Entering the World of School Uniforms

By Tara C.

(photo from: Public School Review)

Next month, my daughter starts Kindergarten at a new school that requires her to wear a uniform. This will be the first experience I've ever had with school uniforms and I can't say that I've given it much thought until recently. I was only vaguely aware that stores like Gap, Old Navy, and Lands End even carry uniforms. I saw one statistic that said that 23% of public and private schools in the U.S. have a uniform policy. This surprises me; I don't think that many schools require uniforms where I live.

I have to say, I'm really liking the idea so far. Some argue that uniforms stifle individuality and creativity. I do believe that style can be a means of self-expression. I probably wouldn't be writing for a style blog if I didn't feel that way. However, I'm not convinced that school is the best place for expressing creativity through fashion. Overall, I think the pros outway the cons. But that's probably because I'm a Stodgy Old Mom. Fourteen-year-old me probably would have felt differently. I distinctly remember begging my parents for a pair of $80 Guess jeans. This was a ridiculously expensive request at the time, but I remember feeling like I NEEDED the right clothes to fit in. Uniforms help reduce the external signs of varying socio-economic status.There is also some evidence that school uniforms can help reduce violence, theft, and peer pressure.

On a more superficial level, I actually kind of like the way most school uniforms look. My daughter's school requires her to wear a polo shirt with the school's insignia along with navy blue pants, skirts or shorts. She doesn't have to wear a tie like those kids pictured above. I like the simplicity. Personally, I think children look beautiful in simple, unadorned clothes. And has anyone else noticed that at a lot of stores, once girl sizes go above 5T they start to look a lot more mature? I'm talking about sequins and sparkles and trendy styles that look like shrunken versions of adult clothes. I like for my little girl to look like a little girl, not a really small teenager.

I have heard varying things about the number of uniforms each child should have. For shirts, I've heard people say between two and five. Two seems low to me, so I bought four shirts. I'm not sure that will be enough; my kid is pretty messy.

For the bottoms, I have gone the skort route for practicality. We live in Texas and we really won't need long pants or outerwear until around November. I bought this skort in navy on sale at Lands End. (FYI, they have a code on their site offering 30% off through July 24.)

(photo from: Lands End)

I like that it's knit, so it will be comfortable and won't wrinkle. I saw a review on another site in which the reviewer mentioned ironing the pleats of her daughter's skirt. Um, I don't think I'll be doing that.

I also ordered this skort from Old Navy:

(photo from Old Navy)

It doesn't have an adjustable waist, so we'll have to see if it fits once it arrives. Also, it might wrinkle.

Assuming that I buy fewer non-uniform outfits, I think I will end up saving money on my daughter's school clothes this year. And if our school starts a uniform exchange, it could really stretch our budget.

Do you have an opinion on school uniforms? If you are a veteran of buying school uniforms, do you have any tips for parents who are new to this?

Comments

[Lisa]

Lands End skorts are great and held up all year (my oldest started uniform kindergarten last year). Another good option for us was Children's Place. I have a skinny girl and had a hard time finding appropriate bottoms that would fit her waist (and she's not yet on board with buttons/snaps at the waist).

If you have the option of buying your own polos I really liked the Target ones. A little bit of ruching at the chest to look girly. And they went on super clearance after school started so I was able to stock up for $3-4 each. Also, Target has a cute girls polo dress that held up well.

I agree, anything with thicker material is going to need an iron - and when you are digging for a last minute uniform early in the morning an iron is the last thing you want to deal with. All easy knits here as much as possible.

[Lisa]

And be sure to get some fun hair accessories. Hair and leggings/socks were how we addressed her "style"

[Rebecca (Bearca)]

Both my kids wear uniforms to school and I LOVE IT. It makes getting dressed in the morning extremely easy, and I believe saves money in the long run.

[accessories]

Hurrah! In the end I got a web site from where I
be capable of in fact take useful data concerning my study and knowledge.

[elz]

We had one blissful year of school uniiforms when my daughter was in 1st grade. It was great-no fightng about clothes, or picking out what poputfits to wear, getting dressed was a breeze. We loved it. I was really sad when we switched schools!

I bought most of her outfits at Lands End, Target, and special uniform components at a local boutique.