NOW CLOSED Talk to M&S about their schoolwear and win one of two £100 M&S giftcards

[TheOtherHelenMumsnet]

As you may have seen, we've been working with M&S over the past few months to find out what Mumsnetters think of a variety of M&S ranges. The next one of these is schoolwear - M&S would like to know whether you do or don't buy their schoolwear for your DC and why, and what's important to you when you're shopping for uniform.

Please note - it doesn't matter whether or not you have ever bought schoolwear from M&S, this is open to all!

We've included a few questions to get you started below but please feel free to add any further comments you have. Everyone who adds their thoughts will be entered into a prize draw to win one of two £100 M&S giftcards.

~ When you're buying school uniform in general for your DC, what are the most important factors to you? Is it price, quality, style, fit or something else? M&S would like to understand how you decide whether or not to buy an item of school uniform so please provide as much detail as you can.

~ Do you tend to shop for schoolwear exclusively in store, exclusively online, or a mix of the two? Are there specific things that you buy online and others that you would only ever consider buying in store? How important are factors such as delivery options, the in store/online experience etc to you?

~ Which retailer(s) do you usually buy schoolwear from and why? If you have bought school uniform from M&S recently, how did you find it? Did the item(s) last well or not? If you haven't bought M&S school uniform before, why is that? What would make you give M&S school uniform a try?

~ Is there anything that you think M&S could do to improve their schoolwear range? Are there any items that they don't currently stock that you'd like to see added to the range? Would you appreciate a schoolwear catalogue available either online or in store?

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw
MNHQ

We buy uniform from 3 or 4 locations, supermarket, local market, school and high street. The most important thing is quality, with value a close second. I wouldn't consider buying a product for the first time online as you can't tell the quality of the material.

We haven't bought any uniform from m and s, mainly because it's at the other end of the city from where we tend to park, so by the time we've got there we've probably got all the essentials.

Don't think there's anything you could do about that though!

LoonyRationalist maybe it's just me then, but they just don't sit right on my short little DD & fold in a bit where the zip meets the skirt. Perhaps she just needs to grow a bit! I am probably going to buy some of the jersey ones, but I'm sure that the woven ones could be designed in a way that is easy to get on and off for littlies if some thought was put into it!!

Adding to my earlier post:

Improvements: More long socks in smaller sizes. They never seem to be in stock, and seem tricky to get hold of anywhere, not just M&S! Tights can be tricky for very little girls to cope with & I don't really fancy sending my 4 year old to school in the middle of winter in ankle socks!

I'm not going to be saying too much different I think.

Quality, durability and value for money are the key factors. I buy most schoolwear staples from M&S for my son & daughter. That includes trousers, skirts, polo shirts, long-sleeved shirts, as well as socks.

Generally I'm please with the quality, although I do notice that the girls' trousers seem to be thinner material than the boys, or alternatively a jersey material that bobbles after the first wash. It would be nice to see trousers of a thicker material - the same actually applies to skrits, as these were very thin.

I do struggle a bit with my dd, who is 10. She is quite developed and tall for her age, so I'm generally buying clothes a couple of years older than her, so am already at age 14. The fit isn't brilliant, but she's not yet fitting into the smaller adult sizes. She's slim, but has hips, and I'm finding the same problem with most children's retailers - although I'm not sure what the answer is.

Price is important on most items, except school dresses. I would be willing to pay more for the style I like. I like the waist at the waistline, rather than dropped to the hips, no pockets, ties to tie in a bow at the back, with a collar. I don't like dresses with seams on the outside as a decorative detail. I was really disappointed with M&S this year, I ended up buying the one dress I didn't hate but it wouldn't have been my first choice. I also like dresses that end at the knee/just past it and I had to buy my 7 year old DD a size 9 M&S dress in order to get that length this year.

I'll only buy online if there is a sale because of the delivery charge, or if I can't find a particular item. Otherwise I'll buy it instore.

I buy schoolwear from Sainsburys and M&S. I don't like BHs Schoolwear at all and I can't get easily to Tesco or Asda. 50% of DD's uniform comes from each shop pretty much. I found M&S jumpers are more long lasting, but they do fade and twist after about ten washes, so they no longer look good. Trousers have bobbled a bit at the knee but are otherwise fine. Polo shirts are long lasting but pricey and as they are the ones that get the most staining (uniform is navy trousers/jumper and sky blue polo shirts) I tend to try to get them as cheap as possible from other retailers. Dresses last year were excellent but I didn't like this years and only bought them because they were desperately needed.

Longer skirts please on dresses. Cheaper polo shirts and stores being aware of school uniform demands in the area. My local M& S is less than a mile from my daughter's school but doesn't stock pale blue polo shirts. I'd like to have good offers on schoolwear regularly throughout the year rather than one big push in the summer. Offers recently haven't convinced me to spend the money, I'd rather wait. Also all sizes available please throughout the year. Highly frustrating to make a trip to the shop and you have a rack of 4-5, 8-9 and 14-16.

I don't want a schoolwear catalogue, most primary school uniform is simple and available from a lot of places. I might have picked up a copy when DD was just about to start school but never again. I'd also like clothes to be sold in batches that make sense. DD needs five polo shirts a week, three pairs of trousers, three to five dresses, five pairs of socks, five vests. Dresses especially come in a double pack which is annoying as I feel I either have to overbuy or wash more regularly. Also more 'short' style pants rather than briefs, DD unimpressed by the range you currently have (and they should be cotton and brightly coloured according to her). Adjustable trousers are fabulous but they really don't need dangly butterflies or flowers-I'd rather pay less and have no decoration.

Price is prime consideration, however if the uniform doesn't fit properly there is never any point in buying it IMO. Therefore, the fit is of primary importance, i.e. adjustable waists and good leg length for DS. Similar considerations re skirts for DDs when they were in primary and we didn't have to buy the school's own uniform .

Styles of skirt from classic (for old gimmers like me to buy youngest DD) to trendier for those who prefer that style.
Regarding shirts, almost always buy all DCs M&S fairtrade cotton range (although I really struggled to get hold of these last year and can only see short sleeve girls fairtrade ones online at the moment )

I am also heavily swayed by 3 for 2 or similar offers, so long as the fit is right!

I shop both online and instore for uniform. Will usually take DCs instore for a fitting during summer and then either buy there and then or order online; often the stock instore hasn't been sufficient for me to take advatage of 3 for 2 offers cost-effectively instore and in these cases I have ordered online. I also order online for top-up uniform shops that I already know the sizing of and appreciate free delivery in these instances.

I usually find the quality of M&S uniform good, and the trousers are the best fit I have found for tall, slim DS. Used to order from another supplier that did fairtrade cotton shirts (?School Uniform Shop maybe?) and usually check out John Lewis, supermarkets etc but have ended up back at M&S for several years now due to the trouser fit for DS.

I would definitely like to see the fairtrade long-sleeved blouses available again. Not too worried about a schoolwear catalogue as it's easy to see the range online (so long as the complete range is shown). Also, I would love to know why navy cotton tights are so rarely available in 10 years? (This seems to be a common problem across many shops that sell uniforms BTW, not just M&S but they are part of youngest DDs uniform and several other schools I know of )

I also get frustrated by the universal retail policy of offering the best school wear offers at this time of year, before the children have even broken up for the summer. I understand we can buy with growing room but there is no telling how much a boy/girl may or may not grow in the summer holidays (particularly the pubescent variety!), and those who wait until the two weeks before term starts again miss out. Good economic sense for retailers but bit rubbish for parents who are simply trying to get optimum longevity from the uniform.

So to summarise, if you are providing good quality, ethically sound, well-fitting uniform at a reasonable price I will most probably (continue to) buy it.

Also, one final point, so long as the difference in price is minimal between stores I will often opt to buy as much uniform in one place as possible (because I am a lazy feck) .

HTH

~ When you're buying school uniform in general for your DC, what are the most important factors to you? Is it price, quality, style, fit or something else? M&S would like to understand how you decide whether or not to buy an item of school uniform so please provide as much detail as you can.
It's price but quality as well, so I suppose value. I buy some bits from the supermarket but I tend to buy most stuff from M&S or JL because they're just better quality. Also, they're less synthetic - I can't stand the summer dresses in the supermarkets, they're all polyester.

~ Do you tend to shop for schoolwear exclusively in store, exclusively online, or a mix of the two? Are there specific things that you buy online and others that you would only ever consider buying in store? How important are factors such as delivery options, the in store/online experience etc to you?
All in store. Have thought about online, but really want to see the things first. The quality varies too much between items!

~ Which retailer(s) do you usually buy schoolwear from and why? If you have bought school uniform from M&S recently, how did you find it? Did the item(s) last well or not? If you haven't bought M&S school uniform before, why is that? What would make you give M&S school uniform a try?
Bought mostly from M&S, a few things from JL and a few from Sainsburys. I found the items from M&S very good quality, although their cheaper (Value?) range wasn't much better than Sainsburys.

~ Is there anything that you think M&S could do to improve their schoolwear range? Are there any items that they don't currently stock that you'd like to see added to the range? Would you appreciate a schoolwear catalogue available either online or in store?
Warmer cardigans. I tend to buy the very-expensive logo ones from school just because they're nice and thick. M&S ones (or anywhere else) are not suitable for summer.

This isn't part of the questions, but could you please do the 3 for 2 again? Please?

1 - most important factors: quality, sizing, value for money. I look for 100% cotton in polo shirts and jumpers. Adjustable waist in trousers. Some of the m and s value clothing is great - the navy cotton jumper is nicer than the more expensive version in my opinion. m and s school socks are great as they are labelled by size which is handy.
The value padded navy anorak was a great school coat - although as I noted on my online review it woudl be improved by adding a high visibilty strip.

2 - a mixture - I browse online and may order to collect in store. I am happy to buy anything online as I know I can return it if it does not fit or is not what I was expecting.

3- M and S and sainsburys - sainsburys is easier for me to get to and I can just pick up school uniform with the food shopping. All items I have bought from sainburys are similar quality to m and s.

4 I could not find navy gym shorts so bought black. Sometimes it is hard to get sizes online.

When you're buying school uniform in general for your DC, what are the most important factors to you? Is it price, quality, style, fit or something else? M&S would like to understand how you decide whether or not to buy an item of school uniform so please provide as much detail as you can.

Fit is the only concern as DD is tall and very slim. Most retailers are catering for the obese child, but not for the tall and slim child. For teen ranges please can you start at adult size 6 as DD is too tall for an age 12 pair of trousers and too slim so that they fall down or are so gathered in at the waist that they look like rompers. Also please make longer skirts. All the schools where we live are tightnening up their uniform policy and short skirts are a definite no-no.

Do you tend to shop for schoolwear exclusively in store, exclusively online, or a mix of the two? Are there specific things that you buy online and others that you would only ever consider buying in store? How important are factors such as delivery options, the in store/online experience etc to you?

I would never buy online unless it is for a repeat item of clothing that I know will fit.

Which retailer(s) do you usually buy schoolwear from and why? If you have bought school uniform from M&S recently, how did you find it? Did the item(s) last well or not? If you haven't bought M&S school uniform before, why is that? What would make you give M&S school uniform a try?

Anywhere that sells something that fits. Surrently a specialist schoolwear shop in our local town because they sell trousers in adult size 6.

Is there anything that you think M&S could do to improve their schoolwear range? Are there any items that they don't currently stock that you'd like to see added to the range? Would you appreciate a schoolwear catalogue available either online or in store?

Slimmer. linger trousers and longer skirts please.

1. My DD is just finishing reception so she's had one year of uniform, and in looking for her uniform for next year, top of my list is durability. The M&S dresses have worn and washed really well, but the tights I got from a supermarket have stretched beyond belief, but the more expensive better quality ones from M&S have lasted. I wouldn't consider buying them full price, but with the 20% discount they are currently offering on uniform, the tights are an acceptable price for something I think will last.

2. In store is preferred, other than for PE t-shirts which were out of stock and fit isn't such an issue, so happy to buy on-line for certain things but would rather try it on DD first in general.

3. See answer to question 1. I also got a great skirt for £2 from sainsburys which is going to be used for its second year so I would also look round there for uniform again. Have bought things from tesco in the past but it wouldn't be my first choice.

4. In my head M&S is expensive and supermarkets are cheap, but actually the prices are pretty comparable and the quality of some items (specifically girls tights) is much better, I'm glad I now know this!

DD could do with a slimmer fitting dress...maybe more different styles/cuts available?

1. Fit, quality, price, like many on this tread I have a tall slim child m&s skirts and trouser do not fit. I do love m&s 3/4 sleeve polo shirts but they only appear in the shops on the 3rd blue moon after midsummer and then disappear.

1. I buy polo shirts online for the above reason, the rest I get in shops

1. I buy from any old shop if it fits. Asia for cardies , John Lewis for trousers and skirts, m&s for tops

1. I don't think the quality of the uniform is much better than the stuff you can pick up at supermarkets so I don't buy it. tunics, dresses and skirts need to be better fit as they seem to be aimed at strange barrell children. More of a range in the jersey material tops as they look nice and are comfy.

~ When you're buying school uniform in general for your DC, what are the most important factors to you? Is it price, quality, style, fit or something else? M&S would like to understand how you decide whether or not to buy an item of school uniform so please provide as much detail as you can.

DS is hypersensitive to hard, stiff clothing and is consequently quite fussy about what he will and wont wear. So the first thing on my mind is whether the waist band is soft enough for him and whether there's any buttons on them (another phobia of his). After that come price and quality

~ Do you tend to shop for schoolwear exclusively in store, exclusively online, or a mix of the two? Are there specific things that you buy online and others that you would only ever consider buying in store? How important are factors such as delivery options, the in store/online experience etc to you?

I buy the same type of trousers every year so i buy them online and pick up in store. School undies and socks I usually pick up in store as and when we need them. Jumpers have to come from them official uniform shop so I have to go the shop for them.

~ Which retailer(s) do you usually buy schoolwear from and why? If you have bought school uniform from M&S recently, how did you find it? Did the item(s) last well or not? If you haven't bought M&S school uniform before, why is that? What would make you give M&S school uniform a try?

M&S for trousers and shorts, having been buying the same type for the past 4 years. Look nice and smart, dont need ironing, last really well and are long enough for my tall DTs.
Jumper - is logo'd so that comes from the rip off uniform shop
Polo shirts - tried M&S ones for the frst time this year and not impressed. Contrary to claims they aren't stain resistant and even after ironing they look awful. And they aren't long enough in the body. Wont buy them again.
Socks - M&S black cotton ones. wouldn't buy anything else
Undies/Vests - Asda

~ Is there anything that you think M&S could do to improve their schoolwear range? Are there any items that they don't currently stock that you'd like to see added to the range? Would you appreciate a schoolwear catalogue available either online or in store?

Offer embroidery service to put school logos on school jumpers.
Rethink the polo shirts (for boys)
Make sure you have enough stock in the stores in August

One more thing for M&S: when I bought my son's trousers from M&S this year (three weeks ago) there was a 2-pack of trousers for £9 and a single pair for £9. Seemingly identical. Store assistant couldn't tell me the difference, but said why not get 4 pairs (I came in to buy 3). I didn't need 4 pairs, and hate waste, so this particular pricing strategy did irk me a bit, as I felt I was paying over the odds for the single pair of trousers.

I have boys and at their schools (one primary one secondary) they wear uniform logoed polos and sweatshirts so the only uniform I buy is trousers/shorst

Over the years I have bought from many different retailers, mainly Tesco, BHS and M & S.

At reception/early years ages the most important factor is fit, I was happy to buy cheaper/lower quality items as I knew they wouldn't last long on a quickly growing child to justify a higher price.

Over the years as the growth rate has slowed I've moved to more expensive that will last a whole school year if I'm lucky. As it happens all my uniform for the past couple of years has been from M & S for that reason. There is a good quality range (can't remember the name) for about £12 for a pair of trousers which I've been very pleased with.

BUT I recently bought what I thought was a similar range on line, what a disappointment. Either a poster above is right and you get poor quality online or standards have really slipped. The material is almost see through, the stitching is very poor and I have had to restitch seams myslef more than once.

I won't buy online again which means that I'm less likely to buy from M & S again as their nearest store to me which sells uniform is about 20 miles away.

Quip - I bought trousers a couple of months ago and saw the exact same thing. They were exactly the same trousers, the assistant checked. I did buy yhe double pack though as I hate missing out on a bargain and I've got DTs so they would have been used.

I posted yesterday and came on this thread to see what everyone else was saying....

Is there something about mumsnetter kids.... We are mainly saying same things about tall skinny dcs, and needing sizes for slim rather than plus size....

And skirt lengths etc....

Thinking back, when I was at school, skirts were always long enough, we had to roll the waist over to make them shorter

My DD is tall but not freakishly so.... Why is it that school skirts now are so much shorter length?

An extra request for all clothes not just uniform.... Can we have a skinny range in tips and dresses....

My 11 yo DD needs age 13/14 for height but doesn't yet have a bust to match, so tops etc are far too big for her, either that or a tight fitting top is like a crop top

~ When you're buying school uniform in general for your DC, what are the most important factors to you? Is it price, quality, style, fit or something else? M&S would like to understand how you decide whether or not to buy an item of school uniform so please provide as much detail as you can.

Price is a big factor - I don't want to spend a fortune but I rarely buy from the really cheap ranges eg supermarkets because I think it shows. The fabrics are not very nice and the clothes don't always wash well or look good for long. A range of styles is important to my fussy DD and as she is tiny a selection of fits is useful. I think Next (sorry!) do slim fit in their skirts and trousers without it affecting the length which is handy - my DD has no waist or hips and is not that tall but in proportion to her weight she is so standard size clothes don't always fit well and it's especially the case with uniform because the clothes are more fitted - with leggings or t-shirts for eg you can get away with it more.

~ Do you tend to shop for schoolwear exclusively in store, exclusively online, or a mix of the two? Are there specific things that you buy online and others that you would only ever consider buying in store? How important are factors such as delivery options, the in store/online experience etc to you?

I would usually look at the range online before buying in store although I have also ordered to the store but trying on is so important with uniform and returning is a pain so I prefer to do it in person - for the 'big' September shop that is, for bits in between eg another skirt in the same size I'd probably order online and buy a few things for myself while I'm at it.

~ Which retailer(s) do you usually buy schoolwear from and why? If you have bought school uniform from M&S recently, how did you find it? Did the item(s) last well or not? If you haven't bought M&S school uniform before, why is that? What would make you give M&S school uniform a try?

I get most of my DD's schoolwear from M&S because the prices and the quality suit me. We have a fairly big branch near us and if I time it right (start of the holidays on a quiet day) I can usually get most of what I need in one go. I have also bought from Next (good), BHS (not great) and sports shops for things like football boots and of course certain things have to come from the school shop.

~ Is there anything that you think M&S could do to improve their schoolwear range? Are there any items that they don't currently stock that you'd like to see added to the range? Would you appreciate a schoolwear catalogue available either online or in store?

Better range of sizes on the shelves in-store - I can't always find the size I need and in our store you have to go to the Customer Service desk to see if they've got them in stock which is a pain. A better selection of trainers/sports stuff/bags/coats etc would be handy - the more I can get under one roof the better!

~ When you're buying school uniform in general for your DC, what are the most important factors to you? Is it price, quality, style, fit or something else? M&S would like to understand how you decide whether or not to buy an item of school uniform so please provide as much detail as you can.

Definitely price and fit - I have one v tall child and most uniforms are too short. My kids lose jumpers constantly and rip/stain their other clothes, so I am replacing them all the time, therefore don't want them to be expensive.

~ Do you tend to shop for schoolwear exclusively in store, exclusively online, or a mix of the two? Are there specific things that you buy online and others that you would only ever consider buying in store? How important are factors such as delivery options, the in store/online experience etc to you?

Mainly in store. I need to see what size things come up at (eg summer dresses - because they are usually too short) Free delivery would make me buy my staples online, such as shirts, tights etc

~ Which retailer(s) do you usually buy schoolwear from and why? If you have bought school uniform from M&S recently, how did you find it? Did the item(s) last well or not? If you haven't bought M&S school uniform before, why is that? What would make you give M&S school uniform a try?

A mixture - Tesco, Sainsburys, M&S. Bought a summer dress from M&S last year because it was the only place I could find an age 13 one, for my tall 10 year old. Sadly the dress is too short this year and I don't think they exist in larger sizes.

~ Is there anything that you think M&S could do to improve their schoolwear range? Are there any items that they don't currently stock that you'd like to see added to the range? Would you appreciate a schoolwear catalogue available either online or in store? Clothes for taller children. It's no good ending primary school style clothes at age 11 when children are the height of a 14 year old.

M&S would like to understand how you decide whether or not to buy an item of school uniform so please provide as much detail as you can.
Quality/durability/style (most of the time!)

Do you tend to shop for schoolwear exclusively in store, exclusively online, or a mix of the two? Are there specific things that you buy online and others that you would only ever consider buying in store? How important are factors such as delivery options, the in store/online experience etc to you?
Shop in store-as the sizing is the only thing I have a problem with. My DD was wearing age 14 blouses/winter coat when she was 7 because the clothes just do not fit. She is tall for her age and 'solid' built around the middle but even short sleeves don't fit her arms! The sizing has definetly changed in the last few years; the clothes are much smaller.

Which retailer(s) do you usually buy schoolwear from and why? If you have bought school uniform from M&S recently, how did you find it? Did the item(s) last well or not? If you haven't bought M&S school uniform before, why is that? What would make you give M&S school uniform a try?
I found the blouses and skirts excellent in quality-also the socks. Lasted for a good 6/12. Spent twice as much in the school uniform shop 'Graduates' but the stitching on the skirt came apart after a month. The stitching on the 'Graduates' socks was woeful as well - M&S all the way for knickers & socks!

Is there anything that you think M&S could do to improve their schoolwear range? Are there any items that they don't currently stock that you'd like to see added to the range? Would you appreciate a schoolwear catalogue available either online or in store?
Yes:

• they should have a range of 'standard/longer' length. Everything is far too short for my DD (she is the tallest in her class by almost a foot!) they should stock uniform all year, not just in the month before* they go back to school in September
• schoolwear catalogue a good idea

I have just bought M&S uniform items for the first time, my DS starts school in September. I also bought some items from Next because M&S had started running out of the size I needed for some of the items :( I was amazed because it was May when I ordered the clothes, I really wasn't expecting items to be out of stock.

When I buy uniform I look for style, quality, cost effective but I don't buy the cheapest all the time because it is sometimes better to spend more because it will be better quality. I also look for adjustable waists because my DS is very slim. I recently bought some socks, PE shorts, plimsols. They were all good value, especially the shorts and seem to be good quality. My only comment would be that they need to introduce half sizes for plimsols - my DS is an 8 1/2 but I bought a 9 hoping he'll grow before September. If he doesn't he'll have to wear two pairs of socks when he does PE.

Overall, I think M&S is good, it's just their stock issues they mainly need to sort it.

My DC's schools have always gone down the 'single supplier' route (which they refuse to change, despite the government guidelines on fair trading, and parental queries) for complicated blazers and ties and embroidered crests etc.

I would love it if M&S would put pressure on Gove to make schools accept that all major retailers should be able to supply uniform, and that schools should supply tranferable school badges.

~ When you're buying school uniform in general for your DC, what are the most important factors to you? Is it price, quality, style, fit or something else? M&S would like to understand how you decide whether or not to buy an item of school uniform so please provide as much detail as you can.

Fit and quality because I want them to last the school year, although of course prices matters as well. DS is tall and skinny so having trousers that fit round the waist and are adjustable is important. Unfortunately, &S trosers are pretty good for length but too big around the waist, even the ones where the waist can be adjusted!

~ Do you tend to shop for schoolwear exclusively in store, exclusively online, or a mix of the two? Are there specific things that you buy online and others that you would only ever consider buying in store? How important are factors such as delivery options, the in store/online experience etc to you?

In store. Delivery can put me off, as does having to post items back, in which case I may as well have gone to the store.

~ Which retailer(s) do you usually buy schoolwear from and why? If you have bought school uniform from M&S recently, how did you find it? Did the item(s) last well or not? If you haven't bought M&S school uniform before, why is that? What would make you give M&S school uniform a try?

Mostly from the school but what isn't logoed is from various shops, including supermarkets. Knowing that there were different waist and/or length fittings would help a great deal.

~ Is there anything that you think M&S could do to improve their schoolwear range? Are there any items that they don't currently stock that you'd like to see added to the range? Would you appreciate a schoolwear catalogue available either online or in store?

Adjustable waists for slimmer children and maybe 2 or 3 different lengths. Different shades of grey. A catalogue would help.

I am going to shout now, having read more posts

M & S please make more clothes for skinny children.

Definitely Bunbaker, definitely. They are so hard to get unless you go to Europe.

I'll third that suggestion.

I have just been on to their website and written some reviews on their girls' trousers with the criticism that they are too wide on the waist. I know that we have an obesity epidemic in this country, but not all of us have chunky children. I am always reading on parenting forums about children who can't get school uniforms to fit because they are slim. I would have thought there was a market for them.

I will just have to take up sewing.