What do uniforms really cost?

A lot of parent opinion centers around whether or not uniforms are cheaper for families.

There has been one study on the subject that I have been able to locate:

The effect of uniforms on nonuniform apparel expenditures.

Norum, Pamela S., Robert O. Weagley, and Marjorie J.T. Norton. "The effect of uniforms on nonuniform apparel expenditures." Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal 26.n3 (March 1998): 259(22). Expanded Academic ASAP. Thomson Gale. Flagler County Public Library. 13 July 2007

Abstract:

The effects of uniform expenses on household expenditures for some nonuniform apparel subcategories based on an economic model of conditional demand were investigated. Expenditures formulas were derived from the 1990-1991 Consumer Expenditure Survey. Findings indicated that consumers do not replace their nonuniform purchases with uniform expenses. Instead, uniforms are considered as complementary purchases, thereby, leading to increased clothing expenditures.

Thomson Gale Document Number:A20584197

The full study can be read in full from your home computer on the Library's InfoTrac database if you have the password (just ask the reference librarian for it).

Note this critical part of the abstract: Findings indicated that consumers do not replace their nonuniform purchases with uniform expenses. Instead, uniforms are considered as complementary purchases, thereby, leading to increased clothing expenditures. According to the results of this study, the actual purchase price of uniforms compared to regular clothes is irrelevant to the argument about whether school uniforms are more expensive. Since families purchase them in addition to, and not instead of, their usual clothing purchases, uniforms are more expensive for families no matter how much or how little is spent on them.

Even if you are a parent who is convinced that you will be able to replace other clothes purchases with uniforms, what do uniforms actually cost? The answer varies widely. Very young students may be more prone to spilling on their clothes, requiring more frequent laundering or even replacing of outfits due to stains. The oldest students will require frequent laundering due to body odor. Then there are variables such as how fast a child is growing, and a major variable in cost: how hard to fit a child is.

Walmart and Target are being widely touted as sources of affordable school uniforms. That may be true - if your child is of average size. If you can walk into a store and pull anything off of the rack and it will fit your child, then you will likely have no problem finding plenty of inexpensive uniform options for your student.

If, on the other hand, your child is hard to fit and requires slim or husky sizes? Well, you may be out of luck on the affordability of uniforms - especially if your child is a girl.

Walmart offers slim and husky sizes in boys, but only plus in girls. No slim sizes.

Target offers plus sizes but no slims in either boys or girls.

Bealls offers a few husky sizes in boys items. Not sure about plus sizes for the girls.

Old Navy: A good selection of plus and slim sizes is available for both boys and girls but a pair of basic uniform pants start at $17.50 per pair (compared to pants that start at $11.88 at Walmart).

JC Penney: A full range of sizes is offered but pants start at $19.99 for girls and $26 for boys.

Sears: Pants start at $20 for girls and $24 for boys and only plus/husky sizes are offered.

Gap: Again, a good selection of complete size ranges is available but a basic pair of uniform pants starts at $29.50.

Lands End: Their selection of uniform pants available in a complete size range starts at $29.99.

Uniforms would definitely be more expensive for my family since my daughter is very slim and hard-to fit. I can currently buy two very nice complete knit outfits or dresses at Target that will fit her for school for what it would cost to put her in one pair of uniform pants from Old Navy that would hopefully fit her and be long enough and still stay up. Buying uniform outfits would be a significant cost increase for us. I'm sure there are other families facing the same situation because of hard-to-fit children.

Also we shouldn't forget that other help to the clothing budget: gifts that do double-duty as school clothes. Our 7 year-old niece (who lives in Michigan) loves to shop. So for her last couple of gifts from us (birthday and christmas) she has received Target gift cards that she could spend on clothing with the supervision of her mother. Our niece has fun shopping, and she gets some new school clothes to put in her closet without her parents spending anything. Somehow, I think the fun would go out of that gift for our niece if she had to pick out uniform clothes, and the added benefit would be lost to her parents if she picked out regular clothes and they still had to buy her uniforms.

In addition to gift cards, actual clothing gifts can expand school wardrobes. They certainly do in our family with two grandmas that love to shop for their granddaughter. But opening a box of khaki pants and white shirts on your birthday somehow just isn't that exciting for a little kid...or as exciting for a grandparent to give.

Give a thought to all of these things before you decide what uniforms will really cost your family and other families.