should I worry about what to wear in Center Parcs...

[domesticsluttery]

...or should I just live in cropped jeans and t-shirts all week?

We are off to Center Parcs next week and I am trying to decide what to pack.

For the kids it is easy, lots of t-shirt and jeans/shorts combinations. But I can't decide what to take for myself.

I know that it needs to be practical, but on the other hand I am on holiday so it woudl be nice to make a little bit of an effort!

So far the most exciting thing on my packing pile is my new Boden swimsuit. But I can't wear that all week...

God No. There will be zillions of people there in shell suits. NO need at all to worry about what you wear.

at shell suits!

Perhaps I should re-think DS1's packing... he desperately wants to take his Liverpool FC replica shirt but I said no (I don't mind him wearing it for football training or having a kick about in the park but I hate it worn as proper clothes). It sounds as hough he will fit right in...

We have actually been several times before, but not for the past 4 years and I was always either pregnant or breastfeeding so didn't worry too much about what I wore as it just needed to be practical IYSWIM. I seem to have a mind blank as to what everyone else was wearing!

Wear clothes that are easy to get on and off as the changing rooms are boiling hot and all the wrestling with complicated clothes is simply exhausting. Not necessarily made of nylon and polyester though :)

Crocs

you need sportswear and outdoorsy clothes

I remember one winter I took a wool coat
I looked a fool

it will rain though so take so,ething other than jeans that;ll dry fast

Shell suits are most prevalent at Elveden I've noticed, not quite as bad at Sherwood, can't comment on the others as haven't been

I honestly couldn't believe it. Thought they went right out with David Icke back in the day.

I think I might have taken one smart top for the night we hired a babysitter and went for dinner at the gastropub place - but just wore with jeans anyway. It's not like you can bike round in stilettos anyway (or am I just making assumptions?)

Comfortable clothes that you can cycle in and can get off easily for the pool!

I don't remember shell suits at either Sherwood or Longleat, but I might have missed them.

So, things like cropped jeans with fitted t-shirts and canvas plimsoll type things? With a fleece or hoody for if its cold?

yes

and a waterproof

Don't worry about making an effort. It's lovely to go swimming and be surrounded by pale, overweight mothers.

It's like the opposite of the south of France.

I find it strangely comforting.

Ha ha, you would love swimming next to me...

I must confess that the toddler pool at Longleat is one of the places I feel at my sveltest, even when heavily pg and/or postnatal

No shell suits at Elvedon -are you sure you didn't go to Butlins?

I noticed a lot of Boden swimsuits but found the atmosphere most "unjudgey".

I will be the big blob in the black swimsuit. Elveden end of next week.

it was boden all the way in longleat when i went.....

Longleat seems to have a much classier clientele than Elveden, for some reason

much less flashy and more knackred pushchairs

hippier, less sporty, more outdoorsy dads

ime

Nope it was definitely Elveden. We've been there 4 times in the last 2 years. It's now a family joke - have you remembered to pack your shellsuit!

Longleat sounds v classy - might have to try that one next time

We go to Elveden annually. Never seen a shell suit yet. It's all very boden and joules when we go.

Same here and we're CP veterans, we've done all except Whinfell and I've never noticed an abundance of shell suits.

For the record, I am a big blob in a black swimmie, or a pale overweight mother, however you want to say it, and CP is the only place I have swum in for the last 5 years. The pool is very relaxed and informal, no judginess. It's great.

I am panicking now, we are off to Sherwood next weekend and havent given anythough to my wardrobe Its mainly H&M - will I look out of place?

Panic ye not. The only thing you will look out of place in is a ballgown. It's v relaxed and a mix of everything. H&M will be fine :)

Darn, and I was planning on turning up in this.

you need the outdoorsy Mum uniform...
cropped trousers of some description, expensive fleecy top from an expensive outdoorsy shop and some sort of tshirt with a collar

Choppy blonde long bob, gilet if it's warm and sunglasses pushed up on your head.

Outdoorsy mum uniform sounds like my everyday wear...

But my bob is brunette not blonde!