Sixth form 'uniform' aagghhhh!!!!

[mumoverseas]

DS is going to a new school for his A levels.
We accepted his place last year and had been waiting for what seemed like ages to receive more information.
I knew it wasn't going to be cheap buying all the 'uniform', sports kit etc and didn't want to leave it all until the last minute due to costs (wanting to spread it out a bit) and also, don't want to spend the last week in August sewing in sodding name tags.

Anyway, a few months ago made some enquiries with the school about the sixth formers uniform. There was nothing in the initial paperwork we'd been given nor on their website. I was advised that the sixth formers wear suits, shirts and ties, not a 'normal' school uniform.

Fine. I started planning ahead and over the past few months DS and I have been buying nice shirts and ties etc. He spent some of his money on a few 'designer' shirts in various shades of blue and expensive ties as he has finally developed an interest in looking (and smelling) nice.

I also really pushed the boat out and had a beautiful suit tailor made for him. We were abroad at the time and to be honest, it was cheaper than some of the shop bought ones but still expensive. Beautiful grey wool & cashmere with a blue pinstripe.

Anyway, yesterday received all the joining information through the post. I felt like lying on the floor and crying when I saw that the suit must be black, blue or grey with no pattern, the shirts must be white and the tie is in fact the school tie. Haven't told DS yet, he will be gutted. I now have to go out and buy another new suit, shirts, ties etc

[webwiz]

No Titchy I'm talking about state schools - they are school sixth forms rather than "colleges". Even DD1 who was a complete school uniform hater (she was always customising it in some way!) enjoyed wearing a suit.

[5Foot5]

I think the trend for 6th formers in suits is relatively recent but is definitely growing in popularity.

In our town (which is in Cheshire) until recently only the local independent had suits for 6th forners. The state schools let them wear what they liked - within reason. However, as of last year the state school DD goes to, plus at least one other school in town, changed the uniform rules so 6th forners wear a business suit.

I commented to DD that the 6th formers were probably chessed off as previous years had been allowed to wear jeans but she said that they had actually voted for the change themselves!

[Hulababy]

I know of a few schools that have suits for sixth form, all in Derbyshire/Yorkshre areas, and all are state schools.

I went to a bog standard comp, def not a great one, in Doncaster and sixth form uniform was trousers, shirt and tie for boys and smart skirts and blouses for girls. Either could be worn with a blazer or a jumper/cardigan. This was some 20 years ago

[titchy]

I can't believe some schools have a uniform for 6th form, let alone proper suits

I assume these are private schools?

In my day it was jeans and a Cure t-shirt...

[mumoverseas]

webwiz, very impressed with your DD. I suggested last night that DS get a little holiday/weekend job and I received the dirtiest look I've ever seen. Am feeling so angry with him today the bloody parasite.
Apparently there are no jobs available and it would be pointless even looking as no one would want to employ him as we are going on holiday for 10 days and then he is doing a weeks work experience.
I am being pressurised to set up a DD for his pocket money for when he is at sixth form (I'll be away most of the time and he will be full boarding)and he seems to think money grows on trees. I'm not sure where he thinks I'm going to get the extra money for his pocket money when I've already got to find around £900 pcm from September for school fees.
So tempted to tell him to get out and work like I had to.
I've often wondered recently why my mother wouldn't fund me through college and made me get a job and pay half my weekly salary for board and lodgings. Particularly when years later I found out she has thousands of pounds stashed away. I now realise that it taught me the value of money, something that DCs 1 and 2 are lacking

[webwiz]

mumsoverseas DD2 has just got a part time job so she is feeling thrilled with herself. Quite an achievement in this economic climate

They do get the wear out of the suits and if they are too cheap they just fall apart (DD1's New Look suit fell apart very quickly and I wished I'd spent a bit extra). So in the long term it should be money well spent. DD2 did look lovely in her new clothes and she felt confident and excited about sixth form.

[mumoverseas]

so glad I don't have the jewellery and eyeshadow issue with DS

I ended up buying a black M & S suit instore for around £75 then DS saw a sale on 'designer' suits in Moss Bros and 'bullied me into spending £160 on a jacket and 2 pairs of trousers' sodding kids, they think money grows on trees.
Little bugger/darling is 16 today and his NI card turned up and I'm so tempted to make the lazy little git go out and get a job like I had to. I don't remember my parents funding me through my further education, I had to do it myself after I'd worked a few years. They have it so easy don't they?

[webwiz]

Nope holdthatsuckerdown suits are the thing at all the school sixth forms in our town. You need to go to one of the "colleges" further afield if you want to wear whatever you want and they aren't big on A levels. Anyway DD2 has been in school for sixth form induction for the last two days and choosing which shoes to wear, how much jewellery and what colour eyeshadow has been enough excitement without "own clothes" as well

[holdthatsuckerdown]

God I thought only ONE school had a suit dress code for 6th form.I didn't know it was that common!!- or praps you all talking about the same school??south london, highly desirable??

Think the only reason half of us WENT to 6th form when I were a lass was so we could wear ripped jeans and bin our crimplene navy skirts!!

[webwiz]

Well we bought two suits today one from Next at £75 and the other from Primark at £25. She just needs some blouses now and that will do. If she wants to wear something different every day she will need to start funding it herself! I think though as its business dress rather than a uniform (it does specify matching jacket/trousers jacket/skirt though) she does have various tops already that will be suitable.

The excitement of not wearing school uniform any more does wear off quite quickly though - thank goodness

[Twims]

Why not check out ebay?

[risingstar]

webwiz

good old m and s also do suits in a size 6! i work with several skinny young things- if it needs to be business dress rather than a suit, could she do a jacket and black trousers or similar-at least for induction week?

One of my colleagues really rates the m and s on-line petite suits esp the size 6 short trousers-they really are short enough! she reckons £75 for a suit.

[mumoverseas]

found it, fantastic, thanks for that

[Bellabellabella]

Look under 'schoolwear, boys, suits'

[mumoverseas]

oooh, thanks for that. I looked online last week and the cheapest was £100+. I'll be dammed if I'm spending stupid money on another suit

[Bellabellabella]

M and S are selling one for £50.00. Maight be worth a look.

[mumoverseas]

bugger! its been confirmed that he can't wear his lovely new pinstripe suit and I have to buy a plain one.
Help me out ladies, the cheapest I've found so far is £110 for a suit (Next) any other suggestions?

[piscesmoon]

I think it is always a good idea to look at the 6th form students and see what they are actually wearing before you spend any money.
DS had to wear 'business dress', some translate this to a suit but they don't have to have a suit so I didn't get one as DS would only wear one if forced. (A great pity as he would look nice in a suit).
Someone mentioned university interviews. When we took DS everyone was very casual-it was an art subject so this may make a difference-but a suit would have looked out of place. I would check first.

[iheartdusty]

episode always seem to have very small sizes in tailored clothes, not at £25 though.

[hocuspontas]

Ah. Our induction week was in September.

[scienceteacher]

I bought DS1's suit in June last year because that is when he did his work experience. I don't think he is growing (much) now, so there is not much of a time factor.

[webwiz]

I'm not being that organised hocuspontas - DD2 needs her suit for July 6th which is sixth form induction week. Also she appears to need a complete new wardrobe to go on a three day outward bound team building thing

We have been to a Next factory store today but it had lots of jackets in the right size but no matching trousers or skirts.

[mumoverseas]

£25!where?
size 6! I couldn't get one of my butt cheeks into a size 6!

[MrsBadger]

webwiz - you need a Next factory outlet, their Petite range is good and there are usually a lot of 6s as not many people are a 6

[hocuspontas]

I'm amazed at people buying clothes for school before August! Us lazy arses never have this problem