Lands' End Girls School Uniform Shorts, a Review

I'm working with Lands' End as a Brand Ambassador during the 2014 Back to School season. They gifted me school uniforms for me to evaluate so I could share my opinion of the items with you. All opinions are my own.

Affiliate Links in Use

Thanks for Supporting Uniform Mom

With all the short shorts so popular right now, it is hard to find a pair for school that will meet dress code requirements. These School Uniform Girls' Plain Front Stain Resistant Chino Shorts from Lands' End are an easy choice for warm weather days heading back to school this fall. The above the knee length is long enough to avoid any issues with dress code violations yet the plain front style and fit make them fashionable. Paired with a basic polo, the kids will be dressed for the bus and out the door with no morning hassles.

Girls' Plain Front Blend Chino Shorts

We've tried shorts from several of the major retailers; the wrinkle resistant and stain resistant treatment on these shorts makes all the difference to your weekend laundry routine.  These shorts are look great straight from the dryer.  No ironing needed.  That's a huge win in my book.   The seams have reinforced stitching at all the stress points for longer lasting wear. Depending on your climate, you might put them away for the winter months, but when you pull them out of the drawer in the spring, you'll appreciate the adjustable waistband which allows them to grow with her over the course of the school year. A quick fix of the buttons and just like magic, they fit again!

FEATURES

• Long-lasting, super soft blend of 98% cotton/2% spandex
• Fights wrinkles and stops stains
• Side & rear pockets
• Inner adjustable waistband to fine-tune her fit
• Above-knee length
• Little Girl sizes: Easy-on elastic back & snap-front close
• Girl sizes: No-gap contoured waistband & button-front close

These shorts retail for $27.  They are available in classic navy and khaki in little girl's sizes (4-7) and big girl sizes (7-16).  They also have them in adults sizes (6-16) for $32.

Related Posts:

• Lands' End School Uniform Perfect Fit Pants and Interlock Polo, a Review
• Lands End Iron Knee Pants
• Lands' End School Uniforms in the Retail Round Up Series

Girls Zip-up School Uniform Sweater from Lands' End

I'm working with Lands' End as a Brand Ambassador during the 2014 Back to School season. They gifted me school uniforms for me to evaluate so I could share my opinion of the items with you. All opinions are my own.

Affiliate Links in Use
Thanks for Supporting Uniform Mom

(c) Rene Shonerd. All Rights Reserved.

We've tried a bunch of cardigan sweaters from various brands over the past two years.  While I was reviewing school uniform sweaters from all the major brands last summer, I noticed that a zip-up style sweater was totally absent from the girls uniform selection. Many brands offered a zip-up style for boys. Yet all of the girls' sweaters had buttons. My daughter is a rising second grader now, but when she was younger, buttons were tricky for her to do herself. Buttoning anything, especially an item with small buttons, took patience and some amount of time. So, I was excited to see that Lands' End is now offering a Girls' Zip-front Drifter Cardigan.

When I showed my daughter the list of choices for her to try a Lands End sweater, I wasn't surprised when she right away pointed to this zip up style. When it arrived, I immediately noticed that it is heavier and thicker than our Lands End School Uniform Girls' Fine Gauge Cotton Cardigan Sweaters. And while we love the basic cardigan for year round wear, I would definitely recommend this sweater for those living in a climate where the winters are colder. I think it would also double as a jacket for those in areas that don't get as much snow in the winter.

And besides the warmth, you notice the quality feel of the cotton. The product description calls it "upgraded cotton" and says that it "each sweater is knit to fit, instead of cut and sewn like lesser-made versions. So it fits right from the get-go, with no bunching or stretching."  I love the cute fabric zipper pull because it is easy for little fingers.

Girls' Zip-front 

Drifter Cardigan

FEATURES

• Soft-as-can-be 100% cotton for all-day comfort
• Knit to eliminate excess bulk under the arms
• Full-zip front with easy grosgrain zipper pull
• This product is eligible to receive a school logo or a personalized monogram.

This sweater is machine washable, however, the tag contains some special laundry instructions to keep it looking its best.  

1. Turn it inside out when washing.
2. Avoid tumble drying or drying on a hanger.  Instead, lay flat to dry and block into shape.
3. Use a sweater comb to remove any pills that may appear.

Lands' End offers this sweater in classic navy, black, red, burgundy and maize.  It sizing includes little girls (4-7) big girls (7-16) and adults (S-XL).  It retails for $50.  When you get one, don't forget to to write your child's name on the label.  You don't want this sweater to get lost and end up in the lost and found.

Join me at the Lands' End Back to School Twitter Party

You're Invited!

What: Land's End Back to School Twitter Party

When: August 5, 2014 12-1 EDT

Hashtag: #FirstDayFaves 

Moderator: @NavyPlaid

Sponsor: @LandsEnd

About the party:
Lands' End has the same classic, high quality items that you know and love as well as many new items offered as the kids get ready to head back to school this year. Come chat about what's new in School Uniforms and learn what features to look for as you shop this season. Bring your questions:  I'll be online live along with several experts from Lands' End to answer your questions about Back to School shopping.

Follow along and join in the conversation by:

• Creating your own custom view with TweetDeck or Hootsuite 
• Following #FirstDayFaves on your Twitter search feed 

RSVP:

While its certainly not required, please RSVP below to let us know you're planning to attend and find others to follow. Click Add Your Link button.  Enter the information as shown below:

1. Title: Enter your Twitter username
   such as @NavyPlaid
2. URL: Enter the URL (including the http://) to your twitter profile
   such as http://www.twitter.com/navyplaid
3. Name: Enter your name here such as Uniform Mom.
   Note - this information will not display on the form.

(Image Source)

Girls School Uniform Double Knit Blazer from Lands End, a Review

I'm working with Lands' End as a Brand Ambassador during the 2014 Back to School season. They gifted me school uniforms for me to evaluate so I could share my opinion of the items with you. All opinions are my own.

(c) Rene Shonerd. All Rights Reserved.

Affiliate Links in Use

Thanks for Supporting Uniform Mom

The new School Uniform Girls' Double Knit Button-front Blazer from Lands' End is a super cute layering alternative to a sweater.  This blazer makes any outfit look adorable.



For some reason, school picture day  for my daughter's class was held on PE day for the past two years.  So she is wearing her basic white t-shirt, which is required with the Phys Ed uniform, in her annual school photos. This year, I will plan send this blazer with her on school picture day no matter if it falls on a PE day or not.  This blazer works just as well over a shirt with a collar as it does over a basic t-shirt.   I will also reach for this blazer to her to wear on a school assembly day when her class will be on stage in front of the rest of the school and all the parents.

Girls' Double Knit
Button-front Blazer

The side panels give the jacket structure and shape, yet the double knit fabric is soft and comfortable.  It is offered in navy in Big Girl sizes 7 -16 and Women's sizes 2-16.  As a school uniform item, you can personalize it with your school logo.  It retails for $70. It is machine washable.

The highlighted features include the following:

• 100% cotton double knit is soft yet substantial
• Resilient construction
• Princes side panels lend a hint of shape
• Easy care: machine wash
• Single back vent
• Patch pockets
• Imported

A structure blazer is such a classic look on both girls and guys. Guys that are always complaining that blazers are too uncomfortable would love to have the comfort of a knit alternative.  But they guys will have to wait their turn until they develop a comfortable blazer for them because this one is reserved for the ladies. And because it is so comfortable to wear, it will get used more often than a traditional blazer.  It can also serve as a light jacket in the fall or spring months. These options make it worth the price difference from the basic cardigan sweater.

Related Posts:

• Lands' End Uniform Girls Solid A-line Skirt, a review
• Lands' End new Ponte School Uniform items- knit skort and blouse, a Review
• Lands' End School Uniform Perfect Fit Pants and Interlock Polo, a Review
• Lands’ End Phys Ed Performance T-shirt and Yoga Pants, Reviews
• Review of the Lands End Knit Ruffle Front Dress
• Lands' End Backpacks for School 

August 2014 Back to School Giveaway - $100 Lands End Giveaway (Ends 8/16)

Win a $100 Lands' End Gift Card

Hosted by Uniform Mom

Sponsored by Lands' End

It’s a new school year, a fresh start – time for a new first-day outfit and back-to-school wardrobe. As millions of parents and kids begin their school shopping adventures, Lands’ End Kids rises to the occasion with stylish, on-trend wardrobe options along with advice, ideas and the convenience of one-stop shopping. Plus, with sizes that include regular, slim, plus and husky, everybody fits.

“We know families are busy all year. Our goal is to make back-to-school shopping easy and fun. Moms, dads & kids can find everything from backpacks to uniforms to current fashions in one place. Our designers have scoured the marketplace to create items that are on-trend, that kids want to wear. As parents ourselves, we also know that durability and value have to be a part of the equation. We design with style and substance in mind.”

Syndi Stark, vice president, Lands’ End Kids

Prize : One lucky reader will win a $100 Lands' End Gift Card from Lands' End.
Use the form below to enter for a chance to win:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The event dates are August 1 - August 16, 2014 at 12:00 AM ET. Open to US residents only. The winner will be chosen at random and will be notified via the email they used to enter the contest. If after 48 hours, there is no response, another winner will be chosen.

Disclosure: Uniform Mom, the giveaway host, is a Lands' End Brand Ambassador and was provided compensation to organize this giveaway. Uniform Mom is not responsible for sponsor prize shipment. Please contact navyplaid@comcast.net with questions or to see your business or product featured on the next event! This giveaway is no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest.

Lands' End new Ponte School Uniform items- knit skort and blouse, a Review #Sponsored

I'm working with Lands' End as a Brand Ambassador during the 2014 Back to School season. They gifted me school uniforms for me to evaluate so I could share my opinion of the items with you. All opinions are my own.

(c) Rene Shonerd. All Rights Reserved.

Affiliate Links in Use
Thanks for Supporting Uniform Mom
 



Girls' Button-front Ponté Skort

Loyal readers of this blog know that I'm a huge fan of skorts  for young ladies. I am also a huge fan of Lands' end ponté. So when I learned that they had a new ponté skort this fall, I was excited for my daughter to try the School Uniform Girls' Button-front Ponté Skort.

I love that the ponté knit is machine washable, and holds its color. It is made from 74% polyester/22% rayon/4% spandex. It is offered in classic navy or khaki and has hidden knit shorts for coverage underneath.  It has a simple elastic waistband and the length of the skirt hits "above the knee".  It comes in little girls sizes 4-7 and big girl sizes 7-16 and retails for $32.

If you prefer a pleated skirt, check out the other new ponté item, the School Uniform Girls' Pleated Ponté Skirt or the School Uniform Girls' Ponté Pleated Jumper.




(c) Rene Shonerd. All Rights Reserved.



The skirt pairs nicely with a classic, crisp blouse. This Girls' Short Sleeve Peter Pan Broadcloth Blouse contains a bit of shaping so it's not boxy, and it has the more feminine peter pan style collar. This blouses can work alone or under a jumper. Layer a sweater over top to get the most use from a short sleeve blouse year round. Add a coordinating crisscross tie, even if it is not required as part of the uniform dress code.  It adds a finished look. 

The blouse is machine washable.  Because it resists wrinkles, you can get away without ironing if you grab it straight from the dryer, otherwise, it needs only a light touch up with the iron. The other feature important to uniform kids is that it is long enough in length to tuck in, and stay tucked in.

 

Girls' Short Sleeve Peter Pan
Broadcloth Blouse

FEATURES

• Broadcloth provides a smooth look all day.
• Fabric wicks moisture, resists wrinkles.
• 55% cotton/45% polyester blend
• Pretty, rounded collar
• Gentle shaping
• Available in white or light sea blue (shown to the right).
• Offered  in Little Girl (4-7), Big Girls (7-16) and Adult sizes.

(c) Rene Shonerd. All Rights Reserved.

These two school uniform wardrobe pieces make a great outfit together.  They also mix and match nicely with other uniform items. The quality of Lands' End brand is evident wash after wash.  It is more likely that your child will outgrow these items before they wear them out.  You can then pass them along to a younger child or the school's uniform exchange program.

Related Posts:

• Lands' End Uniform Girls Solid A-line Skirt, a review
• Girls School Uniform Double Knit Blazer from Lands End, a Review
• Lands' End new Ponte School Uniform items- knit skort and blouse, a Review
• Lands' End School Uniform Perfect Fit Pants and Interlock Polo, a Review
• Lands’ End Phys Ed Performance T-shirt and Yoga Pants, Reviews
• Review of the Lands End Knit Ruffle Front Dress
• Lands' End Backpacks for School

Additional Picks from the 2014 Lands' End School Uniform Collection

Disclosure - I'm working with Lands' End as a Brand Ambassador during the 2014 Back to School season. 

I just reviewed the 2014 Lands' End Back to School catalog.  They have many new items this year.

New for Girls:

• Cotton broadcloth and stretch woven blouses that are easy care, easy wear – starting at $20.
• Ponte knit jumpers, skirts and skorts that are comfortable, resist wrinkles and retain color.
• A stylish, school-spirited double-knit blazer for dress up, $60.
• Improved pant fit: slimmed legs, better rises and superior fitting chinos.

New for Boys and Girls:

• Colorblock active polos and performance tees in the Phys-Ed Collection with smart features such as moisture wicking, UPF 50 and antimicrobial properties.
• Year-round washable dress pants that look great, wash after wash.
• A below-the-knee, active short for boys that take him from gym class to afterschool play.

Below are some of my the 2014 featured school uniform items for girls and boys at schools with a standard or uniform dress code.  These items are new to the 2014 Lands' End School Uniform Collection or they have been recently updated. A few of these items will be reviewed here at Uniform Mom in the next few weeks.

Follow Uniform Mom's board Featured items for 2014 Back to School at Lands' End School Uniform on Pinterest.

Lands' End School Uniform Perfect Fit Pants and Interlock Polo, a Review

I'm working with Lands' End as a Brand Ambassador during the 2014 Back to School season. They gifted me school uniforms for me to evaluate so I could share my opinion of the items with you. All opinions are my own.

Affiliate Links in Use

Thanks for Supporting Uniform Mom

(c) Rene Shonerd. All Rights Reserved.

Today we'll take a look at two classic wardrobe staples: the Girls' Perfect Fit Pants from the Iron Knee collection and the Girls' Feminine Fit Interlock Polo Shirt from Lands' End.



I love the updated fit of the School Uniform Girls' Perfect Fit Plain Front Blend Chino Pants. They aren't a skinny pant, but the cut of the leg is just a bit narrower than a straight cut style. I think this will be a popular choice for fashion forward young ladies that wear uniforms to school. My daughter is used to wearing boot cut pants because she really doesn't like the feel of skinny jeans or pants.  After putting them on, she pulled at the pant leg once noticing the difference in the style, but not being able to vocalize the difference at how they fit her closer in the leg.  I then paid close attention to see if she continued to tug at them, but she quickly got used to them not giving it another thought.



As a Mom, I also love the features and quality of these pants.  Because she is just growing into a new size, we had to take advantage of the adjustable waist and make it smaller.  This is her first pair of reinforced knee pants.  Back in preschool, she quickly blew out the knees on all her jeans and I had to resort to using iron on patches.  So, I know she's going to put these Iron Knee Pants to the test this year.  But the best part is the hem. 



Lands' End does the hemming for you! Yeah, it seems so old school for a retailer to hem your pants, but it makes so much sense.  I've never understood why women's pants are made all the same length while men's are sized both by waist and inseam.  With these quickly growing kids, it seems the standard pant sizes are either too long or too short.  With a custom inseam sized just to fit, it makes things simple.  Because beyond a simple button repair, I'm no good at sewing and I don't even have a sewing machine or have access to one. This is so awesome for me because most standard pants in my daughter's new size are a good four or five or more inches too long for her.



When you place your online order, you enter your child's inseam.  Now here's what's really important to know, there is no need to size up.  They make the adjustment for us to allow some wiggle room for the fabric to shrink under recommended laundering instructions and to allow some growing room. I measured my daughter's inseam at 20 inches and, as advised, entered her actual measurements when ordering.  The pants that arrived measure almost 22 inches.  And as promised they will give her room to grow, but they don't look noticeably long and are totally wearable at this length.

Girls' Perfect Fit
Plain Front Blend Chino Pants

Features

• Improved fit for comfort and flexibility
• Little Girl & Big Girl sizes: New! reinforce patched Iron Knees for longer lasting wear
• Wrinkle-resistant 60% cotton/40% polyester blend
• Front & rear pockets
• Little Girl & Big Girl sizes: adjustable inner waistband to fine-tune her fit
• Little Girl sizes: easy-on elastic back & snap button close
• Big Girl sizes: no-gap contoured waistband & FREE hemming available!
• Women’s sizes: Contoured waistband prevents gaping at back

These pants are available in classic navy, khaki and black.  They are available in sizes to fit everyone: Toddler 2T - 4T,  Little Girls 4-7 (regular and slim), Big Girls 7 - 16 (regular, slim and plus), Junior and Adult (regular and tall). The regular retail price is $40.00.

(c) Rene Shonerd. All Rights Reserved.

The pants pair well with the School Uniform Girls' Short Sleeve Feminine Fit Interlock Polo Shirt. Personally, I prefer the feel of the interlock polos to mesh polos.  And this polo is SO super soft, made from 100% cotton.  It is by far the nicest kids' polo I've seen.  If your child is fussy about the texture or feel of fabrics, you should definitely check this one out.



I always advocate that you look for brands and items with the word "resistant" in its product claims.  This polo is said to resist stains, resists shrinkage and resists piling. No boxy fit either; the fit is distinctly all girl and shaped to be flattering to a young girls figure. It is machine washable for easy care. The other feature worth noting for uniform kids is that this polo hits the top of the hip, allowing the right amount of fabric to properly tuck in your uniform polo. 

Girls' Short Sleeve Feminine Fit

Interlock Polo Shirt

Features

• She-shaped, plush 100% cotton
• Enhanced fabric keeps colors true
• Resists stains and shrinkage
• Top-of-hip length with side vents
• Shaped: Not too slim or too loose
• Sized to allow for shrinkage, please wash before wear

This polo is offered in a dozen different colors, so you're sure to find your school's colors.  It comes in sizes for Little Girls 4-7, Big Girls 7 - 16, Junior and Adult (regular and tall). The regular retail price is $18.00. And when required or desired, you can get your school logo added to this polo. 



I really love both of these school uniform items.  These are high quality wardrobe staples that will last through the school year.

Related Posts:

• Girls School Uniform Double Knit Blazer from Lands End, a Review

• Lands' End new Ponte School Uniform items- knit skort and blouse, a Review
• Lands’ End Phys Ed Performance T-shirt and Yoga Pants, Reviews
• Lands' End Uniform Girls Solid A-line Skirt, a review
• Review of the Lands End Knit Ruffle Front Dress
• Lands' End Backpacks for School

 

My Favorite School Uniform items from Lands' End

Disclosure - I'm working with Lands' End as a Brand Ambassador during the 2014 Back to School season. 

Below are some of my favorite school uniform items for girls and boys at schools with a standard or uniform dress code. These are classic wardrobe items that always make a popular choice for Back to School.  A few of these items will be reviewed here at Uniform Mom in the next few weeks.

Follow Uniform Mom's board Uniform Mom Favorites at Lands' End on Pinterest.

Lands' End Phys Ed Performance T-shirt and Yoga Pants, Reviews

(c) Rene Shonerd. All Rights Reserved.

I'm working with Lands' End as a Brand Ambassador during the 2014 Back to School season. They gifted me school uniforms for me to evaluate so I could share my opinion of the items with you. All opinions are my own.

Affiliate Links in Use

Thanks for Supporting Uniform Mom

My daughter is a Daddy's girl. So she loved the new School Uniform Girls' Performance V-neck T-shirt from Lands End, because it is just like Daddy's shirts. She was referring to the feel of the polyester moisture wicking fabric. She tends to sweat just like a Daddy when running around in PE class or just playing on the playground at recess, so this shirt will serve her well on PE days for school. This v-neck style is a nice change of pace from the run of the mill crew neck t-shirt. The fit has a feminine shape, and the v-neck is sporty with the lower point of the V hitting higher on the chest.

(c) Rene Shonerd. All Rights Reserved.

At my daughter's school, the kids do not change clothes for Phys Ed class; instead they wear a PE uniform all day. So the antimicrobial feature to fight odor will be especially appreciated during the second half of the school day. The shirt is machine-washable making it easy to get it clean and refreshed for the next PE day.  It is available in white, classic navy and evergreen in little girl sizes 4-7, big girl sizes 7-16, and adult sizes S-XL. 


The shirt pairs well with active bottoms. And since my daughter is not a fan of typical sweatpants, she mainly wears yoga style pants to school on PE days. She was happy to try the School Uniform Girls' Yoga Pants. The pant legs are made with a simple elastic waist and a slight flare at the bottom of the leg which is flattering for both little girls and big girls. After trying them on, my daughter liked the way they fit her and, more importantly, how comfortable they felt to wear. I love the quality of the bottoms. They are thick enough that you can't see through them when she bends to touch her toes. I also like that they wash up easily in the laundry and that they will hold their shape due to the 7% Lycra blend. Uniform kids colors include black, navy, khaki, and gray heather.  For non-uniform kids or to add to your weekend wardrobe, they also come light fuchsia and purple. They are available in little girl sizes 4-7 and big girl sizes 7-16. 


This outfit is perfect for PE days. It's comfortable for my daughter to wear and easy for me to launder. I will likely get my daughter a second set because she has PE two days a week and for some reason they always fall on back to back days. And although our school's uniform policy only allows navy and white, both the pants and tops are offered in additional color options.

School Uniform Girls'

Performance V-neck T-shirt 

Features of the School Uniform Girls' Performance V-neck T-shirt:

• Antimicrobial to fight odor
• 100% polyester fabric wicks moisture away
• Slightly shorter sleeves and a shaped waist for a feminine fit
• Fast-drying so she stays comfortable

School Uniform Girls'

Yoga Pants

 

Features of the School Uniform Girls' Yoga Pant :

• Super stretchy 93% cotton/7% Lycra® spandex blend
• Stays true to size wash after wash
• Wider elastic waistband goes easy on her middle
• Shaped at sides for a boxy-free fit

The Lands’ End School Uniform Phys Ed Collection sets them apart from other retailers by offering one-stop shopping convenience to fulfill all the clothing requirements of the entire school uniform wardrobe. And also check out their great selection on footwear, backpacks, lunch bags, and accessories like neck ties and headbands.

 

 

 

Related Posts:

• Lands' End Uniform Girls Solid A-line Skirt, a review
• Girls School Uniform Double Knit Blazer from Lands End, a Review
• Lands' End new Ponte School Uniform items- knit skort and blouse, a Review
• Lands' End School Uniform Perfect Fit Pants and Interlock Polo, a Review
• Review of the Lands End Knit Ruffle Front Dress
• Lands' End Backpacks for School

 

Back to School Shopping Tips with Lands' End

I had the pleasure of contributing Back to School Shopping Tips to Lands' End.  I will be working with them during this Back to School season as a Brand Ambassador.  The tips are featured on their Back to School Shopping page. 

The Uniform Mom Tip Sheet includes information on the following topics:

• Preparing for Back to School Shopping
  -including ideas on how to stretch your budget with advice on when to shop and how to give back to your school while you shop.
• Discover Back-to-School Wardrobe Essentials
  -classics like award-winning Iron Knee® Chinos, School Uniform Polos and items from the
  Lands’ End Phys Ed collection.
• Answers to some Uniform Dress Code challenges
  -such as helping your uniform kid find ways to display his or her individualism, finding uniforms to fit kids that are tough to fit, and how to prepare for the non-uniform day.

Lands' End Swimwear for Kids

As an affiliate with Lands' End, I recently had the opportunity to participate in an event to learn more about their swimwear. The Lands' End kids swimwear is rated as excellent using a relatively new rating designation for sun protective textiles and clothing, called UPF or Ultraviolet Protection Factor. This means it blocks 98% of harmful UV rays.  The fabric is quick drying so it is comfortable in and out of the water. And even better, the color is fade resistant so it will look good all summer long.  They carry the kids swimwear in extended sizes including toddler, plus and husky for most items.

"Have you ever tried to wrestle a toddler back into a wet one piece tank style swim suit? Skip the drama and opt for the tankini suits for young girls. Having separate pull on bottoms make trips to the rest room much easier."        Uniform Mom

For girls, you will find a wide variety of styles including tankini tops and bottoms, bikini tops and bottoms, swim mini's, skirted one pieces and basic tank suits.  Suits are featured in four different collections:

• ShoreSide collection feature red, white and blue colors with a nod to a nautical theme.
• Saltwater Taffy collection features bright colors, ruffles and fun prints.
• Coconut Cove collection features floral appliques and sequin details in summer colors.
• Smart Swim features the best value suits.

I bought my daughter Lands' End swimwear last summer. She swam almost everyday, sometimes twice a day at summer camp.  It held up all summer long through our beach vacation at the end of the summer. Here's the swim outfit she picked out (this turquoise blue is her favorite color) and I ordered for her for this summer:

The boys swim trunks are offered in solids colors, color block styles and prints.  They feature cargo pockets and a comfortable elastic waistband for pull on simplicity.  Boys swim Ts come in solid colors and color block styles, as well as some in fun graphic prints.

"Have you ever burned your toes on the hot sand?Yea, me too. I wish we had water shoes when we were kids."   Uniform Mom

I also loved learning about the kids new water shoes and sandals.  Water shoes are quick drying and lightweight.  They are made for kids to wear playing in and out of the water.  They have styles with and without toe protection. They are great for summer camp.  These water shoes are easy to slip on and off because of the "rip grip and bungee adjustability".   They are also are perfect for beach play. The traction sole and cushioned foot bed would making walking over broken seashells a breeze.

Affiliate Links in Use

Thanks for Supporting Uniform Mom

Everybody in! Take 25% off Regularly Priced Kids' Swim merchandise at Lands' End now through April 15. Plus, Free Shipping on orders over $50!

Vintage School Uniforms

I recently submitted a post over at Vintage Shopper.  It explores the British origins and history of school uniforms, how they came to be popular in the US, and how to wear and how not to wear a retro school uniform look today. 

• Did you know the origin of school uniforms originated in the U.K.during the reign of King Henry VIII?
• Did you know that Bill Clinton suggested that schools adopt uniforms in his 1996 state of the union speech?
• Did you know that a 2013 study conducted by Lands' End and the National Association of Elementary School Principals found that 49% of U.S. public schools have a school uniform policy in place or plan to implement one.

I invite you to check out my post over at Vintage School Uniforms.

Pass the Fingertip Test

During the development of a schools uniform dress code, there is typically some back and forth that leads to an common understanding of the policy between the school board and the larger community of parents and students.  Once the policy is adopted, enforcement can be a constant battle for school administrators everywhere.  Recent articles included in the "in the news" series show many examples of battles between administrators and students, and in some cases, a larger group in the community.

A policy with clearly stated expectations and guidelines makes it easier for parents to understand so they can guide the student's choices when shopping.  Consistent enforcement by different teachers make clear examples of what's acceptable and what's not acceptable.

The length of a girls hemline for shorts, scooters, and dresses is a huge area for consternation.  Many schools have tried to set a simple easy to understand rule of thumb which is commonly referred to as "the fingertip test".   A young lady passes the fingertip test when the length of the skirt is below the fingertips of the student while standing with her arms extended straight down.  The same test works for jumpers, scooters and shorts. Maybe its a backlash to the mid-thigh trend we've been seeing for the past few seasons, but this fall, I noticed a trend of several retailers offering new longer lengths. Lands End's fall school uniform catalog features girls skirts in 3 lengths: above the knee, top of the knee and below the knee.  The French Toast fall catalog page on girls skirts feature both "the long and short of it" featuring two knee length skirts and one long skirt.  This can make shopping easier if your school has adopted the fingertip test as a rule of thumb to guide enforcement.

Below are some examples of new longer skirts:

Lands' End
 Girls' Plus Solid Pleated Skirt (Below The Knee)

French Toast
Kick Pleat Skirt

Lands' End
Little Girls' Solid A-line Skirt (Below The Knee)

French Toast
Knee Length Straight Skirt

Lands' End
Little Girls' Box Pleat Skirt (Below The Knee)

What do you think of these knee length and longer styles?

Lands' End Uniform Girls Solid A-line Skirt, a review

I noticed this little skirt online during the clearance sales.  I was placing an order for something else and added this in as an add on to reach the $50 threshold for free shipping. I prefer to get scooters for my daughter with the built in knit shorts, so at $9.99- the price on this was too good to pass up.  

It is navy with an adjustable waist and a side zipper. It has a cute detail of the 2 button tabs and a pleat on one side. It also has a pocket only one one side.  The length on this skirt hits my daughter right above the knee.  I've washed it several times already and the polyester/rayon blend resists wrinkles and looks great right out of the dryer. She likes it; in fact, this is the skirt she choose to wear on the first day of school this year.

This solid a-line skirt I got is still available at that clearance price in slim and plus sizes (see details below).This season, Lands' End is offering quite a few styles of skirts in a longer length. This little girl's skirt is now also available in a below the knee length.

Disclosure - Affiliate Links in Use

Thanks for Supporting Uniform Mom

Lands' End Backpacks for School

When we began shopping for my daughter's first school backpack, I checked out a few options online.  I read an article somewhere where a Mom said her kid goes through several back packs per school year.  She was buying inexpensive backpacks with the latest character at her local discount store.  After some quick math, you realize that you could end up spending more money on these poor quality items in one school year, than you would if you bought one quality bag, especially if you grab one on sale.

The next thing I realized is that most backpacks that you find at major retailers only come in one size.  These bags are sized for older kids and adults.  If you have a younger child with a smaller frame, it will look larger than them and will hold more stuff than they should physically carry.  You occasionally see smaller preschool sized bags, but the in between sizes are harder to find.  Several retailers make quality back packs sized appropriately for elementary and middle school kids such as Lands' End, LL Bean, Pottery Barn and other specialty stores.

(c) Rene Shonerd.
All Rights Reserved.

Last summer, after viewing a few online that I thought my daughter might like, we visited the local Sears store to check out their selection of Lands' End backpacks.  She liked the aqua one we saw online, but they only carried it in the larger size.  Even she agreed, it was too big.  We settled on a smaller white one with a pink and orange polka dot pattern.

The design of the bag itself is basic and fully functional with everything you would need in a school bag.  It has two zipper compartments.  A bigger one in back to hold her folders, a change of clothes, or even her lunch bag.  The smaller area in the front of the bag is useful for smaller item like crayons and playdate cards. The bag has a strap with a snap closure across the front which is useful to to clip on another bag, as well as a smaller loop near the top.  Another must-have feature is the mesh water bottle holder on the side. In my opinion, the most critical feature in a backpack is the straps.  This bag has nice wide straps with padding; the length of the straps can be adjusted to fit your kid as they grow.

My daughter used the bag everyday for school last year.  She also used it everyday for camp this summer. As you can see, most of the fabric on the bag is white and it still looks clean. I'm very pleased that it has held up beautifully for an entire year.  Since it is not yet showing signs of wear, I bet it will make it through at least another year and will be replaced only when she tires of this pattern.

For the 2013 Back to School season, Lands' End has all new, redesigned, best backpacks in class. Below are two examples of the different styles. Find the right backpack and lunchbox for any size kid --shop today.Plus, receive free shipping on your orders over $50.

Solid ClassMate Medium Backpack - Red, ClassMate® Medium Backpack is designed & tested to carry everything your kid needs for class and more. Additional features not listed above include: no-tip design; water-repellent finish; plus an ergonomic design with padded shoulder straps & back panels for comfort. 600-denier polyester body with 1200-denier base. Spot clean. Imported. 18"Hx12 1/2"Wx6 1/2"D. 1670 cu. in.

School Uniform Solid FeatherLight Medium Backpack - Aqua Pool, FeatherLight™ Medium Backpack is designed & tested to carry everything your kid needs for class, while lightening their school load. Additional features not listed above include: no-tip design; water-repellent finish; plus an ergonomic design for comfort. Spot clean. Imported. 18″Hx12″Wx7 1/2″D. 1500 cu. in.