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Original poster

New dress for school sports day

140 replies

HeorgeEzrapants · 15/06/2019 22:43

Help please! I’d like to buy a new dress which is smart casual and suitable for a school sports day (I’m not competing Grin). A school mum has a lovely white floaty dress with a lace trim which is lovely, but she has an ace figure and I don’t.

I have big norks and no waist - classic apple shape. Mint Velvet have a few dresses in their sale but they are dark wintry colours and a lot have handkerchief hems which I don’t like

Any ideas? Please!!

OP posts:
Laquila · 16/06/2019 10:21

My kids don’t have this kind of sports day but I am aware that some kids do. I guess it might sound weird to people who have a different/narrower frame of reference but the point is who gives a feck really, WHY you’re buying a dress - I will defend your right to do so for whatever the hell reason you like, OP, until the death!! Or until I have to go and do the food shopping.

Have you looked at the linen sundress-type ones in Next or are they too casual? I was in John Lewis yesterday and there was a lot of Hush/Whistles stuff reduced - worth a look?

beanaseireann · 16/06/2019 10:41

I agree, Next often have lovely dresses in their catalogue.
The White Company ?
Aspiga - very expensive though
Navabi.
White Stuff
Cos
Golden Spiderweb - an Irish company but you can order online
Dunnes Stores - again an Irish company but you can order online.

I know where you are coming from OP.
You have an event and you want to look nice for it.

mycatismeowican · 16/06/2019 10:46

A dress to watch kids skipping and hopping around a field/ school yard ? Grin

NigellasGuest · 16/06/2019 10:52

This is Style and Beauty!!! Stop judging!! As far as I'm concerned, any excuse to buy a new dress. I would buy one for the opening of an envelope!

zippyswife · 16/06/2019 10:54

I don’t think my sports day is like this. I normally wear shorts and a top but all schools are different. I went to a soft play kids party for a different school and all the mums were in gorgeous maxi dresses. I think different schools have different styles/emphasis on style.

I bought this dress recently www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10701_10001_012010421803_-1
Might be nice for a sports day with flat sandals? I’m an apple and it fits nicely.

lovelylondonsky · 16/06/2019 11:03

I'm so glad my DD goes to a big standard state primary and I don't need to give headspace to this kind of thing!

lovelylondonsky · 16/06/2019 11:03

Bog standard!

Emilydickensonsdogs · 16/06/2019 11:09

For goodness sake, this is posted in S&B. Why so much negativity to the OP. Does it matter if you wouldn’t buy a new dress for sports day?

I hope you find a fabulous dress OP to rival Liz Hurley and have a lovely day xx

Handbag101 · 16/06/2019 11:11

Enjoy your new dress OP. I hope you find something..... Normally the style and beauty boards are really supportive....

Outofinspiration · 16/06/2019 11:13

I'm totally for any excuse to buy a new dress, but that excuse being school sports day is quite funny!

DameXanaduBramble · 16/06/2019 11:14

Bloody hell, give over you lot giving her grief about wanting a new dress, life is about small pleasures. So freakin’ what if she wants to look nice, does it affect you? No. So shut up.

Op, I’m much the same as you and I love a shirt dress. Roll up the sleeves, undo the top two buttons, wear an nice necklace - layered ones look ace. Ive bought a couple from Zara, has to be eBay now because they’ve stopped doing them but they are super flattering for us big ooop top. They’re long enough to sit down in too.

Outofinspiration · 16/06/2019 11:15

You have an event and you want to look nice for it.

Sorry, but when has school sports day been 'an event' that one has? It's sports day!

I must move in very different circles....

DameXanaduBramble · 16/06/2019 11:18

I’ve always wanted to look nice for sports day. It’s okay if you don’t.

LonelyTiredandLow · 16/06/2019 11:19

To be honest most sports days I've been to have been horrific for making parents sit in the sun on tiny chairs for hours. I dread them and always feel I've worn something inappropriate by the end as everything is firmly plastered to you with sweat. FWIW state primary here and most mums do wear dresses - mainly because of the heat. Am a bit Confused at people who don't understand hours in sun/heat and jeans aren't usually great companions.

Outofinspiration · 16/06/2019 11:30

I’ve always wanted to look nice for sports day.

Why specifically sports day?

Bluerussian · 16/06/2019 11:34

Just wear nice white cotton trousers and a pretty top. I've never heard of buying a special dress for attending school sports day before. Is it a new thing imported from the US, like 'baby showers'?

TheAngryLlama, good for you not going! I only remember going to two throughout the time mine was at school. Didn't wear anything out of the ordinary.

shinynewapple · 16/06/2019 11:39

I'd suggest having a look on the Next website - put in a search of 'sleeveless midi dress ' or whatever kind of dress you fancy and they stock clothing from places like Boden. White Stuff, Joules as well as Next, although obviously very limited range. Next themselves have a lot of dresses which are short sleeve, button front, midi dresses, a bit like a shirt dress but without shirt collar, or there are the linen shift dresses but you may want to add leggings if sitting cross legged!

avalanching · 16/06/2019 11:40

Surely white isn't going to work if you sit on the grass. Unless you take picnics and blankets to it too 🙈

DameXanaduBramble · 16/06/2019 11:43

Why specifically sports day?

Because this thread is about sports day.

didireallysaythat · 16/06/2019 11:46

I guess your school doesn't have the fancy dress mum's and dad's sack/three-legged/egg and spoon race then? A tutu, jeans and trainers are I think mandatory here. Thankfully I work so don't have to find a tutu....

UpToonGirl · 16/06/2019 11:46

My DC go to a state primary and while I won't be buying a dress for their sports day I will probably be wearing one because that's what I like to wear and feel most comfortable in. Some parents will come in sports gear, some in jeans, some in work clothes - I don't feel the need to copy them. If OP wants to wear a dress fair enough!

If you like the Bravissimo dress why don't you have a quick look on ebay? plenty of that make on there, you might grab bargain! If not maybe Hush? Or M&S, some hits some misses but I've seen a few good looking summer dresses.

Just remember to take a blanket to sit on - you don't want any grass stains!

GlamGiraffe · 16/06/2019 11:46

No suggestions about the dress in afraid. At the moment I think I'd personally be considering a parka🌦🌦🌧. I got some new summer clothes for my birthday which would be summer sportsday worthy (spotty zara dress, very very long) however wonder if it will ever be even remotely warm or dry enough to venture out in them.
Sports day always brings a laugh to my mind. I will never forget DS first sports day when he was 6. I turned up, normal for me in a girlie dress, without a lie all parents, (except DH in his suit) and I, were in hard-core sports gear ready to win the parent's races. My wedge heels got banned by the headmaster , I kept them on anyway being the rebel I am😋. Came the parents races and I swear they'd been in pro training for it, I couldn't not participate and disappoint DS so l merrily skipped and twirled the course of the race long after the others had hurled themselves accross the line, in my dress to delight of my son and a primary school field of little girls wowed at the dancing mummy. If you have yo do it, do it in style 😂😂😂

Sports day dresses ate excellent OP

Parker231 · 16/06/2019 11:48

I usually go straight from work so am in a suit and heels - a disaster. By choice I’d wear jeans with pumps and a T-shirt or sweatshirt if it’s colder. You often end up sitting on the grass, it can be damp and if you’re in the parents race, you’ll need something practical to run in.

If the weathers good we take a picnic and Prosecco but nine times out of ten, it looks like it’s going to rain.