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AIBU?

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Original poster

Blazers confuse me

68 replies

teaandtoast44 · 10/09/2023 07:49

Sorry this is going to sound very silly.

Ds has just started senior school and has to wear a blazer everyday as standard. School are quite strict about not taking it off, even in the soaring temperatures we had last week.

I'm looking at the other end of the spectrum and wondering what he's meant to wear over it on cold or wet days? The type of puffa jacket type coats he's had in the past would look ridiculous as the blazer would be hanging out underneath. I guess he could take it off and carry it but it's a big bulky thing and would probably end up getting lost that way.

Is there a style etiquette for wearing coats on top of blazers? Do people just not do it or does it mean having a certain style of coat?

OP posts:
Airdustmoon · 10/09/2023 08:04

I thought most teenagers don’t believe in coats, so probably nothing!

Or, stuff blazer in bag and wear coat/hoodie over the top of shirt.

Lammveg · 10/09/2023 08:05

From what I remember at school people just wore whatever coat they wanted and didn't worry about the blazer hanging out.

That was about 10 years ago though so I might be out of fashion lol. I'm sure your son will be able to tell you what the other kids wear.

Pottedpalm · 10/09/2023 08:08

In general teenagers shun coats. Unless the school bans coats. Then they all wear them.

Sazzle2012 · 10/09/2023 08:09

My DS wears a coat over blazer if needed, looks fine. Many others do the same.

Our school lets the kids take blazers off if hot weather (very generous of them lol).
OP, your school not allowing your DS to take blazer off even in heatwave is worrying. Have you contacted them to confirm that is the rule?

Movingandlooking · 10/09/2023 08:11

Bag big enough to fold blazer in. Put it on when you get to school.

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 10/09/2023 08:11

If you can persuade your teenager into anything other than a black coat, please do. They are so hard to see at night, I really worry about them being hit by a car.

goldielockss · 10/09/2023 08:16

I'm a teacher in a school where we don't have blazers but do have jumpers. Last week it turned out a load of the new Y7s we're sitting there roasting because they thought they needed to ask to take them off, and that we might not let them. But in actual fact we don't mind if they are wearing them or not, especially in this weather!!

Are you sure it was the teachers not letting him take it off? Or was it just the teachers expected them to ask/just do it if they wanted to?

Takeitonthechin · 10/09/2023 08:16

Some kids wear hoodies under there blazer and take the hoodie off when they get in the classroom, but when it's really cold most do wear a winter coat. Are there not pegs or do they not have their own locker at school?

Velvian · 10/09/2023 08:28

I think blazers and ties should be banned for school kids. They are so impractical and uncomfortable. A 'smart' uniform would really put me off a school. The same with totally impractical shoe requirements.

PerspiringElizabeth · 10/09/2023 08:33

Velvian · 10/09/2023 08:28

I think blazers and ties should be banned for school kids. They are so impractical and uncomfortable. A 'smart' uniform would really put me off a school. The same with totally impractical shoe requirements.

Totally agree, it’s so out of touch, and was out of touch when I was at school 15 ish years ago! I rarely see people in suit/tie/blazer(on London commuter trains), and definitely not in a heatwave. There was outrage that we had to keep our blazers on at school when I was at school - I see nothing has changed!

AndIKnewYouMeantIt · 10/09/2023 08:37

I also hate blazers. As soon as you develop boobs (I did at 11) school blazers hang open on your front and look like a sack of spuds.

As I recall we all wore coats on top of blazers with the blazer hanging out but I grew up in the Helly Hansen puffa jacket era of the late 90s!

Sporkle99 · 10/09/2023 08:39

PerspiringElizabeth · 10/09/2023 08:33

Totally agree, it’s so out of touch, and was out of touch when I was at school 15 ish years ago! I rarely see people in suit/tie/blazer(on London commuter trains), and definitely not in a heatwave. There was outrage that we had to keep our blazers on at school when I was at school - I see nothing has changed!

Show quote history

It's the only thing I don't like about my son's school. He's 4 and has to wear a tie. From y1 he has to wear a blazer. It's an amazing school which we both fell in love with and the other catchment ones both require improvement so it was a no brainer, but I do feel envious seeing other kids walking to school in their lovely comfy polo shirts!

gawditswindy · 10/09/2023 08:39

I hate school blazers. They're horrible. They suit no one and make kids look like they're heading down to the bowling club on Friday afternoon. Thankfully we're in Scotland where school uniform is pretty free and easy.

mouche202 · 10/09/2023 08:42

Duffel coats fit over blazers and look smart. Whether your child will wear one or not is a different question.

PollyPut · 10/09/2023 08:45

My advice would be to make sure that any coat you buy covers the Blazer so that it doesn't get wet at the bottom in the rain.

But probably easier to keep your child's current coat and get a lightweight pac-a-mac (or umbrella) in case of rain which is due this week. A spare umbrella in locker for unexpected rain could be helpful

Then look at what the other (older) kids wear as it gets cold and make a decision on coats then.

PollyPut · 10/09/2023 08:47

Also your school should have allowed them to take blazers off in the last week. If not then that's worrying; write to head of year 7 and ask about their summer uniform process for heat.

Nohelpfromdr · 10/09/2023 08:47

I spent years battling with my dcs school bout blazers. She has asd and was struggling with it in the heat and in general due the feel of it / material etc. I binned it and I gave her a letter to carry round saying she wasn’t wearing one ever . At all. Not to give her a school spare as she wouldn’t wear that either. Compete battle and daily calls. We wouldn’t give in.

2 years later they decided to remove boxers from the uniform as so many children were having similar struggles.

Nohelpfromdr · 10/09/2023 08:47

*about

Nohelpfromdr · 10/09/2023 08:48

Boxers ! Blazers

😂😂😂

Devilsmommy · 10/09/2023 08:51

AndIKnewYouMeantIt · 10/09/2023 08:37

I also hate blazers. As soon as you develop boobs (I did at 11) school blazers hang open on your front and look like a sack of spuds.

As I recall we all wore coats on top of blazers with the blazer hanging out but I grew up in the Helly Hansen puffa jacket era of the late 90s!

Ha me too!! They don't make puffa jackets like they used to🤣🤣

Elisheva · 10/09/2023 08:52

My kids love their blazers. They can carry everything in their pockets: pencil case, phone, wallet, keys, snacks. They didn’t have to wear them in the hot weather and were moaning that they didn’t have anywhere to put stuff 🙄

Imamumgetmeoutofhere · 10/09/2023 08:52

Don't worry OP, you are massively overthinking this. I live next to a secondary school and none of the kids who are above year 7 wear coats, even if it's pissing with rain or in minus figures 😂

WonkyDesk · 10/09/2023 08:58

Back in the 90s we had to keep our blazers on in the heat but we could take the jumper underneath off. So it would be shirt and blazer. My child's high school would not let them take blazers off last week. As far as I know, the jumpers don't have to stay on with the blazer.
As for coats in winter. I remember dropping her off at the bus stop, it was snowy and saying your coat, don't forget your coat. She just mumbled something incoherent and ran off sans coat. She hates her coat.

CoreopsisEverywhere · 10/09/2023 09:00

99% of teenagers will refuse to wear a coat to school, in my experience

HollieHobbie · 10/09/2023 09:02

My daughter refused to wear a coat at all in secondary school (left 10 years ago) even on the coldest day she'd just have her (thin) jumper on.

Get to college and she demands a winter coat 🤣

When I was at school (left 1985) if you wore a coat it was left undone - I never seemed to feel the cold. Now I do, big time.