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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

BriocheForBreakfast · 10/09/2023 10:38

DD's old secondary school let them go in wearing PE kit when it's very hot and that's what they did this week. All years.

sadaboutmycat · 10/09/2023 10:39

Teenager with pac a macs and duffel coats!
They would have been considered ridiculous when I went to school, and I'm 60!

Pascha · 10/09/2023 11:06

@Magpiecomplex I'll put underarmour on the list for next time. He's got about half a term til it breaks I think.

assonant · 10/09/2023 11:10

Loads of the men I know still wear a jacket or blazer to work (with or without a tie). I have no requirement to wear a jacket to work but I often do, because I love them.

NoAprilFool · 10/09/2023 14:13

Pascha · 10/09/2023 10:27

@TestingTestingWonTooFree @Magpiecomplex and any else interested in the visibility aspect of dark coats, I use a roll of visibility tape and stick in various places on the back rain mac and winter coat and also his school bag. He has a 45 minute wait and an hour's bus journey along rural roads in the evening and the tape actually shows up very well and doesn't fall off in the wash.

Now, if anyone can point me to a large capacity backpack which stands up to schoolbooks, pe kit and trainers or football boots and a lunchbag without having to carry anything on the outside AND doesn't break in approx one term I would be eternally grateful. Those poxy backpacks you see in tesco and the like are absolutely not fit for his use. He currently has an Adidas defender backpack which is big enough but the material around the zip is already fraying and he's only had it since April (so no heavy winter kit in there yet)

@Pascha

We’ve had a lot of success with these (they gave them on Amazon but won’t let me link). They’ve coped with PE, packed lunch, clarinet and all the detritus!

https://www.countyschoolwear.co.uk/buy-online/non-badged/school-uniform-accessories/school-bags-backpacks/school-backpack-bags/school-1

School Ergonomic Backcare Backpack | College Ergo Back Care Backpack | County Sports and Schoolwear

School or college back care backpack bag, ergonomic comfort design to protect back, contoured shoulder straps, profiled back panel

https://www.countyschoolwear.co.uk/buy-online/non-badged/school-uniform-accessories/school-bags-backpacks/school-backpack-bags/school-1

UndercoverCop · 10/09/2023 14:23

I quite liked my blazer at school and don't remember any friends complaining, they had loads of hiding spaces for your fags, lip balm and polos
I wonder if the no coat to school thing has a North South divide like coats generally. Go on a night out in Newcastle in winter and you can spot the southern students in their coats and gloves a mile off. Students around here (Essex) seem to wear coats, even more so at the rougher schools black coat with hood pulled up, scarf across the face, even even it's warm.

BooksAndHooks · 10/09/2023 14:28

Most refuse to wear a coat as they have to carry it around all day plus bag, plus PE bag. Especially if it is wet it’s difficult to carry around.

Tumbleweed101 · 10/09/2023 14:32

My daughter would like to wear a coat when it's cold/wet but there is nowhere to put them as they no longer have lockers so she puts up with the weather instead.

CecilyP · 10/09/2023 14:32

Simonjt · 10/09/2023 09:23

A normal coat is fine, if his blazer is hanging out either his blazer is too large or he has picked a cropped coat.

Surely every sensible 👍Y7 parent would buy a blazer a bit too large in order for their child to grow into it!

daffodilandtulip · 10/09/2023 15:36

Yeah you won't find a teenager wanting to wear a coat. And if they do, it needs to fit into a school bag that's already full with books and equipment. Instant detention if it's seen.

What I don't understand, when they became the thing to have for schools, they bleated on about it being necessary to dress ready for being in the workplace ... but most people work at home in their pjs now 🤷🏼‍♀️

daffodilandtulip · 10/09/2023 15:38

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?

We get an email when it's allowed to take your blazer off, based on weather forecasts. They weren't allowed this week.

BananaSlug · 10/09/2023 15:40

My son has to wear a blazer all day as well even during this heatwave he isn’t allowed to take it off, luckily we live 5 mins walk from his school so I’m not worried about winter as he won’t be doing a lot of travelling and his uniform also includes a jumper that kids can wear under the blazer

DiscoBeat · 10/09/2023 15:42

In the winter I find a lightish waterproof and wind proof jacket is enough with the sweater and blazer.

skyeisthelimit · 10/09/2023 15:46

At DD's school they have to wear blazers and ties all year round unless given permission to remove them. They were allowed to remove them at the end of last term and have been allowed to remove the blazers this week. No announcement made about the coming week.

DD in Year 11, hasn't ever worn a coat to secondary school. It's just not the done thing .

We live literally 5 minutes from the school and she never wears one, in snow, ice, wind rain, never.

Haribosweets · 10/09/2023 15:52

In year 7 I bought my son a thin anorak type waterproof which stayed in the bottom of his bag. I then purchased a massive thick coat about 10 sizes too big so it fitted over blazer which he wore once, but when he realised he couldn't fit in his bag he refused to wear! So now it's just the thin water proof for rainy days and he wears just a blazer even if its -5!

Topseyt123 · 10/09/2023 16:18

Stop overthinking it. Teenagers and coats do not usually go together. I had three (teenagers, not coats). None wore coats at secondary school so I'd say don't waste your headspace on this, or your money.

Wait until your child says they either do want a coat or (most likely) they don't and wouldn't be seen dead in one.

TheMoth · 10/09/2023 16:45

We didn't wear blazers when I was in school. I used to take my coat off in March, then put it back on in November.

I wear a blazer for work now, but I don't have to.

Pottedpalm · 10/09/2023 19:09

daffodilandtulip · 10/09/2023 15:36

Yeah you won't find a teenager wanting to wear a coat. And if they do, it needs to fit into a school bag that's already full with books and equipment. Instant detention if it's seen.

Blazers have always been ‘the thing’; I wore one decades ago.
I don’t think the majority of people are working at home in their pyjamas; many now are required to be in the office or equivalent, and of course many professions are unable to work from home.

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