The cost of standard school uniform in the UK has been lowered, thanks to the supermarket chains, who display rack upon rack of suitably coloured uniform at a fraction of the cost for monogrammed uniform. These monogrammed school tops display the school logo and "microchip" children into being recognised easily out of school or on school trips. Apparently, they allow the child to be proud of the school they have been selected into and provide a feeling of belonging.
Schools can provide these coloured school tops. This is great when your child has lost theirs again for the third time. But what about the shoes, skirts and trousers? Trying to find a belt these days that is sold separately and that can match your black or grey school trousers is nigh on impossible. Only swanky belts with studs and skateboard designs seem to be available.
Buying School Uniform Online
Once you have bought the top, you are left alone to venture online or in town to peruse the offerings of grey or black trousers that may last until the end of the year. The lost property box at schools is full to capacity of misplaced paraphernalia, but never seems to have your missing item. Searching online I did find Very.co.uk has black or grey school trousers up to the age of 16. These trousers are coated with Teflon, which make them more durable and stain resistant to wiped snot and dripped egg mayonnaise! They are priced at £14 and contain two pairs of trousers which come in standard and long sizing.
Black School Shoes
Shoes are another matter entirely. Proper fitted shoes from a well-known brand of shoe manufacturer can cost the earth! For a fraction of the price, you can purchase cheaper shoes at other retail outlets or even within some supermarkets; but they fall apart after three months! I have bought expensive shoes in the past to find that the leather diminishes over time to reveal a peeled layer of the previous outer shoe and looks really tatty. My son is 11 years old and is now a size seven. The quest for a size seven black shoe within the "boy" category of online catalogues finished joint last with Very.co.uk and Kickers.co.uk. Very few only go up to a size 5 and then you venture to the men's shoe department which has slip-on "posh" shoes at £60 plus. Kickers claim to sell shoes for "Infants, Juniors, Teens and Youths" – all of which do not pass size 5. My son is not yet a teenager and he is already a man in shoes!
My next searched revealed Barratts.co.uk. They actually have a category called "black shoes for older boys" size 6 to 12. A pair of Wrangler's Leather casual black lace up shoes cost £35. Standard delivery costs £3.50 and the shoes are delivered within seven days, or for £5.50 the shoes can be delivered in three days. I had found salvation! I have resorted to calm as I grasp with relish that my son is an "older boy" and not a "man" – I am not quite ready for the teen tantrums yet.
So buying school uniform is a process every parent has to accomplish; maybe if you could just rattle off a homemade version from your sewing machine, then life would seem so simple …
Jo Sidwells - After many years experience writing for in-house magazines and newsletters within large corporate companies, I now enjoy being at home ...
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