School Uniforms

When looking at things in the UK one of the things that made me happy was knowing that school uniforms were the norm. I do believe they make life easier for both the children and the parents.........well.......I DID believe that! I had this silly assumption that I would waltz into stores and there would be racks and racks of uniforms just waiting for us to choose my daughter's favorite style grey skirt in her size. Well this may be true if my daughter was 8...or if she was petite. However since she is 14 1/2 and 5 foot 10 inches......it was nowhere near as easy as that!!! Do you know how hard it is to find a plain grey woman's skirt? Not to mention, a long sleeved blue blouse.

Well we have some how managed to come up a skirt and blouse (the blouse she hates) to get her started. If anyone has any words of wisdom of places to look ---I am all ears (or i suppose eyes since I will be reading them).

Helena

I know your pain. 

Marks and Spencers has some school uniform in teenage sizes but they tend to be pricey.

Asda also has some.  They'll be cheaper there.  BHS and Debehams carry uniforms, but not that many in the larger sizes although I've gotten nice blazers there.

There may be a smaller shop that specializes in uniforms and will have all the sizes.  Try asking around or look in the yellow pages. 

Also pricey but with a VERY good selection is John Lewis.

But you can just forget about her actually liking it.  hahahaha.   

If the skirt doesn't have to be a specific style, can you skip the school uniform departments and just look in the adult sections in places like M&S, BHS, Debenhams etc god even TOPSHOP or somewhere like that might have a plain grey skirt and you never know she may even like it!

Another idea, depending on how comfortable you are with it, is to ask the Mom of a similar age / size child.  She may well have gone though the same agony of searching and should know just where to send you...

Good luck!

Also, Woolworths does shirts up to age 15. BUT, it is unlikely that you will get a fourteen year old in a Woolworths shirt. 

Also, both M&S and Debenhams had fitted school blouses.  The fifteen year old liked them, but unfortunately they were too fitted for anyone who isn't a twig. 

Debenhams also carried a couple of designer type shirts-£10 each. 

Send her to school in her new outfit and she can ask some of her new friends where they got theirs. It would be a  great icebreaker to compliment someone on thier clothes and talk about good places to shop. Then she can ditch the blouse she hates!!

You may wonder how I know this.     I spent a total of SEVEN hours last week shopping for school uniforms and supplies with a fourteen and fifteen year old.   

I dont know if they will have what youre looking for but I get my sons uniforms at www.additionsdirect.co.uk (may be .com..not sure). I go there because they are dirt cheap so I can get tons of stuff as they wear out and outgrow everything so quickly. Anyway doesnt hurt to check it out.
Good luck
Pebs

Oh, one more thing..and I know it is a bit off the topic but I just wanted to say how great it is that all the kids wear school uniform here. I remember all the competition in my high school (back in early 80s). Who has the most expensive clothes. I remember refusing to go to school one day because I didnt have a pair of Gloria Vanderbilt jeans. Yes I know Im showing my age now... But G.V. jeans turned up with leather clogs and fuzzy sweaters were soooo IN! lol   Remember girls? Thank goodness I have all boys!
Pebs 

Thanks all for the suggestions!! And yes...I do remember having to have gloria vandebelt jeans-----and colored cords and izod tops.....ahhh yes....indeed I am overall greatful for uniforms!! (if only they had one pair of shoes they had to wear---we won't go into the fact my daughter used one of her two suitcases coming over only for shoes!! )

Helena

Oh, one more thing..and I know it is a bit off the topic but I just wanted to say how great it is that all the kids wear school uniform here. I remember all the competition in my high school (back in early 80s). Who has the most expensive clothes. I remember refusing to go to school one day because I didnt have a pair of Gloria Vanderbilt jeans. Yes I know Im showing my age now... But G.V. jeans turned up with leather clogs and fuzzy sweaters were soooo IN! lol   Remember girls? Thank goodness I have all boys!

I do find though that as they get older it comes out in other ways-shoes, backpacks, and even pencil cases.  Although nowhere near what I'm sure it's like in the states or what I remember, having the right thing  still raise it's ugly head.  

I must have looked at three million backpacks last week.  too ugly, too popular, too weird, too girly, too boyish, too shiny, too MATT,too sporty, too big, too small,  too childish.......  We still haven't found one.  

I liked the idea of uniforms too until I got this list:

White shirt
Grey trousers
School tie
School blazer
School patch

PE Kit
Rugby Top
Rugby Shorts
School Polo Top
Football Shorts
School Sweatshirt
School Sweatpants

Six items for gym??  Gimme a break.  They could have come up with one outfit, plus sweatpants.

I must have looked at three million backpacks last week.  too ugly, too popular, too weird, too girly, too boyish, too shiny, too MATT,too sporty, too big, too small,  too childish.......  We still haven't found one.  

Ahhh how good it is to know I am not alone...I just placed an order for her backpack online...of course it was a high price but I confess-- this year she is getting away with a bit that she wouldn't usually, I feel it is fair compromise for all the changes in her life at the moment

I can't recommend, but let your daughter know as well, I can certainly commiserate...

I went to private boarding school in the states when I was 13, and six feet tall, with size 12 feet.  And it sucked.

Shopping for my uniform... useless.  We had to special order it.
Shopping for my shoes... slightly better, but still difficult.

Somehow, my mom made it happen.  And after awhile, I learned not to hate it.  I did actually like knowing what I was gonna wear... more time to sleep in!

I do find though that as they get older it comes out in other ways-shoes, backpacks, and even pencil cases.  Although nowhere near what I'm sure it's like in the states or what I remember, having the right thing  still raise it's ugly head.  

You are SO right Mindy. They'll always find a way to separate themselves from each other. I have 2 sons so I can't say I know how it is for the girls but the boys even go as far as to wear just the right boxer shorts. My son thought he would die if he didn't have the same brand shoes, watch, and even lanyard for his school badge as all his friends (the in crowd ).