Where is the best place to buy school uniform?

Savvy_Sue

A tip on tumble drying clothes which shouldn't be: my td runs cold for the last 20 minutes. So sometimes I stick EVERYTHING in for 40 minutes, stir it, then do it for another 40 minutes and so on. Things seem to dry more efficiently, and because they don't get so hot, they don't shrink.

BHS Blazers for ever! I had one which lasted 2 boys for 5 years between them!

And particularly for secondary school, if the school sells blazers, do they also sell the badge separately? I'm shocked at the prices some of you have had to pay: I've always bought the badge and sewn it on (mind you the badge costs enough!)

See if the school runs a second hand uniform shop.

And who ever undoes all their shirt buttons anyway? or is that just boys?

katiepops_2

I have always had major major problems finding uniform items for my eldest. He's tall and chunky, and always has been. I used to find that to get trousers to fit him around the waist, they would be about two foot too long and too baggy on the legs, so I resorted to having trousers made for him by a friend.

Now that he's bigger (11), he is still very tall and still chunky, and over the last couple of years the majority of his uniform has come from Matalan, because he needs man sized clothes. Matalan sell nice black trousers for about £12 a pair ... white shirts something like £6 for two and sweatshirts about £4. I'm dreading him going up to secondary school in September as he has to have a blazer, and I know that trying to find one to fit is going to be a nightmare.

Why don't uniform manufacturers realise that some kids are taller and bigger than others? I suppose I ought to start saving for the blazer now really ...

Kate

Edinburghlass_2

For those with older girls wearing trousers Tesco's Florence and Fred range do a very nice plain trouser for £6 in black and navy and 20% off at the moment.

KK

My little one started school last September and I think I bought all her uniform from Tesco and Woolies in half price sales. Tesco had cheap stuff in about May time, and Woolies were selling their summer dresses for £2 each in August so I snapped them up. Tesco shirts have washed fine and although supposedly non iron, need a light press, Their pinafores are fine with no ironing, socks were those white crochet type ones which wash fine. My daughter has to have a school tie (bless) and proper shirts, but she can manage. Tights I battled with as I bought them from Tesco, asda and deb enhams and they are all wrecked, but I don't like the thought of her getting cold legs in the winter. The cardi was from the uniform shop and is OK, but expensive.

I bought her pinafores as I thought they would be neater (no untucked shirts) but this September she wants skirts and trousers like her friends. Her school are very strict about uniform. They do have a second hand uniform sale which is very cheap and relies on donations, plus I have bought a couple of items on e-bay, like spare summer dresses etc. She is in her final term now and still wearing the Clarks black shoes I bought her in September and I have polished them 2-3 times per week and they still look fine (for half an hour!). I don't think I'll bother with sandals.

Label everything (even vests, socks and knickers), swimming changing is chaotic and so is PE. My daughter has velcro strap shoes which she can put on herself easily and she is better at dressing herself because she has had to be! I bought iron on labels and have never used the sew on ones (couldn't be bothered) but the sticky labels which go in shoes and on lunchboxes are excellent too.

I do really wish her school did polo shirts and simple round neck sweatshirts though - it would be so much easier.

Savvy_Sue

katiepops wrote:

Why don't uniform manufacturers realise that some kids are taller and bigger than others? I suppose I ought to start saving for the blazer now really ...

I know that last time I was at the 'new parents' evening at my sons' school they said that if you were having problems getting uniform to fit then you should contact the school's official uniform shop and they would source for you at the 'normal' cost. So it might be worth checking with the school if there is an 'official' supplier and talking to them. They were also encouraging us to buy through the 'official' supplier as some of the profit goes to the school, but since everything from the 'official' supplier is twice the price of the high street they haven't converted me! The only thing I buy there is the rugby shirt and socks because it is not available elsewhere. Mind you two sets have been made to last 3 boys ...

penny_less_7

Our school has a second hand store for uniforms, I've picked up some lovely items that have probably only been worn once as my daughter is particularly small and my son particularly huge (grows out of clothes in weeks) this has been a godsend. If your doesnt have one maybe you could set one up, there are many parents like myself that have children that only get a couple of uses out of things.
Its also a good time to get uniform (if you have an average child) to go in the last week of august or anytime in september when things are reduced or go back to being normal prices.
Asdas prices are pretty reasonable IMO and I find adams to be too expensive for me unless theres a sale on.