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

[swallowedAfly]

it is criminal really. one of the principles of uniform is to undermine bullying and put everyone on a level - re: expensive trainers v mum can't afford them etc. but that gets blown out of the water when they make uniform too expensive force everyone to buy it at the monopoly shop and therefore some will be in clean clothes everyday because parents can afford to buy loads and some will be wearing day in day out. some will have a new size every year, some will be patently wearing clothes too small for them or tatty and falling apart.

i do think it's immoral.

there is no justification at all and it's just a way of getting a handback from the shops.

[swallowedAfly]

ds is supposed to wear all the stuff from the uniform shop - including the polo necks with the logo on. a polo neck with logo is £13! no better quality than the packs of £3 for a fiver. the jumpers are about £18. he is at primary school so still growing!

i have conceded to him having the logo'd jumpers but will not and cannot spend £13 per polo shirt. i remember the intake evening being told it was compulsory to wear all proper uniform and saying there and then that as far as i was aware that could not be correct or be enforced as how could families be punished for the finances? i was then patronisingly told they have a second hand uniform sale once a year if i was 'struggling'

it's all just so unnecessary. their uniform is navy blue sweater and navy or white polo with a ridiculous embroidered logo that ups the price. it is the only school in the village so it's not like they need to differentiate themselves. if they find it essential to have a badge they should just sell the iron or stitch on ones.

[VeryDullNameChange]

I agree SAF. DC's school compromises quite reasonably on a logo'd sweatshirt (available from Tesco's embroidery service, so pretty much as cheap as possible) and then off-the peg polos and trousers. Specialist shirts is taking the piss.

[swallowedAfly]

yep especially when you're talking about reception kids ffs - coming home splattered in paint and some of them still wetting themselves some days not to mention the rate of growing yeah sure kit them out in minimum £35 worth of gear on a daily basis

it's idiotic.

[swallowedAfly]

sorry - £18 jumper, £13 polo shirt - that's £31 in itself actually so if you really added on a decent pair of shoes (essential at that age and minimum £30) a pair of trousers and underwear you're actually looking at a 4 yo wearing a £70 outfit to throw paint at and potentially wee in.

[babster]

Black skirts please! I have just returned from our local Tesco and they're all grey :(

[swallowedAfly]

actually tesco if you really want some good press on uniform and your responsiveness/concern for parents you could take part in a campaign against expensive uniform and allowing monopolies - re: only one shop sells it, ergo no competition, ergo fucking outrageous prices.

mind you you might first want to stand up and back the co op on lads mags.

[IceCreamForCrow]

I read the title as 'Tell F&F what you really look like in a school uniform..' Yikes would be the answer

Anyway..we really neeed grey skinny or straight teen girls school trousers.

Adjustable waists always useful

If F&F were to develop a decent range of leather school shoes (and I mean of decent quality) to give Clarks some much needed competition I'd be delighted. To cater for teen sizes ie adult.

[swallowedAfly]

oh yes please to someone making decent children's shoes that don't cost more than adult versions.

i am gambling on a pair of lee cooper shoes for ds this september. they were reduced to £20 and i'm hoping they will last. i don't understand why it's either pay £40 for a decent pair of shoes or anything from £5 - £30 and expect them to fall apart within a week.

[curlycatkin]

My daughter only wants to wear trousers to school. They don't have to be made of scratchy stuff, I wish more comfortable ones were widely available for girls and boys.
I would like to see fair trade options and organic cotton too.

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

Very Important as all my children are slimmer than 'average'. So need these.

~ 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 haven't noticed really. I am not keen on chemicals...

~ 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 it's a good idea.

[pollywollydoodle]

I look for easy care uniforms (permapleated, teflonned) they have to have adjustable waist bands as my dd has long legs for her age
dd 9y likes soft material and no "girly" bits of embroidery, diamante, heart shaped buttons etc she hates sleeves that ride up and ruttle up inside her cardi

it would be nice to have smart girls shorts available in spring and more culotte/skort blouse combos...she doesn't like doing handstands etc and flashing her knickers and equally doesn't like wearing shorts underneath to stop it

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

Adjustable waistbands were very important to us when ds3 was younger, because he was tall and skinny, so unless we could find trousers with adjustable,e waistbands, we had to chose between trousers the right length that fell down as soon as he moved (not great, for an active child), or trousers that were too short and looked stupid.

Teflon coated fabric meant we could sponge stains off easily, meaning trousers didn't have to go to the wash for one stain.

I have only boys, so am not sure I can comment on permanent-pleated skirts, but I imagine it would make it easier to keep them looking good.

Ordering online would make uniform shopping a lot easier and less stressful.

My ideal uniform range - would contain good quality items for older children, with a bit more teen style.

[LoveBeingItsABoy]

I have been this weekend to Tesco and got dds uniform. Managed to double up a £5 voucher and had another for 3.50 as well as £9 off a £60 spend.

I got a couple of dresses; Teflon with perm pleats. Had to get my 5 yr old 7-8 as the 6-7 seemed a bit too tight and short. Feels fine very similar to the ms ones from last year. The zips ran more smoothly though. Has a name label so all seems ok so far. Got the las two in her size so al got a skirt. Just need to se how Tgey wash now.

I got some tops too, Tgey feel a bit thinner than m&s ones so just need to see how they wash.

I did also get some plimsoles with a flower design on with dd was very pleased with and some shorts for pe (like cut off leggings)

After last years uniform I'd say how they look after lots of washing is really important

[piprabbit]

It would be nice to be able to buy plimsolls for my 9yo DD. She has size 5 feet and your sizes don't go high enough.

[ginmakesitallok]

How important are adjustable waistbands to you? Would they factor into your ideal school uniform? - adjustable waistbands are a must in this house - but they do ruin the line of skirts

~ 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? - can't say I've noticed a huge difference to be honest

~ How helpful, if at all, is having permanent pleats in skirts? "permanent" pleats still need bloody ironed and are as big a pain in the arse as non-permanent ones. This year I've gotten DD skirts with NO pleats

~ 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? Of course it should be available on-line?? How could you do a range which wasn't these days? What would be handy would be to be able to order a full uniform with pick and mix skirts/blouses/cardi/socks etc

[ginmakesitallok]

Oh - and gym shoes which fit a narrower foot would be good!

[loopyloou]

Also it's VERY important that school uniform is available in ALL sizes all year round. Children have growth spurts that we can't always plan for. Why should we only buy uniform early in the summer hols? I was told if I didn't buy a blazer in the first week of the hols (not by Tesco, by the way) that I probably wouldn't get one.

School shoes - it would be great if Tesco stocked more school shoes in leather in different styles in all sizes - including adult sizes.

[Rooners]

Oh God. I must be tired as I thought this said 'tell F&F what you look LIKE in a school uniform'...!!!!

[bluebump]

~ I always look for adjustable waistbands, my DS is tall but very skinny and clothes for his age are often too big for him without the waistbands.

~ I don't think i've ever paid attention to teflon or not coated products, i'm usually motivated by price

~ Absoultely make it available online, I like to at least have looked at products in a store but once I know they fit/are decent quality then I will buy online if needs be.

I would like my school uniform to be cheaper! I love the availability of trousers and shorts, socks etc from supermarkets/M&S etc but my sons school has an official sweatshirt and polo shirts which are a colour which is impossible to match anywhere other than the school shop! I rarely iron so i'm pleased his entire uniform is crease free, this is essential when choosing trousers/shorts etc.

[blueblackdye]

Natural fabric please, I'm fed up with polyester and viscose, I want cotton, wool.

[VivaLeBeaver]

I'd like trousers to be slightly elasticated at the waist. Dd finds the adjustable waists really uncomfy. If you're skinny and have to pull them in loads then you end up with a big loop of scratchy elastic which sticks into your waist both sides.

[VivaLeBeaver]

Sorry, to answer other questions.

I'm not bothered about Teflon, dd isn't a muck magnet but I imagine if I had a child who spilt stuff all the time I'd like it.

I've never thought about pleats but then dd has never worn skirts. I should imagine pleats are good???

Yes to having it online. Some people live in the sticks and a trip to tesco is a monthly big trip. Been able to order online is vital.

[LizzieVereker]

Adjustable waistbands - I think these are useful for primary age DCs, but by secondary they won't wear them (not cool!)

Teflon coating - this is good and suits my children, but it smells quite strong and I wonder if it affects children with sensitive skin.

Pleats - I don't have daughters, but think they look smart

I would definitely like school uniform available online.

[jojane]

elasticated waists are esential for my eldest son as he is a bean pole.
i would like clothes to be sold in height and width so eg 110cm tall would come in small, medium and large to cater differnt builds of children. if i buy trousers the correct hieght they are always massive clown looking on him as they are so big, but if i buy the correct width they are too short. i can never find slim fitting ones as they never seem to have his size.
for girls i would like thicker caridgans, maybe made out of sweatshirt material.