common entrance exam out of the way first.

Snap! (On that note I just bought my DS his first ‘ever’ lever arch files for his work: he’s never had any. Revision notes, past exam papers, etc all just lying around in untouched piles for 4 years 😂)

"They seriously only wear one leaf of trousers day-in, day-out? Isn't that totally grim?"
The uniforms are dry cleaned regularly (weekly?). Every boy has a laundry bag which they put out for collection at a certain day. Eton has its own industry-standard laundry situated in a remote corner of the campus where literally thousands of clothing items belonging to boys and masters alike are washed/cleaned and ironed each week before they're returned to their owners. Each house is designated an alphabet letter, e.g. 'College' where scholars live is 'U' and each boy is given a number- therefore, your clothes are labeled 'U-21' if you are a colleger and your number is '21'. And no, school uniform is usually worn for only half a day - the rest of the day boys are on their sporting attire or normal clothing though some may continue wearing the school "dress". Oh, btw parents will get a big fat bill at the end of term (half) for all the expenses incurred by their precious son(s) e.g. laundry, outings, visits, etc. etc. as well as next term's school fees.

@nightvision explains it perfectly.

Some excellent advice on here,youll be able to pick up a variety of second hand from a variety of sources-Dames,W and J and often other parents,no need to go mad on the sports kit,just get the basics,unless they are A or B teams then youll probably not need anything beyond the basics..
Finally cross your fingers and hope he doesnt do anything that will get him into Pop,unless you fancy buying what is essentially a whole new uniform for one year..

What the hell is a Dame?