'Disappointed' mum slams Matalan over 'inappropriate' kids clothing range

19 June 2024 , 12:07

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The retailer has angered parents over its children's clothing range (Image: Getty Images)

A 'disappointed' mum has hit out at Matalan after trying to shop for her 10-year-old stepdaughter.

Samantha, who works as a teacher in Sussex, was browsing the seven to 13 year-old clothing section for her 'pre-teen' kid when she quickly realised a pattern was emerging: all of the t-shirts and vests were cropped. Some were emblazoned with words like 'iconic' across the chest while other garments had the name of American tourist attractions like Venice Beach.

But one particular crop top that caught Samantha's eye had a cut-out palm tree near the neckline, which would mean the skin below would be visible.

Taking to TikTok, the mum showed off the pink top, adding: "Now, I might be being mega fussy here but I don't know how I feel about this. This little crop top has got detailing but it actually - look - it goes all the way through to the skin on the chest. I don't know about that."

Samantha showed several other outfits she deemed as 'inappropriate' or 'too short' but did end up finding a few suitable items, including two pairs of cycle shorts, a grey top, and a white t-shirt, and a stripey dress. "I hate to say it because this is one my favourite places to come [to buy clothes] for my toddler boy - but for the girls this is getting like a three out of 10 from me," she added.

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Swathes of disgruntled parents took to the comments section to share their frustration, with many sharing the same struggle as Samantha. "My daughter is only six but is so tall and wears age 10 [clothes]. Nothing is appropriate, it's so stressful," one user fumed.

Another agreed, commenting: "I've been buying my two daughters adult clothes since they were younger for this reason." A third added: "Happy I am not the one only who thinks this for my 10-year-old girl." While a fourth wrote: "I'm [the] same and my daughter doesn't like crop tops but it's hard finding tops that are not cropped and she's 10."

The Mirror has contacted Matalan for comment.

Do you think the t-shirts are inappropriate? Let us know in the comments section below

Liam Gilliver