I can't believe that the school gates is a bloody fashion parade!

[fisil]

Here was I looking forward to a SAHM lifestyle which involved baggy linen pants, jam encrusted T-shirts and matted hair ... I turn up and everyone seems to have carefully planned their outfits.

PS I am sticking with the pants and jam, though

so middle class middle england middle of the road to dress up for school!Long live the jam encrusted brigade (although honey would be nicer)

Er....our school isn't. I mean nobody's in pyjamas or a gorilla suit, but they're not exactly ready for their close-up either.

I am currently sporting a fine Duchy Original's Lemon Curd stain

I seem to be the only one over a size 12!! Feel like a right fatty frump!

The phrase "dress nicely" brings me out in hives

yuck "dress nicely" to stand for 3 minutes whilst saying bye.

I think dressing nicely and putting make up on for the school gates is one step away from opening a bottle of gin at lunch time cos life is so boring.

Can't really see why people wouldn't want to look nice.

I pick up dd straight from work anyway, and I definitely want to look good at work. I expect lots of others are coming on from work too.

ssd depends what kind of person you are

to me putting make up on and brushing hair, having a shower and wearing clean clothes is as natural as breathing - no effort unless seriously ill

Which is why I am currently sporting a yellow complexion and puffy eyes. Plus a cardigan. I am feeling quite rough and only came to work because I had booked this morning as hols, realised I didn't need it but not got round to cancelling it so couldn't ring in sick.

I assure you that I am clean and (fairly) tidy - it is the phrase "dress nicely" which makes me gag. It conjures up images of Woman's Weekly, circa 1955

God I wouldn't dream of going anywhere in dirty top and unbrushed hair. I'm with Enid - choosing out a good outfit, with accessories, putting on make up and doing hair is just 'normal'. It takes me about 20 mins to get ready in the morning, I'm not getting up at 5am or anything.

I cannot understand people who go out looking a bloody mess, whether it's school or anywhere else. I may be a SAHM mother of 3 but I don't want to look like one!!!

Totally agree with GDG, also a mum of three, but why do I have to look like one. It takes me 2 mins to put a bit of make up on int he morning and 30 secs to touch up the lippy later in the day. As for clothes, we all have to wear them - I'm always surprised when people make comments like 'Oh you always have such nice clothes". Who goes and buys horrible ones? If you've got to have them, you might as well get nice ones.

Personally if I feel I look like shit, then I feel like shit. There are Mum's at DD's school who are younger then me who look years older - I don't understand why they can't be bothered.

Lastly, with regard to spending money on clothes, I never spend a fortune, but you can get really lovely and fashionable bargains these days.

I'm not into 'doing outfits' for the school pick-up, but do usually aim for clean!! Doesn't have to be Woman's Weekly - most mummies at my school gate look bloody sexy and gorgeous (damn them!!)

I always make an effort when picking my kids up or just generally going out.
Spent ages living in a grey tracksuit and greasy hair because 1 I didn't have time and 2 we didn't have the money.
I really do enjoy taking pride in the way I look and it makes me feel good about myself. If I feel good in what I am wearing I feel good inside too.
Now we are not so skint (believe me we are not well off either) I can buy more things.
I also make sure my kids always look immaculately dressed too. Although have to say dd always looks as though she has been in a fight when I pick her up

\link{http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=home.att.net/~movie.stars.1950/fashion_dress_yellow250x335.jpg&imgrefurl=home.att.net/~movie.stars.1950/1950s_womens_dress.html&h=335&w=250&sz=22&tbnid=yKHrCfrCYpW4_M:&tbnh=115&tbnw=85&hl=en&start=1&prev=/images%3Fq%3D1950%2527s%2Bwomens%2Bfashion%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D\Here's} something to aspire to. (Sorry about the music!)

OMG loev that music
thats th e MN theme tune

I can't believe anyone 'does' an outfit for the school run? Surely they wear it for the rest of the day????

After years of not much spare dosh i do try now to dress well - have never done suits, more like harpsichordcarrier's skirts/jeans and tops stuff. I feel like crap if I don't bother. When I feel like crap I behave pretty badly too - grumpy and blaming the world etc. I don't get out to shop very often and get my hair cut and coloured (damn that grey ) 3 times a year for which I need to get my mother to come down from Scotland to stay and look after the kids. But hey, just turned 40 and don't want to go down hill too fast

oh yes nit even if you arent " doing" anythign all day aprt fromt ot rudge to skoola nd back thats no reason not to look nice

fromt ot rudge to skoola nd = apart from to trudge to skool and back

You are bottom of the food chain at my ds's school if you don't have french manicured toes, hands and (optional) gold boob tube. Naturally, I fit right in...not.

you are the bottom of the food chain at my ds's school is you don't have a fat arse.

Oh yes, 'outfit' is for the day not for the school run!

ours isn't

or I'm too daft to notice that others are partaking in a fashion show

I stay in the car and let him come to me to avoid any such pressure