Advice sought on 6th Form Suits for Girls etc please

[LIZS]

Dd needs formal suits , tops etc for 6th Form - brief is "formal businesswear". Issue is she is a petite size 4/6. We've found a black suit in H & M size 6 which is just below the knee and a few blouses with collars. Ideally she wants another with a shorter skirt but this is proving elusive, even after a trip round Bluewater. Also any tips on the "right" bag would be appreciated. She is currently thinking large tote handbag style.

Can't advise on suits - tho worth trying George or M&S. when I wear suits I prefer round necked tops to blouses with collars as they sit better with jackets. DD got a great tote bag from TKMaxx recently which would be perfect for college, worth a look there?

Thanks. Hadn't thought of supermarkets. M and S were hopeless for suits in her size. So many tops are frilly or have box neckties too!

I would really urge her to consider a smart backpack. So much better for her back. I work in the City (so know what formal business wear looks like) and backpacks are definitely replacing briefcases/ massive handbags for this reason.

Yes I'd agree . Are there any smartish backpacks ?

I totally agree re backpack, could never persuade my DD to use one once she became a teen, although she wasn't carrying anything heavy. Maybe telling your DD they are the in thing in the city might do the trick!.

Would a skirt like this work, with her existing black jacket or another plain jacket?

Does it have to be a suit, or could she have a printed jacket with a plain skrt?

That has a kind of nod! Think they can mix and match a bit.

With a suit it is only really acceptable for the skirt to be just below the knee. This is the correct length for business attire, with a shorter skirt she will risk looking like a secretary. As for bags, the bag must be structured (squarish, not lumpy) and not small but not overly large. It must be of traditional handbag format (two handles long enough to be looped over the shoulder but short enough to be carried as opposed by o a satchel style bag). The bag should be made of leather, ideally a dark colour and not patent (shiny). If the skirt is black go for a black bag, if it is navy then a navy bag can easily be found. Shoes are also important. The should have at least a small heel (ballet flats are not appropriate). Again you will be looking for leather in a dark colour. Not too ornamental with concealed toes. Do not forget to consider hair and makeup which must look both neat and natural. A blowout is highly reccomend if she wishes to I wear her hair down. If she is wearing a skirt pantyhose is a nonnegotiable requirement. Most importantly make sure that everything is well ironed. If you are finding it difficult I would suggest looking online at something like the Hobbs website for example and using that to draw inspiration.

Next online have formal business wear starting at size 6 petite.
Would something like this work for her?

She's 16/17 and going to school. it really doesn't matter if she looks a bit like a secretary.

Lots of our 6th formers wear brogues or loafers, with opaque tights.

DD gets her 6th form suits in Next too. Petite size 6 are good and well made. Next day online delivery is brilliant.

How dreadful to look like a secretary! That low firm of female life!

My DD is small (size 6) and Zara extra small fits. Schools are usually a bit forgiving in terms of style so Zara may have something. Good quality white T shirts work well or non iron shirts. I may have missed it, but can they wear trousers? This helps a bit if they can.

Yes trousers permitted. Picked up one nice top in Zara so far but no suits. Jersey/body con not allowed.

New look do pencil skirts, has she thought of a pencil dress with a blazer? This is business wear also.
Next do nice dresses that I wear for work. I am size 8 so not as petite as your daughter. Also Dorothy Perkins do some nice dresses too.

She really doesn't have to wear below the knee skirts. I've just had a look using google images & Mrs May doesn't always & she has a pretty powerful position. Mrs Obama did however wear a below the knee skirt when she met the Queen. She won't have to wear tights or have a 'blowout' everyday either. Dina are you trying to wind people up or do you come from somewhere like N Carolina or Virginia?

Dina has recently blown in and posted... provocative... comments on many education-related threads. Ignore.

I am rarely specifically forthright in disagreeing with a pp by name but Dina clearly does not know what she's on about. Do not take that dictatorial, inappropriate advice. The words 'blowout' and 'pantyhose' mark her out as American and, while her advice would be excellent for someone starting their first job, it is incorrect in the context of a UK 6th form (which, FYI, Dina is equivalent to Junior & Senior years at high school).
Ballet flats are what many of the girls are wearing at dd's 6th form, where they follow this dress code, a large tote handbag is bang on and a short skirt is also fine with opaque tights. 100% of 6th form girls will wear one at least some of the time. I got some good blazers at Sainsbury's and H&M. I think it's best to buy the bare minimum for week one and go shopping after the first week. It'll save on expensive mistakes.

Also, don't make the mistake I did with dd1's first jacket and get dry clean only. Was a complete waste of money. Cheap machine washable polyester is the way to go!

Dina1234 are you for real?

Dds suit is from m&s, kankern backpack thingy and clarks brogues.

What about Zara? They have washable suits that are usually more "fashion forward" than M&S or Next?
I imagine most 16yos can get away without "pantyhose" in September whilst it's warm.

Gap for trousers?

Out of curiousity, is it only private schools that insist on such formal wear for 6th form? DD can wear black jeans to school, and the 6th form colleges in the area don't have a dress code.

Lonicera- it's the other way round here- independent schools have no uniform for 6th form, state schools all require"business dress"!

Most of the 6th forms around here moved to what they called 'formal' or 'businesswear', but there seems to be quite a sexist mindset of only the boys having to wear suits. The girls wear far less formal attire - 'businesswear' in the 3 6th forms I've had anything to do with recently means a suit for the lads, but the girls seem to be allowed anything that isn't jeans or sportswear.
I would just hold fire on buying too much until she's been there a couple of weeks and checked it out. I think dd only ever wore a formal jacket on the first day, and then when helping out at an open evening.
Most girls seemed to wear either trousers, or a shortish skirt with opaque tights, and a jumper or 'top'.