Polo Shirts/School Trousers - Where's Good??

[WedgiesMum]

DS is starting school soon and I want to start buying things now so I have a stockpile for when the time comes.

I'm looking for White Polo Shirts and tough school trousers that will stay smart-ish looking despite him being like a rampaging elephant! I don't mind having to fork out a bit for really nice quality polo shirts that will wash and wear well, and where the collars don't get scruffy too soon. Oh and although DS will only be 4 when he starts school he will be wearing age 7/8 clothes (I know!!!!)

Anyone got any suggestions?

I use a combination of Matalan, Tradex and George at Asda - prices all about the same and all good quality. I refuse point blank to pay more than £5 (£4.50 at Asda) for a pair of trousers that will have a hole in the knee after 1 term - until the holes appear they do stay looking smart despite washing/tumble drying almost every night.

I have always like Tesco - decent price and quality is pretty good too. I have found that different shops do seem to fit different shaped kids. Tesco fit my chunky boy, Ladybird at Woolies were always too skinny as were Matalan. Many shops won't have their Back to School range out yet so choice would be limited at the moment - usually starts about 2 weeks before they break up for summer holidays.

Definitely Asda, their school stuff is very well priced and seems to last the distance. Dh said the polo shirts aged 7-8 were £3.25 for 2 there yesterday.

My ds has some teflon coated grey school trousers from Marks and Spencer that have lasted the whole of this school year looking like new, which is quite something. They don't need ironing either

I second Marks & Spencer. You get a teflon iron on patch with the trousers in case you do get a hole. But after almost 3 terms with two pairs of trousers - no holes.

Definitely Asda/Woolies for cotton polos - polycotton ones are horrible, after a while they look thin and grey and bobbly. (Our school badged ones are polycotton so I refuse to get them.)

But - if he needs 7-8 I'd get 9-10 unless you can guarantee they'll never go in the dryer!

Second Asda and BHS for quality and good price

Always found Adams polos very good.

Woollies polos have lasted the best for us. I bought some more expensive ones too, but they haven't lasted so well.

Trousers - be careful for the fit. DS1 is tall for his age too, and we bought from Tescos - they have lasted well (2 prs, 3 terms, no holes), but have needed a belt from the second week .. he is pretty slim. We got shorts from Asda, which have fitted a lot better.

next trousers for thin boys ot mother care for littleies

Thanks for all this, I really appreciate the advice, as usual the Mumsnetters have come up trumps for me. If anyone has any other good ideas I would be most grateful!

Wedgie xxx

What about trousers for a tubby 11 yr old? He has to wear 'tailored'trousers at secondary school, so the current black joggers are out. I do wish kids trousers would come with different waist sizes...

Copper, I have had this problem with DS1 right through secondary school, we have just had to buy trousers for an older/taller boy and turn them up (we have a grandma who sews though, which is lucky or it would have been a safety pin job!)

I have the same problem with ds and I have just found that BHS do waist sizes from 27" upwards in three different lengths. Not all colours were available with this option but may be more in when the Back to School range is out properly.

I have opposite problem, my 3 year old ds will be starting state nursery in September, but is still in age 18 - 24 months clothes. Where will I find school trousers to fit him?

fidget, he doesn't have to wear formal uniform for state nursery, surely? Don't they just wear their own clothes?

I find that the school clothes at BHS always wash really well and last. I only buy from the school stockist as a last resort as I find that the clothes from there just dont last!

Asda is another good place, particularly for the schoo trousers and very reasonable in price.

janh, yes full uniform straight away!!! In some ways its a good thing, don't have to worry he has to wear, or what gets damaged but in others...I've never left him before, and I think it will be a bit daunting for him (the uniform and nursery in general..I'm straying here!) and I can't find trousers to fit!!

fidget - go to mothercare they have little stuff that fitted my slim 4 year old

fidget what colour troussers does he need?my ds can wear grey or black,i hate the grey ones so i bought him black jeans from bhs and theyre great and he still looks smart so if you cant find the proper ones because of the size maybe you could buy just normal troussers in the colour required

I think Adams do smart clothes in little sizes. I know they don't do school trousers as such but they might have something that would do.

fidget, I am amazed (and horrified, actually) that a state nursery can do this. Obviously private schools can do what they like but I was under the impression that state schools for Y6 and below can't make uniform compulsory. I hope your little boy settles in well anyway!

Our state primary school has a kind of uniform, sweatshirt/polo/navy bottoms, but the playground is a right mish-mash, they started out with burgundy tops and then added jade, the polos can be white or navy and in summer the girls wear those lovely checked/striped frocks in blue and green and red - and now they have decided to make the sweatshirt colour PURPLE!!!! Fortunately DS2 only has one more year and has enough sweatshirts to last (if he doesn't lose any in the meantime) - he would not wear purple!

My mother has had a brainwave, I am going to send him in grey shorts!!! He has a belt and the length won't be a problem in fact they might look like trousers. Don't we worry and flap over the silliest things. When I tried to have this conversation with my dp he just said 'Its not until September' in a genuinely baffled why are you even mentioning yet, tone of voice!!