School Uniforms Question

**geckoace** · 07-15-2008, 10:49 AM

this is my son's first year in a uniform and i have to purchase the tops through lands end so they are pricey for us upfront.

he wears a gym uni on mondays, regular uniform M-Th and then F is open.

so how many of each shirt should i buy? the options are short sleeve polo, long sleeve polo, sweater, turtlneck. t

he gym uniform is a white tee with sweatpants or shorts

we have a washer/dry i am buying size 5/6 and he is on the slim side of 5 now. and i have been collecting khaki pants at the goodwill all summer. so i am thinking

4 short sleeve polo
4 long sleeve polo
3 gym shirts
1 sweats, 1 shorts

any suggestions from those who are used to uniforms would be appreciated...

**TheRootedNomad** · 07-15-2008, 11:03 AM

Do you have to go through lands end??? We can get our "uniform" clothing anywhere. A navy polo is a navy polo. There just can't be any logos.

I would replace the long sleeve polos with turtlenecks. They are generally less expensive and when it gets cold the schools usually let you layer them under the shortsleeve polos if they are the same color.

**frugalfriend** · 07-15-2008, 11:07 AM

That should be plenty. Especially if you do laundry once during the week. Can you possibly buy the polos at Target or WalMart? I think they are about $5.00 on sale. Or are they sticklers about them being from Lands End? When my kids wore uniforms, I saw the polos everywhere for less, even at thrift stores.

**geckoace** · 07-15-2008, 11:32 AM

we have to get the polos at lands end

they do the logos for the school so the shirts come up to 15.50 !!! for short sleeve

**leezza** · 07-15-2008, 11:36 AM

Reba,

Does the school do 2nd. hand sales??? Maybe you could get some that a kid outgrew last year???

leezza

PS. I notice you are in the northeast so I would 2nd. the turtle neck shirt.

**Dancing Lotus** · 07-15-2008, 11:55 AM

A lot depends on your climate. My dd has to wear a uniform four days a week. I bought two long sleeved and she only wore them two or three times. We found it easier to just buy the short sleeved shirts and wear any long sleeved one you want underneath. That way he could take off the long sleeves if he gets too warm.

I only bought 4 short sleeved and ended up buying more of them because it just wasn't enough. You never know when something comes up and you can't do the wash or they have a spill on the last clean one at the breakfast table.

**jamiet** · 07-15-2008, 12:24 PM

I wish my kid's school required uniforms!

**quiltingmommy** · 07-15-2008, 02:13 PM

My DS goes to a charter school where they require uniforms. This will be his 5th year. Since your school requires the logo shirts, I would call the office and see if they have any 'donations' from other parents. We are lucky enough to be able to purchase our uniform clothes through anyone, but twice a year, the school asks for any gently outgrown clothes and they have a free 'rummage' sale to any parent that needs clothes. Possibly your school does the same? Or ask some of the other parents if they know of anyone who's children have outgrown some of their clothes that you could have. The school secretaries may be quite a help for you.

Good luck!

**quiltingmommy** · 07-15-2008, 02:14 PM

Oh, and to answer your question: DS has 4 or 5 polo shirts and 2 gym tees. I typically try and do laundry mid week so we never run out.

**blitzen** · 07-15-2008, 03:50 PM

Originally Posted by geckoace

we have to get the polos at lands end

they do the logos for the school so the shirts come up to 15.50 !!! for short sleeve

I know it is a lot up front, but trust me--Land's End is the best around when it comes to standing behind their products. If the quality of the shirt suffers at any time, you can return it to them. They are really great, and their clothing is very durable. I have polos I bought there when my son was 4 and they look brand new to this day (he's 6 now) and I fully expect them to last through my younger child as well. I don't know if you have to get a specific kind, but I have the mesh polos--they don't fade at all!

ETA: like others have said, if your school doesn't already do this, they ought to allow parents to donate grown-out-of logo polos and let other parents "shop" them. My son's former school did this with the navy blazers middle school students were required to have for formal days.

**chettasmom** · 07-15-2008, 04:18 PM

since he has Fridays as a free day, I would only get ONE long sleeved polo, One turtle neck, One sweater, and three short sleeved polos, two gym shirts, one of the sweats and two pair of shorts...there are only so many days in the week right? And he can only wear one outfit at a time!

**geckoace** · 07-15-2008, 04:54 PM

Originally Posted by leezza

Reba,

Does the school do 2nd. hand sales??? Maybe you could get some that a kid outgrew last year???

leezza

PS. I notice you are in the northeast so I would 2nd. the turtle neck shirt.

i emailed to the school and they have some second hand ones available in the office for only $5!!! woo hoo im going up there thursday to see if they have any in my DS's size

**geckoace** · 07-15-2008, 04:57 PM

Originally Posted by blitzen

I know it is a lot up front, but trust me--Land's End is the best around when it comes to standing behind their products. If the quality of the shirt suffers at any time, you can return it to them. They are really great, and their clothing is very durable. I have polos I bought there when my son was 4 and they look brand new to this day (he's 6 now) and I fully expect them to last through my younger child as well. I don't know if you have to get a specific kind, but I have the mesh polos--they don't fade at all!

ETA: like others have said, if your school doesn't already do this, they ought to allow parents to donate grown-out-of logo polos and let other parents "shop" them. My son's former school did this with the navy blazers middle school students were required to have for formal days.

that's good to know about the no fading, i was concerned i would have to replenish mid-year due to fading since i will wash each week