School uniform arguments.

[toastee]

At 12yrs old my daughter always insits on the most expensive designer labels for school bur never looks after things (already shes ruined 2 skirts in the last few weeks)

The school doesnt insist on the skirt styles only that the have to be a suitable length in grey or navy, so I decided to put my foot down and buy cheaper 'proper' ones this time.

After countless arguments trying on different styles in the shop with no co-operation I decided we'd have 2 of the kilt style ones this time, they are smart and were cheap to buy so thats what I bought.

I'm not talking heavy woolen kilts but just simple polyester pleated at the back with the plain wrapover front and a pin type of style similar to these .

Now all I'm getting is the tantrums are kilts are for juniors, the look silly etc.

What do other mums think ? personally I think they are fine for school and she was afterall warned to care for things.

They look fine to me!

As you say, she may start to look after her clothes now, and not ruin them.

Maybe you could suggest that your DD saves up her pocket money to buy 'the most expensive designer labels' she insists on.

It's easy to insist when someone else is footing the bill!

have you hung around the school gates with binoculars looking at what everyone else has on?

I surprised myself by thinking 12 was too old for these, and I also agree she should help pay for more expensive ones and take care of them. I would have been happy in them at 12 but then kids seem to want more, and get more, and grow up quicker these days.

I think 12 probably is too old for these, but I also think she should put up with it because she should be more careful (As long as she doesn't get bullied for not having the designer stuff)

What my brother did, and it worked very well was the following.

They would cost out a 'normal' item....say £35 for a pair of shoes. If their dds wanted a 'designer' pair for £65, they would pay the £35, and the girls would have to pay the rest from pocket money,birthday nmoney money earned doing chores etc, when they were old enough Saterday jobs etc

It taught them the value of money, and how to look after things.

Bump

Agree that skirt is perfectly adequate (the ones that schools insist on can be much worse).

If she wants a specific fashionable skirt that badly she could always ask for one as a Christmas present, or save up as suggested...

being forced to wear clothes that make you feel like an idiot when you're on the cusp of puberty, if not in the middle, is cruel IMO

sorry don't mean you're cruel .. but I don't think you should make her wear something that will make her feel like a target, uncool, not part of the in crowd

now you've scared her sufficiently can you take them back to the shop and tell her to take care of her 'trendy' skirt or she will be wearing one of these?

I would then bring it up with school and ask them to dictate the style of skirt in future years so that fashion doesn't come into it

I wouldn't have worn that style of skirt at 12 either. Can you not find a plain skirt rather than one with detail on it?

Message withdrawn

uniform trez important - spend the money

i would suggest something like the front slit skirt on here

Its reassuring to know some mums think at least this way she might be more inclined to look after things.

Since I've already bought the kilt styles ones I do insist she wears them and have told her if she behaves or buys others her self then we can consider something different when the 2 she has have worn out. Otherwise if she doesnt care for things she'll get another couple of kilt style ones again.

To be honest I cant see how they are any different to other pleated skirts other than they are wrapover style with a pin, shes got the idea they are juniors skirts despite me saying they wouldnt make them upto 16yrs if they werent many to be worn by teenagers.

i agree wiht her

The senior schools round here the girls all wear kilts

of the tartan variety of varying colours or one that is a plain maroon kilt

They are all worn as mini skirt length

Make her wear it or SHE saves up for the one she wants IMHO

Well tbh I don't like the skirt and I do think it is too young for her. I have a 9 yr old and wouldn't buy it for her.

Why not just get a plain, straight or slightly a line one ?? Surley they are cheap too.

Glad someone agrees Rtkangamummy :-)

First of all love to know where you get expensive designer school skirts and how much you were paying for them.
You have been posting on other parenting boards about this for months and seemed obsessed in getting your girls into what you think is suitable skirts.
Think there is something very strange going on here.

I wouldn't buy that for a 12 year old unless it was part of a prescribed style. Dd's skirt style will be prescribed all through school. The style at seniors is plain grey with a slit in the back (navy pinstripe fan pleat at back for 6th formers)

Making a 12 year old at a state school wear a skirt with a pin in it is cruel, poor girl, I would have bunked off school rather than suffer the ridicule she must be going through.