The Gap's School Uniform Polo Shirt, a review

During a post holiday sale about 2 years ago, I picked up two
Girls Solid Pique Uniform Polos from the Gap for my daughter that were on end of the season clearance. Normally, Gap polos are at the higher end of the price range. But I snagged them for 5 bucks each.   This time of year is a great time to keep an eye out for winter clearance sales.

My daughter is now outgrowing these Gap polos, but we got 2 good years of use from them. They held up very well. This polo is a traditional pique polo in soft stretch materials that is 94% cotton and 4% spandex. It has side vents at the hem and has satin trim inside the collar in a contrasting color. The tag inside the collar bothered by daughter, so we cut it out. The fabric is not as soft as some of her interlock polos in other brands, but it is not a traditional mesh feel either.

The girls version of the polo has feminine details such as a slim fit and longer front button placket. It is offered in 6 common uniform colors in sizes XS through XXL. It also comes in a plus size option or a long sleeve version. As an alternative, I really like this Girls Peter Pan Jersey Polo.

The Boys Solid Pique Polo is described as having a modern fit with a slimmer profile.  The  trim in the collar is in the same color fabric, and the placket is wider and shorter than the girls. The boys polo is offered in 10 different colors in sizes from XS through XXL. There is also a long sleeve version and a husky version.

Cherokee Girls Pleated Scooter, a Review

One of our favorite scooters is this Girls Pleated Scooter by Cherokee.  I was reviewing old posts over the holiday break and I couldn't believe I hadn't written about it yet.  I think we got ours from the uniform exchange program second-hand several years ago.  But it is such a classic that you can still find it at Target online.

The reasons we love it-

The box pleats are classic without being too traditional.  

It is a scooter with shorts built in for modesty.  It has a side zipper closure. They can be a bit tricky for the youngest students, but my daughter doesn't mind it.

The fabric has held up very well over time. it comes in both navy or khaki.  As I mentioned above, I think we got this scooter second hand and my daughter has been wearing it for 3 years.  It still looks great.  The material is listed as a 60/40 cotton poly twill blend with a peached fabric treatment.  The label says to machine wash in cold water and tumble dry on low heat.  I throw this skirt in a load with all of our workout wear then hang it on a hanger to dry. No ironing needed. 

Did I mention the adjustable waist? This is why my daughter has been able to wear it for so long. While she's gotten taller and stronger, she hasn't grown more than an inch or so in the waist since Kindergarten. We adjust the waist a button or two each season. 

This scooter has an above the knee length which is another reason it has stayed in the active wardrobe rotation for so long. Many skorts that would otherwise still fit became too short as my daughter has grown taller.  Those were taken out of rotation and passed along to the uniform exchange program. Because this one was designed to hit above the knee, it is still long enough for her to wear and pass the fingertip test.

The classic styling, the longer length, and the quality fabric make this scooter a winner. When my daughter does finally outgrow this one, I'm sure we'll order another one.

Code Socks- fun socks for kids that wear school uniforms

I am excited to be one of the first to review Code Socks, a new collection of school uniform socks.   The socks allow kids to "follow the rules, but crack the code inside your shoes."  Most uniform dress codes and schools with standard student attire require students to wear basic navy or white socks to match their uniforms. Code socks are a solid color, except on the heel and bottom of the foot where it features a fun colorful design.

What a great ideas! They are perfect for kids that aren't looking to break the rules, but may be itching to express a bit of personality in their attire.

Code Socks is currently offering 3 knee high styles in the basic white and navy.  While looking to expand their offering, they currently offer code socks in girls knee highs that fit youth shoe sizes 12-5 which roughly translates to ages 5-10. The owners sent me two pair as a basis for this review.  The socks are 85% cotton, 12% polyester and 3% spandex.  In our house, the school socks with that hint of the poly blend hold up and wash up better than other socks.  We struggle to keep our white socks white, but the poly blend ones stay a bright white.

The three styles feature cute designs on the bottom of the foot and heel which would be hidden inside the shoe while wearing school shoes.  They retail for $8 per pair or $20 for three pairs.

• The first design is a cute polka dot (shown above).
• A second design has rainbow colors along the bottom of the foot (shown to the right).
• The third design features the word hello written in cursive across the foot.  

My daughter especially loves the hello socks.  She is totally into the hi/bye trend in girls clothing, so the hello socks play right into it. She wears a size 2 shoe and they fit her fine, not too big or tight. She is also very picky about the seam that run across the toe on socks. It has to be placed just right before she'll put on her shoe. Maybe she was successfully distracted by the cute design, but the seam on these socks didn't bother her a bit. She wears knee socks to school all fall and spring with her skorts, so these will get a ton of use.

I think the designs are super cute.  The socks are very soft to the touch.  The quality of the material and the workmanship is solid.  No loose threads and the stitching is clean.  Uniform Mom is big fan of Code Socks!

Please consider supporting this small US based business with an order for the uniform girl in your life.  They will make a great gift this holiday season.

Is Your School's Dress Code Sexist?

Just after Labor Day, I noticed a spike in visits to a Uniform Mom post that featured longer skirts for girls that would pass the "fingertip test".  The fingertip test is a commonly used way to determine if the length of a skirt or shorts is too short.  If a girl extends her hands down to her sides and the skirt is past her fingertips, it passes.  If it is shorter than her fingertips, it is considered too short and therefore a uniform infraction at many schools.  Sometimes, administrators make efforts at the beginning of the school year to set the tone with consistent enforcement efforts. In some cases, the school conducts some sort of mass inspection that usually results in headlines in local newspapers and on local news channels. Girls that receive warnings that their skirts are too short may be offered a change of clothes from a inventory of donated second-hand uniforms.  Other times, they may be isolated until a parent can arrive with a change of clothes that complies with code.

I thought that increase in traffic was an indication that your daughters' might be getting caught up in enforcement efforts that left you searching to find retailers that carry skirts that are long enough to pass the fingertip test. I was relieved to learn that this wasn't the case. But....

Instead, I stumbled upon a conversation regarding "slut shaming" that referenced the post.  Stelman, a writer for Addicting Info, a popular liberal blog, wrote a post that summarized recent examples of uniform policies and enforcement efforts that he found to be sexist because they selectively applied to only girls.

This lead me to a video by Laci Green, a sex education activist with a popular channel, Sex + on YouTube.  In her video on Dess Code Sexism, Laci says that the use of school dress code guidelines are not the problem, but she presents top five reasons dress code double standards are sexist. She raises many interesting points that should cause school boards and school administrators to pause and reflect on their own policies and enforcement efforts.

So what do you think? Does your school have any policies that contain these dress code double standards? Have you seen sexism in enforcement efforts or in comments by teachers or administrators? Share your thoughts or observations in the comments below.

Schoolwear from Primary.com

Primary.com gifted me several clothing items to evaluate so I could share my opinion of the items with you. All opinions are my own.

(c) Rene Shonerd. All Rights Reserved.

I recently read about a new children's clothing retailer that was created by Moms.  The idea is to keep things simple and stick with what works.  From what I have seen so far, Primary.com is doing just that in a very cheerful way.

The idea behind Primary.com is that kids tend to favor a few key pieces of clothing in their wardrobe that they wear over and over.  The moms at Primary.com make sure you can find that item again in the next size up when your little one outgrows it.  All of their items are basics in solid colors.  For girls, think of quality tees, shorts, sundresses, tunics and leggings, hoodies, and cardigans in solid colors.  For boys, think basic shorts, pants, hoodies, tshirts, and polos.  The styles are classic and they are only offered online only.  The prices are kept simple too. Everything under $25 bucks!

Intrigued?  I was too.  I contacted Primary.com and asked to check out their school wear items.  I received a cheerfully decorated jiffy-bag package.  Each items was individually wrapped.  I unpacked everything to take a look.

First, I fell in love with the simplicity.  Everything tagless and kid friendly, even the laundry instructions are simple.  The stamped label in each item has a different cute critter representing each size.

I also love the sizing options because they carry more options than most children's retailers. I recall the big difference in the length between a size 6x and a 7 on girls pants.  Now I'm again noticing a big difference in tops and shirts that jump from a 7-8 to a 10-12.  At Primary.com, most basic items are offered in all sizes giving more options when your child is between sizes. When you click to select a size, the image updates to show the item on a model that age.  It provides the height and weight of the model so you can compare with your child.  My daughter is the same height and weight as the model wearing the size 8 and 9 items.  I love that the site gives that extra visual to help you decide what size to order.

(c) Rene Shonerd. All Rights Reserved.

They offer a basic polo for $16. The cotton is 100% super soft pima cotton jersey and the weight of the fabric is just right, not thin or chintzy. For girls it is offered in white, navy, lilac and sky (blue). The boys polo is offered in four additional colors. We tried a basic white one that works for many school dress codes. It is not a traditional interlock polo because it has a relaxed soft collar made from the same cotton as the shirt itself. At my daughter's school, the uniform dress code is basic and broadly defined. It calls for a "white collar long or short sleeve shirt".  The Primary brand polo will work just fine for us, but might not make the cut at schools with a stricter interpretation of what makes a polo shirt a polo.

They also sent girls basics of leggings and undershorts (like bike shorts).  While either could be worn by themselves as bottoms, they pair nicely in a uniform wardrobe under skirts and jumpers. Reviews on the site indicate the shorts and leggings are running small and we agree with the recommendation to order them a size up.  These leggings are made from a blend with 7% spandex, which is higher percentage than other brands at major retailers.  This makes them fit snuggly and would be great for girls with very thin legs.  My daughter, with her athletic legs, would recommend two sizes up since she hates tight fitting leggings.

(c) Rene Shonerd. All Rights Reserved.

The girls cardi, or cardigan sweater, is offered in three colors, white, pink and heather gray. The fabric is a blend of 70% cotton and 30% bamboo (note the heather gray version is different; it is a poly blend). I haven't given it too many turns through the washing machine yet, but so far, it is holding up beautifully.  This sweater is unique in that it is the first cardigan that I've come across that contains bamboo. It is very soft.  It costs $24.  I am a big fan of this sweater!  I would order one for myself if it came  in my size.

Based on the selection of items I've seen, I'm a big fan of Primary.com.  I wish the site would have been around when my daughter was a toddler.  If your kids do not have a uniform dress code, you will be sure to find many great items to assemble an entire wardrobe for the school year.  The site offers quality basics for a reasonable price.  Works for me!

5 Ways to Use Name Labels for Back to School

Have you completed your back to school shopping yet? After we get the kids outfitted with new clothes and shoes, we then stock up on the school supplies and sports accessories the kids need for the year.  When all is said and done, how much have you spent on all that stuff?

According to the National Retail Federation's Back-to-School Spending Survey, the average family with children in grades K-12 plans to spend $630.36 on electronics, apparel and other school needs.

Yikes $630!  And here's a another dose of reality - Kids loose stuff!

The best thing you can do to help ensure the stuff you just bought will make it through the school year is to label it.  Spend another few bucks on some quality name labels and label the stuff most likely to get misplaced.

1. Add stickers to the school supplies.  The pencils and pens, notebooks, pencil case, pencil sharpener, scissors, and the planner. 
2. Shoe Tags - I pull then right on the insole of the shoes. The stickers coated with a protective coating work much better than a plain paper label.  Any shoes that kids will tote in their backpack for an after school activity gets a tag.  Then, don't forget about the shoe they will changing out of too.  Tag the school shoes, sports shoes, dance shoes, rain boots, etc.
3. While I don't tag all pf my daughter's clothes, I always tag the ones she will take on and off during the day. Sweaters and jackets are most likely to get left behind at recess, on the soccer field, wherever.  I prefer stickers that include both her name and our phone number.  I believe folks are inherently good, meaning that, if they are the one that finds your kid's jacket and you give them a way to identify who it belongs to, they will make an effort to contact you.  Jackets and coats are often the most expensive item on the back to school shopping list, so it well worth the effort to label it.
4. Definitely tag the lunchbox, the water bottles, and the thermos.  Again these are the items that sometimes get left behind.  So again, I recommend a label with both the name and phone number.
5. Finally the backpack.  The kids carry it around everyday and it holds all that stuff.  If it goes missing so does everything in it.

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Tinyprints is currently having a sale where you can Save 40% off address label, gift tag and name label orders using the code 0808DEAL at checkout.  Get your order in now before the kids start loosing stuff!

Classroom Brand Polo from Schoolbelles

(c) 2015 Rene Shonerd
All Rights Reserved.

This is a sponsored post.  Schoolbelles provided me a sample polo to use as a basis of this review. No additional compensation was provided for this post.



(c) 2015 Rene Shonerd
All Rights Reserved.

The folks at Schoolbelles sent a Classroom Fitted Jersey Polo for me to review. This is a classic polo with the following features:

• 3 button placket front and matching banded sleeve
• The colorfast poly/cotton blend is made for easy care wash and wear.
• 60% Cotton/40% Polyester textured pique.
• It is available in eight different colors and is available in all sizes from extra small youth through triple extra large adult.
• At Schoolbelles, the youth sizes are priced at $13.75 and the most adult sizes are priced at $16.75.

Schoolbelles carries this product in their value line of products. They tout that these items are carefully created to be fashionable, durable school uniform tested in real world situations with real kids. Assuming your child doesn't have a crazy growth spurt, I have no doubt this item will last a full school year or longer. My daughter is just outgrowing size 7-8 shirts.  While they still fit across the shoulders, they are too short when she lifts her hands over her head.  The shirt she is wearing in this photo is a size 10-12 which is a big jump that is running a bit big on her in the shoulder.



(c) 2015 Rene Shonerd
All Rights Reserved.

We've tried quite a few brands of polos over the past 3 school years while my daughter has been wearing uniform and I have been reviewing schoolwear. Based on my past comparisons of pricing between vendors, I have found most retailers price polos between $5.50 and $18. Based on the weight of the fabric and feel of the texture of this Classroom brand polo, it is above average in quality and fits nicely at a competitive price just outside my target pricing range. At their full list price, it is as labeled - a great value. If you pick up a few of these polos when Schoolbelle's is having a sale, you can feel confident you are getting a great deal.

You can find this on Schoolbelles's site by using the green General Catalog tab on the left hand side.  Select Girl from the gender drop down, then click the "Shop" button.  Click to browse the Polo Shirts where you'll see this polo listed as style number 8730.

It comes in a variety of colors.  You can get it in white (as shown here),  light blue, navy, royal blue, maroon, red, dark green, and black.  It is also available in a range of sizes to sit everyone - from Youth Extra Small through Adult Triple Extra Large.

Schoolbelles was recently featured in the Retail Round Up Series. Please use the school code S7001 when shopping online, when placing an order over the phone with customer service at 1-888-637-3037, or when shopping in one of their 13 retail locations across the mid-west..

Those living near one of their store locations should definitely visit to check out the additional quality items in their inventory. The rest of us can visit their website. To keep in touch and learn about their future sale notifications, Like their Facebook page and join their mailing list.