What do stylish people wear on the school run?

[highlighteryellow]

I've got a new job and can now do school drop offs and pick ups

After years of pregnancy/toddlers/wearing uniform to work I'm feeling hopelessly out of fashion.

I've definitely missed the veja trainers and wide legged dungarees memo that the other school run mums seem to have received.

Obviously it doesn't really matter but...I would like to fit in more! So, how do stylish people dress on the school run where you are?

[Floisme]

It's a bit weird here at the moment thecat. I don't know if there are more posts trending and so pulling in people who wouldn't normally gravitate to S&B, but if you're not interested in a topic, why bother opening and reading a thread about it in the first place (it's clearly labelled) let alone go to the trouble of writing a post just to say you don't care?

[highlighteryellow]

I don't think OP means she's literally dressing up for the school run like it's an Occasion (as people always rush to claim on these threads). It's just shorthand for "everyday clothes for running around in, for activities including, but not restricted to the school run, that you can feel comfortable and a bit stylish and modern in".

Exactly this! And thank you to the supportive posters, there have been some good ideas here

I definitely do feel a bit lost (clothes wise) at the moment and would like to follow fashion a bit more. I've worn a uniform to work for over five years and have spent a lot of my spare time crawling around after toddlers so I feel a bit out of touch. I found it interesting the past few weeks on the school run noticing that some other mums clearly have been taking more notice and look really good.

It doesn't mean that my self worth is entirely defined by my clothes, or that I'm worried others will judge me. I'm not judging others based on their clothes either, I'm not that superficial.

I am not sure why the people who don't care about this stuff bother to post I have no interest in owning a dog, so I just don't go onto the dog owner threads. It's not hard!

[Miseryisabutterfly]

I love your post @thecatfromjapan you sound like you’re having fun with and enjoying fashion. That’s all I’m interested in!

[scrivette]

Lots of Mum's wear sports clothes - patterned leggings and trainers. There are lots of pretty dresses and white trainers around. Quite a few jeans/shorts and teashirts, a few in matching shirt and slightly cropped top sets and the Dad's are all in shorts and teashirts.

[SandysMam]

I think this IS an interesting thread OP and you are asking it in style & beauty so ignore those who think it’s wrong for you to be interested! Like it or not, what you wear and how you look can affect relationships with other mums (mainly because of confidence in yourself) which in turn can have a knock on affect on your child. They are much more likely to have play dates etc if you get on with other mums (although I’m sure I will get my arse handed to me for saying that). Pretty sure there is no one who doesn’t want that for their child.
I felt so rubbish the other day when it was hot. I’m not very attractive and all the mums had gorgeous legs out in paper bag shorts with vests or t shirts tucked in!! I usually feel just about ok to smile and say hi to everyone but that day I dumped my DC in, and sprinted home!! Feeling good about yourself for how you look is sad and pathetic but it is a multi billion pound industry which isn’t just built on us all relying on our personalities!

[Gingerodgers]

Cool coloured shoes can make a black t shirt style dress cool. I think I have quite plain clothes, but a few pairs of noticeable shoes.

[persnickle]

I think I'm stylish (used to work in fashion) but I honestly don't really think about the school run. The last year has been wfh so it's literally joggers, jumper of some sort & trainers. When I do go to into the office, I tend to get changed once back home anyway (school around the corner). Imo the school run is not really a reflection of how people dress, quite a few mums I know look very nice when off to work or day/night out but you don't see that on the school run.

[persnickle]

In terms of what I'm currently wearing to work at the moment it's dresses (t-shirt, gingham, smock, floral ones) & sandals (chunky, fishermen & Chanel rip offs) or trousers (cropped or wide leg) with a top (tshirt, blouse or shirt). I'd much prefer to wear jeans or joggers as I prefer casual but can't to work.

[LonstantonSpiceMuseum]

@SandysMam

I think this IS an interesting thread OP and you are asking it in style & beauty so ignore those who think it’s wrong for you to be interested! Like it or not, what you wear and how you look can affect relationships with other mums (mainly because of confidence in yourself) which in turn can have a knock on affect on your child. They are much more likely to have play dates etc if you get on with other mums (although I’m sure I will get my arse handed to me for saying that). Pretty sure there is no one who doesn’t want that for their child.
I felt so rubbish the other day when it was hot. I’m not very attractive and all the mums had gorgeous legs out in paper bag shorts with vests or t shirts tucked in!! I usually feel just about ok to smile and say hi to everyone but that day I dumped my DC in, and sprinted home!! Feeling good about yourself for how you look is sad and pathetic but it is a multi billion pound industry which isn’t just built on us all relying on our personalities!

I agree! Dressing and following fashion trends is just fun. Yes some people have their own style but i also enjoy trying to see what's the current trend, then editing it to try and fit with my body type, budget and existing wardrobe. It's a form of art!

I can compare it to my with, where there's a visual element to what I have to prepare. Its more of a creative challenge when I have to make something look good within some corporate colour scheme and guidelines. Like problem solving.

[NOTANUM]

@thecatfromjapan Your style sounds great. Any chance of an anonymous pic?

No more school runs for me as mine aren't in primary school but long dresses and trainers still in vogue here I see. Then there are the creatives who look more like Julia in Motherland but they're all super thin. I'm somewhere in the middle but don't consider myself very stylish sadly.

[katienana]

I don't care what other people wear in the sense that I'll chat to everyone, but I do care about looking good myself. I'm a SAHM so officewear is out for me, I never wear heels. I take my dog on a walk first thing so I wear trainers or Teva sandals in summer and DM style boots in winter. I've been wearing shorts & slogan t shirts or a summer dress and a denim jacket the last few weeks while it's been hot. I always wear make up and most days I put on jewellery.
I don't think there is one stylish uniform that will work for all, just a nice version of your preferred casual look.

[Mulletsaremisunderstood]

@Floisme

It's a bit weird here at the moment thecat. I don't know if there are more posts trending and so pulling in people who wouldn't normally gravitate to S&B, but if you're not interested in a topic, why bother opening and reading a thread about it in the first place (it's clearly labelled) let alone go to the trouble of writing a post just to say you don't care?

I know, it's almost like they are protesting too much! Like how dare we waste energy on anything they consider frivolous.
It happens on skincare threads all the time...'oh I only splash water on my face and I'm 72 and don't have a wrinkle, you are all wasting your money blah blah..'
Well, great news for you but some of us like trying out skincare, and frankly need a bit more help than that!

Anyway OP, it's understandable that you want a bit of inspiration after being out of the loop for a few years. Some of those instagram pages listed upthread have good ideas for casual but stylish options.

[justanotherneighinparadise]

I do quite like to wear stuff that’s a little bit different just to go against the grain of what’s fashionable. I really like people that forge their own path clothes wise. So it really depends on whether you want to blend in with the crowd or whether you want to do your own thing but still look nice.

[Floisme]

I think that, when you're just waking up from a baby / toddler fug, then finding your own style is like getting 8 hours sleep a night: sounds great but it's not going to happen for a while. In the short term you'll settle for blending in with people who, like you, have small children but who look like they've got the hang of getting dressed. That was what I found anyway.

For everyday ideas I also like the 'What are you wearing today' threads.

[KittyWindbag]

People probably think this is pathetic, but I look forward to and make an effort for the school run.

I live abroad and due to pandemic and a new baby etc have had no time or reason to look nice. Now my second baby is in a routine and first child back at school, and some of the baby weight is off, I look forward to putting on a nice dress (it’s hot here) and seeing the other parents.

It’s not cool to want to look nice at something trivial like school drop off. But I do care.

Long/ midi dresses for me, with knock off bottega style square toed sandals, chunky sandals or white trainers. I like ‘relaxed glamour’ as my personal style mantra. Always dresses. Always good hair and a tan.

[KittyWindbag]

I do not judge anyone who is wearing their pajamas or whatever, because that’s been me. I just look forward to getting dressed and seeing the other parents. If others have a nice outfit on, I enjoy it.

[Divebar2021]

www.wearsmymoney.com/shopping/my-15-piece-summer-capsule-wardrobe/

I’m going to post this because this blogger is fashionable in a very wearable way and I think you’ll have some items already. I personally am not a fan of these very loose dresses with the huge poofey sleeves she recommends a lot ( her dress edit was full of them) but this is where personal style comes in. I do my own version with a more fitted waist and without the tiers and what nots.

[CandyLeBonBon]

I rock bag lady chic personally. I like to be ahead of the curve.

[lazylinguist]

All this 'people don't care', 'if they judge you, they're not worth knowing' etc is missing the point. It's pretty clear from her post that he OP wants to be more fashionable, and that's fine. That doesn't mean she thinks horrible people are judging her!

I'm no help, OP, because I'm not stylish and don't do the school run . My advice would be to make a mental note of the types of outfit you see on the stylish mums, and browse outfits on Instagram etc. And you could try a service like Stitchfix.

[Finerdetaillondon]

//www.alexblackcollection.com School run to office/zoom shirts and shirtdresses. x

[Majorfluff]

Our yummy mummy group are always dressed up, great hair and nails etc. A lot of the muns come in tee shirts and leggings and don't seem to make any effort

[Idonotwantitthanks]

@Ilovemaisie

No. One. Cares.

Helpful.
Also not true.
Op cares and plenty of others here do. I love clothes and I care about what I wear every day even if it’s just a day off when I’m doing errands and the school run

[Ilovemaisie]

Idonot what I meant was no one really cares (or should) what another person is wearing. A person can be interested in fashion and caring about what they wear but just doing it to impress or 'fit in' with fellow school run parents or worrying about what the other parents will be thinking or wearing is just silly.

[Ilovemaisie]

Also Idonot if you and other school run parents are judging someone by what you they are wearing but you were several years younger and actually pupils at the school it would be called bullying.

[Idonotwantitthanks]

@Ilovemaisie

Also Idonot if you and other school run parents are judging someone by what you they are wearing but you were several years younger and actually pupils at the school it would be called bullying.

That’s the biggest stretch I’ve seen on here in ages. I said I care about what I wear and now the suggestion is that I could be a bully?
Again - Helpful.