03 August 2023 , 14:00
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As another year at senior school comes to an end, parents up and down the country are faced with the daunting task of purchasing school uniforms ready for September.
With my year 8, soon-to-be year 9 son steadily sprouting and already almost as tall as me, his slight, 5'7" frame and long limbs can mean that finding trousers that are long enough in the leg but not too big around the waist can sometimes be a challenge.
His changing shape has meant that previous offerings from other High Street retailers no longer suit, so I turned to Marks and Spencer in desperation and was delighted with the result.
I purposely chose trousers, shirts and jumpers from the Marks and Spencer "slim fit" schoolwear range, hoping that they wouldn't hang off him like other High Street brands, leaving the poor boy looking like he'd turn up for school in his dad's old work clothes.
I ordered online and was able to collect in my local store the next day, negating the need for long-winded shopping trips with a bored boy who would rather be anywhere else.
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With everything from last year now outgrown, I needed to replace trousers, shirts and jumpers and as it turned out, just about every item from M&S was absolutely spot on.
Here's what I ordered:
Boys' Super Skinny Leg Slim Waist School Trousers (2-18 Yrs)
The trousers fitted well on the waist and in the leg (M&S)Offering a super narrow leg with added stretch in the fabric, these trousers promised to offer a 4cm narrower cut through the waist.
The size 13-14 sat well on his waist, and the legs are about the best fit I've found so far, adequately covering knobbly knees without looking like they will billow in the wind.
At £13 a pair they are on the pricier end of the M&S schoolwear spectrum, but as they fit him so well, I'll wear that.
Two Pack Unisex Slim Fit Cotton School Jumpers (3-18 Yrs)
The jumpers are narrower in the body and the arms (M&S)With a strict "blazers on" policy at school, jumpers that are too loose can look bunched up and ill-fitting.
These cotton jumpers are breathable and not itchy (an important factor with fussy children) and feature StayNew™ technology to help them look newer for longer.
The slim fit design is slightly narrower through the body and arms, and I liked the fact that they are a decent length which will cover up untucked shirts to keep him looking smart.
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Prices range from £11 to £17 depending on size.
Two Pack Boys' Slim Fit Non-Iron School Shirts (2-18 Yrs)
Slim fit, non-iron shirts from M&S (M&S)Designed with a 4cm narrower cut through the body, these shirts promise to offer comfort and ease of movement despite their closer fit.
They did indeed fit him well, and again the more generous length is a benefit as personally, I find they tend to stay neatly tucked when they are longer.
The shirts arrived folded upThe non-iron feature sounds like a winner, but having arrived folded up in plastic packaging they will definitely need a good going over before he goes back to school.
Prices range from £8 to £14 depending on size.
While all of the above were practically perfect in every way, I did find the longer-length school trousers a bit of a letdown. Hoping to head off the need to buy more trousers when he has another inevitable growth spurt between now and the next half-term, I chucked a pair in my online shopping basket.
According to the size chart on the M&S website, the longer length design offers around an extra 1.5 inches on the leg length across the range, but while they were a good fit lengthwise the waist size was much too large. This was just my opinion though, the boy himself didn't seem bothered by a baggy waist in the slightest.
Apart from one item, everything else was perfectMarks and Spencer offer a full range of schoolwear available in sizes from 2 -1 8 years for most items.
While I am delighted with the narrower dimensions of the slim fit range, only time will tell whether they will withstand endless football tackles on the concrete playground or the constant need for washing that only teenage boys seem to create.
Either way, he's happy to wear than and I'm happy that I was able to order good quality, well-fitting and affordable clothes from the comfort of my own home.