School Uniform questions

black-saturn

Thanks I will have a look in there tomorrow.

KathrynPenguin

sundin13 wrote:

Hi, just wondering where everyone's been stocking up this year - where the bargains are - and where you've found your perfect balance of quality and price. I don't shop at supermarkets (its an ethics thing) - but I don't feel like paying John Lewis prices.
S13

I found John Lewis to be very competitive and the quality was better. Same uniform for DS in Tesco was more expensive. John Lewis even had the dirt cheap polo shirts, but when questioned the assistant said they were probably poor value for money as wouldn't handle the washing over and over. Mind you I wouldn't buy those £1 ones anyway.

Sweet_Pea_2

I bought my DD's uniforms from M+S.
DD2 gets DD1's hand me down so I find it's worth getting good quality, and DD1 is light on her clothes too.
I bought DD2's white polo shirts from Asda because they were so cheap they were practically free, and I liked the style. Also she is a right mucky pup, for the last two years running she has got wipe board marker down the front of her polo shirts which refuses to come out. At least I can bin them after a school year without too much guilt.
I just cant believe the cost of two lots of uniforms, school shoes, two new bags, (luckily they dont need coats this year) and also DD2 needed a dance uniform because she gone up a grade (luckily I sold her old one on ebay) both also have to have seperate trainers to leave at school and tracksuits as well as shorts, t-shirts and black pumps. I havent even tried on their ballet shoes yet Im just keeping everything crossed they still fit.
Im scared to add it all up to be honest, but at least the good news is I saved up and I didnt put it on a credit card.

newMS

got both my boys school clothes from Asda this year, 2 pair trousers and 4 shirts each = £34 . Shoes from last term still fit so no need to buy new ones, sweatshirts with school emblem fit still no no need to buy more, when they grow out of them then i will replace which is better than trying to get them at the busiest time of the year.

(new on these boards so hi to everyone, read the posts for months before joining)

jellyhead

i usually buy polo shirts from ethel austin, the asda ones are horrible, collars and buttons too difficult for clumsy son to manage. he's wearing real shirts this year to practise for high school, they have come from mothercare though, so no good for older kids as sizes stop at around age 9. his jumpers came from mothercare too, everywhere else they 'felt too tight' around the arms. mothercare have a buy one get one half price.

being such an awkward clumsy boy he hasn't got the hang of proper trouser fastenings yet, so i get pull on trousers from the empire catalogue. not seen any larger than age 9 though so this year he's going to have to learn to do up ordinary trousers. he's got 4 pairs of age 9 to be going on with but he puts holes through the knees quite quickly. there are always codes for empire catalogue, but unless you want larger pull on trousers i wouldn't recommend buying from them, much cheaper elsewhere.

notakid

[ It has a Woolies (has anyone any experience of Woolies uniform?) but that's about it - its got to be a trip to the big city for anything else, and I imagine all of the uniform shops will be mad this week - so I'm trying to plan ahead.

Thanks everyone for suggestions.

I like Woolies for the uniform its ladybird which I find good quality. The only trouble is in the smaller stores their stock is limited.

Deni_zen

I did mine at m & s online - I bought stuff there last year and it is still in good nick now, even with my eldest daughter being a footballer with permanent green knees! I'm only buying new trousers because they have grown out of them! The great thing aboy their trousers are they have some that come in different lengths - daughter 2 is long and skinny so they will fit her.

You can check on their website - http://www.marksandspencer.com/IWCatSectionView.process?Section_Id=9673

Deni:D

Savvy_Sue

black-saturn wrote:

I've got a big problem with my 11 year old daughter. She is 5ft 8 tall and takes a size 14 - 16 and needs new school uniform. Where can I get school uniform in that size? They only go up to age 16 and theres no way they will go anywhere near her. Even my 9 year old is 5ft 4 and takes age 16 or size 12 clothes. What a nightmare.

I know that the school my lads are at say that the official uniform provider will source whatever size is required at the same price as the 'regular' sizes. It IS dearer than on the high street, but I think the quality is good. Their uniform provider comes into school once a week and just before the start of term in September, and offers a mail order service.

Savvy_Sue

jellyhead wrote:

being such an awkward clumsy boy he hasn't got the hang of proper trouser fastenings yet, so i get pull on trousers from the empire catalogue. not seen any larger than age 9 though so this year he's going to have to learn to do up ordinary trousers. he's got 4 pairs of age 9 to be going on with but he puts holes through the knees quite quickly. there are always codes for empire catalogue, but unless you want larger pull on trousers i wouldn't recommend buying from them, much cheaper elsewhere.

I think BHS do trousers with an elasticated bit at the back for a few more years' worth, but also look at Debenhams because they have elastic inside the waistband that you can adjust with buttons.

I don't think ANY of mine EVER undid the zips on their trousers though, just relied on the waistband just skimming their hips on the way up and hoping they wouldn't fall down, IYSWIM!

jules-2005

I have to admit to buying all the school uniform the week before they broke up !

I don't like Tesco's/Asda's polo shirts. Is it just me who thinks that the really cheap ones are awful to iron ? Anyway I bought all the polo shirts from Adams on buy one get one half price. They are nice quality and don't shrink. The school emblem sweatshirts come from a local shop with 20% off in July. I got their trousers from Tesco's but I got the not so cheap combat style ones and I got their shoes from woolworths on a 3 for 2 deal so I have an extra pair in the next size up for a predicted growth spurt from the eldest.

I'm quite lucky as my boys are 6 and 5 so I can do hand me downs on the school sweatshirts which are the most expensive items.