Poncey beach dresses for kids...

[RosaLuxembourg]

These things that cost ridiculous amounts of money from Mr J Boden & Co. I have been coveting these for my DDs for some time because we live near the seaside and they would be SO USEFUL. But all the poncey West London summer visitors buy them for their kids so I feel I cannot. Have looked elsewhere for similar but only found Mitty James which is even more expensive and poncier.
Now I get this buy 3 get 1 item free email from my good friend Johnnie which means I could buy the DDs one each and get a free leetle something for meeee.
So what do I do guys? Will abide by decision from court of Mumsnet (or if I don't you will never know anyway).

just join the boden crowds...you can always sell them on ebay afterwards

You could get them run off by a local dressmaker for not very much money so why not choose your own fabric and go for it?

I did have a look around for towelling fabric actually Sue but couldn't find anything suitable - can anyone suggest a good place to look?

market stalls?

look here

there are some listed if you don't mind secondhand, or would just give you some idea of other shops that sell them?

it's really hard to find nice towelling fabric - presumably Boden, Mitty James et al have got the supply stitched up (ha ha). I had the same thought as SueW, but was defeated by the preponderance of nasty synthetic towelling in the few shops that sold it as fabric at all

forgot to say, how old are your kids? I got some nice towelling hoodie dresses for mine from Verbaudet quite cheaply, but they are only in small sizes. I looked out for them on ebay for a bit, but Boden kids' clothes go for absurd prices - close to new price, often

Thanks Zofloyya. Kids are 10, 7, 4. I shall have a look on Vertbaudet. And thanks for the Ebay link Ellie. I have bookmarked some of them though I find Boden stuff tends to go for silly prices on Ebay a lot of the time.

i did notice that House of Fraser do a similar dress, maybe they are more reasonably priced? if they still sell them!

So noone thinks I should shell out for the Boden ones then?

I bought a Boden one for dd1 - in a large size which has fitted her for two (will soon be three) - summers.
I have no sewing inclination (can barely do nametags) so I didn't resent forking out at all.

much cheaper versions here

John Lewis in pink or blue
and one more

I have got a mitty james one and it is great - really hard wearing and absorbent. I'm not too poncey, I don't think .... though I did buy it to take my 22 month on holiday to the Maldives .....hmmmm, oh sod it, just get one and blend in with the poncey tourists! (do you live in Cornwall by any chance?) - or get one of the cheaper GLTC ones - they are good too.

Boden is a step too far, even for me (actually I just don't like the clothes very much)

i reckon buy the boden ones

they are always lovely and good quality and can be handed down from kid to kid

and then sell them

bargain

You can't beat Boden for quality

my mum made some for my youngest three - to get round the fabric issue we chose cotton towels which they liked, and then she made the beach thingies from those ( I personally can't sew a button on properly)

next do a pink one for £10

cut 4 cloth do them.£25 each but very sweet.

Boden ones aren't PONCEY !!! They are lovely - and although expensive they go on and on and on and on !!! And you can resell on ebay !

Go - on - you know you want to - just place that order !