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Original poster

What’s the mum “uniform” in your area?

417 replies

GrinAndBear · 14/11/2024 14:27

Is there a mum “uniform” - aka what you’d typically see someone in the playground or at the school gates wearing - in your area, and if so what is it?

I recently moved from Highgate to Finchley Central and it’s pretty different, despite being just two tube stops apart

CE / Highgate mums seemed to all wear Birkenstocks, hiking boots, straight cut jeans, parkas or Patagonia fleeces and fair isle or cashmere jumpers with hair in a messy bun.

Finchley Central mums are all in floral dresses Chelsea boots, blowdries, make up and proper coats and look at my scuffed old Blundstones as though I was living rough in a caravan… Not that I’m going to do anything about it mind, I’m very attached to my boots and fleece, but it’s odd how different it is

OP posts:
MondayYogurt · 14/11/2024 16:05

Clothes vary, but the XC90s are a constant.

ADHDGURL · 14/11/2024 16:04

No sound advice but made me chuckle 😆 waaay back 2002 I used to work so it was always smart clothes.. one day I was off, kept it my pajama top on (white embroidery collar thingy) with jeans and another mum had done exactly the same! We couldn't look each other in the eye... off duty back then was Leggings, long t, cardi/jumper and uggs in winter, similar minus cardi and sliders in summer.. I agree with OP tho, the school gates are a minefield of dubious societal norms...

misslooloo · 14/11/2024 16:01

Crispynoodle · 14/11/2024 15:44

@potatocakesinprogress 💯 might! There's a huge sea swimming community here. I often put my wetsuit on at home and under my dry robe if I'm planning a swim. Having said that I'm unlikely to wear my dry robe to do the shopping, my daughter would wee hers though!

Do you live in the NE @Crispynoodle ?

ishouldnthavesaiddat · 14/11/2024 16:01

Oh wait we do have a uniform but it’s hair rather than clothes. All the mums of all ages are blonde! Everyone has the same colour highlighted hair!

Thank you @ilovesushi I’ll have a look. Black sounds good for work! I’m miles away from London don’t worry 😂

ilovesushi · 14/11/2024 16:01

@ishouldnthavesaiddat I have a black one from Landsend if that helps - but I'm not a true Highgate school mum so don't try wearing it in N10.

AvidLurker · 14/11/2024 16:00

thenightsky · 14/11/2024 15:41

Watch MAFS.

Show quote history

Yes! Amy lived in hers 😅

ishouldnthavesaiddat · 14/11/2024 15:59

The weirdness is how the tribes change despite being in close proximity to each other.

it’s also realllly interesting!

Can one of the Highgate crew please link me a fairisle cardigan? Sounds lovely!

ilovesushi · 14/11/2024 15:57

I'm wearing the Highgate uniform right now down to the fairisle cardi and messy bun though many miles outside of London and no longer do the school run. I did used to live down the road in Islington, so maybe I've carried a North London influence with me. Mainly I'm just not that into fashion anymore but like warm comfy clothes to walk the dog in and wfh.

AvidLurker · 14/11/2024 15:57

Shein sets have a distinctive fabric which is striped … love a Shein lounge set for bed, not for public because they can be a tad see through!

Stressfordays · 14/11/2024 15:56

This is so weird that people notice. Were in a tiny village school in the Midlands countryside and the variety is huge. I always wearing leggings, hoodie, sports socks and trainers/crocs with my duvet coat 🤣 I must say, I've never seen a grown woman around here in a pair of dungarees though. Age usually plays a part in what people wear, we have a lot of grandparents doing the school run.

Foxlovesfruit · 14/11/2024 15:55

GrinAndBear · 14/11/2024 14:27

Is there a mum “uniform” - aka what you’d typically see someone in the playground or at the school gates wearing - in your area, and if so what is it?

I recently moved from Highgate to Finchley Central and it’s pretty different, despite being just two tube stops apart

CE / Highgate mums seemed to all wear Birkenstocks, hiking boots, straight cut jeans, parkas or Patagonia fleeces and fair isle or cashmere jumpers with hair in a messy bun.

Finchley Central mums are all in floral dresses Chelsea boots, blowdries, make up and proper coats and look at my scuffed old Blundstones as though I was living rough in a caravan… Not that I’m going to do anything about it mind, I’m very attached to my boots and fleece, but it’s odd how different it is

Sheffield here. It's largely White Stuff, Fat Face or Seasalt here. Lumchboxes filled with hummus, olives and rosemary crackers. Not that my three will eat any.of those 😆

TarantinoIsAMisogynist · 14/11/2024 15:55

booisbooming · 14/11/2024 15:48

I think they mean London is weird to care so much about the microscopic differences between how cool people are in Highgate vs Finchley.

But yeah these clothes are the same clothes any other 35 year old woman with an Instagram account has.

Edited
Show quote history

Yep, this.

Original poster
GrinAndBear · 14/11/2024 15:54

booisbooming · 14/11/2024 15:41

Ganni bags were big in Priory Park when I lived there, although anyone you think looks like a hipster in Crouch End these days actually works for JP Morgan. I live in the north now and people dress exactly the same as you describe N8 really, although a bit more barrel leg jeans and Birkenstock Bostons. The main thing I've seen more than one of recently is Aphex Twin t-shirts.

Yeah we’re not bankers, hence leaving N8 for a bit more space. Every conversation I ever overheard or took part in in Priory Park was about either moving to another area (Haringey Ladder, Highams Park, York, Hove insert other) or how annoying it was that all of Leo, Lyra, Finn, Mabel’s (insert other) friends were moving to another area.

OP posts:
Hkuhg · 14/11/2024 15:50

HowManyNsInBrenn · 14/11/2024 15:49

We're one stop away from Finchley Central and as its all sports leggings with white socks over the top, oversized jumpers, duvet coats and Ganni beanies, finished off with chunky trainers.
Obviously there are some outliers (myself included!) but this seems to be what the majority are wearing when I walk past the school gates.

Yes! Snap!

ETA: I wear this every day as I try to lose my baby weight 😊

Hkuhg · 14/11/2024 15:50

North London. Leggings, oversized jumper, sports socks and white trainers generally.

HowManyNsInBrenn · 14/11/2024 15:49

We're one stop away from Finchley Central and as its all sports leggings with white socks over the top, oversized jumpers, duvet coats and Ganni beanies, finished off with chunky trainers.
Obviously there are some outliers (myself included!) but this seems to be what the majority are wearing when I walk past the school gates.

TarantinoIsAMisogynist · 14/11/2024 15:49

drdrcantyouhearmecallingcalling · 14/11/2024 15:46

I don't understand all the London is weird comments. None of what people have said people wear in London is remotely outlandish or 'weird'.

Show quote history

It's not the clothes. It's the strange tribes, and the bizarre level of conformity to those tribes.

minipie · 14/11/2024 15:49

HidingHereForTomorrow · 14/11/2024 15:43

Bloody hell, I thought it was a myth, but people do actually take note on what others wear on the school run 😂

I think it’s mostly subconscious tbh rather than deliberate.

You see what people are wearing and that becomes “normal” to you. Or you think, that combination looks nice. So when you look in shops or online you gravitate to that stuff and it ends up influencing what you think looks nice.

It’s not going round thinking “everyone has those trainers, I must get the same to fit in”.

of course this won’t apply to people who’ve always had a strong personal style, but that’s not most people I reckon.

potatocakesinprogress · 14/11/2024 15:48

Crispynoodle · 14/11/2024 15:44

@potatocakesinprogress 💯 might! There's a huge sea swimming community here. I often put my wetsuit on at home and under my dry robe if I'm planning a swim. Having said that I'm unlikely to wear my dry robe to do the shopping, my daughter would wee hers though!

Gosh it must be nice to have nothing to do all day other than the school run.

booisbooming · 14/11/2024 15:48

drdrcantyouhearmecallingcalling · 14/11/2024 15:46

I don't understand all the London is weird comments. None of what people have said people wear in London is remotely outlandish or 'weird'.

Show quote history

I think they mean London is weird to care so much about the microscopic differences between how cool people are in Highgate vs Finchley.

But yeah these clothes are the same clothes any other 35 year old woman with an Instagram account has.

OrwellianTimes · 14/11/2024 15:48

Either a white Ramge rover and perfect designer office attire, head to toe Joules, or uggs with sportswear. Nothing in between.

WallaceinAnderland · 14/11/2024 15:46

No uniform here. It depends on the individual person's lifestyle. Some are in work clothes, some in gym clothes, some in hippy/boho style, lots of jeans and leggings, trainers, high boots, dms, etc. Varied and colourful.

Your areas sound like Stepford OP.

drdrcantyouhearmecallingcalling · 14/11/2024 15:46

TarantinoIsAMisogynist · 14/11/2024 15:44

Completely missing the point, but I thought Blundstones were Chelsea boots?

And I agree that London is weird.

I don't understand all the London is weird comments. None of what people have said people wear in London is remotely outlandish or 'weird'.

Thefaceofboe · 14/11/2024 15:46

My kids aren’t school age yet but the theme in our local school is pjs and dressing gowns. Absolutely baffles me why they can’t just chuck leggings and a hoody on

Stressedoutforever · 14/11/2024 15:46

Central Essex- Gillette (knee length)
Leggings
Jumper or hoody
Trainers
Blow-dry and lashes optional