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The Best Places To Buy School Uniforms

Written by James Kicinski-McCoy & Katie Hintz-Zambrano

Photography by The Children's Place

Although school uniforms help make the process of getting dressed a no-brainer, finding the right stylish school uniform that perfectly coordinates with your child’s faculty guidelines can be difficult. Thankfully, stores have caught on to the fact that more schools are requiring strict dress codes and they’re making it easier than ever to uniform shop for the curricular year. Below, we’ve gathered a list of the best places to find those perfect polos, chinos, adaptive school uniforms, skirts, and boys uniform pants—from French Toast uniforms and Lands End uniforms to Old Navy uniforms and secret weapons like Maisonette, we’ve got you covered. Now, the hardest part of your back-to-school and uniform shopping experience will be deciding which backpack to buy!

The Children’s Place. Visit the brand’s School Uniforms HQ to find a sea of polos and dresses in dozens of popular school colors (navy, red, hunter green) to more unexpected hues (fuchsia and lavender). Plus, khaki pants, shorts, and skirts galore and other accessories, from headbands and bows to socks and sneakers. Overall, it amounts to hundreds of styles to get the job done, from toddler sizes on up!

Old Navy. Old Navy is a no-brainer for affordable, stylish uniforms for kids and teens in a wide variety of colors. Some items start at just $10, meaning at the rate kids grow, you won’t mind if you have to replace polos, chinos, or sweaters year after year.

Lands’ End. Lands’ End is a go-to for high-quality, durable back-to-school basics. The site also lets you create a student profile for fast, easy shopping. Just select the “Find My School” option, and it will help you shop according to your kid or teen’s school guidelines. Plus, unlike many online retailers, Lands’ End offers at least 10 kinds of plaid!

Target. Easy, cute, and affordable are the words that come to mind when we shop Target’s uniform section. You can find brands such as Eddie Bauer, Cat & Jack, and even French Toast here, all at good prices. From regular khakis and shoes to cat-printed socks, there’s a little something for every A+ student. Bonus points: Target offers a new and inclusive range of adaptive school uniforms!

JCPenney. Hundreds of name-brand school uniform options can be found at JCPenney, from Izod to Dickies. The store hosts regular sales and special offers, too, so don’t forget to check to get the best bang for your buck! Plus, their polos come in 16 colors.

French Toast. This company has been a leader in school uniforms since 1985. Here you’ll find an array of mix-and-match options for kids of all ages, from regular vests and cardigans to cute jumpers and blazers. They even offer uniform-approved accessories and have an expanded line of adaptive school uniforms.

Kohl’s. This national chain features a large assortment of budget-friendly, school-appropriate options for your little ones all the way up to your teens. Items range from petite to plus-size polos (in over a dozen colors) to chinos, dresses, plaid skorts, and even shoes for all ages.

American Eagle. Geared towards teens, AE has a variety of separates that allow older kids to infuse one’s uniform with personality. From slouchier button-ups and plaid mini-skirts to cardigans and khakis cut in a variety of silhouettes. Think Clueless and Gossip Girl vibes!

Tea Collection. Tea Collection consistently sells a wide variety of pants in classic colors and modern silhouettes that could work for uniforms—we love their cotton and canvas joggers in olive, navy, and khaki, as well as the brand’s slim chino that goes up to size 16.

Maisonette. This modern retailer is also lacking an official “uniform” shop, but does include many uniform-like pieces, including design-forward chinos, solid-colored sweat sets, and lots of plaid dresses and accessories. Take a look at the in-house Maison Me label for the best prices (and frequent sales).

J.Crew Factory. While not the heartiest of offerings, spin-off label J.Crew Factory has preppy, uniform-like options for boys, including polos, blazers, slacks, button-downs, and ties.

Need more back-to-school inspiration? Check out these 50+ clothing ideas that are comfy as they are cute!

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