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Original poster

Formalish clothes for small boys! Help!

33 replies

NotQuiteCockney · 07/02/2007 07:47

Wedding coming up in April, by which point the boys will be 5.5 and 2.5. I don't want them in morning suits, but I'd like them to look 'dressy'. Somehow.

I'm planning to try H+M maybe. Or Du pareil au meme? I know John Lewis do formal suits from quite young, but I'd rather get them something they might be able to wear again. (Actually, I may have a white shirt with nice embroidery on it that might fit DS2, maybe with some trousers. Of course, he's incredibly fussy about what clothes he'll wear, but that's a whole other thread ...) DS1's non-school wardrobe currently consists of surfer wear, really. And school uniform is polo shirt etc, so no use ...

Any suggestions?

OP posts:
LawdyMissTutter · 07/02/2007 07:49

i'm sorry i can't come up with any sensible suggestions but you put me in mind of this thread of mine

good luck though

Original poster
NotQuiteCockney · 07/02/2007 07:52

I remember looking for actual formal wear for boys at one point (don't remember why ), and it doesn't seem to exist, by and large, anyway.

What did you end up going for, for your DS?

OP posts:
Original poster
NotQuiteCockney · 07/02/2007 07:53

Actually, I've now remembered that I bought DS1 a nice patterned shirt for xmas that might work fine, just need to get him some basic trousers. H+M's website is no use at all. And DPAM seems to just stock basic or sporty stuff.

OP posts:
LawdyMissTutter · 07/02/2007 07:56

i got him some navy cords from gap and a striped jumper

i tried a shirt but he looked so uncomfortable and starchy - better for older boys i'd have thought though

(arf at us being the only ones answering each other's threads)

Original poster
NotQuiteCockney · 07/02/2007 07:57

Most people are on school run panic right now. I would be feeding and clothing DS2, only he's still asleep. (tempted to say , but am for your sleep problem, honest)

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Imafairy · 07/02/2007 08:01

Monsoon and Next usually have nice linen trousers with waistcoats - look smart but cute.

Original poster
NotQuiteCockney · 07/02/2007 08:02

Oooh, I've not tried Next for ages. Is their stuff relatively narrow?

I'll have to get out the stuff I've got and see what's serviceable, see what DS2 will wear, and then think about shopping.

(I have to do pretty much the same thing for my outfit for the wedding, too. Great fun. )

OP posts:
Bozza · 07/02/2007 08:07

Next quite often have adjustable waist bands these days. Have you tried Vertbaudet?

Original poster
NotQuiteCockney · 07/02/2007 08:08

Adjustable waistbands are my salvation. Haven't tried vertbaudet, tend not to buy clothes online. Will look at them, too, though.

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LawdyMissTutter · 07/02/2007 08:10

warning re next sizes

the last few times i've tried them, they appeared to be catering for the a-hem 'larger' child. ds is pretty damn huge but is still drawfed by a lot of their trews. but then there'll be an odd pair that fits beautifully. the assistant did tell me they'd changed their sizing recently

Original poster
NotQuiteCockney · 07/02/2007 08:11

I think I'd go to a shop for them, anyway. I'll have a dig and a think, and figure out what I want them to wear.

We have a black velvet suit from H+M, that was perfect for these things, but I'm sure it's now too small.

OP posts:
slinx · 07/02/2007 08:27

BHS?

I got my ds a shirt and smart trousers for a wedding in there when he was 4 and they weren't too badly priced

Original poster
NotQuiteCockney · 07/02/2007 08:43

Oh, I don't even know where I'd find a BHS. Will have a look.

I'm sorta hoping for 'funky and fun' more than formal, I guess. I just don't want him to look sporty, iyswim. What I want probably doesn't exist, but they may already have ok shirts, in which case I only have to sort out trousers.

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MrsBadger · 07/02/2007 08:51

if you can bear the cost Monsoon have astonishingly adorable semi-formal grey linen suits with waistcoats - and the linen trousers with just a shirt would be good too.

bran · 07/02/2007 08:51

How about Monsoon? Money would have to be no object though as the prices are quite scary for something they'll only be wearing once.

How big is your ds2 now? I have a really lovely Monsoon blazer, blue with vertical stripes for age 2-3 that you would be welcome to borrow. I bought it for ds to wear for his christening, but it was a very hot day so he wore a salwar kameez (or whatever the masculine name is for that) that his foster mother had brought back from India for him.

Waswondering · 07/02/2007 08:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
NotQuiteCockney · 08/02/2007 21:12

bran, that might well work. DS2 isn't that big, he's just into size 2-3 now. What sort of blue is it? I might try to find trousers that match/suit it. I've found a plain white shirt with simple embroidery on it, in his closet, but it's 3-4 so maybe too big. Anyway, he objects to most possible outfits these days , so god knows what I will really do.

OP posts:
Califrau · 08/02/2007 21:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

peachygirl · 08/02/2007 21:18

Jo Jo has some nice things but they might be a bit light and summery for april
jojo

DumbledoresGirl · 08/02/2007 21:21

When my boys went to their uncles wedding, I got them outfits in Debenhams I think. Bought decent navy blue trousers (like boys wear to school) and plain shirts in mauve, and then one had a blue waistcoat and the other had a mauve one IIRC. There were bowties to go with the waistcoats but I am not sure if they wore them.

Still have the outfits somewhere. I don't think ds3 will have an occasion to wear them though!

Original poster
NotQuiteCockney · 08/02/2007 21:21

I have found a blue/yellow/something sort of ... um ... checked? I want to say Gabardine? Something like that ... shirt, that belongs to DS1. So they each have (maybe) a shirt for the wedding. I don't think I want them that formal.

Ooooh, liking the Jojomamanbebe stuff. That's light and funky and nice. I'll check about how much of the wedding is outdoors, but I could absolutely see that working for DS2, anyway. (Bit small for DS1, unfortunately ...)

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pollyanna · 08/02/2007 21:22

have you looked at Rachel Riley ?

Dinosaur · 08/02/2007 21:22

The only time the DSs went to a wedding, they were kitted out in shirts and trousers (not suits!) from John Lewis.

They did look quite smart, considering .

Original poster
NotQuiteCockney · 08/02/2007 21:24

I do think shirts and trousers would be fine - I'm not wanting to dress them as Little Lord Fauntleroy.

Actually, we have a couple of v pricy fancy kids' boutiques in the area, so I should probably check out those. But from what I've seen, most expensive boy's clothing is still sportswear.

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Original poster
NotQuiteCockney · 08/02/2007 21:26

I have just realised ... maybe my only hope of getting DS2 into a new arbitrary outfit is to have him dressed the same as DS1.

Rachel Riley looks nice but quite pricy - I'm guessing the quality is v good?

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