Tell F&F what you really look for in a school uniform and have a chance to win a £200 voucher NOW CLOSED

[MichelleMumsnet]

You may have seen we recently asked 100 MNers to put the new F&F school uniform range to the test - you can see what they thought here. F&F would now like to know what Mumsnetters look for when searching for the ideal school uniform for your DCs.

Here's what F&F say: "At F&F we're really proud of the value and quality of our products and have spent the last year really improving our schoolwear range. Our schoolwear offering, which is available online all year round, is designed to last. With features including Teflon fabric protector across skirts, trousers and pinafores, we believe that we've made it easier to get those stains out. Also, we've included adjustable waistbands to ensure a more comfortable fit for your children that will also help the items last that little bit longer as they grow. Finally, we've helped reduce ironing with our permanent pleats in skirts."

If you had the chance to design your own school uniform for your DCs what would it look like? What special features would you want? Extra long t-shirts or trousers for your tall children? Wrinkle free clothes to cut down on the ironing? What's the one thing that is missing from current school uniform ranges?

We'd also like to know what you think of the specific features of the new F&F school uniform range, .

~ How important are adjustable waistbands to you? Would they factor into your ideal school uniform?

~ What do you think of Teflon coated fabrics? Do you think it is an effective way of minimising stains on school uniforms or not? Do you think it helps improves the longevity of the clothing or not?

~ How helpful, if at all, is having permanent pleats in skirts?

~ If you could manufacture your ideal school uniform range would you make it available to parents online or not? Do you think that this makes parents' life easier or not?

Everyone who shares their thoughts with us will be entered into a prize draw to win £200 worth of e-vouchers for Tesco.

Thanks and good luck,

MNHQ

[NomDeOrdinateur]

How important are adjustable waistbands to you? Would they factor into your ideal school uniform?

Very important - yes.

What do you think of Teflon coated fabrics? Do you think it is an effective way of minimising stains on school uniforms or not? Do you think it helps improves the longevity of the clothing or not?

I don't know - I find that a good polycotton is best for minimising stains on trousers, skirts etc (not so good for top half, as gets sweaty).

How helpful, if at all, is having permanent pleats in skirts?

Very!

If you could manufacture your ideal school uniform range would you make it available to parents online or not? Do you think that this makes parents' life easier or not

Yes, but it would need cm/inch measurements for waistband, length, rise, arm length - the sizes are too vague otherwise.

Very deep pockets, easy-to-do-up top buttons for school shirts, 100% cotton shirts, polos and jumpers are all important IMO.

[Letitsnow9]

Why can't no wrinkle/no iron actually not need ironing and look smart!

[RiaBexleyGreenwichLE]

~ How important are adjustable waistbands to you? Would they factor into your ideal school uniform?

Yes, very important! DS is larger than your average child so having some kind of system for being able to turn up trousers so I can buy him a bigger size and turn up the bottoms so they're not dragging on the floor would be good too!

~ What do you think of Teflon coated fabrics? Do you think it is an effective way of minimising stains on school uniforms or not? Do you think it helps improves the longevity of the clothing or not?

Yes, essential! Messy DS is always spilling stuff on himself, white shirts never stay white for long with him!

If you could create non-iron uniforms too, that would be much appreciated!

~ How helpful, if at all, is having permanent pleats in skirts?

DD isn't old enough for school yet but I think this would be great.

~ If you could manufacture your ideal school uniform range would you make it available to parents online or not? Do you think that this makes parents' life easier or not?

Yes, definitely online with an easy return policy (to store, maybe?). As a full-time woh mum, I don't always want to spend precious weekends dragging the kids round the shops trying on school uniform. If I could order a few sizes and send back the ones that don't fit, it would be much better.

[BrokenSunglasses]

-Adjustable waistbands are essential!

-I like the Teflon coating on trousers, they can be worn straight out of the tumble dryer when I'm being lazy. The Teflon coated ones seem to keep their pleat in place better as well, so when I do iron, I'm ironing in the right place easily.

-No idea about skirts as I have boys, but I am often surprised at how short they are. Please don't sell pinafores with buttons at the shoulders for 4 and 5 year olds! It makes parents buy them, and then I (reception TA) end up with a line of girls needing more help than is necessary on PE days.

-I'm not bothered about online ordering, I prefer to see clothes I'm buying and I live near enough to a big Tesco that I could easily go there if I was in a hurry.

The biggest thing I want is more choice in trouser sizes. I have a skinny son and a more portly son, and trousers either come too long if I get a big enough waist size, or bunched up at the back when I have to have the adjustable waist on its smallest setting. A 'slim fit' and a 'wide fit' in each age range would be good.

[Smoodle]

• Adjustable waistbands essential. I won't buy trousers without them.
  
• Teflon coating essential too
  
• Trousers that retain pleats good
  
• I would like to see good quality brightly coloured coats for boys with reflective strips/panels. All the coats I seem to find are black which really annoys me as I have to walk my children along a busy road to school. Maybe coats with an inner fleece that can be zipped in for cold weather, and removed in autumn/winter so parents don't have to buy two coats. Also coats that you could somehow attach gloves to so they don't get lost? (poppers??)
  
• Would like to see proper leather school shoes sold rather than the plastic ones
  
• Shoes with only one velco fastening strip rather than three adding unnecessary complexity for Reception kids

[Debs75]

A good range of colours which you could tailor to each store depending on what schools in their area say they want for their uniform. If you need yellow polo shirts for your school and nowhere stocks them it is a right PITA trudging around every store. You could do this as an order in store.

A good length on skirts/dresses/shirts. MY dd is 5 not 15 so her skirts need to be knee length not bum skimming.

Decent school shoes which last for 6 months instead of just 6 weeks.

[lagoonhaze]

Adjustable waistbands are essential.

Decent Plimsolls with Velcro straps.

Barefoot school shoes or decent leather ones with some flex please.

Ability to get all year round with decent stocks online if not in store.

[Maffy]

~ How important are adjustable waistbands to you? Would they factor into your ideal school uniform?
They are pretty essential for boys, and make clothes last longer!

~ What do you think of Teflon coated fabrics? Do you think it is an effective way of minimising stains on school uniforms or not? Do you think it helps improves the longevity of the clothing or not?
It is not a consideration for me, I only look for 100% cotton trousers and shorts; in fact I dream of having them in different cuts...

~ How helpful, if at all, is having permanent pleats in skirts?
Useful, but would prefer 100% cotton skirts.

Please make cotton uniform!

[IncaAztec]

~ How important are adjustable waistbands to you? Would they factor into your ideal school uniform?

My child has a skinny waist - no adjustable waistband would equal no purchase for her I'm afraid!.

~ What do you think of Teflon coated fabrics? Do you think it is an effective way of minimising stains on school uniforms or not? Do you think it helps improves the longevity of the clothing or not?

I do think it minimises stains but not all stains. Sorry but it doesn't improve longevity really. Skirts and shirts still bobble up over time.

~ How helpful, if at all, is having permanent pleats in skirts?

Very helpful if you are useless at ironing like me!

~ If you could manufacture your ideal school uniform range would you make it available to parents online or not? Do you think that this makes parents' life easier or not?

Yes, you need to be able to view it at least online - even if you later click and collect it at a store. I live a long way from my nearest Tesco and I don't like a wasted trip.

[asuwere]

~ How important are adjustable waistbands to you? Would they factor into your ideal school uniform?
extremely important. my children couldn't wear trousers without adjustable waists as child sizes are so odd - on size chart, DS3 is 5-6 for height but 2-3 for waist!

~ What do you think of Teflon coated fabrics? Do you think it is an effective way of minimising stains on school uniforms or not? Do you think it helps improves the longevity of the clothing or not?
It's not something that I look for and not sure it does make that much difference. To be honest, normal clothes are more likely to get stained than uniform but they are rarely teflon coated. Don't think it helps the longevity at all.

~ How helpful, if at all, is having permanent pleats in skirts?
I'm sure it would be useful but only have boys at school so not really an issue.

~ If you could manufacture your ideal school uniform range would you make it available to parents online or not? Do you think that this makes parents' life easier or not?
Online is quite useful so long as all the information is available, sometimes you do need to see things and try them on to check fit so a good returns service would be essential. (Tesco have some trousers online which say adjustable waist but in fact they are just elasticated!)

Things I'd like to see; a range of coats; they don't just have to be black! Proper waterproof would be good too, although pac-a-macs are useful, it's easier to have a warm, waterproof coat than need a coat plus a waterproof on top. (and reflective strips on all coats for children!)
slim fit trousers!
should be available all year round - things need replaced and children grow so don't only need uniform in summer!

[TallulahTT]

A range of skirts in different lengths, I really struggle to find decent lengths for my taller dds, it's hard to find and the adjustable waist bands often just gather up ina bunched area, not a great look.

[swallowedAfly]

adjustable waist bands are essential - otherwise to have long enough trousers for my ds they have to be falling off his bottom and he hates belts (he's 6) and will hold off going to the loo all day to avoid dealing with a belt.

teflon or not - not sure. what i really want is value, adjustable waist band, must be able to tumble dry them and durable.

where tesco let's me down is in not doing dark blue/navy polo shirts. they only do the light blue ones here even though i don't know of a single school that has that colour as a uniform but know of several who have navy. george does sell navy and that means they tend to get my custom instead of tesco as i can buy it all at once.

[ILoveAFullFridge]

Teflon-coated - good, as long as the material itself is of decent quality.
Permanent pleat skirts (and trousers) - good. I never iron uniform grays.

Adjustable waistbands - critical. I really struggle to find trousers for my boys: if trousers fit on the hips they are too short on the legs, and if they fit for length on the legs are generally too big on the seat even with the waist adjusted (they looks like they're wearing a nappy!). Yet slim-fit trousers are usually too tight for sitting cross-legged. The best style, I find, have front pleats.

Online shopping - good, as long as I can return in a RL shop, and not have to pay p&p for the privilege of trying on clothes.

[JugglingFromHereToThere]

I think a few simple permanent pleats is a great idea for girls skirts.
Have always been a fan of the teflon coating
Like things to come out of the tumble dryer looking good without needing an iron - collars of tops can often be a bit wrinkled
However also prefer mainly natural fabrics
Going through the knees of trousers is one of our biggest on-going issues (DS)
I like to see uniform available throughout the year and not only in August
Availability of sizes can be an issue eg. as new term approaches.

[turkeyboots]

~ How important are adjustable waistbands to you? Would they factor into your ideal school uniform?

Vital. I have tall skinny kids and without adjustable wasitbands nothing fits them properly.

~ What do you think of Teflon coated fabrics? Do you think it is an effective way of minimising stains on school uniforms or not? Do you think it helps improves the longevity of the clothing or not?

Haven't noticed to be honest, but I try to buy pure cotton where possible to avoid aggrivating DC excema.

~ How helpful, if at all, is having permanent pleats in skirts?

Don't see how they are helpful, but are nice. But they don't work well with adjustable waists. DD ended up with a bustle effect on her skirts last year, or in a mini skirt for the one which did fit her wasit.

~ If you could manufacture your ideal school uniform range would you make it available to parents online or not? Do you think that this makes parents' life easier or not?

Yes. Online is great for non-tradtional uniform buying season. And helpful if a full range of sizes and colours is always avaialable. Last year I couldn't get age 6 plain polos anywhere online - totally sold out. But in store stuff in needed for emergency uniform replacements - I like how Asda locally has a permamnet school uniform section.


Also more cotton summer dresses please. DD only has a v tradtional style from M&S which she's not fond of as it was the only place which did them.

[NeoMaxiZoomDweebie]

How important are adjustable waistbands to you? Would they factor into your ideal school uniform? Yes. I just won't buy trousers or skirts without them...my children both have very slim waists but are quite tall...I need to be able to adjust longer fitting clothes.

What do you think of Teflon coated fabrics? Do you think it is an effective way of minimising stains on school uniforms or not? Do you think it helps improves the longevity of the clothing or not? I have never really found grey trousers or skirts to be at risk of staining....white shirts however...they're shockingly bad for it.

How helpful, if at all, is having permanent pleats in skirts? Very! I don't like ironing pleats at all!

If you could manufacture your ideal school uniform range would you make it available to parents online or not? Do you think that this makes parents' life easier or not Definitely! Especially with a good size guide.

I like Tesco uniform...I would like a prettier range of socks though! More white knee socks with bows or patterns please!

[piprabbit]

~ How important are adjustable waistbands to you? Would they factor into your ideal school uniform?
They are essential. DD is tall and slim, so we always end up buying bigger sizes for the length and then having to reduce the waistband to the minimum. DS is just a skinny minny

~ What do you think of Teflon coated fabrics? Do you think it is an effective way of minimising stains on school uniforms or not? Do you think it helps improves the longevity of the clothing or not?
I've not noticed a difference and TBH can never remember if the uniform in current use is Teflon coated or not. I wouldn't pay extra for it

~ How helpful, if at all, is having permanent pleats in skirts?
I'd rather buy a smart, properly knee-length, A-line skirt with no pleats at all. But when I can't find that sort of skirt, then I consider permanent pleats. I wouldn't touch non-permanent pleats with a barge pole

~ If you could manufacture your ideal school uniform range would you make it available to parents online or not? Do you think that this makes parents' life easier or not?
I think there would have to be a high street presence so we could go and try things on to make sure all the sizing is OK and to feel the fabrics etc. but then I'd go home and order online (so long as delivery or collection is free).

[JugglingFromHereToThere]

Also, how about providing a bigger label to put the child's name on, and suitable permanent markers to do so ?

[Spirael]

~ How important are adjustable waistbands to you? Would they factor into your ideal school uniform?
Very important. DD is tall and skinny for her age (I blame DH, she doesn't get it from me) and I either have to buy things that are too short or look like tents when she wears them.
If it's possible in the design, elasticated or adjustable waists/sides in dresses would be appreciated! Or maybe a tie at the back? That can be done loose enough to remove the dress without needing to change it, but is tight enough to give the dress some shape. Could be combined with a front zip for easy removal at PE time, despite the tie.

~ What do you think of Teflon coated fabrics? Do you think it is an effective way of minimising stains on school uniforms or not? Do you think it helps improves the longevity of the clothing or not?
DD's only just started wearing a uniform, intermittently, for school room at nursery. So I'm not sure about the durability yet.

~ How helpful, if at all, is having permanent pleats in skirts?
Very. I loathe ironing and if I can dry things straight enough not to bother then that makes my life easier.

~ If you could manufacture your ideal school uniform range would you make it available to parents online or not? Do you think that this makes parents' life easier or not?
Yes, very much so. Because I'd take my DD into the shop and find the right size and style for her, then come home and order enough of the same size/style/colour as she requires.
Also means I can try a different colour on her in the same size if they don't have the one I'm after, then just order the right colour later. Rather than having to keep popping back in to see whether it's in stock yet.

[Bluecarrot]

~ How important are adjustable waistbands to you? Would they factor into your ideal school uniform?

When DD was little adjustable waistbands were essential as she was tall and very slim. Shes 10 now and no longer needs them but I imagine lots still do.

~ What do you think of Teflon coated fabrics? Do you think it is an effective way of minimizing stains on school uniforms or not? Do you think it helps improves the longevity of the clothing or not?

I love our teflon coated stuff. We do have some treated stuff (not sure what it is treated with, but is stain resistant) but it needs ironed, which Id rather not have to do. Some of DDS skirts still look brand new after a year. I think that the quality of the stitching matters a lot to how long skirts look good. Trousers, I can imagine, take a bit more abuse at the knees, but no experience as only have a DD.

~ How helpful, if at all, is having permanent pleats in skirts?
I love anything I dont have to iron!

~ If you could manufacture your ideal school uniform range would you make it available to parents online or not? Do you think that this makes parents' life easier or not?

I would say that you should have one of each size and style in store year round so that they can be tried on, plus allow collect in store (free) and free return-to-store as well.

OTHER

Some white polo shirts are incredibly thin and require a vest underneath for modesty. I hate that!

Everything should be non-iron, and be able to be tumble dried.

[3birthdaybunnies]

Adjustable waistband are great. Also some way of making pinafore dresses more adjustable - dd1 still prefers them, at 8 have had to buy 11/12yr old to be able to get them on, but then are like tents- need longer zips. Agree with another poster about having longer skirts, she likes them to cover her knees.

Not sure if teflon lasts longer - with dark clothes don't show too much anyway.

Having available online all year would be good - with free returns and clothes in navy as well as grey/black.

Socks must have sizes embroidered into the hem and tights must last more than a month. Black/navy leggings available in plain packs are also great for dd2 who hates tights and trousers but gets cold legs. I don't want to buy 3 leggings in black, red and blue with yellow spots in order to get a pair of leggings for school.

[RunningGingerFreckleyThing]

My only essentials are adjustable waistbands and hard wearing trousers so that they dont get holes in the knees after a few weeks. The waistbands are the first thing I look at.
Also a good stock of a range of sizes. Whenever I have looked, there are none of the size I'm after.

[mum2eci]

Adjustable waists are a must (especially for my skinny daughter lol).
Leather shoes in a 'wide' fitting would be much appreciated so I wouldn't have to buy expensive Clarks shoes :-)
Non-iron is always good (especially for me having 3 school children!)

[ILoveAFullFridge]

"Also, how about providing a bigger label to put the child's name on, and suitable permanent markers to do so ?" YES! and make them cottony so that they won't scratch and the pen won't bleed.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Mine are too old for uniform now, but as the 'proud owner' of a v tal and v skinny dd1 I always struggled to find school skirts which were small enough on the waist without veering into 'lady of the night' length.

And the other thing we could never find was polo shirts that had some sense of shape to them - they were always virtually square, so far, far too wide even in smaller sizes.

Oh and we never wanted added trimmings, shiny belts or buttons etc, or any other concession to making uniform look 'cute' or 'girly' or (heaven forbid) tarty, thank you. :)