What’s the mum “uniform” in your area?

[GrinAndBear]

Is there a mum “uniform” - aka what you’d typically see someone in the playground or at the school gates wearing - in your area, and if so what is it?

I recently moved from Highgate to Finchley Central and it’s pretty different, despite being just two tube stops apart

CE / Highgate mums seemed to all wear Birkenstocks, hiking boots, straight cut jeans, parkas or Patagonia fleeces and fair isle or cashmere jumpers with hair in a messy bun.

Finchley Central mums are all in floral dresses Chelsea boots, blowdries, make up and proper coats and look at my scuffed old Blundstones as though I was living rough in a caravan… Not that I’m going to do anything about it mind, I’m very attached to my boots and fleece, but it’s odd how different it is

It's not the clothes. It's the strange tribes, and the bizarre level of conformity to those tribes.

We're one stop away from Finchley Central and as its all sports leggings with white socks over the top, oversized jumpers, duvet coats and Ganni beanies, finished off with chunky trainers.
Obviously there are some outliers (myself included!) but this seems to be what the majority are wearing when I walk past the school gates.

North London. Leggings, oversized jumper, sports socks and white trainers generally.

Yes! Snap!

ETA: I wear this every day as I try to lose my baby weight 😊

Yeah we’re not bankers, hence leaving N8 for a bit more space. Every conversation I ever overheard or took part in in Priory Park was about either moving to another area (Haringey Ladder, Highams Park, York, Hove insert other) or how annoying it was that all of Leo, Lyra, Finn, Mabel’s (insert other) friends were moving to another area.

Yep, this.

Sheffield here. It's largely White Stuff, Fat Face or Seasalt here. Lumchboxes filled with hummus, olives and rosemary crackers. Not that my three will eat any.of those 😆

This is so weird that people notice. Were in a tiny village school in the Midlands countryside and the variety is huge. I always wearing leggings, hoodie, sports socks and trainers/crocs with my duvet coat 🤣 I must say, I've never seen a grown woman around here in a pair of dungarees though. Age usually plays a part in what people wear, we have a lot of grandparents doing the school run.

Shein sets have a distinctive fabric which is striped … love a Shein lounge set for bed, not for public because they can be a tad see through!

I'm wearing the Highgate uniform right now down to the fairisle cardi and messy bun though many miles outside of London and no longer do the school run. I did used to live down the road in Islington, so maybe I've carried a North London influence with me. Mainly I'm just not that into fashion anymore but like warm comfy clothes to walk the dog in and wfh.

The weirdness is how the tribes change despite being in close proximity to each other.

it’s also realllly interesting!

Can one of the Highgate crew please link me a fairisle cardigan? Sounds lovely!

Yes! Amy lived in hers 😅

@ishouldnthavesaiddat I have a black one from Landsend if that helps - but I'm not a true Highgate school mum so don't try wearing it in N10.

Oh wait we do have a uniform but it’s hair rather than clothes. All the mums of all ages are blonde! Everyone has the same colour highlighted hair!

Thank you @ilovesushi I’ll have a look. Black sounds good for work! I’m miles away from London don’t worry 😂

Do you live in the NE @Crispynoodle ?

No sound advice but made me chuckle 😆 waaay back 2002 I used to work so it was always smart clothes.. one day I was off, kept it my pajama top on (white embroidery collar thingy) with jeans and another mum had done exactly the same! We couldn't look each other in the eye... off duty back then was Leggings, long t, cardi/jumper and uggs in winter, similar minus cardi and sliders in summer.. I agree with OP tho, the school gates are a minefield of dubious societal norms...

Clothes vary, but the XC90s are a constant.

I work full time and I'm a single parent - going to the beach pre work is one of the joys of WFH. Even on these November days there is a good community down there - all year round in fact. Many post school drop off Mums catching a swim before work.

Drop kids at school (mine usually walk now but I do still give a lift occassionally), head to beach, swim, sauna, home in time to start work at 9.30.

Truly bliss.

I've started going to early moring yoga now so my morings are now: yoga/home for coffee & change into swimsuit and dryrobe/swim/sauna, home for work.
Beats lazing around in bed doom scrolling (which I can still do if I dont get up & get going).

I'm happier than I have ever been & these mornings have a lot to do with it.

Ha! Yes, I was just coming on to say when mine were in primary school 10 years ago in South London it was Converse, skinny jeans, breton top and parka. Which is a look I still occasionally sport 😳

The legs on the shein set as opposed to a better quality will be way too long and the top quite tight, just not fit right..although that could just be me at 5"1 wearing a 2 piece designed for a taller person...😂🙈

Rural Scotland and lots of Didriksons / big coats / tweed. Landrovers, labrador or other gun dog. £300 boots.

I’m not a mum but live right next to a school. It’s a total mix between lounge wear (Shein) to Lucy and Yak and the woman I saw just now in jeans and a puffa jacket. My ex NDN friend wore jeans or leggings and one of those Uniqlo/primarni light padded jackets. We have one woman who was referred to as like Amanda from Motherland so seemingly polished and trendy. Then I know a DM or two and honestly they just look like normal in jackets with leggings or jeans, depends if they’ve been working that day as to how smart they are. I’ve even been mistaken for a school mum and I’m normally dressed.

I'm very conflicted with this one, I don't want to be a sheep but this look looks so comfortable especially for winter. I feel myself being drawn to it😄

Essex here.
A lot of gym wear with long puffy coats, quite muted colours.
The low slipper type uggs are everywhere at the moment.

Industrial town in Yorkshire and there's not much of a uniform- it varies from dresses and tights with docs and a winter coat, jeans and sweatshirts or leggings with trainers and short or long puffa coats, wooly hats are just coming out at this time and the occasional mum in office wear.