Where to buy smart clothes for 6th Form girl

[Walkingtheplank]

Daughter needs clothes for 6th Form Taster Day. Realised she needs smart/business attire.
We have a spare hour or two tomorrow but not sure where to go.

She wants a skirt and jacket/blazer. I'm not sure how easy it is to get a smart jacket these days.

Any tips on where to get relatively inexpensive workwear?

I agree @Changerofthename1. We used to have a stricter dress code where I work, but nearly everyone wears jeans and trainers now, even the CEO.

I would also add to the H & M vote. DD has recently started work and got her work trousers there.

Shop sparingly and add to her wardrobe a few weeks into term.
Our school was horrendous with the smart business wear, they'd realised that business wear isn't a thing for most these days, so it became dress for an interview. DD was so anxious about it and struggles to fit in, so I ended up spending more than we could afford. Then she realised no one was wearing blazers and suits etc. So ended up upset and wanting more clothes. The girls mainly wear things like skinny jumpers and short cord skirts or fitted dresses and long cardigans or flared/flowy trousers and 80s retro jumpers.

As for where to buy, we bought the really smart wear from H&M and M&S. Now she mainly buys from charity shops, H&M, TKMaxx and Zara.

I'd go to Primark. I wouldn't want to waste money on such an outdated dress requirement.

It’s not really a waste if they wear it for 2 years. It doesn’t need to be an investment for life. I’m viewing it in the same way as school uniform

H&m are good for plain shirts and skirts.
dd also liked dresses from joy
As other people have said don't buy too much.
I would agree schools uniform requirements are daft and outdated, but what can you do?

That was kind of the point though you’ve got to 6 form and the school uniform went out the window and was replaced by Doc Martens which Lash did you all the way through uni and comfy jeans.

So we've bought one pair trousers, a tailored jacket and a top.

H&M had loads of jackets and trousers. Only one awful skirt. We didnt get trousers there as she is 5'9" and their trousers were mid calf. The jacket she has is really very nice.

Ended up getting the trousers in M&S.

She'll be dressed much smarter than me tomorrow. I think she'll get a good amount of wear from all three items when she gets to 6th Form.

Thanks for the tips.

I wouldn't advise anybody to buy them much until you've seen what the other students are wearing.

Ours is very much NOT "Workwear at Next" type thing but more Dark Academia. Lots of cords dresses and jumpers.

I dont know any 6th form in my area that doesnt.

I just think this whole ‘business attire’ is such shit. Wtf wears it now? For example:

DH: works in medical regulations went in a pair of jeans, shirt, trainers and zip hoodie today.

DS: Journalist, hoody, t shirt jeans and trainers.

Dss: lecturer see above.

DSS civil servant. Jeans, boots denim shirt.

Who wears the stuff?

Unfortunately our school is business attire, it's ridiculous. Jackets H&M, blouse M&S has to be white and skirts New Look 11-15 schoolwear or m&s stretchy school skirts.

Another vote for h&m

Zara

Both my dds tend towards the smarter side of things.

dd2 now in year 12 is kitted out in H&M and New Look. Dd1 continues to wear her sixth form clothes for eg internships and interviews. I looked on it as an investment for working life - not 80s/90s style suits that I wore but nice shirts with smartish trousers and a jacket as necessary.

(They both use Vinted a lot if they're paying)

I dont know any 6th form in my area that doesn't.

I don't know any that do. In our LA the post 16 provision is a 6th form college and one school that has a 6th form. Students wear pretty much what they want.
As "business attire" these days tends to be much more casual - mostly jeans and trainers I agree with many pp that these 9th forms are out of touch with current work trends.

I bought sixth form clothes in Primark, New Look, H&M and M&S. Most girls around here seem to wear short black skirts with fitted ribbed tops and a black blazer. I bought the blazer in M&S.

I don’t know any in my city that do. All just wear jeans and hoodies. And it’s a big city.

Im glad I live where I live, I honestly think they all look great with their suits and blazers, My Ds is in his element actually, has numerous coloured suits, shirts and ties and mix and matches, he looks good and he feels good, same with his girlfriend, they look smart. Jeans and hoodies sound scruffy and look scruffy. It would not be allowed in any 6th form round here.

The school nearest me is one of the top 25 in the country and one of the top 10 for A level results.

They still wear jeans and hoodies.

Perhaps it would help to say where we are for the everyone in 6th form wears suits /no one does ! I’m in Kent, close to London end ! In our town and towns within 30 min drive (so the reasonable alternatives for years 12/13), all the school 6th forms require business dress -
only the colleges offering courses that aren’t A levels wear jeans and hoodies. State and private schools seem to be similar in this. It’s not “dark academia” style, more black jackets and super clingy short skirts for girls, “estate agent” style shiny suits for the boys. Everybody looks cold now.

I think schools are one of the places where staff are still in business attire as, if the pupils are dressed like that, staff can't turn up in jeans.

I left teaching (27 years) last year. Never wore ‘business attire’

Smart casual was the dress code.

Dd went to sixth form at a Kent grammar.

jackets and trousers/skirts from eBay - mostly Next as they go down to a 6 and are machine washable. Worn with fine knit jumpers usually
from H&M/Uniqlo with a tshirt or shirt under for warmth. Wore same clothes for uni interviews (med).

EBay is still the go to for dresses for uni events - usually Lipsy and usually under £10. They have a surprising number of things to go to!

Local comprehensive school 6th form and local 6th form college in South Yorkshire, and next nearest 6th form college in West Yorkshire are all casual. The only 6th form I know that requires smart business attire is an independent school.

I am in Lincolnshire, sorry I should have said. This is the dress code for my ds's 6th form and just looked at others which are pretty much the same, apart from one which is 'trialing' black smart jeans for this year.

Students should wear a two piece business suit that can consist of:
Jacket and skirt
Jacket and dress
Jacket and tailored trousers
Where a skirt or dress is worn this should not be of jersey, bodycon or stretch style – skirts and dresses should be smart.
Where a tailored shirt is worn this should be tucked in and worn with a tie.
When a tailored shirt is not worn a smart top should be worn. Tops that are not smart:
Sweatshirts
Tops with logos
Tops that are revealing
Shoes or boots should cover the foot at the front and back. Boots may only be worn with trousers, NOT with a skirt or dress.