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Original poster

Do you dress up for parents evening?

101 replies

PolkaDotMankini · 15/12/2022 10:30

It's DS's parents evening today. I'm trying to decide whether to dress up smart or just go in comfy clothes. My parents used to dress up: it was the only time of the year I ever saw my mum wear makeup! What do you do?

OP posts:
CornishGem1975 · 15/12/2022 10:32

No 😂 Thankfully most the time it's online now but if it's not, they get me in whatever I got dressed in that day. Though I do wear makeup every day.

Moonlightsonatas · 15/12/2022 10:32

I would wear the clothes I was wearing, usually jeans and a top or my work clothes?

TheYearOfSmallThings · 15/12/2022 10:33

God no - they know what I look like so there's no point trying to glam up for parents' evening.

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whattodo1975 · 15/12/2022 10:33

nothing better than jeans and jumper.

EspeciallyD · 15/12/2022 10:33

I just go in my work clothes as I am usually going straight from there. In all my years of parents evenings I don't think I've ever seen anyone more dressed up than they normally are.

MadameSzyszkoBohusz · 15/12/2022 10:33

I dress a bit smarter - basically I change out of my dog walking clothes!

WhiteFire · 15/12/2022 10:36

I go in my ball gown.

However if that is unavailable I go in what I will have worn to work, so usually jeans.

HellsBells87 · 15/12/2022 10:36

No I don't. Parents evenings in my children's school tends to just be a 5 minute chat with the teacher. I wear make up daily anyway, but I'll just wear the clothes I've been wearing that day. If there's a stain on my top or something, I'll change it.

35965a · 15/12/2022 10:38

I just wear what I usually wear. I don’t dress smartly but not too casual either. They’ve seen me turn up to pick up like a drowned rat with awful hair on rainy days anyway.

Floydthebarber · 15/12/2022 10:41

Something made me think of this very thing today! My dad came home from work a bit earlier so would still be in his suit and smart work shoes but mum would also put on make up, wear court shoes and a smart coat.

MintJulia · 15/12/2022 10:50

Work clothes, so normally wide legged trousers, top & jacket. But plenty wear jeans and a sweater.

Igglepiggleslittletoe · 15/12/2022 11:09

I dress up to go to tesco so yes from me.

ScarlettOHaraHamiltonKennedyButler · 15/12/2022 11:09

I will go in whatever I'm wearing. So if I have been in the office I will be in smarter clothes and have makeup on but if I have been wfh I will be in jeans/leggings and a jumper. I don't think the teachers care tbh, they might judge if you show up in your pyjamas but other than that you will be fine.

Chanel05 · 15/12/2022 11:12

Started teaching 10 years ago and in all the parents' evening appointments I've conducted, I can honestly say it has never crossed my mind to look at or think about what a parent or carer is wearing! Go in something comfortable.

Topseyt123 · 15/12/2022 11:15

Crikey no! Jeans, t-shirt and jumper in cold weather. In summer I would even go in my shorts.

Why would anyone dress up for parents evening?

Itisbetter · 15/12/2022 11:16

🤣I put in perfume and clean my teeth, but I’d do that if I was going round to a friends or my mums.

SusanPerbCallMeSue · 15/12/2022 11:20

I wear jeans and a t-shirt and/or a hoody. The only time I've ever had a comment was when I was wearing a band hoodie and one teacher commented that she'd been to see them recently (as had I)

stayathomer · 15/12/2022 11:20

Went from work and changed my top but I had black trousers and runners on. It was mixed, some very dressed up, some middling.

Dogsgottabone · 15/12/2022 11:20

Yes I do. It's respectful to look smart for professional people who teach my children.

Also my parents evening has wine so it's kind of a social occasion too, we always see people we haven't caught up with for a while. Lots of the mums make an effort and the dads are in standard half zip jumpers and gilets.

santasbushybeard · 15/12/2022 11:23

Smarter than on a daily basis, but i’m a scruffy bugger, usually in a t shirt and old, ripped leggings.

I’ll put on a jersey dress or something.

santasbushybeard · 15/12/2022 11:26

I will say though that I they always send out letters before parents evening saying please do not attend in nightwear and in the summer term, they ask men not to attend topless, so that should give you some idea of the sort of area I live in. So if I did attended in my toddler wrangling/house cleaning/decorating daily attire of old leggings, I doubt they would bat an eyelid anyway.

mintdaisy · 15/12/2022 11:27

No but I tend to wear makeup daily anyway and I might put a little more thought into my clothes but they would definitely be casual.

LargeglassofRosePlease · 15/12/2022 11:27

WhiteFire · 15/12/2022 10:36

I go in my ball gown.

However if that is unavailable I go in what I will have worn to work, so usually jeans.

This really made me laugh 😂

Kanaloa · 15/12/2022 11:28

I wear just my regular clothes. I wouldn’t wear the old faded leggings and big shapeless sweatshirt I wear for cleaning and slobbing about at home, but I also wouldn’t dress up like an interview.

Weirdly, I have recently realised I do dress up slightly for any meetings with people for DS. He is autistic and we seem to be seeing people at school or elsewhere all the time. I don’t know why I do it, but I feel it gives me a bit of confidence and makes me feel serious etc. Some of them are really helpful and nice but others have been the opposite - patronising and rude. I feel if I’ve got some smart clothes on I’m ready to go to battle!

LargeglassofRosePlease · 15/12/2022 11:28

santasbushybeard · 15/12/2022 11:26

I will say though that I they always send out letters before parents evening saying please do not attend in nightwear and in the summer term, they ask men not to attend topless, so that should give you some idea of the sort of area I live in. So if I did attended in my toddler wrangling/house cleaning/decorating daily attire of old leggings, I doubt they would bat an eyelid anyway.

Blimey!!!! 🙄😳