My son the SKINNY GIANT!!!! at 13

[snookhams]

I am so fed up and tired, we've been to Bluewaters today - left home at 8.45am in a attempt to get my 13 yr old son some clothes and shoes, and all I bought was a hat and some boxers for my other son! - why- because DS in 6' tall measures a 27" waist and has a 91/2 - 10 shoe size (thats mens) but needs an E or F width fitting - normal mens shoes are to wide as they tend to be G/H fitting. We tried all the shoe shops- he was even trying on shoes at £85.00- for school- and for a child still only in year 8 - Clarks don't do anything above a 9 in the childrens department and the adult mens shoes were far to wide - so we gave up on the shoes and tried for some trousers - no luck there either, not many shops have 28" waist most start at 30" and if they do have the smaller size they don't stock long or extra long only regular which looked stupid-as though they had argued with his ankles!!! One helpful sales assistant called him a skinny-giant, which did not go down to well with this teenager, he stormed off in a huff!, so we are both frustrated and tired and still he has no shoes or trousers - I am planning a trip to oxford street on Thursday - I need a rest day in between, but I don't suppose that we have much more luck - so if you know of any shops that might be able to help in our plight I would be ever so grateful!!!!! :jumping4: :jumping4: :jumping4: :jumping4:

 

[debster812]

Hi, US DISer who LOVES lurking here with you all from the UK.

I am not sure if you can order mail order, or if you have the actual stores, but the Gap has a section on their website for Talls. I just checked the jeans and they have size 28 waist. Not sure how long his legs are, but give it a try.

Good Luck. I have a cousin who was in the same boat. Fortunately, he topped out at 6'5" in Grade 11 (16 or 17 years old) and then started filling out, so he was not quite so skinny.

 

[KayleeUK]

Oh no How frustrating for you. I wish you luck for Thursday.

 

[snookhams]

Thanks Debster812 - we did manage a few weeks ago to get a pair of jeans in gap, but they only do above a 31" inside leg on odd occasions so its a case of keep looking, What he really wants is a smart pair of trousers as he sings in a choir he needs sometimes to wear black trousers and a white shirt. We are hoping that we will have some luck in London tomorrow

 

[rhysd2]

might be worth checking out the store "big and tall" (i think thats its name) they do all sorts of unusual sizes for the tall n skinny man. not sure how many of them are around but we have one in bristol.

 

[BONZO]

Hi,

Not cheap but you could check out High & Mighty - which is (i think) what rhysd2 is refering to.


...or Extra tall website - lots of links around the UK

 

[Nick The Cat]

I can sympathise my 17 year old is just the same. We managed to get him school trousers in Next as they have 28" waist and a choice of lengths but they cost a fortune. Luckily now he can wear whatever he wants to sixth form college and he doesn't mind baggy jeans.
Shoes are a nightmare he also has slim feet and takes a 9 1/2. Mens shoes are far too wide.

Good luck on your quest

 

[signtalker]

I can sympathise with you, but from another angle!!!
|My son is nearly 13 and weighs 4 stone, buying clothes to fit him is a knightmare!!!, he can easily fit into age 7, but they arent long enough in the leg, if I buy age 12/13 they wrap round him 3 times!!!!
I hate clothes shopping!!!!!!!!

Jules

 

[Netty]

I have 2 kids that are very slim! dont take after me!!
ds is now 21 but it was always a problem buying his clothes. I used to take the waistband in each side of his school trousers and jeans! Even now his jeans hang off him as he must still be between 26"-28" waist and is nearly 6foot tall..
my dd who is 13 has the same problem, her skirts and jeans are just far too big around the waist.she could fit in to 8-9 yr old clothes but the lengh is then far too short..
hope you manage to find a store that can help you..

 

[snookhams]

Thanks for all your help - I managed to get a pair of shoes in John Lewis but when he was measured there it was a 10 1/2 E/F so we had to get them in the mens department, they were very helpful and bought out all the ranges that came up narrow and managed to find a pair of lace up's that were OK, cost me £60 though, no luck with the trousers, walked oxford street and regent street but very few places stock 28" and none in long only regular and short-had a pig of a day and came home to some really bad news (see my post 'Have a Happy New Year -NOT')

 

[Tony Toon]

Hi - we can sympathise too. DS is now 15, 6' 4", size 12/13 in a shoe but growing a little more slowly now. He was 6' as well at 13 and like your son a 28" waist was too wide (now a 30" and a belt stay up). We live in Glasgow and Slaters Menswear (they have stores elsewhere - near you?) was a godsend for smart trousers suitable for school/ giong out etc. They don't often have the smaller sizes in 35" inside leg (which he likes), but if they are out of stock will alter a larger waisted pair for free. The last pair I bought cost about £20 and wash beautifully. He even got a lovely suit for his sister's wedding in July. They also sell shoes and boots in larger sizes. DS also has very narrow feet (I presume they will broaden out once he stops growing) and had a choice of shoes and boots for the wedding. He chose boots. Brantanno (chain shoe store up here) do large sizes for both guys and gals (we're all tall - niece 6' 2", 36" inside leg and size 10 shoe). Barratt's have a tall and small catalogue and will order in anything you would like to try on with no obligation to buy. Had narrow waisted 35" inside leg joggers/ trousers in M&S, also they do 2" longer shirts (like Slaters). High and Mighty are good but expensive and of no interest to my very fashion conscious son. He prefers TKMax which seems to stock skinny, long jeans on a fairly regular basis (he's had Phat Farms and other makes which he really likes). Good luck! The fashion industry seems to cater far better for tall girls than boys at the moment - maybe they'll catch up eventually.

Mrs Tony Toon.

 

[snookhams]

Thanks Tony Toon, we have in the past managed to get trousers in TKMaxx, its just a case of having the time to trall through the rails of clothes I had not heard of Slaters but will look for them on the net and find our nearest store, its nice to know that other parents have the same difficulties, it can be such a disadvantage being tall, I am dredding what size feet he will end up with, normally we get trainers and sometime shoes when in Florida, but last August all our plans for shopping went out of the window when Charley hit, so only came home with 1 pair of trainers for him!!, hopefully if we still go this August then we can spend a day or two shopping - that would be such a hard ship!!!