Does your area have a 'Mum uniform'?

[DitchTheDodo]

I was out and about with DD in two different areas today, couldn't help notice how differently the Mums were dressed between the two.

The first area was very 'Oliver Bonas' (bright midi dresses, cross body bags, new balance) while in the second area everyone seemed to be wearing cycling shorts and tight tops! Areas on 30 mins apart. I'm still trying to find my style since losing a bit of weight so I notice these things!

What's it like by you?

When it’s hot, long chino shorts and a shirt with rolled sleeves (I do wear this look a lot!), lots of activewear, but usually with a baggy ish top.

You mean women's fashions? Not all women are mums, or shouldn't simply be defined as such, surely?

No but she’s specifically asking about the mums.

Long, floaty floral dresses with sleeves, worn with trainers or sandals.

How do you know whether someone is a Mum?

…seeing them with their kids?

My area doesn’t really have one - mix of all of the above - active wear/cycle shorts and baggy T-shirts/floaty dresses and denim jackets/jeans and Breton tops…just normal
range of clothes and styles really.

I really don't think that's what OP meant. Not sure if you're deliberately misunderstanding though, so I won't waste time explaining if that's the case.

The giveaway is usually at the school gate when they collect their children

Oh bore off! Life is hard enough without this obtuse, deliberately annoying balls to wade through.

Honestly leggings, vests and a gob the size of the Mersey seem to be de rigueur round here.

The area I nanny in (so yes I am able to say confidently which ones are mums although clearly some of the posters are being deliberately obtuse)

Sweaty Betty inspired, loose yoga tops with shorts/leggings. Often jazzier leggings for Fridays 😆 the area I used to nanny in, very Lucy and Yak, flowing natural fabrics in muted colours paired with Birkenstocks.

A friend referred to my Lucy and Yak dungarees as "Bristol mum uniform"

Where I am it’s anything goes - some won’t be seen out without make up and designer gear, some with leggings with holes in …

Either “The Oliver Bonas” or Sweaty Betty activewear. To be fair, a lot of us non-mums wear the same. Birkenstocks also a popular alternative to the New Balance/Samba/Veja for summer.

Lots of Toast and horse gear round here.

Mostly leggings and long smock tops/floral dresses or if Muslim, abayas with hijab.

Plenty of vests and cycling shorts. Younger ones wear shorter tighter cycling shorts. Workout lycra
Cropped chinos and t shirts
Longer length shorts and tees
A few dresses.

Summer- bike shorts paired with either oversized T- shirt or sports bra with oversized shirt. Tube socks with sneakers or Birkinstocks.

Winter - skinny jeans/ leggings with Blundstones. Plad shirt & touqe.

Leggings and hoody in same colour, in winter an ankle length padded gilet too. Tennis socks over the leggings, and trainers. Plus a vape

My last house it was very much expensive active wear. No uniform in new area, outfits as diverse as the population. I can wear what I like and nobody bats an eye.

Those Birkenstocks sandals, although I think they are older mums, worn with dresses or loose trousers

Long floaty dresses, or skintight gym wear for the younger mums, also looser fitting jeans and new balance trainers

Stripes. Stripes are still everywhere.

Depends on the mums. The area where I live has a mixed demographic of young couples who have recently moved here because it's currently being touted as an up-and-coming trendy area that's still slightly more affordable than similar areas on the other side of the city; a very large Orthodox Jewish community; and families who have probably just grown up here for a couple of generations.

The former are usually in midi dresses with Converse or Doc Marten sandals, dungarees, or boyfriend/mom/looser fit jeans and quirky t-shirts.

The second group dress according to religious/cultural requirements, which means calf-length skirts, flat shoes, tights and long-sleeved tops, almost always in black or navy. They also wear a wig and/or a headscarf to cover their own hair.

The third group tend to wear leggings, joggers or skinny jeans with white trainers, and vest tops layered with a long cardigan or a hoodie.

This is very interesting, but I honestly haven't seen any repetitive fashion patterns in mums.
🌞

My village: young mums in jeans or leggings and vests / t-shirts. Big sunglasses.

A mile down the road: free spirits in dungarees, with blue or pink hair. With babies in slings and wild-haired toddlers allowed to pee in drains.

I don't think there is a firm dress code where I live - although there are a lot of mums in leggings.

I did notice when visiting my nephews that the mums where they live were all in jeans or leggings and Hush or Sweaty Betty sweatshirts.