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Original poster

Why do mums get all dolled up for the school run???

99 replies

YellowFeathers · 12/09/2006 07:13

I never thought in a million years I would be saying this
but why??????????

Its probably the fact that I'm sleep deprived because of ds but I cannot muster the energy to dress up, style my hair like a model out of Vogue and get all my slap on, just to walk 5 mins around the corner to drop my dd at school then come home.

Is it just me or is there secret rules that I need to learn about the school run?

OP posts:
trinityshiftingherleatheryarse · 12/09/2006 07:14

sometimes I end up doing it in my pyjamas

I really have NO idea why they do it

Original poster
YellowFeathers · 12/09/2006 07:17

lol really?

I could be tempted today!

OP posts:
Spagblog · 12/09/2006 07:19

Because they have higher standards than me
Because they are "yummy mummies"
Because they are hideously insecure
Because they are horribly competitive

One or the other I guess

trinityshiftingherleatheryarse · 12/09/2006 07:19

yup honestly, what with waking up really late sometimes,trying to get the ddd'2 ready and not being able to find clean clothes I went in my jammies more than few times. We have to take a 10 min drive and then walk for a couple of mins, not so bad. I did get alot of looks thoug, probbalt because of my fluffy slipper flip flops

Neena28 · 12/09/2006 07:20

Yes you will be judged!!

You and me both yellowfeathers, some mornings things go well and I have a shower and get some makeup on others don't and I look more casual(that's more usual!). If you turn up in joggers and a t you will always get asked if you are going to the gym! Because it's normal to wear 4 inch heels in the daytime round here!

That's why half the mums think I weird cos sometimes I'm in steel toe caps jeans and have to remember to take my yellow jacket off. (I have a haulage company) Most of the mums have never dared ask what I do that makes me dress that way. If their husbands find out it is possible to have children and a job they might have to get one too.

Bit of a pet peeve, you might have noticed!

cheeseandonion · 12/09/2006 07:21

I get dressed up because it makes me feel good - feel sleep deprived just as much as the rest of you so by applying some make up - doing my hair and choosing nice things to wear it makes me feel good.

Neena28 · 12/09/2006 07:22

Spelling normal better but have a really sore throat and feel crappy today sorry!

Original poster
YellowFeathers · 12/09/2006 07:29

PMSL trinity
I bet your fluffy slippers look fab, lol.

Neena, I can just imagine the looks.

I love clothes, shoes, make up etc but I really cannot scramble enought time to get it done.
Do these people have nannies or something? I've got to wake dd up now to get her to school for 9:15 and its only a 5 min walk away!

OP posts:
MadameButterfly · 12/09/2006 07:31

If I am working I will get "Dolled Up for the school run" Other wise I don't bother.

Yesterday I was sorting out DD's palyroom so put on Jogging bottoms and a t-shirt. Today, howver, I have an appointmet at 1pm so will be getting dressed in my suit and will do my make up.

IvortheEngine · 12/09/2006 08:28

Sorry, I haven't read the whole thread. For me it was a) because if you have a wardrobe of clothes and nowhere to wear them to, then the school run is the only occasion you have! b) the next time in the day that you speak to someone might well be 3.30pm when you do the school run again. Now that I'm back in work, I have an opportunity to choose an outfit and put make-up on each day. Speaking of which - time to go!

april74 · 12/09/2006 08:36

My friend always dolls herself up as well, she has told me she washes her hair every day and it takes over half and hour to straighten them, she gets up at 6.30 just so that she can shower and come to work looking nice, we have been friends for 4 years and I have never ever seen her without make up on.

This probably wont apply everywhere, but in DS's class the 3 mums that are all dolled up, are all single.

oxocube · 12/09/2006 08:56

Because some mums with young children ,who have spent the last x number of years at home, have little going on in the way of a social life. Sometimes the only other adults they talk to all day, except their partners, are mums at the school gate. Because they want to feel good about themselves and feel that 'dressing up' like you would in the world of people who go out to work makes them feel more part of normal society rather than 'just a mum'.

I have never worn Boden in my life BTW just in case I'm labelled as one of the mummies everyone slags off here!! But I do try to look clean, slap on a bit of make-up etc. It only takes a couple of minutes (btwn listening to piano practise, finding lunch bags and locating lost homework )

oxocube · 12/09/2006 08:58

Spagblog - 'horribly competitive', 'hideously insecure'? A little cruel and surely extremely judgemental

Flamesparrow · 12/09/2006 09:21

I don't get dolled up - but I have been wearing makeup lately (not worn makeup regularly for ages). For me, its been a case of getting up and getting sorted so that I come back and don't have it all still to do iyswim.

Bugsy2 · 12/09/2006 09:27

Are some of them going straight on to work afterwards? I'm always smartly dressed for the school run because I'm either on my in to work or on my way home in the afternoon.

Nemo1977 · 12/09/2006 09:28

dont know but they are even dolled up on the playschool run here..lol Most of them are sahms but look like they are ready for a night out..makes me feel a right frump!

satine · 12/09/2006 09:31

I decided a while ago not to keep clothes 'for best' and so I wear all my nice dresses and stuff every day. It is undoubtedly easier to sling on jeans and a teeshirt but I feel better if I take a few extra minutes to put on a dress and little cardi, or a skirt. (Everything I buy has to be machine washable and pref min iron!) So other people might think that I'm getting myself dolled up for the school run because I'm hideously insecure but actually, I feel better if I make a bit of effort. Otherwise it's the slippery slope to shell suits and Waynetta Slob-dom

SSSandy · 12/09/2006 09:33

Think it partly depends where you live (country, suburb or city centre type of thing). We live in the centre of Berlin in a nicer area. No one here walks around in sportshoes or with untidy hair or anything. You'd look (and feel) totally out of place so I think most people just try to fit in, like they do everywhere in life.

Actually I think it's good. It shows respect for yourself and other people. I used to teach a psychiatrist who worked from home and she told me she'd always make an effort to get up early be groomed, made up, nicely dressed even if the only person she'd be seeing all morning apart from her kids was the cleaner. She said she did it out of respect for her family and I think that's quite nice.

You should try living in Italy for a while. No one would dream of leaving the house ungroomed and I think that's a good thing (if you don't go to extremes).

satine · 12/09/2006 09:36

Hey, SSandy, I lived in Berlin for 2 years! How is the old place? I doubt I'd recognize it now!

lou33 · 12/09/2006 09:37

i dont dress up,usually just jeans and a t shirt, but i do my face. i dont go out without make up on (but strangely dont mind people seeing me barefaced in my home)

also my make up only takes 10 mins max, and my hair takes about 2

psychologically i feel better

SSSandy · 12/09/2006 09:41

Hi there Satine,
when did you live here? Where I live (in the West, near Ku'damm) things don't change much but the centre of East Berlin has changed drastically in the time I've been here). People are always going on about how little money Berlin has and how high the unemployment is but looking about at all the building going on, you wouldn't know it TBH.

LieselVonTrapp · 12/09/2006 09:42

Well if youd seen me up there today you woulnt be saying that. Didnt have much competition either.

Ulysees · 12/09/2006 09:42

Quite a lot of the mums at our school gates look good. I do sometimes and other days not. I do it for myself though not for anyone else. And I'm certainly not insecure or a yummy mummy. I don't get dressed up though but usually have a bit of make up on and hair tidy. Plus I look like a super model anyway so it's much easier for me

JoolsToo · 12/09/2006 09:47

gosh this is a bit judgmental isn't it?

maybe they are just very organised and it's just in them to always want to look presentable, I don't think its something to criticise is it?

Ulysees · 12/09/2006 09:52

Joolstoo maybe the green eyed monster is lurking.....

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