GAP are doing navy school uniform

After being so bitterly disappointed (sob) by H&M, the thought of school uniform by GAP makes my heart beat faster. Their clothes have a high cotton content.

Uniform jumper (or a navy pinafore dress, as I would call it)
£17.97 - nice dark colour - 85% Cotton, 15% Polyester.
http://www.gap.co.uk/browse/product.do?vid=1&pid=000171682001

Uniform dress pants (dress pants??? Do they actually want to sell their stuff?)
£17.95 - 80% Cotton, 20% Polyester.Hook fastening, no crease
http://www.gap.co.uk/browse/product.do?vid=1&pid=000184107002

More trousers and a cute pleated skirt are on the web site.

Navy pinafore dresses - or "jumper dresses" as they say in the US

So, I've been looking for a navy pinafore dress, preferably in cotton not polyester, that would be acceptable as school uniform. When looking for these, it's good to know that on American web sites the pinnies are often called "jumper dresses".

I'm way too stingy to pay for shipping from the states, but here are some cute "Jumpers" I've found:

Girls cord jumper dress (navy, cotton) for £50.29 
http://www.jcrew.com/girls_category/dresses/everyday/PRDOVR~04179/04179.jsp
OMG Free shipping to the UK! But still pretty expensive.

Same company, about the same price category
Girl's poplin origami bow dress, navy, cotton £57.48
http://www.jcrew.com/girls_category/dresses/party/PRDOVR~02997/02997.jsp

Another one from J. Crew. I want to buy the entire lot. Could they just be a bit cheaper, please?
Girl's ponte shift dress, navy, cotton £46,49
http://www.jcrew.com/girls_feature/schooluniformshop/UniformSkirtsDresses/PRDOVR~05172/05172.jsp?color_name=navy

Cotton! Navy school uniform desperately wanted

Sometimes, the 100% Polyester in the school uniform is really getting on my nerves. I mean, the little ones have to wear that stuff for the entire day. I'd develop a rash running around in teflon coated polyester - but then I don't have a huge desire to skid on the grass or climb onto street lamps. So maybe the youngsters just get what they deserve.

There are some web sites specialising in eco friendly or ezcema friendly school uniform - but as so often very little in available in navy.

Here are the only cotton school uniform dresses and trousers in navy that I have found:

Girls navy pleated skirt for £13.99
http://www.lint-kids.com/ourshop/prod_2309622-Girls-Navy-Skirt.html
I this web site is selling exactly the same one:
http://www.nigelsecostore.com/acatalog/Girls_Organic_Pleated_Navy_Skirt.html

Boys Blue Trousers again from Lint
They are currently out of stock, but should cost £17.99
Made from organic cotton
http://www.lint-kids.com/ourshop/prod_2308407-Boys-Blue-Trousers.html

I have not seen these items myself, so I can't comment on how good they are.

Outdoor shops - great for kids jackets

I'm not an outdoorsy person. When I hear the words "camp site" I think of something like gaydar.co.uk But anyway, outdoor equipment shops have a great selection of plain navy jackets.And they are ususally quite waterproof. And have a hood.


Here are some I found online:

Tresspass NASU Girl's (Yourh) Waterproof Jacket
Currently reduced to £12.75 but only in sizes 12y and 14y
http://www.trespass.co.uk/girls-nasu-00640#

Tresspass Jakarta Girl's Waterproof Jacket
Maybe a bit too sport with the stripes, but nice, simple and practical
£39.99 and available in sizes 5/6, 6/7, 9/10
http://www.trespass.co.uk/girls-jakarta-00405

Peter Storm Boys jacket
£ 20.00 from Blacks
http://www.blacks.co.uk/kids/112148-peter-storm-boys-peter-jacket-navy.html

A light rain jacket Jack-in-a-Pack
£15.00 at Blacks
http://www.blacks.co.uk/kids/112182-peter-storm-boys-sport-jack-in-a-pack-navy.html

Peter Storm Girls Mac for £35.00 at Blacks
http://www.blacks.co.uk/kids/118598-peter-storm-girls-pixie-insulated-mac-navy.html
Looks cute, but you probably have to check the colour in store. Looks a bit light, doesn't it?

Peter Storm 3 in 1 jacket for£30.00 at Blacks
http://www.blacks.co.uk/kids/109699-peter-storm-girls-solid-3-in-1-jacket-navy.html
This one on the other hand looks a bit too dark. (Another sigh)

You might not like the ones I have listed here, but my point is: If you're looking for a plain navy jacket to go with your kid's school uniform, it's a good idea to just pop into an outdoor store and browse what they have there.

Plain navy jacket for small girl at Tesco

I saw this lovely jacket at Tesco the other day.
It's a lovely deep dark blue with golden buttons, looking very Barbour.

F&F Jacket for £14.00
http://www.clothingattesco.com/coats+jackets/f+f-waxed-jacket/invt/kc322259

Problem: The biggest size I can see on the web site is 2-3 years. Maybe good for a very young or very small girl.
And I'm just not quite sure how water proof it is.

 

BHS - lovely navy pinafore dress with stain bow

So here's what my little girl has been wearing pretty much all through last year.

A lovely pinafore dress from BHS costing £12.00 with a cute satin bow:
http://www.bhs.co.uk/en/bhuk/product/children-1739685/junior-girls-school-3-12-2195646/school-pinafores-1851207/junior-girls-navy-pinafore-with-satin-bow-2038365

BHS even do this style in "Generous Fit"

But unfortunately I was too late this year. It's already out of stock. And experience tells me that the next time they get new school uniform stock in is around August next year. Sigh.

H & M do school uniform - but not really in navy

The thought of H&M doing school uniform really got me exicted (oh yes, my life is that boring) but all my dreams came to a very abrupt end when I saw the actual clothes in the shop. The items in navy are, well...,  not navy.

They call it "dark blue" on their web site, but it wouldn't wash with my kids' school. Navy (or dark blue) is supposed to be exactly that: Dark. 

Although I liked the cut of the trousers and loved the pleated skirt, I didn't buy them, not even as a standby. 

 

Plain Navy children's sun hat

So, at my kids school they have base ball caps for the kids when the sun shines. But I don't really fancy them for my girl. I was after a sun hat with a wide rim all around.

Lucklily I found one on Amazon for £5.99 (plus £1.99 for p&p)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Highlander-Premium-Sun-Hat-X-Large/dp/B004DMX8QO

I bought the one in small and that fits a small 5 year old perfectly.

Navy School Uniform - A shopping guide and a resource for parents

Buying school uniform should be pretty straight forward. You get the list, you go online, done.



BUT what when you don't like the style of the trousers / dresses etc on the web site?

And where do you get a plain navy coat or jacket from that is school uniform compatible?



So this is what I'm collecting here:

- Shops that stock navy school uniform

- Shops that have other plain navy items

- Shops that stock navy accessories (hats, scarves, gloves etc)



I hope you find it useful :-)