To ask how do I go from drab to decent for the school run?

[Peppapiglovesbacon]

My DD starts school in September. She went to the school nursery for 2 years and to be honest I always felt out of place. My hair is always a bloody mess and my clothes either don't fit me or are primark specials which have been washed 5000 times and look old.

I'm only late 20's but feel like a frump. So I want to change that for September, im going to have my hair cut into something easily styled for the mornings, buy myself some makeup.

What are your tips and must haves for school run clothes? I'm on a budget so most of this will have to be ebay second hand but I have no clue of good quality name brands.

Please someone help me because I'm Fucking clueless 😩😩😩😩😩😩

Car boot and buy some nice jackets.
Any jeans a white shirt some gold necklaces, the long ones are a must chuck on a jacket and some lippy.

Pretty look, takes seconds to achieve, and if your really good just take the jacket and shirt off at home, till school run time again.

Clothes-wise I'm pretty clueless (jeans, t-shirt and lace-up daps). I've found that if I spray on some Body Shop Vitamin E spray after doing my make-up (which I spend vvv little time on) people compliment me on how well I look. It was £10 so it felt a bit rash buying it, but I would get it again. It smells of roses

Look - I haven't come on here to be berated for trying to look half decent when dropping my daughter off. I just wanted some advice so that I didn't feel embarrassed come september. Not just for school run but everyday look in general - I just look like a total slob!!! I've got a nice car and my kids are always immaculate and I always think people must be when I get out and see the state of me. So I just want to perk myself up abit

I always wear an ancient tailored long camel coat or equally ancient cropped leather jacket.

Underneath I often wear leggings and a t -shirt.

But a smart jacket/coat means people think you look "together", or even smart.

Add lipstick and you might even be accused of elegance!

According to the other thread, apparently you need a Hush dress.

Everyone is different at my school. Some mum's are immaculate one day and in their gym gear the next.

Generally I don't think anyone cares! Do they?

I don't.

Few leggings from primark or Sainsbury's TU do great ones too. Some plain tops (cheap Ones you can get in H&M or eBay ) some riding boots or Chelsea boots. Scarves.( markets do lots of nice ones). A biker jacket or a puffer type gilet. As it gets colder you can layer up. Jumpers or polo neck tops. Hope it helps.

Op don't feel the need to justify yourself- follow what others have suggested and you'll do fine.

Lowdoor wtf is a hush dress?

Yourat, silly question- how do you wear a scarf? Is it just casually draped? Or tied? I used to double mine up and then pull the stringy end through if that makes any sense!

I haven't worn one for years but I may just go and get one now

By skinnys I mean jeans I love river island Molly jeans
And I agree with the scarfs !
Paint your nails and it instantly makes you feel less scruffy
I wear no7 light coverage foundation a little high glo (benefit) and I'm ready to go

Good luck and take no notice of any negative comments !

I live in jeans (blue / grey / black), plain type jumpers or tshirts (black / grey / white / cream) and ankle boots (black / brown). My signature coat is a fake leather one (below which is now half price!) or my navy blazer.

I mix and match most of the above.

I've posted links from the types of places I'd buy each item from. I love ASOS for tops.

Chelsea boots

fake leather jacket

Grey skinny jeans

Cream jumper

Then hit primark for cheap jewellery in silver / gold / rose gold to mix and match your plain tops.

a few examples. I wear mine like the last pic the most.

Thank you yourat- off to primark next week for some scarves I think

I'm not very fashionable but am starting to get more of a 'look ' together. Def agree with a big scarf (according to another mumsnet thread the thinner chiffon scarves are out now ) and a blazer. I've just ordered a camel blazer in the next sale . Kept seeing friends looking really smart and fashionable and realised it was the blazer giving them the edge and good for autumn and smarter than my usual baggy cardy or hoody

Some great tips here. I'm often in professional clothes on the school run as I work 3 days per week but my Mum Uniform for days off is very much skinny jeans and Bretons with ankle boots (bought some great ones in M&S last year) or Converse. I usually put a gilet on top on cooler days and pretty much always wear a pretty scarf - think it makes me look put together for absolute minimum effort.

Sainsbury's always have good jersey blazers that look good with skinnies. I've also had Bretons and shirts from them. I'm in the same boat OP and hoping that I will look kind of put together in that ensemble with some nice trainers or ballet pumps. I've also picked up some long gold chains (one with star pendants on) from m&s which look fab and make me feel more together!

I'm shit at fashion but I bought some decent boots and I wear them with either leggings and a long arse covering tunic top or skinny jeans and a fitted tshirt. I also have a cheap biker jacket I wear with the jeans and some long cardigans I wear with the tunics.

I look like pretty much everyone else I come across.

It's seriously bad news for me if thin scarves are 'out'!

Today 16:27 BackforGood

I'm with MrTrebus.
I've never seen anyone 'dress up' to take their dc to school hmm.
You see people looking smart at Breakfast club sometimes as they are on their way to work, but you can wear whatever you want to take your child to school.
How odd.

Why is it odd? She was only looking for advice, maybe feeling a bit self conscious on the school run, which can be intimidating sometimes. Can't stand these smarty comments.

I wear my pyjamas but it doesn't bother me that I look like shit because I know I only need five minutes to look amazing and so I save my energy for elsewhere ...

No-one cares about the school run, in the sense of it's not something one dresses for specifically.

But for the majority, it's the first time out of the house in the morning. And a bit like Flylady talking about the importance of getting dressed right down to your shoes, this is about how you are facing the world for the day.

I think, OP, a good place to start is with a good haircut that you can style easily yourself.

Think about the day ahead, and what practical aspects you need for your clothes. Comfy shoes and boots are likely to be on the list - try TK Maxx

You'll need a coat, come autumn, but they're beginning to appear in the shops now so start looking. Think about the features you need as well as the look - waterproof? (almost certainly) hood? (good idea unless you know you have a good hat or spare hand for an umbrella) bum covering? There always used to be an annual autumn thread about which are the best coats, but if there is one, it'll be in S&B

Decide which shape trouser/jeans you like best early on - it'll make a difference to what tops and footwear you choose.

Which are the bits of your body you like best?

Is part of your perking up, toning up? Because combining morning errands (whether school run or anything else) with exercise can be a good way to fit it in. If so, you'll need a sports bra, good trainers, running tights or yoga pants. Sports Direct is very cheap, Decathlon nearly as cheap, with better trainers (and fewer bad headlines about employment conditions)

I'm with you OP. Absolutely nothing wrong with taking pride in your appearance, nothing at all! I'm 60 and I like to look nice...... How odd you wouldn't!

I think the OP is getting a bit of a hard time on here. It is easy to lose your way after having a child and sometimes finding time / money to spend on yourself is hard.

I also found once my dd started school that I wanted to spruce up my wardrobe and it was really because I had a definite reason to go out and mix with other people every day. Prior to that there were days where we stayed at home and I slobbed about in joggers etc.

I found settling on a 'look' I wanted was the first step. I looked about me at other women everywhere, supermarket, shopping etc and noted what I thought looked good.

I started looking for stuff in the shops that fitted my idea. I have always preferred quality over quantity so only wanted a handful of things but all things i LOVED.

I asked for vouchers for birthday / christmas etc. I bought in sales.

I started with a really nice coat and scarf and then boots and skinny jeans. That way I was outwardly presentable when I left the house.

I got my hair cut and coloured and maintained it. I bought some new makeup.

After that I began to feel better about myself and it got easier. I stared adding some nice tops and for my birthday a very nice leather cross body bag.

I have never really looked back.

Good luck OP - you can do it!

Maybe ask for this to be moved to style & beauty. I bet people could suggest loads of ideas to match your budget?
I would add put a bit of make up on if you can be bothered, (foundation, blush, mascara & lippy) it always makes a difference to how you look for a minimal effort.

I think the other thing is that if you're clothes are only a couple of years old and fit then it can feel like no effort at all to look decent. I had a 3 year phase of spending almost nothing on clothes and it was fine at the beginning but by the end I was really starting to notice things looking worn, where they weren't really expensive to begin with. Things start fading round the seams or the shoulders come out of shape.

I like charity shops for tops and things, and find sports direct can be surprisingly decent for t shirts that don't make your eyes water at the cost. In winter I'm either in work clothes (have concluded jumpers stay looking smarter than cardigans, at least at the prices I can afford), plus then a jacket over the top. I like TK maxx for winter coats - have had two over the last 6 years from there, £40-£60, 50% wool. Boots can last really well - if the leather stays good you can get them reheeled several times.

Also I know it's mumsnet heresy but I really like m and s for skinny jeans, and for their plain coloured £15-£20ish acrylic jumpers.