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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:
Duc · 14/11/2024 15:45

Couldn’t tell you as I’m too busy with kids in towe marching them to school in a hurry - don’t have time to blink never mind visually note what folk are wearing

TarantinoIsAMisogynist · 14/11/2024 15:44

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

And I agree that London is weird.

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!

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 😂

Garlicpest · 14/11/2024 15:42

misslooloo · 14/11/2024 15:33

Exercise gear = middle-class pyjamas

And my actual pyjamas. I don't sleep in clothes at home but own a large assortment of leggings & t-shirts. If I'm sleeping elsewhere, I take some of them for sleeping. It's an added advantage that I can just leave 'em on, and nobody knows I'm still in my pyjamas!

I'm quite surprised by those saying there's no mum uniform where they live - whenever I've looked after other people's kids, I've clocked 'the look' by first school pickup ... and fitted in by the second one, as the other adults don't speak to you if you don't match 😬

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.

thenightsky · 14/11/2024 15:41

Lola247 · 14/11/2024 14:50

Also want to know how I can identify a shein set?

Watch MAFS.

ishouldnthavesaiddat · 14/11/2024 15:41

@Disasterclass I didn’t either when I lived there. It was a real mix. Glad that not everywhere has a “uniform” 😂

I’m in the SW now very near the coast and we don’t have a look & nobody wears Dry Robes unless actually on the beach. We’re literally 2 mins away!

People just wear office outfits / work uniform as they’re on their way to work.

LikeARunnerHo · 14/11/2024 15:41

Tisfortired · 14/11/2024 14:30

Very different here in Greater Manchester 😂 most of the mums at DS school gates are in either black leggings, dry robes and New Balance or a Shein two piece set.

Today I’m in a grey sweatshirt, black straight leg jeans and Birkenstock Boston’s though might have to put my DMs on for pick up as it’s chilly this afternoon!

I mean, how can you not love a Shein two piece?😂😅

potatocakesinprogress · 14/11/2024 15:39

Lellamir · 14/11/2024 15:36

Well, I Googled it - and I'm none the wiser! Everything from a dinosaur print 'leisure suit', to leggings and a hoody came up!
How do you know a 'Shein set' when you see one?

Cheap wide trousers and a top the same colour, smells of child slave labour and being shipped 3000 miles. What the Geordie Shore cast wear as smart casual.

potatocakesinprogress · 14/11/2024 15:38

Crispynoodle · 14/11/2024 15:35

Yes they wear them here a lot but we often wear a wetsuit under them as we live 5mins from the beach so we're allowed!

Show quote history

And what, you drop the kids off at school and go to the beach for the day alone in November?

Lellamir · 14/11/2024 15:36

Well, I Googled it - and I'm none the wiser! Everything from a dinosaur print 'leisure suit', to leggings and a hoody came up!
How do you know a 'Shein set' when you see one?

Crispynoodle · 14/11/2024 15:35

Lola247 · 14/11/2024 14:41

When posters are saying dry robes do they actually mean this type of thing?

Yes they wear them here a lot but we often wear a wetsuit under them as we live 5mins from the beach so we're allowed!

minipie · 14/11/2024 15:35

misslooloo · 14/11/2024 15:33

Exercise gear = middle-class pyjamas

So true 😆

Tiedyesquad · 14/11/2024 15:34

I couldn't be more judgemental about anyone who looks at or cares what someone wears on the school run, or who plans what to wear. themselves. PLANS clothes! For the school run!! Literally the most bland chore in your day!! The school run!! Where you meet people who are literally nothing to you, not your friends, family or colleagues! (Unless you are friends, in which case they won't care).

Any normal person would be wearing precisely. whatever they were wearing before - comfy stuff if wfh, office clothes if at work, a lovely frock if you'd just been to lunch...

It's like caring what you wear to nip to the corner shop or put the bins out. Someone who looks put together, on purpose, for the school run, and hasn't just come from somewhere else, must truly be the most tragic of persons, with the tiniest little life.

There, I've got that mean spiteful opinion off me chest :)

misslooloo · 14/11/2024 15:33

Exercise gear = middle-class pyjamas

Crispynoodle · 14/11/2024 15:31

Long black puffs coats, Breton tops, wide leg jeans, short Uggs or adidas

ThianWinter · 14/11/2024 15:30

I live by the coast and the only Dryrobe wearers are the wild swimmers, surfers and paddle boarders. Do people seriously wear them as coats? I thought they were a changing gown/towel combo for the sea loving crowd.

Caerulea · 14/11/2024 15:28

crackofdoom · 14/11/2024 14:54

I literally came on to say that EVERY fucker including me wears DM Chelsea boots at the school gates in Cornwall 😆

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Chunky Fly biker style boots for me, so pretty much the same thing. It's all about comfort at the school gates in Cornwall, I don't think ppl give much of toss about dressing up for it & I'm thankful for that!

WinterFrog · 14/11/2024 15:28

Lola247 · 14/11/2024 14:50

Also want to know how I can identify a shein set?

I just googled it as i didn't know either.
When i did school runs i just wore clothes but I've just realised that my utter lack of interest in fashion is fairly unusual. It genuinely doesn't occur to me to look at what other people are wearing.

Weali · 14/11/2024 15:28

RobinEllacotStrike · 14/11/2024 15:11

Blundstones are the best - accept no sneers!

Swimsuits and Dryrobes around here (Kent coast)

in visible swimsuits? Thats nuts, takes no effort to throw trackies over the top.

Verite1 · 14/11/2024 15:27

NinetyPercent · 14/11/2024 15:19

An oldie but a goodie - hope this is OK to post. My DS is well into secondary now but I remember having friends who were genuinely puzzled by the number of mums in their active wear back in primary 😂

That is hilarious!

Mizztikle · 14/11/2024 15:26

Not just a mom thing but in my area there seems to be a mild obsession with North Face jackets, there everywhere.

Clearingaspace · 14/11/2024 15:26

My kids are at second now but we live very close to a primary and everyone wears what they want. This is in London!

Aberentian · 14/11/2024 15:25

Weird that dry robes are actual clothes now? Used to see them a lot in Portobello because people were swimming in the sea. Seems like a weird choice for a coat otherwise.