family uniforms?

[kittie313]

Is this just taking it too far? I am so tired of struggling to find acceptable clothing for myself and the four girls we have, and with the oldest needing new clothes again (she's growing like a darn weed *sigh*) I am leaning more toward just getting each girl 6 skirts/jumpers and 10 shirts with some white tights, socks, and leggings to wear daily, plus 2 or 3 church dresses, and then getting me about 6-10 skirts/ slacks with some tops and a couple sweaters for everyday and a couple church dresses. OK I'd probably be sewing some of them instead of buying them (especially the skirts and jumpers) but would this be total overkill on simplifying my life? I'm so tired of trying to find clothes that fit us appropriately that are modest and fashionable, and yet if I do this I feel like it will make my family look more oddball than we already are (homeschooling, larger family with all girls, I'm working toward becoming a youth minister). What do you think, would it just be overkill for making my life easier or should we consider it? (and if you are dying to know, I'd be doing white tops with navy bottoms and sweaters)

And if you saw my mountains of laundry from having a 3-4 week wardrobe for everyone (and my inability to get it all dealt with easily because of how much there is) you'd understand why I want to just throw it all in the garbage and just buy a week of uniforms for each kid and myself........... The girls won't let me purge their huge wardrobes down to just a week of clothes, but I can talk them easily into getting all new if we throw away all the old.

[EFmom]

I loathe uniforms of any sort (had to wear them in elementary school), so it is absolutely not anything I would do to my kids. Honestly, I do think it comes across as a little over controlling.

I do think you can simplify wardrobes by letting the kids pick out pieces that coordinate well with a number of other pieces.

[mysticmomma]

My wardrobe is solid bottoms and funky tops. I'd try something like that first. Bottoms could be skirts, jumpers, slacks, in a variety of colors and then tops could be anything.

[kathymuggle]

I wouldn't do uniforms, but I might say:

"Everyone pick 7 tops and 7 bottoms, 7 undies, 7 socks, 2 PJs and 2 bathing suits...we are putting the rest in the basement for now".

That way they will have a streamlined wardrobe, and with most of it packed up, laundry will have to be done on a weekly basis and will not build up.

I did this with dishes and it worked! If you do not have them out you cannot use them.

Depending on the ages of the girls, showing them how to do laundry may help. There is no reason for you to do it all if they are capable.

If they have oodles of clothes that fit and they like - it is more work and a little wasteful to make a whole new batch.

edited to add: I just looked at the age of your girls. Your oldest might be able to do a bit of laundry, but the rest are too young. I do not do uniforms, but I do "cluster buy" certain itmes for people of like sizes. For example - I buy two sets of socks and all in black and or white: one size that fits me, DH and DS, and one size that fits DD's. That way if someone looses a sock, no big deal, there are numerous others in the same size and colour. No more lone sock issues! I have done the same with mitts. You might be able to buy a bunch of white tights for the younger girls, and some for the older girls. Stick them in one place (we have a communal sock drawer) and be done with the finding tights issue.

[clutterwarrior]

Not sure if you were serious that you feel that your family possibly has a slightly oddball reputation already, but regardless I seriously would not do this as it could have a harmful effect on the kids....kids hate to be different from other kids their age!! I just think it could just be the making of a lot of painful memories for them.

[laohaire]

I like uniforms, but I think it's critical that the wearer like them.

Maybe simplifying clothes is something to acheive over a longer term? Rather than chucking it all today, go ahead and sew some clothes for the girls for their next sizes. I would't call them uniforms, either, unless they happened to be into that. Just make coordinating, modest pieces to grow into.

[AllyRae]

It actually kind of reminds me of the Amish, and the Amish with their uniforms are relatively noticable in public...

I like the idea of maybe choosing some brown, khaki, black, & jean pants, and then allowing them to choose 7-10 shirts. If you neutral up the pants, you can make them work with any shirt and can drastically cut down the amount of clothing you have.

[Knittin' in the Shade]

I think the matching uniform idea is a bit over the top. I've got 4 boys, and I know that we already get stares when we're out all together, I can't imagine how uncomfortable my boys would be if I made them all wear the same clothes. I wouldn't be comfortable with taking away their individuality in that way. However, I've got no problems limiting their clothing in terms of the number of items there are! Why not go through their current wardrobes and set a limit on each item? say, 7 pairs of pants/shorts, 3-4 skirts, and then 8-10 tops? That way, they get to keep their favorite clothes, you get less laundry, and no one feels squiggy about the forced uniforms.

[neveryoumindthere]

Originally Posted by AllyRae

It actually kind of reminds me of the Amish, and the Amish with their uniforms are relatively noticable in public...

I like the idea of maybe choosing some brown, khaki, black, & jean pants, and then allowing them to choose 7-10 shirts. If you neutral up the pants, you can make them work with any shirt and can drastically cut down the amount of clothing you have.

I love this idea. I'm going to steal it!

[confustication]

I don't think I'd do uniforms in that manner- we DO however stick with neutral/staple items for clothes. Jeans are the 'norm' in our family though there are a couple khakis etc tossed in as well. Then we just add in different shirts and call it good.

Socks are more communal- the boys have shared socks, and while DD and I each have our own, they often wind up on the wrong feet. DH has huge feet, so his shoes are all his.

[karne]

The idea strikes me as a little "Sound of Music"-esque, where the kids were all wearing matching clothing made out of the family's drapes. Probably not the effect you're looking for.

I think it's very possible to weed out the kids clothing to a week of basics and see how it goes. Don't throw anything away because you could cycle things back in as needed. I have done this. The laundry is not very managable otherwise, I agree. It's also pretty easy to buy very basic shorts or leggings or plain colored skirts and have variety in the tops. I always think dark bottoms are easy anyway because my kids get very dirty playing outside. I only buy white socks, and throw them all in a basket to be paired up during the week. Same socks for both kids.

[Multimomma]

Four weeks worth of clothes is too many for anyone anyway. I agree with whoever said to weed that back, to maybe ten days worth of clothes.

With a larger family, you might focus on doing a load a day of laundry, then catching up twice a week, rather than letting it build up to mountainous sizes. Our system has shelves with a basket for each person, so that the clothes can be washed and sorted into each persons clothes, so that I don't have to fold and put away right away, but they're still accessible. Like the whitmore storage cubes from target.com. we have a bin that fits in the whole for each kid. SO much easier! Here's for our house
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_p9OWpgTD5h...h/100_7620.JPG but we have older kids to reach up high...spare socks and the youngest child on the bottom, the two boys next up, the two girls, then the two oldest. Above that we do towels and washclothes. The baby is in a large basket with dh and my clothes.

[Multimomma]

As far as uniforms, why not just create one from clothes you have? I think if you presented it as donating extra clothes to homeless or unfortunate people, the kids would probably like it more. Or, even taking all the clothes away, and just picking one outfit a day, like a shopping day!

Is there a particular reason why you want skirts for all of your girls? Do you find that is more modest than nice capris or burmuda shorts? I've not had a problem finding those at Target or Penney's for a few years.

[cappuccinosmom]

I wouldn't do uniforms. But you could definitely simplify.

Keep the bottoms neutral. Pick a reasonable amount of tops. Donate the rest.

Personally I'd have no qualms with making paring down a requirement. Tell them a certain amount of clothes is going away. Either you can pick what goes, or they can, but it is going. Either that or they start doing their own laundry.

ETA: Unless they're rolling in the dirt every day or messy infants/toddlers, pants/skirts can be worn more than one day. Having at least your older girls limit the clothing changes should make a noticeable difference in laundry.

[luv-my-boys]

I agree with the other posters. Pairing down the amt of clothing seems like a better option than necessarily buying all matching *uniformss* instead. I would stick to neutrals and simple patterns meaning nothing that has to be hand washed or washed seperately or dry cleaned (for nicer church clothing) I would consider uping the church clothing to 4 outfits so that they dont look worn or repeated often.

I have mountains of laundry due to our family size as well. I need to do laundry each day because frankly it adds up between the clothing and linens and what not it just does. I foudn that having a sort of schedule has really helped. For instance mondays are linens...bed sheets, towels, kitchen towels.

[kittie313]

Well, the reason I thought of the idea of the uniforms was because we own a few jumpers from area private schools that I picked up at thrift stores, and these are the things the girls fight most over. They LOVE wearing dresses, skirts, and jumpers and matching or coordinating their outfits. They don't notice being different from other kids (which they are already since we have rules about modesty that don't go with most of the current fashion trends) and I wouldn't call them *uniforms* for us, it would be their new outfits (dd1 especially shocked me with wearing out her dresses recently, she used to hate skirts when she was younger and she loves to gt all dressed up and pretty now, she's turning into a GIRL *eeewwww* sorry, I'm a tomboy)

[phathui5]

I would talk to the kids about it before you decide. It doesn't sound like a bad idea if they're willing.

[Drummer's Wife]

I don't think it makes sense to buy or make a new wardrobe when you are already overwhelmed with laundry. I do agree with getting rid of what they don't love, to make less work for yourself. I only have one girl (and 3 boys), but no way would my DD want to wear the same thing/style every single day. Even if she loved jumpers (which at age 9, she understandably does not). She likes fashion, and she likes expressing herself through her clothing. Most children's clothing is moderate and appropriate, IMO, besides the odd pieces like padded bras or super short skirts - but it's not like you have to stick with a "uniform" to keep from showing too much skin. I also happen to like kid's clothing so I would be bored with plain, similar styles - but I get that others just don't care.

I say reduce the amount of clothing you own (don't add to it), let your DD's keep what they love, and ask them to help sort, launder, fold, and put away their clothes so that it doesn't drive you to the point of making everyone where uniforms. Sorry, but that makes me shudder a bit. I doubt I could handle it for school (At least with what you are describing), much less full-time.

[mkksmom]

Yeah, I just can't see getting new clothing when you already have so much. If the girls like the uniform pieces you've picked up, then make sure to keep those. Then I'd go with some basic bottoms and then tops of different colors. The uniform pieces may not be so special if that's all they have.

[Marsupialmom]

I would not specifically go for uniforms but not say no to them.

You can thrift store and pass down a lot of stuff! Everyone gets hand-me-downs!

Most people by more clothes than they need.

2 pjs
1-2 Church Dresses (we only by a special outfit as needed we don't do church).
3-4 pair jeans in winter....out grown/wholie ones can become shorts.
3-4 pair shorts
Reserve 2-3 tops as "nice" not play then maybe 10 other.
Pair of undies per day (more if they still have accidents).

Sock are all white and same brand per child. Get a sharpie and mark the bottom with the initial of each child.