Name labels from StickerKids, a Review

Affiliate Links in Use
Thanks for Supporting Uniform Mom

The bin of unclaimed items in the lost-and-found bin at dance school was overflowing onto the floor.  I saw tap shoes that run $55 a pair, a basketball jerseys from the local recreation league, and tons of sweaters and jackets, including a leather bomber jacket. I don't know about you, but I sure would be one mad mama if my daughter lost a leather bomber jacket!

You know I am a big fan of using name tags on kids stuff. The folks from StickerKid Name Labels sent me a set to try.  We got the shoe tags which are a cute heel shape to fit right inside the shoe. I ordered them with a cute butterfly icon, my daughter's full name, and my phone number.  Her dance recital is next week, so I put fresh stickers in all of her dance shoes.  And as we prepare for summer camp, I put them in all of her sneakers, flip flops, and soccer cleats.

We also got a set of peel and stick clothing labels.  They are a small size perfect for placing directly the clothing or on the manufacturer clothing tags already inside her jacket and sweaters.  I put them on the tags inside her swim suit, her cover up and on her towel. When we head back to school in the fall, I will put tags on all of her jackets and sweaters.  I prefer the peel and stick name labels, over the iron-on kind.  I've tried both, and I just like the simplicity of the peel and stick.  So far, the StickerKid's labels have lasted several trips through the laundry cycle and they are still solidly adhered. These labels are water resistant, dishwasher safe, microwave and freezer safe, so they are great for so many things.

I recommend you order up some name labels to prevent your kids gear, and your hard earned money, from ending up in the lost and found bin. One of the unique items that they offer is  name labels with a photo image of your child right on the label.  Love it!  Check out the great options from StickerKid today!

New School Uniform Items at Lands' End for Back to School in 2016-17

This year, it was Lands End that was first in my mailbox, the School Outfitters catalog arrived in early June when my daughter, and many other kids here in Virginia, had 2 more weeks of school. Now that we've finally fished the school year and our first week of the summer camp schedule, I sat down to study the catalog for the 2016 Back to School season.

Here is a list of the new items featured in this year's school uniform catalog:

No Gape Stretch Perfect Shirt

Girls in middle school and high school that must wear a button-up blouse will appreciate the thought and engineering that went into this new shirt.  Lands End is introducing the patented No Gape TM button technology in a girls shirt with a straight dressy collar made from 97% cotton and 3% spandex stain resistant fabric in a feminine fit. The picture shows a hidden button placed between 2 buttons at the bust offering complete coverage.  It is offered in a shirt sleeve, a 3/4 sleeve and a long sleeve style in either white or light blue. It girls version retails for $32-$38 and the women's between $38-$48.

Stay Tucked Perfect Chinos

If I had a son, I would definitely get him a pair of these pants.  In my Best Bets series, I have a list of features to look for when shopping for pants for school.  These are 100% cotton and treated to resist stains and wrinkles.  They also have the Iron Knees (r) interior patch for durability and the inside adjustable waist to grow with him. The new feature is a waistband gripper to help keep his shirt tucked in.  Smart!  They retail for $35 for little boys and boys and $45 in men's sizes.

Tailored Fit Plain Front Chinos

All the great features in Lands End chinos, but these are cut "slimmer through the body but not tight."  These are a great choice for slim boys. They are available in navy and khaki and retail for $30 - $40.

Performance Poly Polo

Uniform kids in warmer climates may want to try the new performance poly polo made from 100% polyester with moisture-wicking and antimicrobial finish. They would also work as a nice alternative   on PE day. It is available in 7 basic uniform colors and it retails for $25 - $32.

Digital ClassMate Backpack

New this year in Lands End Backpack lineup is an update to the classic ClassMate backpack.  They added a padded laptop sleeve. It is available the medium and large size in great patterns and colors.  It retails for $44 - $54.

Roll Top Lunch Bag

If you are in the market for a new lunch bag, check out the new roll top bag. Like other Lands End lunch bags, this soft-side bag is designed to keep food cool for up to 5 hours then roll up small to be stored in the backpack after lunch. It retails for $15.50 and is available in several fun colors.  I have a feeling that this particular style will be especially popular in Steeler Nation.

3M Scotchlite Reflective Performance Apparel

Lands End partnered with 3M to encorporate the Scotchlite Reflective material into the piping and trim on the items in the active performance collection. This is a nice safety feature that is great for kids that may be staying after school for sports activities.  It makes even more sense after we change the clocks back in the fall and it begins to get dark earlier.

Interlock Moc Turtleneck

The unisex moc turtleneck is great under sweaters or jumpers in the colder months of the year.  This one is made from interlock cotton fabric like the uniform polo shirts.  It is available in white and navy and is priced between $18-$24.

The 2016 Back to School season kicks off this weekend

The Back to School season runs from July through September. There are 2 fewer shopping days between the Fourth of July and Memorial Day this year.  The peak sales fluctuate by region influenced by the actual school start dates and states tax free holidays.  There will be 9 less tax free days state by state this year than in 2015.

According to eMarketer's latest retail and eCommerce forecast, retail sales will grow 2.6% over last year reaching 828.81 billion this season.  They report that more of us are waiting to do our shopping until late in the season or even waiting until after the school year has started.  And online shopping is predicted to grow to 15.3% again this year, representing 7.9% of total retail sales for the period.

This year, here at Uniform Mom, we'll be looking at the major retailers to learn what is new or has been updated in their school uniform collections.  We'll will post new reviews and feature your favorite wardrobe pieces. We'll continue to talk about kids polos and khakis, jumpers and jackets, PE attire and shoes.

If you haven't already done so, take a minute to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.  We promise not to overwhelm you with emails.  The Uniform Mom Weekly Report Card is sent only once a week and includes coupon codes and deals from national retailers on  the clothing and gear that the kids need for school.

Photo credit - By Camera Operator: SSGT. LONO KOLLARS [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

OMG, I volunteered for the school uniform policy review committee

When I started this site a few years ago, I said that I would focus on shopping and reviews of school uniform clothing. I intended to shy away from the endless debates around uniform policies and their enforcement. I still do, but ... when I found a survey regarding school uniforms in my daughter's backpack, I couldn't help but raise my hand and volunteer on the committee being formed to review polices at her school.

I mean, how could I not? I am familiar with the national retailers in the US market knowing their standard inventory items off the top of my head. I bet I spend more time browsing websites that sell school uniforms than folks that have full time jobs in the industry.

I also follow school uniform news articles from around the world. Some report on procurement issues and manufacturing woes. Others report on the drama that always ensues when a school board debates adopting an initial uniform policy. But the most entertaining news articles are on the topic of school uniform policy enforcement.

There are three themes around school uniform policy compliance and enforcement. 1) Each year, the media interview parents to document their concerns about the cost of school uniforms that comply with policy. 2) The students protest. Girls complain (rightfully so, IMHO) about being labeled "a distraction" to boys. And the boys will inevitably organize a stunt to wear kilts or skirts when they aren't allowed to wear shorts in warm weather. And 3) school administrators will occasionally hold a mass enforcement event disciplining large groups of otherwise good kids for uniform infractions that weren't enforced or weren't consistently enforced previously. This causes some parent to complain to the media and the cycle repeats.

But I digress.

So, back to my recent experience on the school uniform policy review committee. Surprisingly, or not surprisingly, I found I shared the same opinions with most of the other parents in the group. All of us that volunteered for the committee strongly favored school uniforms, over not having a school uniform policy. Ours is really a student standard attire policy that allows us to shop at any retailer for standard basics like navy bottoms and white tops. The uniforms just make getting the kids out the door in the mornings SO much easier.

The policy changes that were under consideration were fairly minor tweaks. We discussed if the kids should be required to wear dress shoes on non PE days, or if we would recommend that the kids be allowed to wear sneakers every day. We discussed if all kids should be required to wear belts on pants with belt loops, or if the younger kids should be exempt. We discussed if solid navy polos and solid navy polo dresses should be allowed, verses only white polos and no polo dresses. We also discussed how hard it is to find basic solid colored shoes to comply with the policy of "mostly white, navy or black" shoes.

We then reviewed the feedback from other parents and the teachers from the survey. We found that it was fairly consistent with our thoughts. We only got one comment criticizing uniform policies as restricting of a kid's creativity. We brainstormed enforcement methods and ways the PTA can assist families and ensure all kids have access to uniform attire regardless of financial means.

We will meet one more time to finalize our recommendations to the school board. So far, it has been an interesting experience. I'll keep you posted on any further developments.

Featured Basics - French Toast School Uniform Shorts for Spring

Uniform Mom is an affiliate partner with French Toast.
If you use these links and decide to make a purchase, 
I receive a small commission. 

It is a perfect time to pick up new shorts.


Girls Shorts
These classic girls uniform shorts are called the Bermuda Short. They are made from stretch cotton twill, knee length with 2 front pockets and an adjustable waist.  They come in navy, khaki, black and grey in girls sizes 4 - 20, plus, juniors and women's.

If you don't need the extra length, you can try the Mid-Thigh Short. And the youngest girls should check out the Pull-On Girls Short for less fuss and confidence with potty training skills.

Boys Shorts

The classic boys uniform short is the Flat Front Adjustable Waist Short.  They are a knee length twill with an adjustable made from a wrinkle no more cotton blend with 2 pockets in the front and 2 in back.  They are available in navy, khaki and black in boys sizes 4-20, husky and guys sizes up to a 38 YM.

As an alternative, you can try the Pleated Adjustable Waist Short.  Again, check out the Boys Pull-On Shorts for younger boys.

Lucky + Me quality undergarments for kids, a Review

Is your kid’s underwear drawer full of undergarments covered in kid’s characters and that you purchased at a discount department store? Until recently, I didn't know there were other options?

I didn't know there was anyone out there making better quality undergarments for children until I learned about Lucky + Me. Their website features cute and affordable items made from " high-end fabrics and accessories from the most ethical factories around the globe." The fabric is described as "super-soft, smooth to the touch and free of harmful chemicals."

They offered me a sample of their products to review for comparison. I can attest that the fabric of the girl’s panties I received are very soft to the touch and very well made. They pass the "Mom test" for sure. I wish they came in my size.

Ava Girls Bikini (6 pack) from Lucky + Me
Photo Copyright Rene Shonerd 2016. 
All Rights Reserved.

Ava Girls Bikinis

The Ava Girls Bikinis are sold in a 6 pack. They offer plain white, solid pastels and the prints which is a mix of prints, stripes and solids. These are made from a soft modal cotton and feature the most precious rose detail on the front waistband. And when I see lace detail on products, I instinctively think ITCHY. But not this trim. I've never felt lace trim like this. It's soft and stretchy like the cotton fabric.

Lily Girls Organic Cotton Underwear

from Lucky + Me

Photo Copyright Rene Shonerd 2016.

All Rights Reserved.

Lily Girls Organic Cotton Underwear

The Lily Girls Organic Cotton Underwear is a 3 pack of girls briefs in pink patterns inspired by the British countryside. They are super soft and trimmed in a soft lace with the cutest, tiniest bow.









Both styles fit great and more importantly, have held their shape after several trips through the laundry cycle. The organic cotton can shrink. The site warns to expect 7-10% shrinkage, and it seems about right from what I noticed. I didn't notice any shrinkage with the modal cotton.

The quality of the items I've seen from Lucky + Me is hands down, far better than anything you'll find in your local discount store. So moving beyond quality, the next most important thing is to find a pattern and fit that suit your little girl and makes her happy. My daughter would have loved all the patterns shown here when she was younger, but some patterns are too girlie and dainty for her current 'big girl" tastes. So, I encourage you to take a look at all of the colors and patterns available so you can find a package that suites your little girl's personality. I think the pastels are perfect for the youngest girls during putty training and the princess stage. I would select the Days of the Week set for girls just learning to read. And for older girls that have moved on to the sporty stage, I would recommend the bright colors and patterns.

Lucky + me also has different fits available. Shown here were the brief and bikini, but they also have girls bottoms in the hipsters and boy shorts styles. There is an equally cute coordinating cami top available to match each style of bottoms. Girls items are offered in sizes 2T through girls 9/10.

But hey, what about the Boys? Yes, Lucky + Me also makes products for boys too. They have a 5-pack of boy’s boxers on solid colors, 3-packs of box briefs in stripes or solids, and classic tee shirts in white.

Overall, I'm a big fan of Lucky + Me products. I think you, and your little ones, will be pleased too.

In celebration of Earth Day 2016,
Lucky + Me is offering
20% of on the organics sets
(Lily and Grayson)
with promotion code EARTHDAY20

Uniform Mom received complementary sample of items described in this review. No additional compensation was received for the review and opinions shared here are my own.

Celebrate Earth Day 2016 with EcoLunchbox #ad

April 22nd is Earth Day. Join in the annual celebration by ordering some eco-friendly lunch gear.

For families that are going green and seeking to reduce their exposure to toxins in plastics as well as waste, stainless steel ECOlunchbox bentos are a great option. The eco-mom company's stainless steel ECOlunchboxes and artisan cotton ECOlunchbags are waste-free, plastic-free, lead-free, BPA-free, PVC-free, sweatshop-free, and vinyl-free. To learn more about the benefits of reducing dependence on plastics, check out educational information on their Website.

Affilaite Links in Use

Thanks for Supporting Uniform Mom