which shop for the most durable school uniform?

[BetsyBoop]

DD is due to start reception in September & I'm starting to think about researching uniform

DD is definitely not "girly-girly" so I need stuff that is durable. I don't mind paying a bit more for stuff that will last and still looks decent by the end of term!

We are talking

white blouse (worn with school tie)
grey skirt or pinafore
white socks or navy tights

(must also wear school jumper or cardigan, which is mostly navy)

where did you get this year's uniform from & how has it lasted?

DD is also very tall for her age, but slim for the "age" she fits, so I usually find Next stuff suits her shape (she is almost growing out of age 5-6 - at 4.4 )

[witchwithallthetrimmings]

DS is in reception

tescos grey pullover (bobbled and looked disgusting within a day!)
john lewis shorts (only used for the first few weeks so cannot really tell)
M&S trousers (2 pairs, washed daily), lasted fine until end of last term and small holes now appearing but at £3 a pair think it is good value

[tartyhighheels]

marks and spencers for sure - every time i buy something from somewhere else i regret it particulalry as i have two girls and the only things that have benn passed on are mands

[DreamTeamGirl]

I have to say I wouldnt know!
DS (was 5 in Feb) has outgrown his 4-5 then his 5-6 since September and is now into 6-7 . Would love some of his clothes to actually wear out!!!

That said Matalan school trousers fitted really well, and the polo shirts from Debenham's have washed the best

[aintnomountainhighenough]

marks and spencer every time, often do 3 for 2 deals

[hocuspontas]

Agree - M & S every time. Especially shirts.

[BetsyBoop]

thanks for the input so far

M&S seems to be very popular - any others worth a try?

[hana]

m and s shirts are good, but their polo shirts are awful - they shrink and look terrible after a few washes. best polos we've had have been from sainsburys

get tights and skirts/pinafores from m and s
cardis have to be from school shop

I don't think girly girly uniform items are any less durable than boys tho! certainly not the stuff I've bought for dds

[paddingtonbear1]

I tend to use M&S for most things apart from polo shirts, which do shrink. Next stuff (directory only unless you live near a very big store) has been OK too. Mothercare trousers have been a good fit for dd, and durable. My fave shirts were actually from Ladybird, they are still going strong!

[Egwene]

Another vote for M&S, they often have a discount on line nearer the time. Their sizes may be a tad on the small side.

[McDreamy]

Another M&S vote here!

[lilmissmummy]

We always buy our uniform from M and S but we do replace shirts fairly often due to them losing shape and shrinking.

Cardigans and dresses are particularly good.

My DS put hole in his trousers after a term so I replaced them with Tesco ones and they lasted a week so back to M and S I went to buy some more!

[BetsyBoop]

wow it's almost unanimously M&S, guess where I'll be heading? :O

thanks everyone

[No134]

Don't buy it now though, wait till June/July when they have 3 for 2 offers on school clothes. This generally includes socks underwear and tights, so is the best time to stock up.

Alternatively, go to the school's summer fair and stock up on 2nd hand M&S uniform there. 50p an item at our school.

[BetsyBoop]

don't worry, won't be buying just yet, as DD is due yet another growth spurt :O

[GlastonburyGoddess]

sainsburys here. ds1 is quite a stocky 6yr old and the sainsburys trousers are the only ones that fit well ive found. the polo shirts are good and dont shrink too. will have to have a nosy in m and s though this summer and see if their trousers fit him.

[anchovies]

Just wondering if anyone has any recommendations for polo shirts? I bought M&S ones last and they are truly terrible, horrible curly collars and all shrunken, faded and mis-shapen! Have seen Trutex recommended but not sure about the sizing?

[Mum72]

Trutex is fab! Lasts for ever! My children have various bits of uniform and it still looks good after 2 children and enduring the boarding school laundry.

I get my Trutex from here schooluniformshop.co.uk/

Some bits are also available in John Lewis.

[saffrone]

M&S - most stuff great, though avoid polos, and tights get holey quickly - also if reviews on site are to be believed (universally damning) 100% cotton summer dresses have become a nightmare.
Sainsbury's - my dd is like OP's - she's 5.3 and even 7y clothes just fit - except for trousers!
Next - wear very well - I get mine from nephews so 3rd hand iyswim and very good quality and fit.
Tesco - truly awful quality trousers and cardigans and skirts - tried to get cheaper stuff last autumn, and it all went to charity shops....

[suecy]

M&S for everything but polo shirts - agree quality of them is poor but all other stuff from them is FAB.

I got a load of polo shirts from Asda - can't remember how much they were, but after 6 months of wear the shape is still there and I remember thinking at the time - at least they're cheap enough to chuck out if they don't last

[DilysPrice]

Just go for the cheapest on tights, because if you spend more on better quality ones she will inevitably fall over and tear a hole in them on day 1.

[MadameCastafiore]

We ended up taking all DCs knitted jumpers back to M&S because they faded so badly - not sure if that was beacuse they were royal bleugh or because they were shite - John Lewis always gets my vote!

[lovecheese]

John Lewis for tights;

george at Asda for polo shirts, surprisingly good quality;

Everything else - M&S.

WARNING - AVOID TESCO.

[Clary]

Skirts btw if DD is tall and skinny are tricky-ish.

My DD is v skinny tho not that tall. She typically has to have the "right" age skirt at M&S to get a decent length (they are in single age size) but I always have to pull the wasitband in masses.

This is one reason to go to M&S btw - some cheaper outlets don't do the elastic wasit thing.

Their summer dresses are 100% cotton this year! huzzah! (tho I did see someone on the website moaning that now they had to iron them )

I go to M&S btw for everything tho agree their polos sometimes shrink (took one year's back). Found their trousers v hardwearing, DS2 just starting to go through the knees of a pair that have had about 3 years' wear (from him and DS1).

[blinder]

Marks for most but C&A for large waisted, short legged trousers such as those worn by my rugby model DS.

[usualsuspect]

Does C&A still exist? not seen a C&A for years