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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:
Nothatgingerpirate · 14/11/2024 15:09

NoBodyIdRatherBe · 14/11/2024 15:08

North east of England - Quilted short jackets, mom jeans and woollen beanie hats. Shoes are normally chunky Chelsea boot style.

Really?
I recently saw Ms. Rayner on the TV dressed like that 😂

Ineedanewsofa · 14/11/2024 15:08

School draws from quite a wide catchment but there are a few themes;
Jeans, fleeces, some type of walking boot/shoe
Leggings, 325s, hoodie, long padded coat/dryrobe
Uniform (NHS/Carer/Salon)
Jeans, wellies/country boots, wax jacket
@crackofdoom you made me chuckle, I’ve never seen anyone (apart from me!) in those boots, clearly I should live in Cornwall 🤣

NoBodyIdRatherBe · 14/11/2024 15:08

North east of England - Quilted short jackets, mom jeans and woollen beanie hats. Shoes are normally chunky Chelsea boot style.

Original poster
GrinAndBear · 14/11/2024 15:07

Soukmyfalafel · 14/11/2024 14:59

I wouldn't worry about what other people wear. Chances are if you stand out and look different people might start copying you if it looks good or sends a certain message anyway.

It is weird how everyone has 'uniform' in some places. Do people consciously dress alike? They can't all have identical lifestyles surely?

Where I live there are vastly different styles because we have impoverished, middle income and wealthy families all living pretty close to each other. It's generally casual here and anyone dressed up too much looks odd. I've seen some very skimpy stuff in the summer too, but maybe I am just an old bag. I have rarely thought about what I wear as I'm always in a hurry with work.

I’m not really worried about it. I was more or less unaware there was a specific ‘look’ or that I was conforming to it in Highgate. But since moving to somewhere where about 80% of the mums dress alike and I’m not in that 80%, I’ve started noticing more and taking a bit of an anthropological interest!

Perhaps in time the Finchley Central look will seep in and my and my hair and boots will get slowly glossier and I will only notice it when I up sticks and move again.

OP posts:
Cappuccinowithonesugarplease · 14/11/2024 15:06

The first one is how I dress 😂
But most of the mums I see are wearing active wear! Can't stand active wear unless you are at the gym

Nothatgingerpirate · 14/11/2024 15:05

Leggings and long duffle coats, at the moment.

MrsFionaCharming · 14/11/2024 15:05

South Devon, went to a toddler zoo recently where me and (it seemed) every other mum in the place were wearing black dungarees, white shirts, and white converse.

SatinHeart · 14/11/2024 15:04

crostini · 14/11/2024 14:56

Affluent area round here and everyone is wearing

New balance trainers with pulled up socks
Gym leggings
Longline puffs coats
And I'm increasingly seeing the dry robe coats, usually the camo prints one. I really not into these coats, but they do look warm and comfy.

Basically this, generally with a grey hoodie as well. Village school, wide range of affluence levels.

Oreyt · 14/11/2024 15:04

Massive mix her in one of biggest English cities.

Soukmyfalafel · 14/11/2024 15:03

crostini · 14/11/2024 14:56

Affluent area round here and everyone is wearing

New balance trainers with pulled up socks
Gym leggings
Longline puffs coats
And I'm increasingly seeing the dry robe coats, usually the camo prints one. I really not into these coats, but they do look warm and comfy.

I've bought one recently, mainly because I still like to walk dog/exercise when the weather is shit and I always got wet in a normal coat. It's massive because i share with my OH and I look like the grim reaper in it. I wouldn't wear it unless it is absolutely chucking it down. Definitely not meant to be a statement.

Pickingmyselfup · 14/11/2024 15:01

There isn't one, some wear gym stuff, some work clothes, some jeans, some tracksuit bottoms.

People just wear whatever they need to for their day, for some it's the same thing every day, for others like me it changes depending on what they have on. Very occasionally I'll be off, not at the gym and feel like making an effort so I might actually look reasonably turned out instead of the slob I look like when I'm off, can't be bothered and shoved anything I could find on regardless of what it looks like.

Soukmyfalafel · 14/11/2024 14:59

I wouldn't worry about what other people wear. Chances are if you stand out and look different people might start copying you if it looks good or sends a certain message anyway.

It is weird how everyone has 'uniform' in some places. Do people consciously dress alike? They can't all have identical lifestyles surely?

Where I live there are vastly different styles because we have impoverished, middle income and wealthy families all living pretty close to each other. It's generally casual here and anyone dressed up too much looks odd. I've seen some very skimpy stuff in the summer too, but maybe I am just an old bag. I have rarely thought about what I wear as I'm always in a hurry with work.

crostini · 14/11/2024 14:56

Affluent area round here and everyone is wearing

New balance trainers with pulled up socks
Gym leggings
Longline puffs coats
And I'm increasingly seeing the dry robe coats, usually the camo prints one. I really not into these coats, but they do look warm and comfy.

Oppenwood · 14/11/2024 14:54

Honestly everyone is so different I don’t think there is any particularly uniform. Also a fairly even split of mums and dads at pick ups. I see a lot of passenger/jazzy fleeces with jeans, dry robes and leggings, Lucy and yak dungarees (that type of look), gym clothes

Didimum · 14/11/2024 14:54

They wear clothes. And shoes. A coat if it's cold.

crackofdoom · 14/11/2024 14:54

ladygindiva · 14/11/2024 14:33

dm ankle chelsea boots, leggings or mom style jeans and a jumper. Occasional dry robe ( Cornwall)

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

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 14/11/2024 14:53

White stuff and Lucy and Yak.

AllTheChaos · 14/11/2024 14:51

FastFood · 14/11/2024 14:45

SE London

  • Lucy & Yak dungarees
  • New Balance trainers
  • Messy bun but nice hair
  • Quilted olive green boxy jacket
  • Cockapoo called Lola, Penny, Monty or Archie

Also SE London and was about to write the exact same list! But including ‘Millie’ on the names for both children and dogs!

minipie · 14/11/2024 14:51
  • Cockapoo called Lola, Penny, Monty or Archie

😂 this is definitely part of the look here

Planesmistakenforstars · 14/11/2024 14:50

Pyjamas, dry robes, pit bull accessories.

Lola247 · 14/11/2024 14:50

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

ChefsKisser · 14/11/2024 14:49

Nice Manchester suburb and its a real mix! Mostly smart casual though and v few leggings or Shein sets! We are a crunchy area so lots of people on electric bikes etc!

Original poster
GrinAndBear · 14/11/2024 14:49

Lola247 · 14/11/2024 14:41

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

I think that’s what people mean, although there are some very expensive brands.

I’ve only seen people (in London) wearing them around Hampstead Heath / Tufnell Park, although pretty sure they’re not actually going for a swim in the ponds which are now heaving with tourists anyway - more just that they want that, I do wild swimming, look

OP posts:
FastFood · 14/11/2024 14:45

SE London

  • Lucy & Yak dungarees
  • New Balance trainers
  • Messy bun but nice hair
  • Quilted olive green boxy jacket
  • Cockapoo called Lola, Penny, Monty or Archie
minipie · 14/11/2024 14:44

Gonegirl7 · 14/11/2024 14:41

Puzzled by mums who didn’t exercise? What based off the fact they didn’t wear gym clothes for school drop off?

how bizarre that you’ve decided they don’t exercise or would judge someone that may not be able to!!!

Show quote history

I think she means the ones who wore gym gear but didn’t exercise?