My mother has given me £100 but only to be spent on DS's clothes. She is mad, but help me find him some decent clothes

[Hopefully]

My mother has just announced that DS1 looks like a pauper. Not something I'd particularly noticed/been bothered about, but she has told me to buy some clothes and she will pay. DS1 is 3 (don't even get me started on spending that much on clothes for a 3YO). The saving grace is that we also have DS2, so the clothes will at least be re-used. Don't even get me started on the fact that I look more like a pauper than him. At least I can spend some of my pennies on me now...

£20 is already allocated to waterproof trousers, but the rest is there to use. He really needs some t-shirts and a couple of sweaters, has lots of trousers (even some that pass my mother's 'pauper test'). Possibly a body warmer or something.

Suggestions for where to buy? We normally buy his clothes in the charity shop so haven't a clue where has reliable quality. M&S? Boden? White Company? Help! Online would be great, as can't be bothered with clothes shopping with DS1&2 in tow. Also she can approve it before handing over card details (she's stood next to me now, tutting about his clothes as she does all my ironing. I'm looking as contrite as possible so she doesn't get cross and stop ironing )

I agree about Gap.

I dress my 2 year old mainly in Boden. It's good quality and a lot nicer than most of the boy's clothes available. There are always money off codes available & you can resell it for a good price on Ebay.

Lands End do nice long sleeve t shirts which wash brilliantly. Their jeans are pretty good too.

I like Land's End t-shirts for boys. Especially boys who like their Deadly 60.

X-post Jicky! DS1 has a killer whale, a walrus and a narwal.

If it was me (clearly it isn't but here goes!!)

I would get some good label stuff from TXMaxx and I would also buy a size or two bigger.

When I was really skint I would buy Qicksilver, Billabong and Animal stuff in the last chance clearence and get the next age range up and keep it for the following season.

I had loads of Animal T shirts for £2, hoodies for £3 and so on.
It got me through my poorer years and the kids looked trendy. They were happy enough as long as they looked like s8rboys!

I think Sainsbury's often have some nice boys clothes. Warm winter coat, hat, gloves, jumper, zip up hoodie, pack of long sleeved t's. Then a multi pack of short sleeve, size up, for the summer.

I would go for H&M and a few bits from the Gap sale. Anywhere expensive and good quality you will get a jumper and a couple of t-shirts for £80, in H&M you will get a whole wardrobe.

Let's face it, anything lovely and durable you buy to hand down or resell will be the one thing covered in paint or tar or beetroot within seconds!

TK Maxx does have some bargains, DC gets more compliments on the TK Maxx stuff than anything else. Zara has some nice stuff including roll necks in plain colours which look smart under nice coats. Agree with Blue Zoo - except for the socks which are blooming awful. Monsoon doesn't do much for boys and is expensive - but lovely for occasions. Had surprisingly good wear out of smart trousers from Junior J at Debenhams - but beware the sizing - tops and jackets are narrow and v short, trousers are narrow and long. Our local Boots never has any stock in DC's size, so can't comment.

JoJo snow boots are lovely, and scrub up well - only £14.

Debenhams, La Redoute and Next. All wash well.

John Lewis - always - you could get a fair bit for £80 & if you buy big it lasts for a couple of years.

However, if someone told me my son 'looked like a pauper' & gave me £100 to buy him better clothes I would spend £1 on a thank you card, £4 on some new socks for him, £20 on wine & £74.99 on a lovely new top for myself to demonstarte my son 'is not a pauper & EVEN IF HE IS, WHO GIVES A SHIT OTHER THAN YOU.'

The remaining 1p, I would shove up her arse.

I meant to put John Lewis, not Next. What made me do that?

I would definitely agree with H&M they have some lovely stylish boys clothes. Lovely cord trousers for £5 and stripey long sleeve tops for a few quid. I usually find that the quality is good and they wash really well. Hth

Joules & Boden are gorgeous and tbh, if my mum's flashing her creditcard I don't get so upset about the prices.

It's a lot easier to palate if someone else is paying - I got give a $100 prepaid cc the other month - so I spent it on stuff for my boy - used a voucher code too of course which helps.

Also because I'm expecting my second son I don't actually mind spending a bit more knowing that it's going to do the two of them. Joules is really amazing quality so I can't wait until he's out of their crappy toddler section!

H&M have lots of smart but hard-wearing clothes - I've hardly ever bought anything bad-quality from them.

www.hm.com/gb/product/92563?article=92563-A#article=92563-D long-sleeved T-shirt from H&M - one red, one navy, one green - £3.99 each. Also bretons for 4.99.

checked shirt from H&M £5.99

fleece £26

jumper £38 but is all wool.

= £81.96

at spiders. I would have been tempted (apart from the destination of the final 1p) if she weren't withholding her credit card till I'd actually found something!

Thanks for lots of advice. We have ordered decent waterproof trousers (rock 'n' roll), plenty of H&M t-shirts (striped, to hide the stains ) and bought a Monsoon knitted jumper. There is still a bit left over for one more jumper or some decent trousers, which I'm saving for next time we visit a Gap/Debenhams/decent sized city with shop selection.

Really impressed with the range of H&M stuff online, looks like there's loads suitable for 3-6 kind of age range really really cheaply. Boden jumpers etc looked nice, but too budget eating for this time. Am watching two on ebay though, after recommendations of keeping shape/colour etc.

NJC (and curse your bloody name changes, I had not the least idea who you were for a moment) the favourite jumper is awesome.

Don't make my mistake and 'invest' in woollen jumpers ... To shrink in the wash.

I'm a big John Lewis admirer. style wise they seem to take their cue from boden type fashions (I.e expect your son branded with a slight retro edge ). Quality is fab. Returns easy.

I've had very happy wool duffle coats from them in the past. How about that for a DM pleasing purchase? I find a good coat will cover many fashion sins and mean you always look nice when people bump into you on the street unexpectedly. This has been equally true for when I have baby-sick-on-the-shoulder days, and when DS goes through a 'anything so long as it is my spiderman costume' fashion phase. Also last several seasons &several DC.