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 have to add though...'School Run' doesn't really come into it, I'm wearing what I'm wearing for the things around that - not for that.

Also, I do notice what other women are wearing (there bugger all else to do whilst waiting for the kids), but I don't care what they are wearing - so Pag, I don't think you're right on this one!! I do notice, but I don't care!

'i look crap in everything and i'm ugly and fat so i'll just give up' route'

Yep - that would be the one I'm slid down...

Otch - you do confuse me though, in one post you say you don't own any jeans and in the next say you wear your skinny jeans? Am I mid-reading one of your posts?

If I was dropping off before rushing to work, of course I'd look half-decent. If I was at home, I think I'd focus on getting the kids ready and not be too arsed. Horses for courses. The appeal of the 'school run dress' on MN is its easy smartness.

As it is, my eldest takes herself, and my youngest goes to special school and gets picked up, so I get to stay in my pyjamas. Bliss!

I think there is a lot of mums who dress up for school run.
In my DC school there are a lot of..Shall I say... ??fashionable?? mums. (You wont be invited to their DS/DD party if you don?t own a Boden coat!) I think new mums find it difficult to fit in and are almost pressured into ?looking good? as they arrive in the school gates, just so that they may be included in a five minute conversation regarding the next PTA.
For the record, I wear what I happen to have on when I leave the house, be it my smart(er) work clothes or jeans and a jumper. Friendly smile to fellow parents and with DC in hand, I am out of the gates.

thankfully my DS2 (Yr6) lives 1 minute from school - i wave him off in my nightie shouting "love you!"

I often work from home in my nightie and if they call and say he is sick I make them send him home rather than collect him.

We are a Jeremy Kyle family!

If I am forced to go to school I sludge some make up on.

His teacher is 6'6" and I wonder about the size of his winky. His bald head puts me off though.

Can just say....... in my post I did say that I quite understand the view of those who don't care or are simply not interested.
When my dad was dying I put on the first thing my hand hit when I opened the wardrobe door. And I had about 5 years when acute depression meant I had no nice clothes - certainly none that fitted me. I suspect I enjoy wearing clothes I like now because it distances me from that time.
That was not what I was talking about. I was talking about those who say 'gosh, anyone who cares what others wear on the school run are just so shallow' when they clearly are quite pre occupied with what anyone else wears because others being 'dressed up' bothers them.
Peope should wear what they like. but don't try to take a moral high ground with 'but why does anyone care about school run clothes' whilst judging others dressed differently from you.
Seriously, wear what you like. but don't kid yourself that judging people who dress 'smartly' is any better than judging those who are 'scruffy' . It is exactly the same.

Wellies are the answer. Just wear wellies with anything and people assume you are horsey or doggy and therefore beyond judgment.

Only recently joined mumsnet and lurked on here and netmums for a whilebefore deciding. There was a thread on netmums about dressing up for the school run and I couldn't believe that people could be so shallow - so decided to join mumsnet instead - thought you lot seemed alot more down to earth!

I do put 'effort' into the school run. By that I mean I have my standard issue 'face' on, and clothes that can take me to town/gp's/supermarket/bank/cafe/friends. If I did not have my make up on, someone would try to resusitate me. I have a face that demands* blusher and mascara.
My hair is sadly neglected, so I will never look polished. I suspect my effort is another mums slumming it, is another mums big night out dress up...and so on.

I try to get on with whatever I am doing and not go home after the school run, hence I am dressed for the day. If I did go home, I would have to face The House. All the laundry and cleaning I won't manage to do because of mumsnet. Then I would be downcast and less likely to enjoy pottering off to supermarket or town.
Psychology is very important when trying to enjoy precious days off.
I sometimes check out a couple of mums, as they have lovely things and always put fab tights with a mismatched skirt and manage to look deadly cool. It's nice to see nice things and people looking..er....nice. Cheers me up anyhow.

I make an effort (most of the time, not all) because it's depressing to look in the mirror when you don't - I would say it's purely for my own enjoyment/satisfaction. It always annoys me when people say "ooooh, where are you going?" just because you've bothered to put a skirt on or a bit of make-up. There does seem to be a bit of a mindset in our neck of the woods that says if you spend time making yourself look decent you're somehow less of a mother - really don't get that.

I go to work after the morning school run, so I always look nice. I hope that other mums don't judge me for that. However, if they did, it would say more about them than it would me. Ha!

I like to look smart and nice for myself no one, I don't see whats wrong with that I do get fed up of the judgement that if you do dare to make an effort your either shallow or up your own arse. I don't notice what others have on tbh apart from the people I walk to school with everyday or talk to everyday and we may/maynot comment or compliment each other we like fashion it no big deal.

"Otch - you do confuse me though, in one post you say you don't own any jeans and in the next say you wear your skinny jeans?"

I must have misstyped or missed something out as I do not have any jeans. I used to wear jeans to ride my motorbike in Asia but stopped when I was 4-1/2 months pregnant and that was over two and a half year's ago.

I have a pair of skinny trousers though, but they are not really jeans but do have pockets on the back. Maybe that's what I meant (I can't remember)

I dress nice but casual I dont wear tracksuit bottoms yet because it would feel like im in my pjs still

Some people go ott though I mean since ds started pre school in sept ive seen high heels before 9 ? sunglasses layers of make up etc. How do they do it, I would feel ridiculous :)

I think before 1pm aswell I just mean thats really early.
I dont judge people who wear heels, I mean like those huge shoe boot heels from topshop etc just abit ott for me anyway :) I would much rather wear uggs, flat ankle boots or pumps :)

oh, I could not care less about this

I don't look at others, but I do have pride in myself

on 3 days a week I am on my way to work anyway, so that dictates the dress (uniform) and the grooming (smart)

on the days I don't work, I am usually off some where else too...only boring stuff like the supermarket, to visit family/friends etc but I like to look ok

some days...well, I am rough, I can't be arsed, so go make-up less and put a beanie hat on or summat to hide my greasy hair...then go home to slob out

I have even been known to put a long coat on over my nightie, then go home back to bed

I don't worry about it, either way

I would also like to say that the school run, for some lonely/isolated people, might be the only social contact they get in a day

so feck off with the judginess

I thank you

i imagine the school run is a very important time to impress at some schools

luckily we're right common so couldn't care less

I make a bit of an effort for school run even
if I am kit going to work/anywhere remotely interesting afterwards. I do it a bit for me - to try and boost self confidence, but mostly for DD.

My mum never gave a rats arse how she looked and I love her for it now, but I remember wishing she looked like some of the other, more glam, mums in the platground when I was at primary. Of course it shouldn't matter but small children see what they see and don't think twice about teasing. I don't want DD to be embarrased.

It would be great to think that I could step outside with minimal or no effort and look acceptable. The truth is I need make up and a hairbrush to not look exhausted/ill/worn down. I put it down to being a 'bit older'. Some of the mums outside my children's classes are 15 years younger than me. They don't need to make as much effort .

So yes I do - wherever I go. I've never thought of it as 'dressing up' though.

It's funny how other women/mothers I've met who are from other countries have told me how shocked they were by the little effort made by British women.

I'm not sure I agree, - it's just I wonder whether we Brits tend only do either slovenly or seriously overdone. And I guess I might be a bit overdone. But then I'm an old bird..

The mums from overseas do seem to be effortlessly lovely. How do they do it? One things for sure - none of them put me down for making an effort.