what should I wear on visit to new private school

[mum71]

My husband and I are visiting the private school we hope to send our son to in Sept 09. There is no entrance exam for him to get into the school but I have a feeling that the visit is a test for us.

So what should I wear? What questions should I ask? Anything I can do/say to guarantee his place? Should I flirt a little? (only joking)

Velour tracksuit and stilettos!

If the school is any good that really won't give a crap what you are wearing - they will only be interested in your child.
In fact I would go further.
if you think they are interested in what you look like or how you dress or how you speak then really really don't let your child go there.

I would go with "smart casual" - nothing that you feel uncomfortable wearing or would shout "trying too hard"! but also not dirty, scruffy, needing ironed etc. Just look and sound interested in the school and in what they have to offer, and I'm dure you'll do fine.

clothes.

naked parents are never going to impress.

A test/ So they won't take your money if youdon't wear the right gear?

I'd wear a Pink Floyd 'Brick In The Wall' tee shirt and sing the words under my breath.

be yourself. If you can't do that when you first go to the place you really won't be able to relax for the next however many years your dc is there.

clothes

If it's a top public school then surely you'll have checked out the other mummies by now to see what to wear?

If it's a lesser known private school, surely you'll have realised they won't care what you're wearing as long as you can pay the fees?!

Perhaps wear the same thing you might wear if you were visiting the state school that he might go to?!

I would just be yourself but reasonably smart.

Don't sweat it. Private schools take all types. I see scruffy mothers and bandbox mothers at my son's school.

wear what makes you feel confident to meet new people

Just be comfortable but obviously not in your slouching round the house stuff. I was at a parents meeting yesterday at my son's private school and sat between one mother wearing trainers and jeans, carrying a rucksack, and another in full on high heels, skirt etc. I think it is like everywhere else in life - you get all types. One comment that always makes be laugh for its element of truth is when a friend's husband asked how the other mothers seemed on the first day, she said it was a bit like being hit over the head with a Boden catalogue! So true - Boden often seems a prep school mothers uniform!

Phone and ask if you will be looking around the grounds too. Ours is a Forest school so a lot of the curriculum is followed outside. I wish I'd worn my wellies.

Furs and diamonds of course.

What should a bloke wear then?

I remember one of these threads from beofre and I definitely remember suede boots (had to be suede apparently) as being the way to go

Really, it won't matter to them at all I'm sure. It will matter to you in that you will need to feel comfortable and confident. So whatever does that for you will be right.

Anything by Boden or Joules would go down a treat!

What would you normally wear?

Just be yourself.

My dh doesn't have any suede boots though.

Ooh that told me didn't it!

I guess that I am just concerned that the school has an excellent reputation, great results, on my doorstep, it's not full yet they are turning children away!

I don't want to f it up.

Seriously, what you feel comfortable and confident in.

We've been to look round a few (DS to start in kindergarten in S09), and although we were slightly smarter than our normal weekend tat, we didn't dress up by any means. Certainly no Boden. No one seemed to mind at all.

Last time I went to see the head, I wore black wool trousers, smartish long-sleeved top and black suede (!) boots from B...B...B... I wore my best mac on top and took my best bag.

I was smart but not dressy, if you see what I mean.

Does this help?

Something you feel comfortable in. Casual is fine, as long as not grungy.