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Original poster

What to wear to school “culture day” if you are white British?

282 replies

Whatcanshe · 12/06/2023 13:34

My 14 year old DD attends a large state school in North London. It has a high proportion of pupils who are Asian and black. Last year for the cultural day the Asian girls wore saris and a lot of the black girls wore traditional Nigerian dress.

My DD is white and last year just went in jeans but is worrying about what to wear to this event on the last day of term. I have no idea what to suggest. We are not Irish or Scottish so can’t for eg wear a kilt.

I wish schools wouldn’t do this as it’s just a nightmare for some kids who don’t know what to wear. I know she is going to beg me to have the day off rather than have the worry of it all.

Any ideas as to what she could wear?

OP posts:
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TripleDaisySummer · 12/06/2023 16:18

She 14 - and clearly self conscious - my kids on days like this want to fit in but also have something that ties in with theme but a nod to it not to stick out.

Mmhmmn · 12/06/2023 16:21

Whatcanshe · 12/06/2023 13:45

I thought we’d left all this behind in primary but nope this secondary school is constantly organising non school uniform day with different themes. It’s horrific. My heart actually sunk when DD mentioned it to me. I have a son at the same school but he’s not bothered and goes in jeans but my DD is a worrier and so this stresses her (and me!) out

For goodness sake. How old are the teachers that keep coming up with this, 19?!

OnLockdown · 12/06/2023 16:25

Something like this?

What to wear to school “culture day” if you are white British?

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Whatthatitwould · 12/06/2023 16:27

I’m not white, DH is, it tastes a bit too much of white guilt and does my head in. DS school didn’t ever have this and he left a couple of years ago.

BerriesPineCones · 12/06/2023 16:29

Dds school did this. It was arranged by some sixth formers rather than teachers. Luckily at dds school it's not cool to bother with dress up days, so dd didn't bother. She is half South african but said no even to a small SA flag pin.

blacksax · 12/06/2023 16:30

AdoraLovesCake · 12/06/2023 16:17

I remember these from when my sister was young. Beefeater outfit? Victorian dress? Medieval dress?

No self-respecting teenager would want a kids' dressing-up outfit.

BerriesPineCones · 12/06/2023 16:30

A Beefeater costume probably wouldn't be the best idea 😉

callingeveryone · 12/06/2023 16:31

@blacksax I agree.

I would go for jeans and band t shirt - a trendy band.
Or clubbing outfit complete with fake champagne bottle.

InSpainTheRain · 12/06/2023 16:31

Just go in jeans and t shirt. Some of the suggestions here are bonkers in my view. Where will OP find some tutor costume that will fit a 14 yo - even assuming she will want to wear it, which she won't. It's the last say of term, nothing will happen anyway.

jay55 · 12/06/2023 16:34

A band T-shirt as new or old as she likes, you can usually pick up a Beatles or Rolling Stones or Spice girls cheaply, or wear one of her current uK fave artist.

Or if she likes theatre a Six the musical T-shirt would work:

NerrSnerr · 12/06/2023 16:41

AdoraLovesCake · 12/06/2023 16:17

I remember these from when my sister was young. Beefeater outfit? Victorian dress? Medieval dress?

She'd have to be a brave 14 year old to pull that off.

I think I'd personally suggest a band t shirt or sports too with jeans/ whatever trousers she wants.

Phineyj · 12/06/2023 16:45

T shirt with a joke about microbiology. Get a large one and she can wear it next year.

Hearttraeh · 12/06/2023 16:56

This reply has been withdrawn

Withdrawn at OP's request

callingeveryone · 12/06/2023 16:57

Plenty of people have no other heritage in their family heritage or not until before records were kept.

FofB · 12/06/2023 17:00

Where are you from OP?

Where I am from, my child could be a cider maker, a farmer, a miner, blacksmith, hop picker or a lumberjack. There is a strong culture and history in the Forest where I live; even a different local language.

London has a long tradition of import/export- so dockers, markets, traders of all sorts- even adventurers and privateers. Builders, architects, banking, shipping etc. If you look closely, lots of areas in the UK have their own interesting history and culture- but perhaps in not such a easily recognisable way.

Original poster
Whatcanshe · 12/06/2023 17:04

I suggested we try and buy a Union Jack top and DD looked horrified so scrap that idea. She asked about taking the day off which I knew she would. I’ve said no. It will just have to be something from her wardrobe. Or I might take her shopping for a new top.

OP posts:
HorribleNecktie · 12/06/2023 17:05

I think either something she’d wear to a formal occasion or something she feels comfortable in are the best options. She doesn’t like dressing up and she’s clearly at that age where she’s very self conscious about sticking out like a sore thumb.

jannier · 12/06/2023 17:08

Whatcanshe · 12/06/2023 13:48

DD is 14 so doesn’t want to wear “dress up” clothes, she’s not in primary. As a teenager she doesn’t want the rest of her class to laugh or take the piss out of her which I think they would if she wore some of these suggestions….

Is there a band she follows if so I'd put one of their t shirts on...it's still culture

Original poster
Whatcanshe · 12/06/2023 17:11

No she doesn’t have a band tshirt. What is a bad tshirt anyway? She’s 14 so hasn’t been to any gigs. She likes lots of singers but we’ve never bought merch.

OP posts:
verdantverdure · 12/06/2023 17:12

There's more to culture than your racial heritage, surely?

Art, music, dance, sport, comedy, theatre, books, architecture, teenage subculture,

14 year old me would wear a band t shirt probably.

WellTidy · 12/06/2023 17:12

A British band t-shirt, something British fashion related like a Mary Quant t-shirt (the iconic flower), or a British tv show/soap top?

verdantverdure · 12/06/2023 17:13

Whatcanshe · 12/06/2023 17:11

No she doesn’t have a band tshirt. What is a bad tshirt anyway? She’s 14 so hasn’t been to any gigs. She likes lots of singers but we’ve never bought merch.

What culture does she participate in?

Fashion is culture, right?

WellTidy · 12/06/2023 17:14

A band t-shirt would be eg the one with massive lips and a tongue sticking out (Rolling Stones). There are loads of band t-shirts.

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