Where to buy school uniforms?

[belle&beast]

I posted this on the family board, but this moves so quickly I thought I might get more responses...

We just received all our information about starting school in the fall and I was wondering about good places to buy uniforms. We need very plain khaki or navy pants/skirts and white, navy or hunter green tops. I have looked at Lands End, The Children's Place and The Children's Wear Outlet. I am familiar with Lands End and TCP, but has anyone ever tried TCWO? The prices are great, but I want to be sure they will last for awhile. Any other ideas are appreciated, too.

 

[Pop Daddy]

I had my daughter in Christain school k-5, she hated the uniforms "I want to wear somthing differnt every day", anway I let her go to public schools and now she has 20 pair of jeans that all look the same and wears a different pair everyday

 

[hentob]

To be honest with you, Lands' End is the only way to go if you want them to last.

If you have any issues (fading, knees wear out too early, pilling, shrinking, etc.) LE will replace them--NO questions asked.


We have been able to pass down Lands' End uniforms after MANY wears

 

[froglady]

We live in an area where some of the public schools wear uniforms, so our local Targets, WalMart's, department stores etc all carry basic khaki pants/shorts/skirts and solid colored polos along with oxford cloth shirts and blouses.

I've purchased things (when just specific colors were specified) from French Toast, which has catalog/internet sales, along with being in one of the local stores. ? K-Mart; I can't remember which. They have a great fleece lined, hooded windbreaker which was perfect for our Florida "winters." Warmth without being bulky, and I bought it large enough for layering.

DS's MS required that uniforms be purchased from specific vendors; Land's End, and a local uniform shop. I suspect your area has a uniform shop, also. The one I went to had the specific uniform dress codes from each local school.

 

[Blue Skies]

My DS goes to a Catholic school. We have to buy his uniforms from a specific metro area store.

The last school he went to we had a choice of Lands End or this local store - and most everyone used the local store. The school did not allow anyone to buy the sweater from Lands End because they supposedly faded.

My DS likes wearing a uniform at his current school. He wears trousers and a polo shirt. His last school they wore an oxford shirt and a tie every day! He always looked uncomfortable!

 

[kimberlym4]

I've used frenchtoast.com
Many discount stores (Kmart, Target) sell French Toast merchandise but you can get it directly on line. It's pretty inexpensive and I think it holds up just fine.

 

[margaritaqueen]

You will love the uniforms. It is so nice to not have to worry about what your child is wearing!!

My daughter is in fourth grade, and she wears a jumper (which we have to buy at a uniform store), or also has the option to wear navy pants and a white collared shirt. Don't know if you have one of these near you, but I have had great luck at a JC Penney's Outlet Store. Pants are usually $7.99 and shirts are even cheaper. I have a girlfriend who also swears by them for her boy and girl. Very affordable. I have also had luck at Sears and Kohl's, particularly when they have their good sales.

If you are new to your school, you should probably double check and make sure that they don't have a used uniform sale. We have one every year in June and families are able to sell their used uniforms for a fraction of the cost. (I just bought 2 jumpers for $7, compared to the $50 new at the uniform store.)

Hope this helps!

 

[hentob]

You will love the uniforms. It is so nice to not have to worry about what your child is wearing!!

I agree

Plus the kids look so sharp

 

[belle&beast]

If you are new to your school, you should probably double check and make sure that they don't have a used uniform sale. We have one every year in June and families are able to sell their used uniforms for a fraction of the cost. (I just bought 2 jumpers for $7, compared to the $50 new at the uniform store.)

Hope this helps!

I asked about this in the sprig, but they don't have one at this time. I think that will one of the first things I volunteer to get started!

 

[froglady]

I asked about this in the sprig, but they don't have one at this time. I think that will one of the first things I volunteer to get started!

Our Parent's Association just abolished ours. It was a LOT of work to sort through all of the uniforms that came in; people have very different ideas about what "gently used" means. Then they had to be sized (even though we asked parents to do it, many did not) and stored until sale day. It took volunteers to staff the sale, and in the end, the association didn't make much money for all of the effort involved. Most of DS's used uniforms came from a friend who has a son two years older. I've passed his down to someone who has a son two years younger. I assume that this is what happened to most of the "gently used" uniforms in those families without younger siblings, so the sale ended up getting ratty ones.

Now the "better" used uniforms are given to administration to be used by scholarship students. The ratty ones are cut up and used as cleaning rags around campus.

 

[tikilyn]

My dd wears uniforms to school too. She has to wear Red, White or navy blue shirts. They have to be plain with no logos on them. Pants has to be dark blue demin, khaki, or navy blue pants.

I really like TCP but will also go to Academy. I like Academy's white shirts. I don't have to iron them at all!!

 

[AprilShowers]

To be honest with you, Lands' End is the only way to go if you want them to last.

If you have any issues (fading, knees wear out too early, pilling, shrinking, etc.) LE will replace them--NO questions asked.


We have been able to pass down Lands' End uniforms after MANY wears

Yep!
Target and French Toast didn't last nearly as long or look nearly as good when time to pass down to the next kid. You get what you pay for in this situation.

The other thing to think about is that you don't have to buy 5 pairs of pants or bottoms because they all look the same anyway, just do a load of laundry halfway through the week. If you buy the good stuff from Land's End, you can get away with buying fewer pieces.

 

[Brianne]

I've had great luck with Izod's brand from JCPenney's. They always seem to be running a "buy 2 or more" sale with uniform pieces. The boy & girl clothing tend to look very similar so I've been able to pass a number of shirts, shorts & pants down from one child to the next regardless of sex, which has really come in handy!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

We have used both a uniform store and Lands End. Now the ds new school says Lands End only. It really does hold up well. They are on the 4th year of the same polo shirts for some of them. They get 3 color choices for polos. Also their return policy is really great, no questions asked etc. I have never had a problem with them and their customer service is really great. Very friendly reps on the phone. Also your school gets money back from purchases from Lands End if they choose to do that.

 

[tinatark]

I like Land's End for shirts, Target or JcPenney for bottoms - get the non-wrinkle ones - they come out of the dryer ready to wear!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

I had my daughter in Christain school k-5, she hated the uniforms "I want to wear somthing differnt every day", anway I let her go to public schools and now she has 20 pair of jeans that all look the same and wears a different pair everyday

Jason, Looong post

 

[belle&beast]

Has anyone bought the Lands End plaids? I know my DD won't want to wear them for long, but I love the jumpers and she does too, right now. Do they wash well?

 

[disneygal2007]

We buy ours at walmart.com every school wears them here so it's just easier then store hopping. start now cause then try to limit what u can buy.

 

[clm3]

I've had great luck with Izod's brand from JCPenney's. They always seem to be running a "buy 2 or more" sale with uniform pieces. The boy & girl clothing tend to look very similar so I've been able to pass a number of shirts, shorts & pants down from one child to the next regardless of sex, which has really come in handy!

I agree with JCP for pants, shorts and skorts for my DD. You can get great deals closer to school starting. I also love French Toast brand, but have had a harder time finding them since our Target stop selling them.

For shirts I like the Austin brand from Academy, they really hold their color. (The Lee brand tend to fade after awhile.)

 

[RUDisney]

I've bought a lot of school shirts, pants and shorts at LLBean.com and Talbots.com. when they have their clearance sales, you can get really good quality merchandise for what you'd pay in Target.

There's also ebay for school clothes. I've done that, too.