Girls' School Uniforms

Uniform Requirements

Though specific dress code requirements will vary between school districts and from school to school, most include the following:

• Polo or button-down shirts in navy, light blue, white, red, or another solid color.
• Slacks, shorts, skirts, or skorts in black, navy, or khaki (no jeans).
• Skirts must be knee-length or longer.
• Pants must fit properly and be belted at the waist.
• Shirts must be tucked in.
• Hair must be neatly groomed.
• Excessive jewelry and long earrings are not allowed.

Shopping for Girls' School Uniforms

Girls' school uniforms are widely available and can be purchased at Target, WalMart, Kohl's, and JC Penney.

Many school dress codes consist of generic separates that can be purchased at any store. For example, if your daughter's school requires a white polo shirt and a khaki skirt, those can be found at any store that sells kids' clothes, even if they aren't specifically labeled as girls' school uniforms.

Shopping Online

If you prefer to shop online, you can find find the required items at the following:

• School Uniform Warehouse
• All Heart Kids
• Nordstrom
• JC Penney
• French Toast

Accessorizing Girls' School Uniforms

Though parents and educators are divided on the issue of rigid dress codes, girls are basically united in their opinion: they hate conformity. Most girls, especially those in middle and high school, dislike looking exactly like everyone else. They are searching for ways to exert their own identities. Some schools are quite rigid in their dress codes and allow no accessorizing. Others, though, are less strict and do allow the girls to show a bit of personalization. Here are some tips for personalizing the girls' uniforms:

• Belts — Many school's require pants to be belted. This is a great opportunity for personalization. Girls can wear a belt that is unique but not distracting.
• Hair — Most school dress codes only require that hair be neatly groomed. That leaves a lot of room for a unique fashion statement. Beautiful barrettes, clips, ribbons, or elaborate braids add unique twists to uniforms.
• Earrings — Many schools allow girls to wear studs or other small earrings. There are a variety of unusual stud earrings available.
• Leggings — Some schools have strict rules concerning socks or leggings to be worn with required school dress. If that is not the case, there are some unique and creative leggings available.
• Shoes — Some schools have specified shoes as part of the girls' dress code. Others, though, leave choosing footware to the parents and students and specify only that shoes be "practical." That leaves a lot of room for individual style and expression.

Additional Uniform Resources

With proponents saying uniforms decrease violence and opponents saying they rob children of self-expression, the issue continues to be a hotly debated topic. Here are some websites devoted to this divisive subject:

• Manual on School Uniforms -- This article from the US Department of Education offers a discussion on the reasons behind school uniforms.
• School Uniform Articles -- This collection of articles offers opinions and arguments on each side of the debate.