I have an 8 year old girl who I don't want to kit out in head to toe Boden, or conversely in lots of nylon black and pink swirly dresses with black leggings

[TheHonEnid]

am I doomed?

the new season gap stuff is fab

i was in m and s today and was very surprised at how nice the older girls stuff looked - a great knitted dress to go over jeans

oh btw, I am on Gap VIP (translation: mailing list) and they inform me there will be a 30% off in March voucher coming shortly so don't go shopping Enid as I may be able to forward it on

off to make cheese and biscuits, goodbye for now

x

I like princess on little girls tops. Am i the only one?

Didnt anyone ever wear mini skirts or such like as a child. My mother was a bit of a prude and i did!

tk maxx is definitely worth a trawl i think. and oilily stuff is fabulous.

sorry carmen i can't stand that princess/angel stuff.

Oh i like princess/angel1

Hate anything that looks way too old for their age, but i think slogans like that are just cute, nothing else.

I rember when we were about 9 or 10 my sister and i had sweatshirts with glittery writing on saying 'Lets face it, im lovable'. Similar thing, i think and that was nearly 30 yrs ago!

I think princess/angel is yucky for a 3yo and cannot imagine that an 8yo would wear it.

But my 7yo is a boy and my 3yo DD basically lives in handmedowns (apart from the black and pink swirly top with leggings (!) purchased by Grandma).

My girls are basically entirely dressed by Gap sale - but I'm on maternity leave atm so have time to lurk in there frequently and pounce as needed
Another anti-next vote here - I find their stuff doesn't wear very well and their trousers never seem to be the right length versus waist size for my girls.
I've bought a few nice things in Fat Face too - but only in the sale....otherwise I just pass out at the prices!

mine don't go out all frily, or tarty either, and I have 3 girlies of 9, 12 and nearly 14! (and all are tiny ballet dancer figures so all still in kiddie sizes!)

I get many of their clothers from....

new look for their jeans, or the sophie range from mark one
primark for tops and jumpers
peacocks for any and all
undies from new look, m&s, tesco, H&M, gap, sainsburys, asda (I need lots of choice as I get one set per shop per girl to ensure less mix-up)
tesco for any and all
some from GAP, but normally sale stuff

I find that, in all honesty, they are all suiting different styles, so I need bits and peices from different places.

DD1 is more trendy, but then she is almost 14 and needing to keep up with her peers

DD2 is hippy/chic at the moment, so bagg jeans and loose tops the prder of the day!

DD3 is all girly and sparkly and fluffy, so she is rather easy right now, but maybe in another year will be harder....ooh, I like pumpkin patch for her....she is them thro and thro!

Hi

I just noticeD a couple of you have recommended www.kidsshouldbekids.co.uk. Just wanted to say thank you for your support!!!

It is really appreciated. Anyone who orders from mumsnet please enter post in the redeem box and you will get free delivery. You will find a lot of our stripy tops in the new Early Learning Centre Catalogue. Most items are currently reduced, - within the next few weeks we will get a lot of new stock in - this includes the t-shirt dresses and stripy tops. If you would like to be kept informed of when the new stock is in just sign up for the newsletter. Once again thank you for all your support - I am very very grateful! /Malene

didn't know you were on MN!! also didn't know you were from redditch! i'm not too far down the road.

DD went to a birthday cinema outing before Christmas and I was a bit taken aback at how many of the girls were wearing black (age 10-11). She has been given quite a few black and white things herself by MIL - I don't mind it too much for parties, etc but not all the time. Agree it is very hard to just go out and get stuff from one place. The last time we did a big shopping trip we went to Gap, Zara and Pumpkin Patch and managed to get some nice stuff by buying a couple of things in each one. Next can be ok but again there might only be a couple of things that are suitable....

have you tried abercrombie kids? its american but their stuff is really good quality and lasts forever, expensive shipping but lovely everyday stuff!

here

thanks peapod, some of that is lovely stuff - abit big for dd1 yet (starts at 9-10) but I will bookmark it for next year

You think you have problems, Enid? Try buying stuff for 11 year old boys that doesn't have fecking skeletons all over it!

You're doing well if your DD has got to 8 and you've still got a say in what she will wear and what she won't........ Most of DD's clothes are from Next (directory); TK Maxx; MK1 (the non-tarty stuff); Tesco (honestly, fab stuff for that age); Debenhams; topped up with local seconds shop stuff. A friend swears by M&S for her DD but recent "collecations" not really my DD's style

You're doing well if your DD has got to 8 and you've still got a say in what she will wear and what she won't........ Most of DD's clothes are from Next (directory); TK Maxx; MK1 (the non-tarty stuff); Tesco (honestly, fab stuff for that age); Debenhams; topped up with local seconds shop stuff. A friend swears by M&S for her DD but recent "collecations" not really my DD's style

Gymboree are pretty good although getting it shipped here is a PITA
Second recommendations of DPAM, Cyrillus etc
The French don't sex up little girls like we seem to want to, and it's not an American thing as the Gymboree stuff is mostly good
There are good pickings to be had in both the La Redoute and Vertbaudet catalogues
and Rachel Riley is wonderful for the occasional treat
And as others have said, there is a riot of quirky colour in M & S right now

Haven't read all the thread, but has anyone mentioned Jako-o?

They have some very good stuff, if you can get past the dodgy English.

Ah, I see, Jako-o has been mentioned.

have just opened Enid's link. Bloody hell. That is quite honestly disturbing. Not sure I'll be ordering from them again.

They do grow out of wanting the "Trailer Trash Barbie" look. My dd is 12 now and dresses brilliantly. I buy her basic jeans and t shirts and things from H and M, QS and New Look, and she customizes the look with stuff from charity shops.

It's also worth looking for bargains on Ebay. There's always tons of good girl's stuff because they tend to have more clothes than boys and quite a lot remains untrashed. This goes for the charity shops too. Don't try looking for 7 year old boy's trousers though!

Enid, my daughters are very small for their ages (like 10th percentile) but they fitted abercrombie 9-10 at 8/9 it does come up very small, especially the tops!

Ahh, must look at abercrombie for dd when I'm in ny in may
thanks Peapod

It has been a nightmare for years trying to get decent clothes for dd (now 12). Nothing suitable ever fit her.

Next I have always hated anyway, for both adult and childrens clothes, vile fleeces with N E X T all over the place or pink frilly slag clothes. And don't get me started on Tammy Girl.

New Look 9-13 range lately has been really good; I used to dismiss it as being in the same league as Tammy Girl and complely beyond the pale, however last summer got dd some really nice jeans, trousers and smock tops/t shirts. All well made, not at all slutty but not too childish either. I was really pleased.

DD is now adult sized and she now nicks all my stuff, and I buy adult clothes for her. She is now entering emo phase so it is all skinny jeans and scuzzy t shirts. As long as she doesn't go into pink frilly mode I don't care

now I think she looks lovely in skinny dark jeans and stripy tops with a gilet - yes a bit kate moss but not too knowing

will order some abercrombie stuff I can always flog it on ebay if it doesnt fit!

can you order petit bateau online here?

I did buy dd1 a very groovy t from new look, aged 9 but it was too scoop necked and ended up hanging off her