to wonder why people care what they look like on the school run?

[headinclouds101]

Just what it says really. I have gleaned from other forums that some do care very much. I would make an effort dressing for work, or a night out - but beyond being clean could truly not give a toss what I look like at pick up time.
So why? Who are you dressing up for? Not a judgement - just genuine bemusement...

I dunno, are there any cute dads to flirt with?

Seriously though, I'm just happy if I'm not still wearing pyjamas at the school gates.

You don't have to be dressing up for anyone besides yourself, surely? Some prefer to go out in public looking presentable rather than like an unmade bed. Others are just naturally scruffy and don't care either way :)

we are dressing for our LIFE

It's possible to make an effort to look good without dressing up.

YABU. Why would you care about how vain someone else appears to be? They're not doing it to make others look worse.

All of this bitching about mums who make an effort just reeks of jealousy. "Oh look at her, where the hell does she think she is, Fashion Week in Paris?" - feck orf. Some people prefer the more casual look, some people are more comfortable dressed nicely and so are bound to look dressed up in a school yard full of mums in their husbands tracksuit bottoms and Uggs. How do you know they make an effort just for the school run? You don't, so peel off your judgey pants and put on a nice frock for once [runs]

I fancy one of the teachers

It's the highlight of some people's day, apparently.

I have been known to go in jogging bottoms, hoodied top and beanie hat :) Other times Ive made the effort. Its not important to me either way.

Most people don't get dressed 'for the school run', do they?
I'm sure most of us get dressed for whatever we are doing the rest of the day. The school run is just something we do before we do whatever we've got planned for the rest of the day?

If I'm going to the gym, I'll do the school run in Gym kit. If I'm going dog walking next I'll be wearing wellies, jeans and a warm coat. For shopping / toddler group / visiting friends, I'll put on something nicer (and probably would look like I'm making too much effort for the school run )

It's not a fashion parade, for me, but I did try to make some effort in the days when Idid the school run.

When I was a SAHM it was hard enough trying to not feel like a drudge without living my life looking like a bag of cold shit, so I did make an extra effort.

Faaamily that does make a lot of sense to me.

My mother always advised me to dress as I would wish to be attired should I bump into the Queen.

I wear whatever is a) toddler proof b) clean c) easily washable. Beyond that I don't care. If it matches/I look nice, bonus. Otherwise as busy nanny to 3 in middle of potty training two 2 year olds I really couldn't care!!

Like Dinosaur said, the school run is just a (small) part of the day.

I make an effort because I look as rough as a badger's arse if I don't. And no one wants to look as rough as a badger's arse, trust me.

I just couldn't wear tracksuit and uggs wherever I was because I wouldn't feel like I was dressing as me. I couldn't give a toss what other people are wearing!

Why would you not make an effort?
If you want to look half decent for work then why wouldnt you want to look half decent the rest of the time too?
I dont 'dress up' but I never think 'oh who cares what I look like, I'll just go out in my PJs' I like to try and look a little bit nice most of the time as it makes me feel good

Felix that is an interesting point. For me the answer is because at work I feel as if I am "on show". I have a relationship with my workmates - we comment on and compliment each others clothes.
For me the school run is as impersonal as a trip to Sainsbo - I would not go with greasy hair and would under no circumstances wear trackies (strictly for gym and garden/housework in my view). But,as is the case in the supermarket I will not be taking my coat or jacket off at school so usually have pretty casual clothes on underneath. I suppose I do care a little about appearance of coat/ jacket but choice is limited by practicality as I will be walking 2 miles in all weathers.

Maybe i would feel differently if
a. I had a more than nodding aquaintance with most of the other mums
b. I had no worry about staying warm and dry on the long walk
c. Any of the other mums were a bit glam They are not at all at my kids school - but I understand this is quite different at the local schools with more affluent catchment areas.

The OP is talking about threads such as this one

I mean...come on...really? Total madness.

I'm not on the school run, so can't comment on that BUT - how is it different from dressing for normal life? In other circumstances would you walk around outside in your PJs and a fleece? Unless I'm feeling really ropey, I dress halfway decent when I leave the house. It's nice to look nice.

...and I wonder why British women try to make a point of not caring how they look, wearing their stained ancient fleeces as a badge of honour

Well I usually look quite posh for the school run, but then I'm always on my way to work.

But even when I was a SAHM I made an effort, not dressing up exactly, but I always wanted to look reasonably presentable when I left the house. Same as if I was popping to the supermarket. Not for anyone else, but looking nice gives you a bit more confidence. Leaving the house in my slobbing-about trousers, unwashed hair and no make-up would not give me a spring in my step, that's for sure.

Having said that, we get all sorts at our school - office smart, jodphurs, PJs, gym kit, you name it.

I don't think anyone dresses specifically for the school run. Personally, after years of working in a very smart environemnt, it took me ages to work out how to dress casual enough to be out and about with a buggy in the English weather. I still never leave the house without make-up and never wear jeans or trainers. People wear all sorts at our school, usually dependent on what else they're doing that day.

What is one person's casual is another person's dressed up

I care what I look like all the time

Laughs at the GMajor's link to the other thread,maybe we should suggest Peacocks,Tesco,Primark and Matalan to the OP

I always get a shower, choose an outfit that hopefully looks ok, put make-up on. But I do that everyday whether I'm doing school run or going to work. I don't do it for anyone else though, just me and my own self-respect.

On the flip-side why should I make less/no effort just because I'm dropping or picking up the kids? I hate seeing parents at the school gate in their pj's. Near to where I work there seems to be quite a few. How hard can it be to get dressed on a morning?