Makeup and Dress Code for the School Run: Necessary or Not? 💄👕👖

[lattekim23]

Just curious, and to be clear, I'm not judging anyone; I'm genuinely interested in why some moms choose this approach. Other than the moms who go straight to work or have appointments right after, do any of you bother with makeup and put effort into dressing up for the school run? Especially if you're just heading back home afterward? I always make sure I'm showered and dressed neatly each morning, but I don't see the point in applying makeup when it seems unnecessary. I usually wear leggings or jeans and a t-shirt, and I skip the makeup—I simply don't have the time. And you know, some moms show up at school in their PJs, some even in dressing gowns and slippers!

I don't even wear make up for work so I don't bother for the school run.
I make sure I'm dressed - can be anything from gym wear to smart office wear . Never heels on the school run always flats then change if needed for work or whatever.
I haven't seen anyone is PJs and slippers but it was common when I lived near a school in a previous city. There are sometimes the odd crocs and jogger trousers.
I rarely look at what anyone is wearing though as I'm too focused getting there on time and leaving.

@sunshine2go that's actually quite insulting to those with some health issues.
All my "trousers" are technically pj bottoms (aka "loungewear") because I need loose fitting and elastic waists.

I don't think about it as a dress code. I just dress for the point in time. So if I'm going to work out after I'll be in gym kit, no make up and will shower after. If I'm wfh (have to look presentable for teams calls) I'll be showered and in smart casual clothes. I might not put make up on until I get back, depends how early I started getting ready! It's never occurred to me that anyone would think anything about what I'm wearing, make up/ not etc.

Can you imagine men having this conversation 😝 Christ, life as a mum is hard enough.

I’ve never considered it any of my business what other people look like on the school run, neither is it anyone’s business what I look like. It’s personal choice, so long as the kids are clean, fed and on time I couldn’t care less if the mum is in a ball gown or a dressing gown.

“And we see you over there on the internet
Comparing all the girls who are killing it
But we figured you out
We all know now
We all got crowns”

Maybe they work the night shift and have just rolled out of bed, you don't know and shouldn't judge. Yet you are despite saying you aren't.

@Windthebloodybobbinup we get a lot of dads picking up at my daughter's school.
One is always in shorts - whatever the weather.
Except once - and another Dad said something like "ooh laa laa look at you all dressed up" - despite the long trousers were trackies and he was in his usual casual polo top.
😂😂😂

I was a jeans and T-shirt mum.

I would 100% be judging people at the school gates in their pjs. Absolutely no excuse for being so lazy. It’s just gross.

other than that, I don’t really care. I wear make up everyday so I’m just dressed and sorted for the wider day ahead. I never go home and do nothing though, I’m either to the office or home to my desk and video calls.

The vast majority are en route to work in my experience, they are wearing work clothes whatever that might entail. Of those that don't work many are in gym wear, some definitely are off to bed having worked night shift, otherwise it's casual clothes. I don't think anyone is even looking really, certainly not seen pj's

You have no idea of the care these children are being given, you are just assuming. The fact that they are taken to school in the first place shows that they care.

I'm always on my way to work now but when I had a day off in the week I'd go running straight after school drop off so didn't have much make up on then and dressed in run clothes, it didn't bother me.

On very rare days where I'd neither be going to work or exercise after, I'd do my 5 minute face and wear smart casual clothes. However, I'm someone who wears make up everyday regardless of what I'm doing.
I'd have to be dying to do the school run in pjs. Can't imagine that at all.

My thoughts exactly

Such a weird question. Haven’t you noticed people dress and / or wear makeup or not differently in all situations? In the supermarket, at work, in the post office, on the school run, at the airport, sitting at home watching telly. The school run isn’t special. Some people get up and dressed, and put makeup on, some don’t bother, some make a gigantic effort, some are in gym clothes, it depends on what people like doing. I pretty much always put a bit of makeup on, about 2 minutes worth. If I’m going out to a black tie event it’ll be probably 5-7 minutes worth. It’s just what I do when I get up and dressed. It’s not “for the school run” or “for work” - I’d do the same if i was at home gardening.

I don't think that's really fair, to question the care given to a child because the parent isn't neatly dressed for the day.

When I was on chemotherapy/immunotherapy and struggling to wake up and get out of bed, I made sure all the kids were clean, dressed, fed, hair and teeth brushed and bags packed.

Then if I didn't have the time and energy to get washed and dressed myself due to taking toxic cancer drugs which left me exhausted 24/7, I threw a pair of jeans and a coat over my pyjamas for the school run.

Not a mum but I work from home, and my school run is actually taking the dog to the park.
I have days where I'm happy being in my tracksuits but I'll always apply a tiny bit of makeup (just tinted lip balm really). I'll also try to have nice enough hair, even if its just a bun, I'll arrange my fringe to look ok.

Most days I'll dress "normally", like jeans, shirt, trainers, nice jacket, earrings etc... Even if I just go to the park and to the coffee shop.
The difference between feeling like I look meh versus feeling like I look totally fine is just 5 mins. Life is short, but not THAT short.

It's not a dress code for me, it's more of a ritual. I just feel better if I take those 5 mins for myself.

Additionally, I sometimes see a very good looking man in my area so I have to be careful here.

I make an effort with makeup and clothes but then I would do that wherever I was going, it’s just the way that I am. I used to be very overweight and dressing nicely/wearing makeup was my armour and way of not feeling as bad about my size. Even now, much slimmer, I feel more confident and put together when I’m wearing nice clothes and (natural looking) makeup.

How do you know that anyone is just going home? They could be meeting friends, spending the rest of the day out, joining a work call from home... None of these things are necessary to justify getting ready however you want in the morning. But it's a bit odd to assume that they have nothing on all day.

Can you re-read my post.

Agreed!

@sunshine2go what have I misinterpreted?
You said....
"Now those in PJ / dressing gowns..they should be fined. What kind of message are we sending to our kids - no pride, lazy, unorganised and no decency".
That is insulting to those with health issues.

Why do I bother with this approach?

Well, I’m always vaguely nicely dressed with hair clean and dried, jewellery and some minimal make up. It’s just who I am. I don’t like to look scruffy, it makes me feel bad, and it takes very little time to look pulled together. Not that I look immaculate or fancy, just normal based on what the other parents are wearing.

Some times I’m going home to work, sometimes the office, sometimes the supermarket or others just home to the sofa. I would look broadly the same in all scenarios apart from the office where I would have smarter work clothes on.

Why does it matter?

I’ve never once seen a parent drop off in PJs or dressing gowns.

I couldn’t care less what mums or indeed dads or any adult at the school gate is wearing?! Is it a thing?

I dress the same and do the same make-up every single day of my life, whether going to work or not. Some clothes of mine are dressy, some aren’t, sometimes it’s leggings. I assume no one gives AF.

That said, if it was a yummy mummy type of place, I might start being a bit more self conscious around all the Amandas.

I didn't single out anyone with health concerns, you did.

You said you wear lounge wear .. presuming you don't mean pink fluffy heart print PJs with equally outrageous dressing gown? If someone can put dressing gown over, do you not think they can put a coat over instead for decency?

Another poster also saying has health concerns and puts jeans over top.

If I’m going straight home after, I have a shower and put some jeans and a tshirt or hoodie on. Clean and neat but not dressed up and no make up as I don’t have time! If I’ve got work straight after then I do wear a bit of makeup and smarter clothes.