Cheap warm clothes for me and a small boy - online

[Muffster]

I live in the tropics but am visiting UK for a fortnight at Christmas with my 5 year old DS who has ASD and hates shopping. Neither of us has any warm clothes at all. Thought you knowlegable people might be able to recommend online sources of cheap WARM casual clothing for both of us. He is 4 feet tall and skinny and can't do buttons or duffels so thinking layers of fleeces, gilet, jogging bottoms, warm socks and rainproof Velcro ankle boots. As we are here for a fortnight only I need cheap as possible and we will be staying with ancient relatives in the countryside so it needs to be online delivery. For me, I have no idea what fashionable 45 year old people wear in the cold but does anywhere do cheap warm stretchy skinny trousers/jeans/leggings that I can wear with knee length boots and a long fleecy hoodie type thing with a big scarf? I don't care if it's not fashionable any more, it was what I loved to wear in winter when I lived in England years ago and I miss wearing stuff like that SO MUCH. Wearing shorts every bloody day is so tiresome. And unflattering.

Any of the main supermarkets (asda, tesco, sainsburys), matalan or even h&m should have what you need.

H&M would be my choice. You could get everything you need from them and their online delivery is great compared to a few years ago.

Uniqlo - Look out for heatech items which are lightweight layers and padded jackets which pack small. M and S do similar base layers. Tesco etc will do multipacks of high neck longsleeved cotton tops and joggers for kids. Esprit are also good for basics , check out their sale items, and do quick delivery

Sainsburys have decent quality inexpensive clothes and do online delivery and currently have 25% off (offer finishes after today) tuclothing.sainsburys.co.uk
Or maybe do what my DSis did when she visited from the tropics and see what you can borrow from family and friends as it's quite expensive to buy stuff for 2 weeks

Regatta outlet is online and cheap. www.regattaoutlet.co.uk I've bought fleece tops for the kids from here.

I'd recommend Decathlon. Lots of good, warm, comfy clothing. They're French, so euro style, not UK fashions!
The fleeces are inexpensive and wash well, also they're made out of recycled materials, so less guilty about disposable clothing. They have long sleeved tops, base layers, trousers, waterproofs, whatever you need.

But be aware, that French sizes are small cut, so you'll need to size up. Four feet tall would probably need size Age 8, the trousers have adjustable waistbands, and are slender cut, as French clothing is.
My DS is in their size 8, but he's v small/slight for his age. You may need to cut labels out if your DS is bothered by them- some are fine, some v long and tickly/scratchy.

Thanks so much! Didn't know supermarkets did clothing

Thanks so much for all the detailed advice! Think I can borrow a coat and boots for me off relatives but don't know anyone with lanky 5-7 year old boy who could lend and pick up would be prob with no car in countryside so arriving in UK and being able to unpack some warm clothing and dress him in it as soon as we arrive will be brilliant. Really grateful 🙏🏼 Thank you

Back again as am trying to grab stuff for me and DS in Sainsburys sale which ends today - does their stuff come up true to size/age? DS is slim and v tall - 4 feet at age almost-6, I am 5'7 wearing 28 inch jeans and a UK size 10-12 (but some shops such as M+S I was swamped in a size 8. Sorry to ask, only I have to get it right - won't be able to return items and will be landing in UK with nothing suitable to wear at all in the cold so must have pre-ordered stuff to unpack and wear at once

What about eBay.
You can get lots of lovely good quality children's clothes for a fraction of the price
Then take them to a charity shop or resell them

That's a v good idea about eBay but I will be asking my relatives to take delivery of what I order and multiple parcels from different vendors will be a hassle for them, having to wait in or collect from post office. I basically need to spend well under £100 in one shop and kit out me and DS for 2 weeks in countryside in December - fleecy tops and bottoms which can double up as nightwear, thermal layers, a waterproof outer coat, socks gloves hat and boots. Even if it's a mild UK December it will feel bitter to us as we are 80F all year and as we are staying with relatives in drafty cottage with dodgy hot water boiler it will be miserable unless warm. I can dump stuff at Red Cross on departure. Hoping to order today from Sainsburys as 25% off sale but not sure of sizes.

Try trespass or mountain warehouse for fleeces, they have good sale sections. If I had to get one coat it would be waterproof and layer fleece/ jumper under. Uniqlo heat tech are great, saved me the year we had no heating. If you can find polar fleece joggers they are great for children who like everything soft.

this sort of thing - make sure polyester else you will get sweatshirt material ones. Of course they might do. Sports direct are another good value source of kids clothes if you want to make up an order, but not great on returns.

Sainsbury's are pretty good on sizing. 28" waist will be size 10. I love their straight jeans and only £14!! Great fit.

Hope you've found what you wanted for you and your son.

Thanks so much everyone you're great! Well I did brilliantly at Sainsburys with everything we needed only to find they won't accept a non UK credit card billing address so I had to abandon my order! Not sure if this is common in UK online retail - the delivery address will be English but my credit/debit cards billing address isn't. I guess I now need to check before I shop. M&S make a big deal about shipping abroad on their home page so perhaps they will let me buy things from them.

Gah. At least having spent hours and hours looking at multipacks of fleecy jogging bottoms and zippy tops I now have an idea of what there is and how to make work as cheap as possible.
Thinking: Multipacks of thermal long sleeved slim tops with thin fleece zip top/V neck jersey on top, and a sweatshirt or hoodie on top of that, then a gilet, then a waterproof raincoat. DS and I both have Tropical storm- proof sou'westers sp at least our outside will be dry. Hoping I can wear my yoga tights under a pair of jeans and will find thick/fleece lined jogging pants for DS.

Knee length socks and wellies and trainers (which we have) plus hats/gloves. We won't be glam but we should be warm.
Does that sound about right to you?
Thanks so much again you are all so helpful and marvelous.

Gap have 40% off at the moment if that helps.

Sounds perfect to me! What a pain that you couldn't complete the order though - any chance you can get uk relatives to place the order and pay them back with cash on arrival?

Forgot to add, warm pjs and slippers for both of you? Although I'm sure your son could wear long sleeved t-shirt and joggers instead.

Well I think I am getting there, ASDA seem to be incredibly cheap and will take PayPal. They have some thermal things which look ok and I thought if I get black long sleeved thermal tops and black bootcut athletic pants for me, that can be my base and then I can wear a hoodie or a fleece or a thick cardigan (or all 3) and on Christmas Day, - glittery tunic, with wellies and long socks when outside and Uggs inside - and that will be me sorted. Meanwhile found lined jogging pants for DS and nice red or bright blue v neck cotton jumpers in school uniform section - jerseys for 3 pounds! They can be worn over thermal vests and long sleeve T with a hoody on top. They also do thermal long johns which he can sleep in. Plus our big yellow raincoats on top and I will ask the relatives to get him some cheap fleece tasteless slippers at the market stall on market day as a gift.

Looking at all the lovely flattering riding boots and swishy wool coats and drapey jumpers with huge scarves is making me so jealous of you all living in UK having seasons. Five years of 365 bloody jean shorts and Birkenstocks and t shorts that instantly look shit because of sun lotion cream stains and humidity and I'm SO BORED of it. The only excitement is provided by torrential downpours and hurricane angst. Enjoy your lovely winter wardrobes you lucky lovely people

And THANK YOU all again