My girls will need school uniforms this coming year, and I'm having the hardest time deciding what size to buy. The uniform isn't strict - it's any tan or navy pants plus any solid colored collared shirt. But, I can no longer buy a bunch of sale items in a variety of sizes and know I'll find something that fits my kids as they grow and stretch.
I'm looking at Lands End for polo shirts; the shirts get good reviews and the sale prices are pretty good, so I won't spend any more than buying at JC Penney or Target really. But, my problem is this: what size to buy??? My kids simply don't match any of the size charts. For example, size 6 is 45-47 inches tall, 22.5 inch waist, 19.75 inch inseam, and 45-49 pounds for weight. My kids are both 45 inches tall, have a 20 inch inseam, but their waists are only 20 inches and one weighs 37 pounds while the other weighs 39.
So do I buy size 6 because it's closest to their height? I'm assuming yes, but I'm worried the pants will simply fall off. How have you all handled this when your kids weights don't match their heights?
Thanks everyone! And Gamma... good point on buying local. Unfortunately I live in a really small town so my only choices would be Target or Walmart for buying in person. I may drive an hour to have my kids try on clothes at JC Penney or Childrens Place later this summer... just having a hard time making it a priority when there are so many other (fun) things to do this summer!
We do a lot of Internet shopping out here in New Mexico. And fortunately for me, Lands End has free shipping and free returns.
For shirts, totally buy bigger.
With pants, buy for length and take them in. We have this problem too. If you can find a label you know makes 'em long/skinny, you could try those too. I haven't had great/consistent luck with that approach, though.
Buy pants to length and get ones with adjustable waists. For shirts I err on the bigger side.
My 4 year old son is very slender and he is 40 lbs. So I think you need to find "slim cut" or something similar for your girls. Try Children's Place. Even if your child is not "slim" I prefer a more fitted, tailored look. I don't like when kids look sloppy.
I seriously don't mean to be obvious or anything but you do realize if you buy local you can take them along and try the clothes on them right? They should also have slims.
Penney's and even Walmart often carry the khaki's and polo's at this time of year so they can help out the families that send their kids to private school.
I can't imagine ordering anything online that I didn't have time to reorder and send back and forth several times.
OR your other option is to buy several sizes and just find what fits, then send the unwanted clothes back and order more of the ones that fit. Seems like a lot of work for a time costly activity.
I can tell you that my granddaughter is 8, is about 56 inches tall, weighs about the same as her height, and is just now going from a 6 slim to a 7 slim. I would never buy her anything that she can't try on due to the hassle of having to pay return postage and going back and forth.
The thing I found with uniforms is that they shrink. So get them a little big to start and within weeks they will fit just right. Even if they are a bit big, they will be more comfortable in something a little big than anything slightly small or tight.
Adjustable waist pants are a good thing. :)
Did you see the Monster Sale at TCP? Uniform stuff. Just a thought.
My mom always bought me 2 skirts and 2 pairs of pants for our uniforms that lasted for 2-3 years. She'd add an extra button to allow it to fit and take it up, then she's let it out at the waist and at the hem. Same for the pants. The shirts she had to buy more frequently.
My daughter is 4 and is 42 inches. She wears a size 4 in the pants and a 6 in the shirt....or a 7 if it's 100% cotton....since I wash and dry everything on HOT.
BUY A LARGE VARIETY OF SIZES AND SEND BACK THE ONES THAT DON'T FIT, SO YOU GET THE CREDIT BACK ON YOUR CARD BEFORE THE BILL COMES DUE.
When my daughter was young, they didn't have the adjustable waist for girls or boys.....so I had to buy the next size up and make sure they had belt loops for a belt. Or they had the elastic waist bands!!
Now that my boys are here and older?!?!? I LOVE LOVE LOVE the adjustable waist pants.
http://www.cwdkids.com/servlet/quagga/specials/product.js...
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=girls+pants+adjustabl...
Children's place has a tan skirt on sale for $11.21
http://www.childrensplace.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/c...
Well I know with my kids what I do is go to Walmart and buy their uniform pants as they usually have the expanding waistline feature.. so that helps for buying one size up so that the uniform will last all year. (for legs that are too long..... do a temporary hem) For the shirts I usually always buy a size up as being in the hotter climate it gives breathing room.
Kids sprout in the summer!
I buy bigger. Buy a belt and plan to roll the cuffs.
I don't know if you have a western store, but western cut pants are long and slender. My tall skinny neice wears wranglers exclusively. They make kahki and navy.
I buy bigger, they can always use belts and they will grow into them fast, shirts will be a little baggy, but that's it. My boys always do anyways.
My vote is for Land's End...you just can't beat the quality of their clothes. I have some of their polos and love how soft they are and how long they have lasted me. Some I wear every week, and are just wearing out 10 years later!
Many of their pants are adjustable waist. Call and ask. I'm sure customer service would be able to help you with sizing.
