Buying school uniform: how to spot sizing and fitting problems

One of the trickiest decisions when buying school uniform for your child is working out what size to get. While you want a uniform to fit well and feel comfortable, you also know that your child is likely to grow and might end up outgrowing their uniform quicker than you’d expect!? And if you’re in a hurry and can’t try before you buy, how do you choose the right size when every retailer is different?

In this article, we’re giving you some guidance on how to make better decisions about what size school uniform to buy, along with some tips on how to tell when a uniform isn’t quite right.

Take your child’s measurements

Before you even set foot in the shop or load up the website where you’ll be buying school uniform online, make sure you’ve got your child’s measurements to hand. Take these using a flexible tape measure so they’re as accurate as possible. You’ll need height, chest, waist and inside leg measurement, plus collar measurement and skirt length if you’re buying boys school shirts or girls skirts. With these measurements in hand you’ll save time and potential errors next time you go school uniform shopping. You can find out more with our school uniform sizing guide.

Check the style and sizing

Take a little time to check that the sizing in the shop is true to age. School uniform shops tend to size their garments by age, but as every child is different this measure can be deceptive. Use the guides on the retailer’s website or packaging to help, then check to see if your child’s height and other measurements tally up.

For example, your child may be ‘age 8’ height, but have an ‘age 10’ chest or waist. In this case, you should then choose the garment based on the measurement that’s the largest – here, ‘age 10’. This means the item will fit more comfortably.

Retailers now offer a variety of styles including regular, slim, petite, generous and tall fits. Each of these needs to be checked carefully, as while this variety does mean every child can have a smart-looking uniform, these differences in design can affect the comfort and fit of individual garments.

Try before you buy

When you’re shopping for school uniform, it’s best if you can encourage your child to try on each garment. It helps you check the fit as well as finding out whether it’s comfortable or not. This is especially important for teenagers, who may have specific preferences for fit so that they feel relaxed rather than worrying about how they look.

Ask your child to try on a few different sizes of each garment; one that matches their size, a size up and a size down. If you are looking for something for them to grow into, get them to try on two sizes up as well. Make sure they’re wearing their uniform or similar clothing underneath when trying on a blazer or coat so you can get an accurate idea of the fit. And ask them to stand up straight and move around a bit when you’re looking at the fit – slouching or standing unnaturally will affect the fit of the item and you won’t be able to tell whether it’s right or not.

Spot the tell-tale signs

Once your child has the garment on, you can examine how their school uniform looks and whether it seems to be fitting well or not. There are a few signs that indicate a garment is too small or too big, but ask your child too – they’ll know what feels right to them, and that’ll make getting them to wear the uniform that little bit easier.

The item is too small if …

• The seams are straining
• Waistbands are pinching or digging in
• Cuffs are on the forearm or ride up when they move their arms
• You can see their socks under trousers either when they stand or sit down
• It feels uncomfortable for them to move or walk

The item is too big if …

• On trousers, fabric is ‘pooling’ at their feet
• The waistband rides around or rubs when they walk
• The shoulder seam hangs below the tip of their shoulder bone
• Sleeves are too long and cuffs drag over their hands
• They feel weighed down or it’s hard for them to move freely

Getting the right fit on a school uniform means taking a little time to see what works for your child. Taking their measurements, noting the retailer’s sizing and trying on items sounds laborious, but in the long run it’ll result in a uniform that looks good and fits well.

For more helpful checklists to use while buying school uniform, take a look at our other guides.