Next Childrenswear...the best there is? (Next)

Member Name: Rhiana

Product:	Next
Date:	27/03/09 (73 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good sizing, very good quality, easy to sell on when grown out of.

Disadvantages: can be expensive and samey, older kids not my taste.

Next retail chain was launched in Febuary 1982 with co-ordinated ranges of clothes, shoes and accessories for woman. Mens, childrens and homeware quickly followed. Designed by an in-house team to offer consistency of syle, quality and value for money.

The Next Directory, a mail order catelogue was Launched in 1988 and online shopping in 1999


I mainly buy from the childrenswear range at Next (in particular girls clothing), so this is the area I'm reviewing.

Undoubtably Next childrenswear is on of the most popular childrenswear retailers. Its split into age ranges of newborn-18 month, 3 month - 5 years, and 3 years - 16 years.

The vast majority of my daughters clothing were bought in Next from the baby and mid age range. I loved the style and how the designs came in little ranges, there would be sevral different pieces to mix and match and compliment each other. I also do find the quality of Next kidswear to be very high. Its easily washed and tumble dried and I've never experianced any shrinking, bobbling or colour run making it easy care maintenance.

However, now my daughter is entering the 'older' girls range, I find myself buying less and less from Next. She's more likely to put holes in clothes or stain them these days, and as Next prices are more expensive than supermarket brands I'm not as prepared to pay now (one of the huge bonuses I found with Next clothing was it was very easy to sell on the baby and toddler clothing, occassionally for more than I'd bought it new, so the potential of reaping back around half what I paid on Ebay made the original price not so much an issue, unfortunatly nowadays when it no longer fits my daughter, its ready for the bin)

Secondly I don't like the 'older' kids range. A lot of it is just impractical for everyday wear, and a lot of it I would feel uncomfertable putting my daughter in, due to its unsuitability for her age. It is in my opinion, to old (I'm not sure I'm allowed to say the T word) for younger girls, yet I can not imagine many teenage girls wanting to wear Next clothing.

Next do not reduce the prices of their stock during a season, instead they hold a much hyped end of season sale, complimented by 2 smaller mid season sales. The store usually opens at some ridiculously early hour, and people DO que to get in. If you don't mind being pushed and shoved and raking about on the floor, then I'm sure theres 1 or 2 bargains to be had. However I'm yet to find one, it usually only the dross thats left, so I now don't bother (nothing would get me out of bed at 4 am anyway)

My final gripe is that having shopped in Next for 5 years now, I'm finding the clothes to be ver 'samey' each season. They will maybe change the theme, one season its a monkey, the next a butterfly but the same styles.

I really like the sizing of Next kids clothes. My daughter has a very thin waist, and this is one of the only shops I can get trousers that fit her reasonably well. The also have a good range of adjustable waisted items, wich if your child isn't perfectly sized is a huge advantage and must have. I find the tops to be a little on the neat side and have to get an age above in these. I also find that the usually have a good size range in store, and if they don't have the size you require can order it within a couple of days. Shoes however I do not buy, they are usually too big, too wide and hurt my daughters feet. She does have very skinny feet though, so perhaps some kids would suit the sizing of shoes.

Overall, Next kidswear is excellent quality, and I would and do buy some things from there. I now look elsewhere aswell though.

Summary: Excellent for babies and toddlers.