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Original poster

Do people really dress up for the school run?

152 replies

Orangeanddemons · 16/09/2014 18:53

Just heard a few comments lately, that seems to indicate that people plan their outfits for the school runHmm

Now I love fashion and clothes, have a degree in fashion, have worked in the industry....but have never ever even considered wearing anything special for the school run. I just get up, drag on some jeans and rush out. And it appears all the other mums at my school do this. Apart from one who is always made up to the nines, and wearing ott stuff, but she may have just come from work. I just can't get my head round this. Does it really happen?

OP posts:
LadyintheRadiator · 16/09/2014 19:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TimeForAnotherNameChange · 16/09/2014 20:00

For me, I suppose I am 'dressing up'. But that's because I've spent most of the last decade or so being very overweight, wearing jeans, white tshirts and trainers, and with the same hairstyle. But I've recently lost a lot of weight and am now able to wear skirts, dresses, croped trousers, ballet flats, current tops, colours, necklaces etc that I wouldn't have gone within a million miles of previously. I look exactly like all the other mums now, but for me that's a sea change, massively so. I'm also wearing a slick of make-up every day too, just eyeliner, mascara and lipstick, but I feel vastly more groomed and put together doing what I'm doing now, and I'm getting compliments almost everyday. Which shows how bad or boring I must have been before Blush

QueenCardigan · 16/09/2014 20:04

If I didn't dress up for the school run then I wouldn't dress up ever as some days aside from housework that's pretty much all I do.

But when I say dress up, I mean jeans and a top but I do wear make up and jewellery. It's just about making an effort. Just because I'm a sahm and don't have to dress up for work why shouldn't I dress up for my every day life?

Asteria · 16/09/2014 20:04

I don't do it nowadays, but in DS's last school I would turn up looking like crap (I was a very hands on interior designer so was constantly covered in paint and crusty wallpaper paste!). DS went to a very smart pre-prep before that and even then I couldn't really be bothered - it would have been a bit pointless rolling out of a scruffy banger in pearls and fur! Tbh most mums (including myself) looked like zombies in the morning! DH's ex would freak out and refuse to do the school run if she wasn't immaculately dressed and made-up - so there are some women out there who feel the need

LumpySpacedPrincess · 16/09/2014 20:17

I always wore clothes I liked that suited me. There was no reason I would wear different clothes just because I was doing the school run.

Notfootball · 16/09/2014 20:20

I'm not sure if I "dress up" but I don't roll out of bed and throw on the first thing I see. I do consider what to put together as I am dressing for the day ahead and I like to look good. Otherwise I'm in my gym kit. I'm a SAHM.

Pandsbear · 16/09/2014 20:29

Well I get dressed for the day if that's what you mean?! I don't always have makeup on in the morning but I am dressed. Sometimes jeans and t-shirt, sometimes something more glam. Depends on what I am doing (and the weather).

AliceInGallifrey · 16/09/2014 20:30

I go straight to college after the school run so I'm always dressed 'nicely'

I always get arsey comments like ' o your smart today' ' wow you must get up early' 'going anywhere nice?' Etc

To be fair I've seen several people do the school run in pjs ( I wish I was joking) and there's maybe 5 or 6 others I've noticed not wearing tracky bottoms / jeans and a vest.

I get my outfit sorted the night before and I just can't bring myself to wear jeans uggs and a long vest like most of the mothers. I feel more comfortable in dresses and skirts so that's how I dress.

PiratePanda · 16/09/2014 20:35

I dress up because if I didn't I would be doing the school run in my WAHM outfit - an old pair of too tight trackies, one of DH's pyjama jackets, no bra, unwashed hair and woollen wellie socks. Not a good look, you must admit.

Does that count?

cerealqueen · 16/09/2014 20:40

I dress for the school run because I dress for the day and the school run is the first thing I do. I plan what to wear the night before, just clothes that I feel good in and make me feel 'me'. I do this every day though. If I don't know what I'm wearing faff about and then we might be late for school.

Meglet · 16/09/2014 20:48

I think we have just one mum who dresses for the school run. For 3 years I've had to watch her saunter in, perfectly made up, beautiful hair and in bang-on-trend casual clothes......and always late. We're all heading away from school when she catwalks down the path (can you tell she gets on my wick Blush).

Today she stood chatting on the path to school and made her kids even later Confused. Nice converse though.

AtlanticDrift · 16/09/2014 20:55

I dress 'up' if you want to call it that, to leave the house. Both on the days I work and the days I don't. The only time I pull on sweats is for cleaning the house. I would never consider going out not looking presentable

holmessweetholmes · 16/09/2014 20:55

I wear whatever I'd be wearing anyway - running kit, scruffy hair and no make-up if I'm going straight for a run after dropping the dc off; casual clothes on a normal day; work clothes when I was working. I certainly wouldn't dress 'for the school run' though.

I have always assumed that the casually-dressed mums are mostly sahms, the smart ones have smart jobs and the über-glam ones who hang around for ages chatting to their glam friends have lots of money/too much time on their hands/ a deep-seated insecurity about what people think of them Grin - hence the teetering heels, too much make-up and very loud laughs.

holmessweetholmes · 16/09/2014 21:02
  • uber
AlfAlf · 16/09/2014 21:12

No. The only mums I know who look 'dressed up' on the school run are the ones that have to for their jobs (lawyers etc.).

I'm usually über casual in yoga pants, ponytail and flip flops, but if I arrive straight from an interview/important lunch or something, all the teachers do double-takes and the other parents don't recognise me I must really scrub up well

cece · 16/09/2014 21:36

One of my friends does the morning run in her PJs. However, she is extremely gorgeous and manages to look fab whilst doing this. If I attempted it I would be hideous yet somehow she floats across the playground, drops the kids off and then goes home to get dressed...

bloodyteenagers · 16/09/2014 21:52

I don't. I just have the clothes on for the day that I need for my job.

But yes, some others do. Have also read many threads on here asking ohh do you think this would look good for the school run.. Or I need x clothing/footwear for the school run. I just think maybe they are over involved parents taking their dc's to a fashion college/uni

flowery · 16/09/2014 21:53

I wear whatever I would otherwise be wearing. If I'm working at hone, probably jeans and a t shirt. If I'm working in the office, slightly smarter, trousers and a top. If I'm off to a client meeting or something, smart dress or similar and heels.

The school run is something I do on the way to or from my main activity for the day, not an event in itself.

ElephantsNeverForgive · 16/09/2014 21:55

I'm not allowed to wear my crocs or my cosy old fleece Sad

WipsGlitter · 16/09/2014 21:55

I think if you're a sahm the school run might be a bug part if your day and you might be standing outside so need/want a good coat and decent boots.

At DS's school no one looks "dressed up", people are just dressing for their day - gym, work, being at home. Whatever.

There is one mum who always looks great but not like she's spent hours getting ready.

Twotallladies · 16/09/2014 21:58

Lived in Texas for a while...the mothers had a mantra--sunglasses, lipstick, earings. Those were the basics. LOL.

AdoraBell · 16/09/2014 22:09

I just make sure I have something clean and ironed to sling on when I drop DDs off. Usually DH does the am school run and will be dressed appropriately depending on whether he's going straight to a meeting or coming back here.

I'm sure some parents do dress for the school run here, but most dress for their day. There is one woman who is always immaculate, her army boots are always pristine, as is the rest of her uniform and never a stray hair under her cap.

gerbiltamer · 16/09/2014 22:19

Nope, like most of the ladies here I'm always doing stuff around it. I tend to sort out stuff to wear the night before because it's too much faffing otherwise; I also put on some makeup unless I can hide behind sunnies. I do the trek on foot though so comfy shoes are a must, DMs are a winter fave because they offer added protection against bloody scooters!

polyhymnia · 16/09/2014 22:27

I'm with the OP. When I dropped my DS off I was always dressed for the office, but the whole idea of anyone actually dressing up, wearing makeup, etc specifically for the school run alone is just incredible to me.

Anonymustnot · 16/09/2014 22:31

I put make-up on, but that's just because I don't like how I look without. There is one mother who looks perfect, every sodding day. Even more annoyingly she is a high-flyer career wise and nice as well. She makes me feel a bit inferior as I rush along with my hair in a mess and breakfast down my front.