Featured Basics: Bermuda Shorts from French Toast

Update - This post was updated in May 2019 for links and sizing options.

It seems like we had a few days of spring then we fast forwarded right into summer.  We had temperatures in the 80's this week, and I had to go digging through my daughter's off-season clothes to find her shorts.

If you find you need new shorts for your daughter, check out these uniform basics from French Toast. The shorts are 97% cotton and 3% spandex.  They have an adjustable waist, button closure, and a modern fit, low rise.   They retail for a very affordable $12.98.

These Bermuda shorts are a best seller for French Toast.  They have them in all sizes: Toddlers (in a pull-on style 2T-4T),  girls (4-20), plus (10-20), and adult.  They also carry the Lee brand bermuda short in Junior's sizing (0-13).

If you need boys shorts instead, check out French Toast's Flat Front Adjustable Waist Shorts. The boys have a hook and eye closure instead of a button.   They are also available in all sizes:  Toddlers (in a pull-on style 2T-4T),  boys (4-14),  husky (10-20) and young men (31-38).

Uniform Mom is an affiliate partner with French Toast. 
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Frugal Finds: School Uniforms on Clearance at Children's Place

This girl's Uniform Jumper is on sale at the Children's Place.  It retails for 24.95 but is on sale for $8. Hello, that is more than 65% off!  If you have a little girl that likes the jumper option for school wear, scoop this up now.  Order in multiples, getting her current size and then one size up too.  It is available in khaki and navy in almost all sizes. It is 98% cotton ad 2% spandex.  We haven't tried this jumper, but our other navy items from Children's Place have held their color very well.

In fact, just about all uniform items are on clearance at Children's place right now. You can pick up some girls Uniform Shorts for $6. The boy's Chino Shorts also a couple of bucks off at $15.00.

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Update on Student Standard Attire- Florida CS/HB 7043

Back in March, I told you about HB 7043, a bill making it's way through the Florida State Legislature that could make school uniforms the norm across the entire state.  The bill creates the "Students Attired for Education (SAFE) Act" which appropriates 10 million dollars from the General Appropriations for the 2015-16 school year to be allocated at up to $10 per student to Florida schools that enact a student standard attire policy in kindergarten through eighth grade. It quickly moved through the process and passed the Florida House in March with a vote of 108 to 8. 

On April 1st, it was delivered to the Florida Senate.  It was assigned to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Education for review.  And this is where it sits.

The Florida State Legislators are in the home stretch of their legislative session. It remains to be seen if this bill will get picked up again for consideration.  Many bills die this way.  And this one may be no different.  However, it is a candidate to get added into another piece of legislation as they try to wrap up work for the session which adjourns May 1. 

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"Gavel" by walknboston is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0.

Featured Basic: Cotton Jersey Uniform Pleated Skort

The Featured Basic Series shares basic uniform pieces for boys and girls that comply with uniform dress codes at many public, private, charter and parochial schools.

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If your daughter doesn't care for the cotton twill fabrics used in many skirts and pants, she could try this Uniform Pleated Skort from Crazy 8. It is available only in gray. It is a pull on skort made with 100 cotton jersey but has the button tab details and side pleats like traditional uniform skorts. The length is the above the knee which most young girls prefer with the built in shorts underneath that most Mom's prefer. It is machine washable. It currently retails for $14.99.  Now through 4/23/15, you can get it 30% off.

Has your daughter tried this skort? Share your opinion of it in the comments section below.

Frugal Find: Cherokee Girls Knit Blazer

The Frugal Find Series shares uniform pieces for boys and girls that comply with uniform dress codes at many public, private, charter and parochial schools. Because many of these items are on clearance, they may not be available in all colors and sizes. You'll have to act quickly to snag the deal.

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I love this Cherokee® Girls' School Uniform Knit Blazer which is sold at Target as an online exclusive. Knit blazers are comfortable, like a sweater, but look smarter. They work well as an extra layer most of the year, but are perfect during the season transitions as a light jacket. This version has a more feminine shape and features the less formal, three button style with the shawl collar. It also has cute detailing on the front pockets. It is on clearance and still available in navy small and x-large.  It normally retails for $24.99 and is on clearance for just $8.74.

8 Steps for School Uniform Wardrobe Refresh

Warmer temperatures means its time to dig out those Spring clothes and put away the heavy Winter sweaters and coats. Save yourself from any unnecessary morning craziness by reorganizing the kids wardrobe this weekend.

Here are 8 Steps for a Spring Wardrobe Refresh:

1. Do laundry first. It doesn't make sense to do this task twice, so get the laundry done so all clothes are ready to be sorted.
2. Dig out any seasonal items that you may have put away from last year or if you received a bag of hand me down items from a friend. Sort through those items and pull out any Spring items in your child's size. Launder them, if needed.
3. Take everything out of the dresser drawers. Pile the clothes on the bed. This will keep you from overlooking items by forcing you to touch everything. Dust out the dresser drawers while they are empty.
4. Pack away the winter items like heavy sweaters and outerwear like coats, hats gloves, and scarves if they meet these two criteria.
   

   a) Does that item have some useful like left in it? And
   b) Will your child be able to fit in it again next season.

   
   If the answer is "no" for either question, put it aside in the donation pile.
5. Sort the clothes organizing like items. Phys Ed clothes, long sleeve t-shirts, short sleeve t-shirts, shorts and bottoms, pajamas, accessories, and activity/sports uniform items. Pull out items that your child has outgrown. Fold items neatly and put them back in the dresser.
6. Next, open the closet and pull out outgrown items. Reorganize by putting like items together. Sort uniform items from non-uniform clothing. Tops, Sweaters, Skirts, Dresses, Pants, and coats.
7. The only items remaining item should be in your donation pile. Pack up uniform items with useful life left in them for the school uniform exchange program. Pack up the remaining items in a large trash bag and take them out to the car so you can drop them in the local Goodwill bin when you are out doing regular errands.
8. Review your progress and spot check against the Uniform Mom Printable Shopping Lists. Make a list of key uniform items that need replacing to get through the next season.

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Classroom Girls Narrow Leg Pants from Schoolbelles

The folks at Schoolbelles asked me to take a look one of the items from their value uniform line of clothing. They sent me a pair of Classroom brand narrow leg pants as the basis for this review. No additional compensation was received for this review.



Image from Schoolbelles
Used with permission.

Schoolbelles' offers a value line of uniform items at a lower price point. These uniform line includes most basics like solid navy pants and basic white polos and tops that work well with most standard dress codes. They state the value line products are created to be fashionable, durable school uniforms tested in real world situations with real kids. The value line is made up of Classroom brand items.

We tried the girls’ value stretch narrow leg pants. I guess I was expecting the value line pants to be of average quality. However, the first thing I noticed when I opened the package is that the quality of these pants would rival the higher end competitors in the US uniform market. The material is a soft yet durable blend of 53% Cotton, 44% Polyester, 3% Spandex. Have you ever noticed loose seams and threads on clothing at certain retailers?  Not these, on this pair of pants, the seams are tight using a finishing zigzag seam showing better quality in the workmanship.

(c) 2015 Rene Shonerd
All Rights Reserved.

My daughter has a slim, athletic build. These narrow pants flatter her girlish figure so she looks trendy without looking inappropriately dressed for school. These were a little long on her, but because they have a narrow leg, we simply rolled them up one turn, While I've found other Schoolbelles items from their brand to run larger than many national retailers, these Classroom brand pant were true to size. The cut of the pants have a contemporary look with a short fly and button closure. They have a mid-rise, pockets on the behind and a narrow leg. The description says the youth sizes (4-6XR) have a center back elastic waist, while the youth sizes (7-16) feature an adjustable interior waist. They are machine washable. They are available in navy and khaki and retail for $17.75 in youth sizes.

I'm a fan of these Classroom brand pants in Schoolbelles value line. I would agree that they are great quality for the price. The Girls Schoolbelles value line also includes the Classroom Stretch Fashion pants with a straight leg and the Classroom Flair Leg Pant with a boot suit leg. 

For the boys, they carry the Classroom Flat Front Pant and the Classroom Narrow Leg Pant.  I bet the narrow leg style would work well for a slim boy.