Can we have a school uniform thread?

[lottieandmia]

I'm going to post my experiences with different brands and also ask about school shoes.

Next - I like the style of the cardigans but they tend to go bobbly.

The pleated skirts are very nice and wash / wear well. They also do nice track suits for PE.

Sainsbury - great polo shirts which stay white and wear well

Cardigans also very nice but although they don't bobble they do fade in colour.

Marks & Spencer - generally good quality - I have to buy skirts for dd3 from there because nowhere else does green.

John Lewis - do the best most hardwearing summer dresses. Also the shirts are very good. Unfortunately as my girls become older I'm finding the styles they do aren't as fashionable as other places though.

Usually we buy Startrite or Clarks shoes. This year I was wondering about trying Next shoes as I've seen some reviews saying they are comfortable. I also wondered about M&S. Does anyone have a view about that or do they all get similarly trashed?

[bonfireheart]

Got a pack of 10 knickers - 100% cotton - for £5.50 for DD in Tesco earlier.

[MsMarple]

Asda do 100% cotton long sleeved polo shirts for between £3-£4.5 for a pack of 2. They are an absolute bargain as less than half the price of M&S or Gap, which are the only other long sleeved ones I found.

My DS really likes these for the winter when he says it is too cold in the mornings for short sleeved shirts, even with jumpers.

[FrenchRoast]

Slim fit M&S white shirts for dd
Dd and ds have very skinny feet and both wear orthotics - their shoes are always Ricosta, brilliant quality and approved by their podiatrist!
Ds tall and very skinny trousers - 26in waist 32inch leg - River Island slim fit.
Ds white shirts - New Look slim fit- everything else is too short or has a massive neck.

[dementedpixie]

Dd has brogues from schuh and they have been very comfortable with no blisters

[DearMrDilkington]

Debenhams have a brilliant sale on school shoes if anyone's after some. I've picked some up for dd(5), I'm also after some boots suitable for school in the winter months if anyone knows of some good ones.

[Notso]

Oh boo, just realised Asda only do a girl version with a ruffle. The search continues!

[Notso]

Brilliant thanks Thanks DS2 hates the pique (sp?) ones and DS3 has to copy his brother!

[ThanksForAllTheFish]

Notso Asda do white jersey polos. We had them last year (in blue) and they where great. I would say size up. My DD is tiny and of slight build and we had to go up one size (she was in 5-6 in other clothes but needed 7-8 in these).

[Notso]

Does anyone know anywhere that does white jersey polo shirts? I used to get them from H&M but can't find them online or instore this month.

[Tralalalalz]

M&S skinny for trousers for my skinny 7 year old

Tesco trousers for my tall solid teen

Tesco shirts for the 7 year old, just as good as M&S

Stopped buying the high street / supermarket v neck sweaters and gone back to buying the regulation school uniform shop ones, £17 each but last much longer so not more expensive in the long run

Everything else is regulation for my kids. I love that they have compulsary white logo polo shirts at £12.99 each which have to be replaced every year as they look like rags and that DD's kilts are £33 each

[lottieandmia]

I've ordered some stuff from George / Asda and it is a great fit for my slim dd.

[ihearttc]

We've got Next Slim fit trousers for DS2 who is 6 and Marks and Spencers Slim fit polo shirts (In a size up cause they shrink a bit!).

He's got Clarks Shoes this time but he usually wears Noel ones. He's a D fitting so we really struggle to get them narrow enough. The Clarks ones are an E but fit perfectly.

For PE kit he has got Nike PE shorts which were £8 in an outlet...they actually fit him unlike the school PE shorts and plain white t-hsirts from Next.

DS1 is 12 and is at High School so wears the school polo shirts and jumpers. He is built the complete opposite of DS2 and we really struggle to get trousers to go over his thighs. I discovered Zeco Sturdy/Generous fit trousers about 3 years ago and he has had them every year since (in his correct size for his age which is nothing short of a miracle!). They've lasted all year and still look good now.

[Rosie29]

Just want to add Matalan boys trousers and shorts are hard-wearing and great quality.

[Rosie29]

Any recommendations for a skirt for my dd? She's very tall, around 5ft 9 and very thin, even the longer length skirts come up short or are too baggy around the waist. We have a simple jersey tube skirt from Asda in reserve but I'm not happy that it is so short, she, of course, loves it

[TooStressyForMyOwnGood]

Great thread! I love John Lewis for tights although I find I need to size up even for my fairly small DDs.

I like Sainsbury's and M&s for summer dresses and have to say our (primary) school supplier is really good.

[lottieandmia]

These luckily don't have the doll - they come with a key ring instead (I think!)

[CarolinePenvenen]

No they don’t have the doll, I refuse to buy those since the exact thing you describe happened to dd’s shoes. But not Lottie, sorry! 😉

[ThanksForAllTheFish]

lottieandmia those are the shoes with the doll in the heel, I tend to find they don't last that well as the little hole/ space for the doll weakens them. I bought DD a similar pair last year and the inner part of the heel sort of collapsed in on itself after a while. (It was recovered by supergluing the flap shut and adding insoles)

[CarolinePenvenen]

lottie just bought those shoes this afternoon for dd9. Similar style to what she always has and they last the year fine. The soles look a lot thicker this time though.

M&S definitely for school dresses and easy iron shirts. Everything else, even coats, has to be school ones bought at school shop

And Poundland for massive cards of school colour hair bands!

[bunnybleu]

Back to say thank you to elevenclips for the M&S suggestion,...I've got DS a pair of skinny school trousers! He's got the age 15-16 which are an inch or so longer than the Next 16s he had last year. I'm hoping by the time he's grown another couple of inches the long length ones will be back in stock!

[lilydaisyrose]

Rebecca, I've got a 4ft 10in tall just turned 10 year old and we got a pack of 13-14 age tights from Next. We tried them out today when school went back and they were perfect. Last year's 11-12 tights were round her knees by the end of last term.

[intelligentPutty]

I've heard good things about trutex. They are based up north and supply the schools and do all the embroidered sweatshirts too.
I think they are good quality and last really well.

[lottieandmia]

I've bought these shoes for dd3 today from Clarks. Usually Clarks don't last 5 minutes but these ones look sturdy so I've got high hopes! I also find that patent lasts longer.

[longestlurkerever]

That's the one thing I didn't get! They had them in tesco for pence on yellow label. She only needs them for pe though

[RatOnnaStick]

Typical! Sainsburys polos are great quality too.