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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:
Psychedelicrock · 01/10/2014 06:43

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combust22 · 01/10/2014 06:51

psychedelick- must be a posh area or a posh school, doesn't sound like anyone at our school gates.

sleepywombat · 01/10/2014 06:56

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idtwinplustoddlermum · 01/10/2014 07:01

In a huge stroke of luck managed a quick glance in rear view mirror just before drop-off year to see huge lump baby porridge in hair, fortunately had a baby wipe hand (tho this gave me a greasy dreadlock). On one occasion had to turn my top round as huge stain on front don't know if anyone noticed! We have a nice mix of yummy mummies and scummy mummies at our playgroup, I know which category I fall into!

idtwinplustoddlermum · 01/10/2014 07:04

PS Nicks, if you died in the car crash would you care about your knickers? Just interested really as considering replacing my M and S favourites which I bought in 2006 x

Fabulassie · 01/10/2014 08:08

What's wrong with dressing up for the school run? Some mums don't go out of the house much otherwise and who doesn't want to look nice? Presumably, most of us are married and not out on the pull. So, we want to impress our peers. Nowt wrong with that.

Delphiniumsblue · 01/10/2014 08:13

When I read fashion items about women dressing for the school run I think 'who are these women?!' Who cares?

Delphiniumsblue · 01/10/2014 08:14

I wore whatever I was doing next- going to work would be different from a morning gardening.

BeCool · 01/10/2014 10:50

my only awareness of any "school run fashion" is via MN.

I think it is a MN/Urban myth :)

RalphGnu · 01/10/2014 11:02

I rarely notice what other people are wearing on the school run and couldn't give the shiniest shit about how others think I dress. It's usually jeans, t-shirt, trainers, jacket as that's what I normally wear for the rest of the day.

I did see my first pyjama wearing mum today though, breezing down the street in her bright pink pjs and fluffy white dressing gown. And yes, I almost garotted myself with my judgy pants. If you've got time to style your hair and put on a trowel load of make up, then you've got time to sling a pair of pants on fgs.

merrymouse · 01/10/2014 12:35

I don't think there is anything wrong with dressing for your peers. It's just that my peers on the school run are more interested in trying to grab a word with the teacher or stopping their children from arguing or doing what ever it is they have to do next.

Equally their fashion forward/statement dressing/style triumph would be lost on me as I struggle to remove a breakfast stain from my child's jumper.

However, perhaps there are schools where the school run is a bit like having your own fashion blog.

melw74 · 01/10/2014 12:40

I do not dress up, but i do like to go out looking presentable.... Meaning hair done and make up on... and looking semi okay... Then again i do not like going out looking a mess.

MaryWestmacott · 01/10/2014 12:40

I think "dressing for the school run" or "school run coat/cardie/dress/boots" or "is this X suitable for the school run?" is a good short hand for "is this a good X for my SAHM life?" I see lots of lovely shift dresses around at the moment, it's a style that suits me and before I became a SAHM a style I'd buy a lot of, but it's clearly office wear, and if you weren't going on to work afterwards, not really suitable for "SAHM lifestyle" - whereas before, I'd see lots of dresses that were smart/casual which I'd like, but think they weren't smart enough for office wear and weren't dressed up enough for going out, clearly made for the "daytime not working in an office" market - or put another way, a "School run dress"

'School run' clothing needs to be a bit more practical than "office" wear, you need to be able to walk in it, often pushing a buggy and holding the hand of another child, in the rain.

merrymouse · 01/10/2014 12:47

Maybe it will be a mark of true sexual equality when people talk about school run fashion for men.

leedy · 01/10/2014 12:59

Though isn't a lot of people's "school run" clothing also their office wear? Unless they go home and get changed afterwards, of course.

JadedAngel · 01/10/2014 13:01

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BeCool · 01/10/2014 13:03

Mary I work in an office and I assure you I can walk in my clothes very well!

It is possible to do both - office workers aren't required to wear heels or tight skirts or constricting clothes these days.

What I see on my 'school run' are parents mostly dressed in clothes that they will be wearing for their day ahead, rather than dressing just for a school run.

SuperflousBuns · 01/10/2014 13:18

I do dress for the school run I suppose.
I like to look like I've made an effort, but I can't actually be arsed making an effort.

So I have my shower before going to bed. My pyjamas are black leggings and a T-shirt.
So in the morning I have a quick wash, brush teeth and hair, throw my boots and coat on and out the door.
Don't usually bother with make up as I usually have my eyebrows and eyelashes tinted.

mum9876 · 01/10/2014 13:26

I think at ours there are those who throw on a pair of jeans and brush their hair. And those who make a real effort with dresses and heels. I wouldn't say they are going to work afterwards. They just seem to like dressing up I think.

KirjavaTheCat · 01/10/2014 14:15

I make sure I wipe off any baby sick stains before I go.

WellTidy · 01/10/2014 15:48

Hmmm. I shop for new clothes thinking about what my lifestyle involves. So I buy clothes for work (I work part time in an office), and clothes for weekends and my days at home.

'School run clothes' and 'days at home clothes' are therefore the same. In Autumn/Winter they are usually opaque tights, just above the knee skirt and jumper/casual dress, scarf and flat leather boots or tall Uggs. Hardly the height of fashion, but clothes that are practical, machine washable and comfortable, but co-ordinated. I organise my wardrobe so that my clothes sit in 'outfits' so I just put on things that are already next to each other. No decisions to make!

I never leave the house without perfume and some make up on, so I would always wear make up on the school run, and a blast of dry shampoo if my hair is in deed of a wash.

toptrumps1 · 01/10/2014 16:09

I think what some may be confusing as "too smart to be SAHM clothes" and therefore assuming they dress up for the school run are most likely parents who do go on to work at some point after dropping the kids off, but don't need to wear what would be classed as traditional formal office wear. I can wear jeans in my job, but still need to be smart, so will wear nice shoes, jacket, jewellery and put on make up and could totally be accused of "dressing up for the school run" if you didn't know any better.

Sapat · 01/10/2014 16:45

At our school about half dress "normal" ie nice but casual outfit. A certain number are in exercise gear, quite a few obviously dress for work but there are a few that are dressed up to the nines including full face makeup, false lashes etc. There are some really scruffy looking mums, though no one so far has turned up in pjs.

I am on mat leave so dress casually but nice, tend to think about it the night before just to avoid faffing about and leaving late as a result. Normally I go straight to work so wear what I need to wear for the day ahead.

Frustratingly the days I look best I talk to no one; the days I dress in a rush and did not have time to tame my frizzy hair, everyone wants to talk to me.

Sapat · 01/10/2014 16:51

Those who go to school in pjs, what do you do about underwear? Don't your boobs swish all over the place and bang your knees? What about your pants? Do you wear the same ones, or go commando? A bit confused....

serennu · 01/10/2014 17:13

I tend to chuck on anything for the school run but there are some rare occasions where I'm organised and have clothes planned for the day. I do go home afterwards on my unorganised days look in the mirror think omg you went out like that and then get myself and baby ready for the day properly.
I'm looking forward to winter and covering up under my parka!