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Original poster

Capsule wardrobe for 10year old

20 replies

HastingsLikeTheBattle · 22/08/2017 13:07

As our finances are finally, all be it slowly, improving, I've managed to save enough to take DD10 clothes shopping, instead of the usual Tesco and Asda sale rail Smile

But, I don't want to go mad here so I need to ensure we get some good basics as well a couple of fashion items. I'm very conscious of the fact that I grew up in hated handmade clothes so I don't want to relive my youth through DD by buying her all the most up to date fashions etc.

Budget wise I'm thinking New Look rather than Borden, probably max £200.

Could anyone point me in the right direction please? Flowers

OP posts:
imip · 22/08/2017 13:15

I have a 9yo with ASD and some challenges in putting together outfits that won't leave her being ridiculed (specifically clothes that are too tight). I 'curate' a capsule for her and she chooses the outfit from there. Sounds like what your trying to achieve. I make sure everything will suit when she mixes and matches.

We have lots of leggings (uniqlo and m&s) and nice sweatshirts from Next (they tend to stretch and she can have issues with this. We get stretchy dresses - usually scandi brands, to wear with the leggings. Denim shorts (gap) and she wears the leggings under it.

She's fond of 3/4 sleeve tops (Boden).

Generally they need to be more expensive brands that don't lose shape.

She has huge issues with shoes and currently wears a navy glitter pair from Hummel.

I wouldn't spend your full budget straight away, but I'd pick s colour scheme and buy around it. It works for us (usually!).

Original poster
HastingsLikeTheBattle · 22/08/2017 13:22

That's great imip thanks for all your suggestions. I have an older DD with ASD who isn't interested in clothes at all so this is all new to me. Sounds like you've managed to find what works for her Smile

As for DD in question, at the moment she just loves unicorns so will naturally migrate towards those kind of tops, which is ok to a point, but like you, I don't want her ridiculed.

I thought Biden would be immensely expensive, so I'm off to look at the 3/4 sleeve tops Flowers

OP posts:
Jellybean85 · 22/08/2017 14:37

What about a chunk of money on one really nice item she loves? When I was a little
Older than her we also had no money for fancy clothes. A well off Aunty donated a beautiful designer jacket, I felt amazing wearing it, it fit me perfectly and I felt like a princess and got loads of compliments, that jacket alone did wonders for my confidence!!

sanitygirl · 22/08/2017 16:14

£200 is loads! I usually take my 10 year old to H&M, but she also loves River Island. You can also find some nice things in GAP sale. My daughter (when not in school uniform) wears a combination of the following:

Black leggings (easily found v cheap in Primark/ H&M)
Skinny jeans/jeggings (River Island Molly style)
Coloured denim shorts (H&M)
T-shirts e.g. www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.0462335008.html
Crop top e.g. www.riverisland.com/p/girls-pink-ribbed-crop-top-824061
Hoody
Denim jacket (got a nice one in GAP sale)
A couple of cotton jersey dresses (H&M/ GAP)
Trainers/ Converse
H&M chelsea boots
Sandals/ flip flops

I would take her to one of those shops and let her choose a few things.

Nearlyadoctor · 22/08/2017 16:40

Make sure you get a Boden code - normally 15% off to be had plus free delivery and returns which allows for multiple sizes/ colours to try, or if you're a new customer give them a ring and ask for a discount. Dd 10 loves their shorts dungarees ( we've bought both denim and green cord for the winter) plus bright/ patterned tights from next or John Lewis. The pontiellle tops are also a favourite, soft and warm without being heavy plus they seem to last forever.

Original poster
HastingsLikeTheBattle · 22/08/2017 18:04

This is all great guys, thank you!

£200 is the maximum, obviously if we can go for less then that would be better, but I want to ensure she has all basics covered.

OP posts:
penstemon · 22/08/2017 19:13

Does she need clothes now? If not, I'd be tempted to wait for a few weeks until more of the autumn/winter stuff is coming into stock.
What does she need? Does it include essentials like a coat & underwear or is it just for clothes to wear at weekends & in the holidays. What do her age group do for birthday parties, for example, and will she need something special/more sparkly for that? Is it just casual clothes she needs or would she appreciate a trendy bag for school or something? What are her friends wearing? Are they in Boden or are they in dance/sports wear?
Do you have time to go for a browse around the shops yourself and then you can steer her to the shops where you think they have some nice things and the price/quality is acceptable? Another option is looking online, either together or you first and then together.
I think I'd be tempted to spend £100 - £120 in the first spree and then spend the rest over the coming months as you see what she likes, what she wears and what her friends like (unless you will now regularly have money for her to spend). I'd be tempted by a pair of boots, some jeggings, a pair of denim shorts/short dungarees/dress and then a selection of cheap tops & tights which she can mix and match. One or two of the tops can be more "going out" tops (DD adores the £5 Primark ones which you can change the sequins on &, whilst it is really thin, it has been washed about 15 - 20 times and is fine); the rest can be every day tops.
One tip with going for a capsule wardrobe is that the supermarkets & M&S often sell a three or four pack of tops which are in similar colours and there are often leggings or tights in the same range. If your DD likes then and they suit her colouring, that is the capsule wardrobe pretty much done & dusted.

Original poster
HastingsLikeTheBattle · 22/08/2017 19:31

Thanks penstemon, and yes, we'll be waiting for the new season to start.

My plan is to give her a monthly allowance so she can learn to budget, e.g. Eventually a mobile cheap payg sim, socialising and clothes. I want her to have the basics to start with so that if she wants extras then it comes out of her money.

I like your idea of splitting the budget over a few month, many thanks. DD is a very slow grower so clothes last a while!

OP posts:
Original poster
HastingsLikeTheBattle · 22/08/2017 19:32

Sorry, yes to coat, trendy bag for school I imagine can wait till secondary next year, and the more sparkly the better as far as she is concerned Smile

OP posts:
JadeT2 · 22/08/2017 19:34

I really like Zara clothes for girls and find them good value. You can get tops and leggings for £6-10 each of you can splash out a bit more on nicer stuff. H&M is also quite good for basic clothes but I find they don't last very long.

Victoria1083 · 22/08/2017 21:08

As a mother of a daughter who is all about comfort, I would get a nice hoodie from e.g, jack wills (they have a 20% off code until 01.09), Hollister or Super Dry and a pair of trendy trainers (dd only wears Nike). As pp said, if they have one "cool" item, the rest doesn't matter quite so much ;-)

We go to H&M and Gap for basics such as t-shirts, jeans, shorts and leggings.

Original poster
HastingsLikeTheBattle · 22/08/2017 21:22

I'm busy searching through all your ideas - I didn't realise Zara was so reasonable!

A Jack Wills hoodie seems like a sensible option Smile

OP posts:
queencerulean · 22/08/2017 22:04

She may be a slow grower at the moment but she may have a massive growth spurt at some point. Those developing boobs and hips soon outgrow clothes (speaks from bitter experience of dd growing v quickly out of clothes)
What does she want to wear? It's likely that whatever you buy her she'll want to be like her friends. Round here it's denim shorts with leggings/tights if cold or jeggings/skinny jeans with tee or hoody. Boden certainly wouldn't be seen as cool unless it was plain. For leggings, gap and H&M are your friend. H&M have some great tops too and tends to be favoured here. Depending on how tall she is primark ladies go down to a size 4 so perfect for any on trend items.

Original poster
HastingsLikeTheBattle · 22/08/2017 22:07

Thanks queen she's 128cm so a bit too small for adult sizes I think.

Shorts and tights are her preferred outfit, though she only has black pe shorts at the moment, she was playing dress up last night and that was the first outfit she decided on.

OP posts:
queencerulean · 22/08/2017 22:07

Pressed send too soon....
I've always tried to get bottoms in neutral colours i.e. Black/navy/denim so that any top pretty much goes with them so would be a good basis for a capsule.
Although she likes unicorns/sparkles now you may find that in 6 months she's outgrown them and they're too babyish so I wouldn't spend too much on items like that unless you can guarantee she'll wear them for a while.

queencerulean · 22/08/2017 22:10

Have a look at next online too as they go up to age 16 whereas in store they often only have up to age 10. Their denim shorts tend to have the adjustable waist so perfect for developing hips.

CaseStudyResearch · 23/08/2017 16:35

Forever 21 has a girls section which is really, really cheap.

CaseStudyResearch · 23/08/2017 16:35

Forever 21 has a girls section which is really, really cheap.

penstemon · 23/08/2017 19:42

OP have you checked Sainsbury's? They have their 25% off everything deal on at the moment. Everything is on their website and it's free delivery to your local store if you spend £15. They have a popcorn glitter top & a faux fir gilet, both of which I got DD the other day for about £15 (also got bits of school uniform so can't remember prices). She's also 128cm and age 8-9 fits her.

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