Buying school uniforms on a budget?

[IDoDis]

The other side to this is that if everyone is wearing uniforms the poor children do not stand out - everyone is wearing the same stuff. THis way they don't have to be self-conscious about not having the "in" or "hip" name brand stuff. Mom can get khaki's and polo's for a few bucks at walmart or goodwill and they will not have to feel bad. We grew up very poor . . . I would have LOVED uniforms and not had to get made fun of because of my clothes.

No, not really. You'll still have the "haves" and "have nots." The "haves" will be wearing polos and khakis from Abercrombie, Hollister, Areopostal, Land's End, Gap, etc... The girls' shirts will be beautiful colors of hot pink, deep lime green, dark turquoise, and mint green. The "have nots" will have boxy unfitted clothes from Wal-Mart. Their shirts will be navy blue, white, dark green, maroon, and red. The "haves" will also have better backpacks, name-brand hoodies and jackets, designer sunglasses, and name brand shoes.

 

[DiznEeyore]

No, not really. You'll still have the "haves" and "have nots." The "haves" will be wearing polos and khakis from Abercrombie, Hollister, Areosopal, Land's End, Gap, etc... The girls' shirts will be beautiful colors of hot pink, deep lime green, dark turquoise, and mint green. The "have nots" will have boxy unfitted clothes from Wal-Mart. Their shirts will be navy blue, white, dark green, maroon, and red. The "haves" will have also have better backpacks, name-brand hoodies and jackets, designer sunglasses, and name brand shoes.

Not at our school. There are *specific* colors that must be worn. There is NO way to know where shirts are purchased from (or are kids now checking the tags inside each others' shirts? ). There are no logos allowed. There are no hoodies allowed. There are two colors of pants (khaki and navy), and they must wear black shoes. The kids in general are great kids -- happy, well-adjusted and couldn't care less about the uniform issue. They know it's part and parcel of their educational environment.

 

[crazymomof4]

Let me just toss this into the mix...............
It's been pointed out here as well as by my local school board members that there are dress codes at many work places, so having uniforms teaches kids that sometimes requirements need to be met in certain situations.
One could use this same line of reasoning to speak AGAINST the use of uniforms. Here's why: the social differences, peer pressure, "haves & have nots", etc. is something that the kids will also face as adults in and out of the workplace. So, if it is theorized that it is good for them to "get used to" conformity by means of uniforms, it could also be said that wearing "street clothing" to school teaches them at an early age that there will always be social differences. Therefore, as an adult, my clearance-shopping DD should be better prepared for dealing with the co-worker 2 cubicles away who name-drops about her Prada bags if she faces similar as a middle schooler.

 

[mommylicious]

No, not really. You'll still have the "haves" and "have nots." The "haves" will be wearing polos and khakis from Abercrombie, Hollister, Areosopal, Land's End, Gap, etc... The girls' shirts will be beautiful colors of hot pink, deep lime green, dark turquoise, and mint green. The "have nots" will have boxy unfitted clothes from Wal-Mart

Which is why there are schools doing what a few of us have said our schools do where you are limited to this style, this brand from this store and everyone has the exact same thing. I wasn't sure what I'd think about having uniforms but I DO like it. I don't feel it makes my kids clones. Talking with DSs teacher last year it was her first year teaching in a uniform school and she LOVED it. She said she actually thought the kids (these are 1st graders) found more creative ways to express individuality. Through actions and strengths not through clothing.

You can never do away with the haves and have nots but there is LESS of a distinction with a true uniform code.

It's been pointed out here as well as by my local school board members that there are dress codes at many work places, so having uniforms teaches kids that sometimes requirements need to be met in certain situations.
One could use this same line of reasoning to speak AGAINST the use of uniforms. Here's why: the social differences, peer pressure, "haves & have nots", etc. is something that the kids will also face as adults in and out of the workplace. So, if it is theorized that it is good for them to "get used to" conformity by means of uniforms, it could also be said that wearing "street clothing" to school teaches them at an early age that there will always be social differences. Therefore, as an adult, my clearance-shopping DD should be better prepared for dealing with the co-worker 2 cubicles away who name-drops about her Prada bags if she faces similar as a middle schooler.

Ah, but the difference here is that hopefully by the time your DD is an adult she will have come into herself more than she is as a middle schooler (not just her, ANY middle schooler) and she will be less affected by peer pressure and the like. I know as a middle school aged child everyone had Gloria Vanderbilt jeans and I desperately wanted them. My parents said no. Couldn't have them, too expensive. I started feeling like I wasn't "as good as" the girls who had a big ole GV on their butts. My self confidence and then my grades took a hit. I had GREAT parents who taught me good values and made many sacrifices so that my Mom could be a SAHM and very active in my life. They were telling me that it isn't the brand of jeans that makes you who you are or sets your value as a person but that wasn't getting through the middle schooler head of mine that only seemed to see that everyone else had them and I didn't and that the "GV girls" loved to point that out. My parents ended up sacrificing to buy me the "cool jeans" because they didn't want me losing self esteem and going from an A student to a C student over brand names. I also remember my mother buying plain polo style shirts and Izod socks then taking the aligator off the socks and sewing it to the shirts so I'd have an "Izod shirt" to wear. LOL As an adult it doesn't bother me in the slightest that we are the only house on our block without a Wii or that DH and I have bought used cars rather than new, that I drive a minivan while all my friends have the "hip cool suvs." As an adult peer pressure is not an issue for me. It was as a middle schooler.

 

[Accentuate+]

Don't ask me why I clicked this thread since I don't have kids but I find the uniform debate interesting, I guess. Mostly because I'm glad I didn't have to deal with it.

My only perspective is as a former student. A lot of you have commented that as a parent you like uniforms (my mom would have LOVED them, no more of me trying to convince her that I NEEDED a pair of Calvin Klein Jeans - and I just aged myself). If your kids always had them I guess it's a non-issue but if your kids have been in school for a few years without and then had to go to uniforms how did they feel/react initially and eventually.
I can only imagine the earth-shattering devastation (that only a pubescent girl can muster up) that would have befallen my friends and I had we been told in high school that we could only wear Khakis and polo shirts. Oh, the humanity.
I would have been one of those "non-standard body types" who looks all kinds of hideous in a polo tucked into khakis. Thank heaven for the big shirts and sweaters of the 80s that hid a multitude of sins. It would have been awful.
Other than making it easier to get ready in the mornings I don't completely buy the other benefits. The have/have not issue goes deeper than clothes. Kids know who lives in what kind of house, who talks about their trip to Disney, who wears real diamond earrings with their uniforms, who got a WII right after it came out, etc. I agree with a PP, you will always encounter people in this world who have less than you and people who have more - seems it'd be good to learn to deal with that.


Not criticizing either side since I haven't experienced both and it sounds like a lot of people love it but really just curious about how the kids feel about it.

 

[DiznEeyore]

If your kids always had them I guess it's a non-issue but if your kids have been in school for a few years without and then had to go to uniforms how did they feel/react initially and eventually.

Not criticizing either side since I haven't experienced both and it sounds like a lot of people love it but really just curious about how the kids feel about it.

As I said, my ds has been in both public and private schools. When we made the switch to private, I got an "Aw, man -- uniforms" from him, but that was it. Now he just doesn't care. He knows it's just while he's at school; everybody there wears them, so it's no big deal. He wears what he wants at home and there is a LOT of leeway each month on jeans days (just no logos and no hoodies), so he has no problem with it. None of his friends care, either.

And, FWIW, my son is *very* into "cool clothes" like most teenagers. He definitely knows what he likes and even buys it for himself when he has the money. But that's at home. School is school.

 

[mommylicious]

my kids are little and DS started wearing them in 1st grade so it's just "how it is." I do hear things like "Mom, can I wear the navy shorts tomorrow? Brice always wears his navy ones and I want to wear mine too."

Our school has been careful to make sure that they do allow for somewhat fashionable options. They have fitted shirt options for girls (these are elementary school girls so they don't have much shape to speak of but they picked shirt options for girls that are not gender neutral polos). The girls have flare capris and stuff like that. The boys cargo pants are actually pretty cool looking pants. There are options for different body types that aren't so bad.

Unfortunately I think the effect of the distracting clothing choices in a classroom NOW are like 4,000 times worse than they were when I was in school. Would I have been all up in arms over it in middle school if I were suddenly told I had to wear a uniform? yeah probably but that is one of those things that I look at with different eyes as a parent now. When we decided to send our kids to the charter school my DS was initially crushed because it doens't provide transportation so no riding the bus. He had gone to private kindergarten (his preschool had a kindy program too) so no bus then. He said to me, in his drama filled voice "but Mom! I've been waiting my WHOLE LIFE to ride the school bus!" I told DH yeah, I felt mometarily guilty but it's just the first of what I am sure will be MANY things that DS will not like that I do but that I do it because it is what is best for him.

To be honest thinking about it, if my middle school had all of a sudden decided we had to have uniforms I'd have been irritated as a teenager but if they told me I could have an opt out, I probably wouldn't have taken it because then I would "stand out" worse than ever, kwim? As an adult I don't mind standing out if it's standing up for what I believe in and I don't hesitate to question authority when I feel it needs questioning but as a 13 year old...no way! Give me conformity! Failure to conform often equals failure to be accepted which means not "the popular one" and we all know that is the end of the pre-teen world! It's not "right" but we all know they will grow up and gain more wisdom of the world and will see how silly they really were. I've said before you could offer me $20 million dollars...I wouldn't agree to turn back the clock and go back to high school again for anything and this is a big reason why.

 

[mjantz]

My DS went from a non-uniform to uniform school. We honestly didn't have an issue with it. I explained it & took him shopping & he got to pick out his 1st day of school clothes along with a cool backpack & lunch box. DD has always worn a uniform but knows that lots of kids don't. I was a bit concerned because she's my little fashionista but a multitude of hair bows & hairstyles have managed to keep her happy. Plus, she gets a bit of positive attention sometimes when she wears her uniform (I personally think a little girl in a plaid jumper, white peter-pan collar shirt & knee socks is about the cutest thing in the whole wide world!) & I think she likes that.
I do know that the school keeps in contact with its former students (it only goes up to 6th grade) & many of these students that go into a non-uniform school mention that one of their favorite things is that they can wear regular clothes.
AFA body shapes & such, I have noticed as the girls in the school get older, they tend to wear the khaki pants less & go for the shorts & long skirts more. We live in a pretty warm area so shorts can be worn most of the year here, especially if you put long socks a/o thick tights with them.
I imagine that at some point we may have an issue with the uniforms. However, given that I give them a lot of freedom on what to wear both on free dress days & after school/weekends/holidays/summer, I hope it will be awhile before they start complaining. At this point, DS doesn't even seem to care enough to change into other clothes after school, even if we're going somewhere later in the evening.

 

[bunny213]

I've read all these pages and I agree with everything that everyone is saying.....but - I still would like to know where the best deals are on school uniforms......I still need to find some reasonable pants, skorts and golf type knit shirts for school for my grandchildren.....it's nice to know that we're all in the same ballpark At least I'm not having to help outfit these kiddos with their "wants and have to haves"!!!!! This sure seems easy to me....when mine were in school - there were no uniforms....and one of mythree daughters kept saying that she was afraid that her shirts would have roaches embroydered on them if I kept shopping at the discount stores.
thanks if you can help...Barb

 

[rparmfamily]

If the colors are right, Old Navy has some sales on their uniforms right now.

 

[angiedora]

If the colors are right, Old Navy has some sales on their uniforms right now.

Thank you,
I just bought 2 pair of pants for my son, a skort for and two polos for my daughter. Total after tax and $5 shipping was $68. That with the uniforms that still fit from last year should be a good start.

 

[crazymomof4]

Ah, but the difference here is that hopefully by the time your DD is an adult she will have come into herself more than she is as a middle schooler (not just her, ANY middle schooler) and she will be less affected

I agree! And so.........the same can be said for adults conforming to dress restrictions at work. Because adults have "come into" themselves, they will have no problem deciding whether or not they want the job badly enough to conform certain restrictions required by the employer.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that adults deal with things better than kids. That is really my point in bringing this up- taking this line of reasoning and applying it to BOTH sides of the argument. It's crazy for my school board and others to say that kids need uniforms in order to get a lesson in dealing with dress restrictions when they face them in the work place. Is it REALLY so necessary to be "trained" from an early age to accept dress codes? Are kids who graduate from a non-uniform school THAT ill-prepared for life in the real world?
So, what I mean to say is, this theory of "preparing kids for the future" is really a moot point bc. both the pro-uniform people and the anti-uniform people could use it to argue their case.

 

[crazymomof4]

Not criticizing either side since I haven't experienced both and it sounds like a lot of people love it but really just curious about how the kids feel about it.

Well, I wish you could have seen the face on DD6 when I put her into her first "uniform style" outfit. I made a big deal out of it, trying to get her excited. At this point, I didn't want her to be influenced by my feelings on this issue, so I presented it in a positive light. So I can honestly say that I viewed her true feelings here, not a reflection of my own. Anyway, she looked at herself in the mirror, her face sank and she said, "But I look like a boy! I don't want to look like ***** (her brother's names)!"
This little girl is very creative-- much more so than myself. She decorates pieces of paper with cut-outs, stickers, glitter, etc. She makes things to hang in her room. She loves flowers and fancy tea parties. She is like a little "Martha Stewart"! This creativity extends to her clothing preferences. Now if she was more of a Ellen DeGeneres type of girl (not talking about sexual orientation here!) who preferred to dress more masculine or plain, I'm sure she would be OK with this uniform thing, and so would I. If you don't give a wit about creativity in your own dress or that of your children, I guess that the uniforms are just fine. Me, I love to shop for my DD and dressing her for school- I get a kick out of finding a pair of pants for her on clearance and then later finding a blouse that matches it perfectly.
So, that is why I've resolved to find the prettiest clothing I can, while still conforming (as closely as possible) to the dress code. It will mean going to many more stores and probably sewing things myself.

 

[LSUmom4kids]

My son needs navy polo shirts this year and I just ordered them from:

http://www.target.com

Right now, they have free shipping for purchases over $50!

For $57.13, I was able to order 5 navy polo shirts, and 2 pr. khaki shorts!

No sweat, no wasted gas! I'll just sit back and wait for my package to arrive sometime next week!

 

[crazymomof4]

My son needs navy polo shirts this year and I just ordered them from:

http://www.target.com

Right now, they have free shipping for purchases over $50!

For $57.13, I was able to order 5 navy polo shirts, and 2 pr. khaki shorts!

No sweat, no wasted gas! I'll just sit back and wait for my package to arrive sometime next week!

Thanks!
I just looked at the Target link.
I noticed that here, as well as other places I've looked, the classic uniform style skirts are almost always above the knee. Whereas our code calls for the hemline to be below the knee.

 

[punkin]

Thanks!
I just looked at the Target link.
I noticed that here, as well as other places I've looked, the classic uniform style skirts are almost always above the knee. Whereas our code calls for the hemline to be below the knee.

Tell me about it. They do not make a whole lot of skirts below the knee for 8 year olds. Lands End does have 2 styles of uniform skirt below the knee (not cheap) but they are not comfortable if your DD is very active like mine. I need skirts in which she can climb trees.

 

[mjantz]

... If you don't give a wit about creativity in your own dress or that of your children, I guess that the uniforms are just fine. Me, I love to shop for my DD and dressing her for school- I get a kick out of finding a pair of pants for her on clearance and then later finding a blouse that matches it perfectly....

Generalize much?

 

[crazymomof4]

Generalize much?

Please read my words carefully, with an objective mind. I did not say "All people who are OK with uniforms are those who don't give a wit about dressing creatively." That WOULD be generalizing!

I feel very strongly about the uniform issue only because I like to dress my DD for school in cute, little-girl clothing: Pastels with floral appliques and lace, ginghams and seersuckers, Disney Princess clothing, etc. I am upset bc THAT is being taken away from me! If I didn't "give a wit" about what she wore to school......never had this desire to dress her creatively, I would NOT be upset by the uniforms. If something that is not important to you is taken away, it's no big deal. THAT was what I was saying!
No generalization!

I am not even criticizing this group of people. I really wish I were like that and didn't care so much about DD's clothing.......my life would be much simpler and I would not be so ticked off right now about the uniforms being forced on me.

Also, if I had only my DS10 "the uniforms would be just fine" with me. I look forward to seeing him in polo shirts and khaki's!! He will be dressing nicer than his usual tee shirts and jeans! I just wish they would allow painters or cargo style as they are much easier to find on the clearance racks.

 

[rparmfamily]

LOL, I just have to laugh.

I am a Gymboree addict. I love to buy cute clothes for my DD (and DS) and I have the matching hairbows, socks, etc. Yes it's fun.

March was our first taste of having a uniform. (because we moved cross-planet LOL) and the school I picked for her (public) also requires uniforms.

Seriously, she's not less cute, or less fun to dress. I still put cute matching bows in her hair, buy socks trimmed in lace or whatever and they can wear whatever shoes they want, so she wears red mary jane style crocs.

In fact....................it's a lot easier with uniforms! Just ordered some off Old Navy last night.

 

[mjantz]

I understand what you are saying, however, what you appear to be inferring is that if one is OK with uniforms, they don't care about their childs appearance, especially if they have DDs. I can honestly tell you that nothing could be further from the truth. I care about how my kids look (although DS10 is getting to the point that my opinion doesn't matter as much!). That is one of the reasons I like the uniforms. To me, they look nicer than the standard t-shirt & jean shorts my son would wear before he went to a uniform school. I said earlier that I think a little girl in the classic uniform look (jumper, white shirt & knee socks) is just about the cutest thing in the entire world.
Does my DD look cute when she's wearing non-uniform clothes. Oh yes she does!! She's my little fashionista & I have to practically drag her out of any clothing store. But honestly (& with no snarkiness or sarcasm I promise!) I think she looks just as cute in her green school polo with plaid shorts, navy knee socks & her hair in pigtails.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I don't feel I've lost anything. She still dresses exactly how she wants when she's out of school. She has ample time to wear her cute clothes (& we have relatives who buy her lots of them!!) & express herself through her attire.