Buying guides
School Uniform
The secret to successful school uniform shopping is preparation.
Our guide will help you navigate sizing, and offers advice on what to buy; plus, our school uniform checklist is a handy reference.
Choosing school clothes
Here are some tips when you’re finding new school clothes:
- Measure your child beforehand, then use our measuring chart below to find out their clothing size
- Remember to have a list of the school's requirements to hand – our school uniform checklist might come in handy for this
- Allow for growth: when you're buying shirts, make sure you can fit two fingers inside the fastened collar
- Choose simple styles with easy fastenings for younger children
- Order name tapes in advance, so you'll have time to sew them on before the beginning of term
- Don't leave it too late, particularly if you think you might need clothes altered or made to order
- Good quality school clothes will give you years of wear and can often be handed on to a younger brother or sister, so don't economise on quality
- If you need school-specific uniform in a bespoke size, we'll be happy to order it for you. Please visit the John Lewis & Partners
that's allocated to your school and ask a Partner for more details about our Special Measure service. Remember to leave plenty of time beforeterm begins, as orders can take up to 14 weeks to complete - Ask for advice: our Partners will be happy to help you
Why choose our school uniforms?
Our ingenious designs, fabric protection and clever finishing touches mean each piece is designed to last, look great and make cleaning and maintenance easy.
100% cotton
- Kinder on the skin for those suffering
with allergies
- Our school trousers also feature hidden patches to the inside of knees, adding strength and reducing the risk of ripping
- On trousers, shorts and skirts – perfect for growth spurts and extra comfortable for active kids.
Easy-iron shirts & blouses
- The blended polyester in this range delivers an easy iron solution
- The fabric prevents creasing, helping them keep their school uniform looking smarter for longer
Teflon® EcoElite fabric protection
- Plant-based and renewably sourced, Teflon® EcoElite protection means stains and spills clean up quickly and easily, and fabrics retain their colour and quality
Durable footwear
- Made from premium full grain leather, our school shoes remain uncoated, making them breathable, strong and durable
- Micro-fresh insoles help keep the shoes fresher for longer
Sustainable
- The innovative Eco Blazer is made from recycled plastic bottles, which reduces the amount of plastic going to landfill
- We support the Better Cotton initiative and use the BCI logo on swing tags and product packaging to show that we are committed to sourcing Better Cotton and investing in BCI farmers
- All our organic cotton school shirts are certified to GOTS (the Global Organic Textile Standard)
Long-lasting colours & whites
- Special dyes ensure colours will stay bright, darks stay dark and whites will stay white, wash after wash.
Measuring guidelines
Not sure how to measure up? These images and notes will help.
Height
Measure from the top of the head down to the ground - make sure the child is barefoot with their heels together and feet flat on the floor.
Hips
Place the tape measure around the fullest part of the bottom.
Chests
Take the tape through the arms and around the fullest part of the chest.
Inside leg
Measure with shoes on to approximately 5cm above the ground.
Waist
Place the tape measure around the natural waistline, taking care not to pull it too tightly.
Collar
Place the tape measure around the base of the neck where the collar usually sits, again taking care not to pull the tape too tightly as it is important to have a little extra room around the neck.
Size table
BOYS SIZE TABLE
These sizes are approximate and may vary between styles
AGE | CHEST SIZE | HEIGHT | COLLAR SIZE | WAIST SIZE | GENEROUS FIT WAIST MEASUREMENTS | INSIDE LEG MEASUREMENTS | |
REGULAR | LONG | ||||||
3 | 53.5cm / 21in | 98cm / 38.5in | 30.5cm / 12in | 51cm / 20in | 52cm / 20.4in | 42.5cm / 16.75in | 47.5cm / 18.75in |
4 | 55.5cm / 22in | 104cm / 41in | 31cm / 12in | 52cm / 20.5in | 54cm / 21.2in | 45.5cm / 18in | 50.5cm / 19.75in |
5 | 58.5cm / 23in | 110cm / 43.25in | 31.5cm / 12.5in | 54.5cm / 21.5in | 56cm / 22in | 48.5cm / 19in | 53.5cm / 21in |
6 | 60cm / 23.5in | 116cm / 45.5in | 32.5cm / 12.75in | 55.5cm / 21.75in | 58cm / 22.8in | 52cm / 20.5in | 57cm / 22.5in |
7 | 62cm / 24.5in | 122cm / 48in | 33cm / 13in | 56.5cm / 22.75in | 60cm / 23.6in | 55.5cm / 21.75in | 60.5cm / 23.75in |
8 | 64cm / 25in | 128cm / 50.5in | 33.5cm / 13in | 58cm / 23in | 62cm / 24.4in | 59cm / 23.25in | 64cm / 25in |
9 | 66.5cm / 26in | 134cm / 52.75in | 34cm / 13.25in | 60cm / 23.5in | 64cm / 21.5in | 62.5cm / 24.5in | 67.5cm / 26.5in |
10 | 69cm / 27in | 140cm / 55in | 35cm / 13.25in | 62cm / 24.5in | 66cm / 25.9in | 66cm / 26in | 71cm / 28in |
11 | 73.5cm / 29in | 146cm / 57.5in | 36cm / 13.75in | 64.5cm / 25.25in | 69cm / 27.1in | 69.5cm / 27.25in | 74.5cm / 29.75in |
12 | 78.5cm / 31in | 152cm / 60in | 37cm / 14in | 67cm / 26.25in | 75cm / 29.5in | 73cm / 28.75in | 78cm / 30.75in |
13 | 83.5cm / 33in | 158cm / 62in | 38cm / 14.5in | 69.5cm / 27.25in | 78cm / 30.7in | 76cm / 30in | 81cm / 31.75in |
14 | 86cm / 34in | 164cm / 64.5in | 40cm / 15in | 74cm / 29in | 81cm / 31.8in | 79cm / 31in | 84cm / 33in |
15 | 90cm / 35.5in | 170cm / 67in | 40cm / 15.25in | 77cm / 30.25in | 84cm / 33in | 81cm / 31.75in | 86cm / 33.75in |
16 | 94cm / 37in | 176cm / 69.25in | 41cm / 15.75in | 77cm / 30.25in | 87cm / 34.2in | 84cm / 33in | 89cm / 35in |
16+ | 98cm / 38.5in | 184cm / 72.5in | 45cm / 16in | 82cm / 32.25in | 90-98cm / 35.4-38.5in | 87cm / 34.75in | 92cm / 36.25in |
GIRLS SIZE TABLE
These sizes are approximate and may vary between styles
AGE | CHEST SIZE | WAIST SIZE | INSIDE LEG MEASUREMENTS | GENEROUS FIT WAIST MEASUREMENTS | HEIGHT CONVERSIONS FOR DRESSES AND TUNICS | |
HEIGHT | CHEST | |||||
3 | 53.5cm / 21in | 51cm / 20in | 42.5cm / 16.5in | 54cm / 21.2in | 98cm / 38.5in | 53.5cm / 21in |
4 | 55.5cm / 21.75in | 52cm / 20.5in | 45.5cm / 18in | 56cm / 22in | 104cm / 41in | 55.5cm / 21.75in |
5 | 56cm / 22in | 52cm / 20.5in | 50cm / 19.5in | 58cm / 22.8in | 110cm / 43.25in | 56cm / 22in |
6 | 58cm / 22.75in | 53cm / 21in | 53cm / 20.75in | 60cm / 23.6in | 116cm 45.5in | 58cm / 22.75in |
7 | 60cm / 23.5in | 54cm / 21.25in | 56.5cm / 22.25in | 62cm / 24.4in | 122cm / 48in | 60cm / 23.5in |
8 | 62cm / 24.5in | 55cm / 21.5in | 60cm / 23.5in | 64cm / 25.1in | 128cm / 50.5in | 62cm / 24.5in |
9 | 65cm / 25.5in | 57cm / 22.5in | 63.5cm / 25in | 66cm / 25.9in | 134cm / 52.75in | 65cm / 25.5in |
10 | 68cm / 26.75in | 59cm / 23.25in | 67cm / 26.25in | 68cm / 26.7in | 140cm / 55in | 68cm / 26.75in |
11 | 73cm / 28.75in | 61cm / 24in | 70.5cm / 27.75in | 70cm / 27.5in | 146cm / 57.5in | 73cm / 28.75in |
12 | 78cm / 30.75in | 63cm / 25in | 73cm / 28.75in | 72cm / 28.3in | 152cm / 60in | 78cm / 30.75in |
13 | 83cm / 32.5in | 65cm / 25.5in | 75.5cm / 29.75in | 76cm / 29.9in | 158cm / 62in | 83cm / 32.5in |
14 | 88cm / 34.5in | 67cm / 26.25in | 78cm / 30.75in | 82cm / 32.2in | 164cm / 64.5in | 88cm / 34.5in |
15 | 93cm / 36.5in | 69cm / 27in | 78cm / 30.75in | 88cm / 34.6in | 170cm / 67in | 93cm / 36.5in |
16 | 98cm / 38.5in | 71cm / 28in | 78cm / 30.75in | 94cm / 37in | 176cm / 69.25in | 98cm / 38.5in |
16+ | 103cm / 40.5in | 75cm / 29.5in | 78cm / 30.75in | 100-112cm / 39.3-44in | 182cm / 71.5in | 103cm / 40.5in |