Catholic school uniform question

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

Our Catholic school you have to buy the skirts/pants/shorts/sweaters/blouses/EVERYTHING from the Uniform Store they told us to go to. We were allowed to wear our own socks and shoes, but the shoes could not be gym shoes.

 

[magicmom99]

Our school wears navy pants and white tops, polo or turtlenecks. The girls can go with this or wear a plaid jumper or skirt or skort - these plaids have to be purchased at a uniform store, but not a specific store. The navy or white items can be purchased anywhere - but must be the required style.
This really helps keep the cost down. I only let my daughter have one or two plaid items unless, I get them from our used uniform swap which we do at the start of school, the start of winter, and the start of spring.

My sister's kids go to a school where they have to buy from one shop with their logo, but this is because the kids and parents were abusing the uniforms with hip huggers/ name brand logo pants, etc. IMO if the teachers had made the parents return to school with appropriate clothing, this would have stopped, but this is how the school chose to address it.

If you need a kickback, you can implement a scripp program in your school, where retailers give a percentage back to the school for shopping with these scripp cards - you save money all around - the school can make money from something other than uniforms, and those of us who aren't high income earners can save with the uniforms. I bet the families making the decisions don't have to worry about money and probably don't think about how hard it is for those of us not making 6 figures to afford the expensive outfits.

 

[BuckNaked]

I find that the pants and shirts from the uniform store hold up really well so I don't have a problem buying them there.

Same here - our DS has never managed to wear the pants out before outgrowing them.

 

[claudia]

I went to parochial school from K-12. Every year the uniform company came to the school and we were measured for our uniforms. We had a choice of a plaid, navy blue or gray skirt (in the younger grades there was also a top/vest that was attached to the skirt) that came in pleats or was straight. We could buy our blouses from them or a store as long as they were button down with a peter pan collar, only white. We were allowed navy blue, green, gray or white socks....knee high or ankle. We were also allowed to use either a cardigan sweater or button down sweater vest in navy, green or gray. In the younger grades we had to wear the 2 color oxford saddleshoes shoelace only, I think it was black and white. In the high school years we were allowed to wear loafers or tie shoes. Our skirts were to be 2 inches below the knees and were custom made to that length for each of us. Almost forgot, we also had to buy a navy blazer with the school logo on the pocket.
I LOVED it, I never had to think what I was going to wear and since every one really dressed the same there was no competition on that front. Which, when I look back was really great because there was a very diverse financial background for all of us. My mom loved it because she said it saved her a fortune in clothes.

 

[Bob Slydell]

I find that the pants and shirts from the uniform store hold up really well so I don't have a problem buying them there.

I have noticed that as well. They're not cheap, but they are actually very well built.

 

[Blue Skies]

Our son has been to two different Catholic grade schools. Both required that we buy his uniforms from a particular store. I think it helps the school to make sure everyone has the appropriate clothes.

This year he wears navy pants with a white or red polo shirt. The shirts have the school logo embroidered on them.

At my son's old school they wore black pants, white oxford dress shirts, black ties and red sweaters with the school logo embroidered on them.

The last school was so strict with dress code, that they would have periodic random checks. If they were not wearing a black belt, or if their collar was not buttoned, they had to pay a small fine. I thought that it was a bit overkill for a second grader!

 

[Chuck S]

It isn't just private schools. I'm old, but I remember in public Jr. High (about 1970 or so) we had to have specific gym/PE uniforms, with the school logo. There was only one store in town that sold them.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

My DS goes to a Catholic school. The boys wear navy pants and white or blue shirts. As long as they're not cargo pants and are dress pants, we can buy them anywhere. Last year I bought them at Target but this year they didn't fit DS correctly so I got them from Lands End. I actually like these a whole lot better.

The girls can wear the same navy pants as the boys or they can also wear plaid jumpers or skirts. The jumpers and skirts have to be bought from a certain place.

Sorry but I would be mad if I was told I had to buy my DS's pants at one place vs another. Especially since the only difference, probably is the price. The girls I can see because the school doesn't want 5 different types of plaid. And its not only because I have a boy, I also have a DD so I'll have to buy the jumpers one day.

 

[lulu71]

We had to get our uniforms from a specific store (many moons ago!) for both grammar and high school.

 

[Christine]

Both my kids are in Catholic school and we are told to buy the stuff from one particular store.

However, I have been known to purchase the white oxford shirts at Kohl's. They are about $4 cheaper per shirt, but the the Kohl's is more convenient to me than the uniform store.

I have, on several occasions, bought the Navy Blue pants and Target and/or Kohl's. HATED them. Once you purchase a uniform store pair of pants, you won't want anything else. They fade much more slowly and hold up so much better than the other pants.

All the other uniform items (sweaters, vests, sweatshirts) have a school logo on them so I must go through the uniform store. I have to say, though, that the quality is fantastic.

 

[BuckNaked]

It isn't just private schools. I'm old, but I remember in public Jr. High (about 1970 or so) we had to have specific gym/PE uniforms, with the school logo. There was only one store in town that sold them.

Same here!

 

[BuckNaked]

As to buying the plain pants for boys somewhere other than the uniform store, the problem, at our school at least, was that you had boys in 10 different shades of dark green pants running around, thus they weren't really "uniform".

One year I did buy the white shirts at the BX, but I went back to the uniform store halfway through the school year and bought new ones. Though the BX shirts were cheaper, they seemed to get "thin" really fast, whereas the uniform store shirts, like the pants, jumpers and skirts, hold up very, very well.

 

[Christine]

One year I did buy the white shirts at the BX, but I went back to the uniform store halfway through the school year and bought new ones. Though the BX shirts were cheaper, they seemed to get "thin" really fast, whereas the uniform store shirts, like the pants, jumpers and skirts, hold up very, very well.

Same experience here, although, last year I got my son's shirts at JC Penney. Those things were AWFUL and so thin. The shirts at Kohl's (Arrow Brand) are a tad bit better but they are running about $15.00 on sale so not a huge savings. The shirts for the uniform store are so heavy and crisp--I love them.