Clothes for open days and interviews

[RollMeOverInTheClover]

I live abroad and we're seriously considering sending our son to boarding school. We have applied to several schools, and have open days and interviews lined up. I'm very out of the loop because of where we are located, I don't know anyone else who is sending their child to a UK boarding school. The school my son is currently at does not have a uniform and he only ever wears casual clothes (jeans, joggers etc) so I have to buy clothes for his interviews.

I don't know what clothes to put my son in! I was thinking chinos with a blue shirt, no tie… But would he need to have that shirt tucked in? With a belt? Fashion wise it looks a bit dorky and all online photos from shop websites have the shirts untucked! Would it be ok untucked if it's a shirt that looks smart untucked? I was not going to buy a suit jacket as I think it's a waste (he'll wear it once, he's growing so quickly), but I've ordered a smart navy jacket-style coat.

Also shoes...would brown Chelsea boots be ok, or smart brown leather trainers with white soles? He's rubbish at tying laces (obviously I need to address that!) so I need to avoid laces.

Clearly he needs to be smart, but there is smart 'casual', freshly pressed school uniform smart, suit smart and everything in between!

Is it different for the open day, ie more casual eg trainers, or should I stick to the same smart clothes? My son has adhd so texture is a consideration.

I'd really appreciate hearing from mums who have been through this, especially if they saw children who were out of school uniform!

Chinos with a blue shirt tucked in is fine, plus whatever shoes he is comfortable walking in as there will be a lot of walking at every open day! Smart trainers or Chelsea boots fine. If you worry he won't look "pulled together", add a belt to the chinos. Depending on the time of year you come he will need a jumper or a coat as well.

Don't worry too much about it! They're not judging you at the open day.

For the actual interview, chinos, shirt and chelsea boots sounds fine.

For taster and pre-entry activity days we were told by the school (we only looked at one) to go casual. The majority of boys were in jeans or joggers, trainers and a hoodie. The boys who were in a smart outfit at those events stood out a bit in the wrong way and I felt a bit sorry for them.

Thank you XiaoXiong and 2reefsin30knots, that's very helpful!

Please don't worry about this. The schools are trying to appeal to you on open days- you are the Customer. If it helps settle your nerves just check with the Registrar what clothing they recommend- I'd be astonished if they didn't just say he should wear what he's comfortable in. Shoes he can walk miles or kick a ball in are a good call. Remember they are looking for youngsters to form into a community so they want boys who are willing to join in and have enthusiasm for their opportunities. They aren't judging your sartorial choices- thy will impose their own choices by way of uniform once you join. Good luck!

We did an open day recently and most people were smart casual, so jeans/trouser + shirt + jumper + coat/jacket for the men (it was cold).

Our kids wore smart but normal stuff, the equivalent of what they’d wear to a family lunch party for example with a smart coat and shoes.

I didn’t see anyone in joggers, no athletic wear at all. Staff were in business casual, headmaster wore a tie. Kids from the school who were showing us round were in immaculate uniform.

You are the customer remember. I can’t see why he couldn’t wear a hoodie, joggers and Jordans if he wishes to.

I'm not so concerned about the open day, more about the interview day and not what I'll wear, what he will wear. The interview is for a top boarding school...my son isn't used to wearing uniform and currently doesn't even own a pair of smart shoes (we live in a warm country!) let alone smart trousers so I need to find a balance between smart and comfortable while also conscious that he'll probably only wear the whole outfit once! I think I'll go for chinos, light blue shirt, belt and Chelsea boots, buy a jumper just in case and invest in a vaguely smart raincoat/parka. Thanks for the advice mamas!