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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Suits for 6th form

61 replies

MichelleC69 · 29/07/2019 18:07

Have spent my day off work shopping with DD16 for suits for her new 6th form college (I know.....ridiculous that they can't just wear jeans FFS!) and after 4 hours in town we have one suit.....there's nothing but sale crap in the shops! We did all the usual chain shops - Next, M&S, H&M, New Look, Primark.....etc etc. Got the one suit we have in Next. Panicking that I'm running out of time to get her sorted for the new term as she goes on holiday with her dad for 2.5 weeks in a couple of days. Any good online ideas from anyone please? Also need shirts/blouses.

OP posts:
ICanTuckMyBoobsInMyPockets · 29/07/2019 18:12

Can't you just get some generic black blazers and black trousers/skirts?

MichelleC69 · 29/07/2019 18:28

Yes... But even those are proving hard to find at the moment.

OP posts:
writersbeenblocked · 29/07/2019 18:34

I would recommend Shein, but a) you'll never escape their adverts and b) their clothes are pretty shit quality. You could give them a try though?

Sparklingbrook · 29/07/2019 18:36

Have you looked at Next online? They have a huge range compared to going to a store.

AlpenCrazy · 29/07/2019 18:36

Have you tried Zara?

BloodyhellMartha · 29/07/2019 18:38

They have to wear a suit? Confused. Not a uniform - but a random suit that you are supposed to track down?

Bizarre.

GreenTulips · 29/07/2019 18:41

Matalan trousers are good with a bit of stretch
Shein - we’ve had T-shirt’s that are good quality - bit blouses etc bit rubbish

Try Top Shop

skeemee · 29/07/2019 18:41

Another vote for Next online. Much bigger selection than in store.

Fairenuff · 29/07/2019 18:42

Never heard of this for sixth form. Just wear casual business wear. Smart but not too formal.

Scarydinosaurs · 29/07/2019 18:45

Primark for pencil skirts.

Marks and Spencer for blouses/shirts.

Boohoo do nice jersey blazers too- that will go with most stuff.

Milliways · 29/07/2019 18:50

My DS had to wear a suit, and grew through 3 sizes in 2 years!

However, it meant he had a suit for his part time jobs, work & uni interviews, formal events etc, and also for his summer placements from uni.

We had to buy slim or super skinny, mainly M&S or Next.

Debenhams is worth a look too as they often have a good range of slim/skinny/tall ranges in the sales.

He also learned to iron the shirts properly which stood him in good stead for working life living away from home.

Reasontobelieve · 29/07/2019 18:53

When my dd had to get a 'suit' for sixth form, we managed to get a school blazer from M&S (much more useful than a woman's suit jacket as it has pockets) and matched this with a straight black skirt from H&M.

Hotterthanahotthing · 29/07/2019 18:58

So glad my dd will not have to wear a uniform.
Why do you needire than one suit?Surely a couple of skirts/trousers In the same colour as the jacket will do.Also does suit mean like a school uniform or can she wear long/short sleeved jersey tops with it.?

DotOnTheHorizon · 29/07/2019 19:12

How strict is the uniform? DD is required to wear a suit, but as long as they are business smart school are ok with it.

The girls wear a combination of stuff from designer to supermarket. Asda blazers are good and lightweight and washable, H&M are cheap and cheerful but last well. Next quality can be variable....as can their sizing. Their tops and linen dresses for summer are good quality and a fab price.

All of them prefer to mix and match suits as well so get stuff you can mix up.

MichelleC69 · 29/07/2019 20:45

Thanks all for the suggestions. Not sure how strict they are as it's a new school she's just starting.

OP posts:
WarriorsAll · 29/07/2019 22:17

Sympathy - we have the stupid suit thing - they are supposed to dress like every day is an interview - they have a stricter and smarter dress code than the teachers. We are doing black.. I think it's idiotic, the sixth form students dress in cheap polyester suits - nothing classy about that!

MichelleC69 · 29/07/2019 22:20

@WarriorsAll I agree - I work in financial services in a senior role and I wear jeans to work most days, it's mad! I guess it at least keeps their weekend clothes separate.

OP posts:
WarriorsAll · 29/07/2019 22:24

I don't know why the schools do it and it's all the schools in our town! They are so wrapped up with uniform and presentation, yet the teacher's look like their clothes could do with a good iron - I just wish they'd focus on bloody teaching!

Lwmommy · 29/07/2019 22:34

Asda do a 6th form uniform section direct.asda.com/george/school/girls-college-sixth-form/D10M2G3C1,default,sc.html

Frazzled2207 · 30/07/2019 08:21

What about a dress with a blazer? What I wear to work

FamilyOfAliens · 30/07/2019 08:26

I think it’s just schools that do this.

My DC went to sixth-form college and they could wear what they liked.

GreenTulips · 30/07/2019 08:35

DD wore a nice top, black ribbed, high neck, dogtooth checked skirt, black tights and Dr Martins black flat.

This was induction day and she was told she wasn’t smart enough

WarriorsAll · 30/07/2019 08:36

@Frazzled2207 Our school rules say that it has to be a suit - so a dress and a jacket would need to be the same colour. - I don't know of many workplaces that would insist on this ..the reality is that a term into the year they lighten up a bit - or so I've heard - they want the kids to look corporate but cheap, badly made, polyester suits look like what they are - a bloody mess!

Frazzled2207 · 30/07/2019 08:38

This is completely bonkers imo

Leakinglikeacolander · 30/07/2019 08:42

Also having this problem for my dd, strict suit policy.