AIBU to think the new sixth form outfit looks like something from "The Handmaid'sTale"

Yes, and we have to remember that the students were consulted about the uniform and they chose trouser suits with the option of the long skirt for those who didn’t want to wear a trouser suit. They’re not being forced to dress ‘modestly’.

Oh I agree with that argument a million percent but if a woman chooses to dress modestly for other reasons that’s a personal decision.

What’s wrong is it puts all the responsibility for the bad behaviour of men and boys onto women and girls, @iamnotalemon. The male of the species can’t control their thoughts or actions if they see female skin.

Girls have to dress ‘modestly’ so that boys aren’t distracted at school - no-one is considering teaching the boys not to have filthy thoughts.

Taken further, it results in rape victims being asked what they were wearing, as if they are partly responsible for their rape, when 100% of the responsibility should lie with the rapist.

What’s wrong with dressing modestly?

Seems weird to me to have uniforms for 6th form full stop. In my old school
there was no uniform in the 6th form it was one of the things that sets you apart from the more formal lower school.

Thinking that women or girls dress for others is your first mistake. Then to suggest it’s a message to others …older men 🤢

Does it have pockets?Lol

As do I, but surely that's only true if they're made of lightweight material, not that horribly thick wooly looking stuff in the OP? And black too?

Itd be like wearing a winter coat 🥵

The pupils were consulted about the uniform and chose trouser suits with a long skirt as an option. This is a very recent (this year) change. Previously the sixth form uniform was skirt suits or trouser suits, but a lot of the skirts were extremely short!

My first thought when I saw it was that it’s for a specific (private) school, and this is what they’ve worn since it was founded and is part of the culture/mythos of the scho
No handmaids tale vibes, just a slightly odd tradition

@Greenmouldycheese I agree. It’s pretty awful seeing bum cheeks of 15 year olds! Do they look like this in school or is it just for the lorry drivers on the way home?

Not quite as eye catching as the new skirts the girls from Cheltenham college were wearing today, I drove past and was totally distracted by them 😁 I will try and find a link.

Why is it depressing?

I find it interesting that all the responses saying it’s awful are from people who’ve never worn that kind of uniform, whereas the responses saying it’s not that bad are from those of us who actually have experience of it.

Its a bit terrible.

Maxi skirts were all the rage when I was at senior school (way back in the last century), and I was mortified that my mum wouldn't let me have one.

Much better than the skirts I see in my local area. You can literally see their knickers in the front and bums hanging out the back. Im not even exaggerating.

I suppose as long as the people who actually have to wear them like them, there’s no problem!

My school many years ago brought in a mid calf length skirt similar to that. It couldn't be rolled up. People started to wear them tighter and tighter, pinning in pleats. They became so tight people could barely walk in them and they showed the bum shape very clearly. But they actually looked quite nice and adult, they kept the parents happier and most girls actually liked them. Those with bigger bums and thighs found them way more flattering too if worn just the right amount of tight. There is a balance to be found somewhere

Eh?

I’ve always thought the short tight skirts worn in English secondary schools were an odd choice, but this is the other extreme entirely!

Where I am (Ireland) uniform skirts are generally below-knee and pleated - not exactly high fashion, but relatively comfortable and avoids most of the issues caused by either of these types.

Why would it be for 'modesty'? Presumably the boys' trousers for that age group are full-length, so what's the difference?

I think it looks quite nice. Impractical considering what our wet & windy winter weather can throw at us, but nice.

There's no accounting for taste I guess.

It doesn't give me Handmaid's tale vibes at all -- more 'men's suit and oh, we'll just stick a bizarrely long, flappy, impractical skirt underneath for the girls'.

Mind you, you should see my school uniform (not UK, school went all the way through to A-level equivalent) -- royal blue gabardine pinafores or skirts, jumpers, blue ties and beige shirts. Clearly designed to make us unfuckable. (Convent. Rough area.)

The girls who go there love them! They campaigned to keep them recently.