Teenager school uniforms

[Zydebearsmom]

My 9th grader will be wearing a school uniform this year. She wore them in elem., and middle school but the high school has decided to have the 9th graders wear them as well. My dd is upset because she thought she was finally out of uniforms. She could go to her home school that does not mandate uniforms but she is in the magnet program and does not want to quit the program because of the uniform policy. How much do you spend on your teens school uniform? Where do you purchase them from? She wants Aero, Polo, and Hollister but I know Aero quality does not hold up for uniform shirts. She likes the way they fit her body opposed to others such as French Toast. I am trying to budget her uniforms. I am thinking about just giving her $200 and leaving it up to her to budget her money to get what she would like or maybe I will just by them for her but I dont think she will budget very well because technically it will be my money. How many outfits do you by? Though I have been through this before it is just more confusing for me now since she is going to high school. Ohh the pressure. Thanks

 

[Disneybuckeye]

I probably spent about $400 on my daughter's uniforms that lasted her all 4 years. We had a specific skirt and then had our pick from long and short sleeve polos in two colors, one sweatshirt design, one fleece design, and one sweater. All items were bought from the required retailer and we had multiples of several things. I loved uniforms. My daughter wore them all her life until college and never complained. I guess because all her friends were in the same boat it did not matter to her.

My sons had uniforms through 8th grade and then a dress code for HS. I probably spent more on them as they could wear any khaki pants or shorts and polo shirts. Probably a two to three hundred a year for each then much less their senior year when they were done growing.

 

[chrissyt27]

My school sold the shirts. There were 3 of us and my mom bought 12, 2 of each color. They were like $25 each. My sister and I learned early that we needed to share since my brother usually had massive ink issue and always somehow got pen on them. It was my last year when they started this, so I didn’t mind, and them my sister switched schools, so my brother ended up with all of them. we could wear any kaki colored pants.
I’d have to convince her to but the best quality ones so you don’t have to keep re-buying.
I actually liked the polo shirts. There was no issue in the morning of what to wear, except when my sister and I fought over who got the green shirt.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Our school required that all uniforms be purchased through Lands End. They have a good quality and great return policy too.

 

[lovesmurfs]

Our school required that all uniforms be purchased through Lands End. They have a good quality and great return policy too.

We're in our 13th year of uniforms, and Lands End continues to be our go-to. We've tried the more "stylish" places, but they wear terribly.

 

[MrsPete]

Since everyone else in her school's going to be wearing the same uniforms, I doubt it'll be as horrible as she expects. Perhaps it'd help if you point out that uniforms are huge money-savers for school clothes . . . which'll leave more budget for out-of-school clothes.

When my girls wore uniforms, we also bought from Lands' End. You can't beat the quality for the price.

 

[Disneybuckeye]

I refuse to send my kids to a school that requires uniforms.

While I believe everyone is entitled to their own opinion, I am not quite sure how this response in anyway answers the original posters question.

If you can't say something nice don't say anything at all is my opinion.

 

[pantherlj]

My 9th grader will be wearing a school uniform this year. She wore them in elem., and middle school but the high school has decided to have the 9th graders wear them as well. My dd is upset because she thought she was finally out of uniforms. She could go to her home school that does not mandate uniforms but she is in the magnet program and does not want to quit the program because of the uniform policy. How much do you spend on your teens school uniform? Where do you purchase them from? She wants Aero, Polo, and Hollister but I know Aero quality does not hold up for uniform shirts. She likes the way they fit her body opposed to others such as French Toast. I am trying to budget her uniforms. I am thinking about just giving her $200 and leaving it up to her to budget her money to get what she would like or maybe I will just by them for her but I dont think she will budget very well because technically it will be my money. How many outfits do you by? Though I have been through this before it is just more confusing for me now since she is going to high school. Ohh the pressure. Thanks

Good for her for not wanting to give up a program over the uniform - I think it's great that she is putting academics over the clothing My middle schooler hates the uniform too but I love it! Is she done growing? I don't have one that age yet so not sure when they stop LOL. If she isn't, I would probably let her get what she wants since they will have to be replaced as she grows.

However, I think it's a GREAT idea to take this time to teach her about budgeting money! Brand vs quality - good lesson!

 

[MSSANDRA]

We only had uniforms though middle school but found Lands End to be tops for quality. Be sure to check the guide lines closely before buying at Areopostal etc. The more feminine fit that they offer was not allowed at some of the schools in our area and many had brand labels that few schools allow.

I would just buy her what she needs and then give her a fun clothes budget to play with. I would not allow her to leave a good program just because they wear uniforms. She will adjust and be fine. Wish our high school had them!

 

[lovesmurfs]

I refuse to send my kids to a school that requires uniforms.

More and more public schools are moving to uniforms. As a parent, I love it because it avoids any "what to wear to school today" morning arguments. It also reduces the number of clothes that I have to purchase each year -- the kids have one week of school uniforms (which isn't a uniform per se, but a collared solid shirt in red, white or navy, and pants in either khaki or navy) and then their play clothes.

 

[MSSANDRA]

And...it eliminates high school girls wearing shorts up to their...... and tops down to their..... and kids wearing jeans that are more holes than material and makes life soooo much easier for the staff that has to regulate the dress code. There is no gray area. You have on your uniform or you go home. Real world is not so different for many professions!

 

[HelenePA]

Jcpenney has okay polos for jrs the Arizona brand. Old navy's fade bad quick! Surprisingly walmarts held up good too. Dockers and izod are fine too. I've tried so many brands last year between the 3 kids lol I've already begun to buy and school just ended 2 days ago.

 

[carebee21]

More and more public schools are moving to uniforms. As a parent, I love it because it avoids any "what to wear to school today" morning arguments. It also reduces the number of clothes that I have to purchase each year -- the kids have one week of school uniforms (which isn't a uniform per se, but a collared solid shirt in red, white or navy, and pants in either khaki or navy) and then their play clothes.

I end up spending more having to purchase uniforms than I did before. I now have to have uniforms, play clothes and then clothes that are a little nicer than play clothes for birthday parties, going out to dinner, etc for all the seasons.... And then on top of that, they have to wear their uniforms for art and PE, so we end up with paint and grass stains and stuff that won't come out of uniforms, so we're constantly having to buy new ones. Where, if they didn't have uniforms, PE day and art day, I may send him in something that I picked up off the 75% of target clearance rack or extra 50% off old navy rack....

And to answer the OP's question, I've found that Target polos actually hold up pretty well and Old Navy's aren't bad if you wash them in cold water.

 

[HelenePA]

I end up spending more having to purchase uniforms than I did before. I now have to have uniforms, play clothes and then clothes that are a little nicer than play clothes for birthday parties, going out to dinner, etc for all the seasons.... And then on top of that, they have to wear their uniforms for art and PE, so we end up with paint and grass stains and stuff that won't come out of uniforms, so we're constantly having to buy new ones. Where, if they didn't have uniforms, PE day and art day, I may send him in something that I picked up off the 75% of target clearance rack or extra 50% off old navy rack

And to answer the OP's question, I've found that Target polos actually hold up pretty well and Old Navy's aren't bad if you wash them in cold water.

I only wash in cold. My sons navy blue looks horrible. It was worn the least and looks the worst? Maybe I just got a bad batch but the walmart George brand of navy blue looks 100% better. And his dickies pants still look brand new I know a lot of teen girls wear them to my school.

 

[NotUrsula]

It isn't the water temp that causes the fading; it is putting them in the dryer. Line-dry them and you'll see a lot less fading.

To the OP, Land's End now offers more that one cut to their polo shirts; you can get the "feminine fit" as well. It is cut tighter to the torso and has shorter sleeves.