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?

[traumatisednoodle]

My school run days are behind me, but I do think it matters. It is the message you are sending to the other parents.

I had 3 broad "looks"

1. Sports wear (the easiest but only works if you look as if going to the gym is part of your life)
   
2. "Going out to lunch" so a dress, boots in winter, sandals in summer, also requires little thought but impractical for house work
   
3. Clean jeans, breton top, vest top in summer, converse.
   

[Floisme]

I notice what other people wear in the same way I notice the books on their shelves or the pictures on their walls or (in days of yore) the photos on their desk or their CD / DVD / vinyl collection, or how they drink their coffee. In the same way someone else might notice their pets or which plants they grow in their garden or which car they drive. Aka basic human interaction, which leads to small talk, which sometimes might lead to a deeper connection, or sometimes not. If some people wish to interpret that as judging then I really can't help.

[Idonotwantitthanks]

Style and beauty is full of people wanting advice and inspiration and encouragement.
Being told that they are being silly for wanting to fit in isn’t fair at all, and it’s not escaped my notice, that the person who said that, was the one using the word “bullying”

[Ilovemaisie]

If this was a 4 year old in Reception class saying "Sally won't be my friend because she says I have the wrong style of socks on" then the parents would soon be complaining.
Maybe I am completely wrong. I have zero interest in fashion - I dress for comfort and what I can afford. In the 8 years of being a school run mum I really didn't take much notice of what the several 200+ other parents were wearing. Of course they would be times I might think "that's a pretty top" but that was about it.
If someone can only 'fit in' by what they are wearing than I personally think that is very wrong.
My opinion and I am sticking to it.

[Ilovemaisie]

I don't even know what a 'breton' top is. I guess that means I can't be in your gang.

[Idonotwantitthanks]

In fact this thread is a good example of why the thread called “what happened to style beauty” was started.
Because people get told off on here nowadays for liking fashion, wanting to fit in, caring what they look like or daring to care what others might think

[Idonotwantitthanks]

@Ilovemaisie

I don't even know what a 'breton' top is. I guess that means I can't be in your gang.

[Ilovemaisie]

People can like fashion all they want. I have no issue with that. But dressing in a way just to 'fit in' is wrong. Be proud of who you are, be proud and comfortable with what you wear. If fashion is your thing go for it. Enjoy your style, enjoy your clothes....but don't do it so the 'cool' parents will talk to you.

[Ilovemaisie]

Seriously...
What is a breton top?
Genuine curiosity.

[Floisme]

'Zero interest in fashion' and yet here you are, posting multiple times on a topic you have zero interest in. Why?

[SpinbikeNotebook]

@Ilovemaisie

If this was a 4 year old in Reception class saying "Sally won't be my friend because she says I have the wrong style of socks on" then the parents would soon be complaining.
Maybe I am completely wrong. I have zero interest in fashion - I dress for comfort and what I can afford. In the 8 years of being a school run mum I really didn't take much notice of what the several 200+ other parents were wearing. Of course they would be times I might think "that's a pretty top" but that was about it.
If someone can only 'fit in' by what they are wearing than I personally think that is very wrong.
My opinion and I am sticking to it.

Can you point to where anyone has said they would not be friends with someone because they don't like their outfit?

[EllaPaella]

Not one person has told the OP to dress in a way that makes her fit in with everyone else.

[EllaPaella]

@Idonotwantitthanks

In fact this thread is a good example of why the thread called “what happened to style beauty” was started.
Because people get told off on here nowadays for liking fashion, wanting to fit in, caring what they look like or daring to care what others might think

This 👆

[Ilovemaisie]

The OP is the one who said she wants to fit in.
To be honest I didn't realise this was the 'style and beauty' section. I picked up on the 'school run' part of the title - something I am interested in which is why I clicked on it to read.

[SpinbikeNotebook]

@EllaPaella

Not one person has told the OP to dress in a way that makes her fit in with everyone else.

I think a number of people have said the opposite tbh! And yet, here comes Maisie with "no interest in fashion" to tell us all what's what .

[SpinbikeNotebook]

@Ilovemaisie

The OP is the one who said she wants to fit in.
To be honest I didn't realise this was the 'style and beauty' section. I picked up on the 'school run' part of the title - something I am interested in which is why I clicked on it to read.

Well, now you know and since you have no interest in this topic, and although you are clearly free to stay, I do question why you're still here tbh.

[PegasusReturns]

@thecatfromjapan

Agree I don’t know why people don’t just buy a naice bench

I love seeing what everyone wears - as a PP says much more relatable than a blogger who has dressed for a photo shoot.

Style is mixed here (posh city fee paying school) lots of variety but perhaps less breadth than pre lock down. People seem to be less interested in high fashion (I have no idea what it is anymore!) so I’m seeing dungarees and spaghetti strap dresses over roll necks and culottes and skinnies, but the corporate wear of 18mths ago seems to have disappeared and even the smart casual seems to be a different type of smart casual.

There was a big chunk of time when people seemed to lose interest but the improved weather seems to be getting people excited again.

[Ilovemaisie]

Ok I will be off then.
OP my message to you is be yourself, be proud of who you are - whatever you are wearing.
Focus on your child's education and support the school and enjoy the primary school days.

[Ilovemaisie]

Maisie leaves to Google what a 'breton' top is.....

[Mibbiesaye]

WTF has happened to S&B?!?

@highlighteryellow my school run days are behind me but there's clearly nothing wrong about asking what to wear!

[Mankyfruitbowl]

I unashamedly love outfit-spotting on the school run (and elsewhere). Not so I can judge people, but mostly so I can nick their ideas! It seems like it's considered acceptable on here to ask for advice on what to wear to a wedding or interview, but ask for advice on casual clothes (what most of us wear most of the time!) and certain posters pop up to tell you how silly and frivolous you're being.

Anyway... I've seen a lot of dungarees recently at our state primary. Lots of baggy linen Lucy&Yak style, but also slightly smarter, more structured ones (denim or cotton twill) often with cropped, slightly flared legs.

The tiered midi dress and trainers look is still going strong.

Last week in the heatwave I saw some paperbag-waist shorts with tops tucked in - looked cool and casual.

[Idonotwantitthanks]

@Mankyfruitbowl

I unashamedly love outfit-spotting on the school run (and elsewhere). Not so I can judge people, but mostly so I can nick their ideas! It seems like it's considered acceptable on here to ask for advice on what to wear to a wedding or interview, but ask for advice on casual clothes (what most of us wear most of the time!) and certain posters pop up to tell you how silly and frivolous you're being.

Anyway... I've seen a lot of dungarees recently at our state primary. Lots of baggy linen Lucy&Yak style, but also slightly smarter, more structured ones (denim or cotton twill) often with cropped, slightly flared legs.

The tiered midi dress and trainers look is still going strong.

Last week in the heatwave I saw some paperbag-waist shorts with tops tucked in - looked cool and casual.

Yes I agree.
I put a lot of thought into my casual clothes because a) I wear them a lot and b) my figure doesn’t naturally lend itself to casual clothes.
I love people watching and seeing how others have put clothing items together.
My self esteem is not based on what I look like though, and I don’t judge people for wearing things I wouldn’t wear - I love the fact that everyone is different, that’s what makes clothes and fashion interesting.

[SpinbikeNotebook]

I heard a good tip which was to invest more (money and thought) on day to day wear, as it's what we wear the most. It's really common to do the opposite and invest more in pieces for big events or nights out, but then they just linger in the wardrobe till the next event, or they fall totally out of favour. So it's more economical to spend more time, money and effort on the casual stuff (assuming that's what you wear most).

I get why people do the opposite, as usually you see more people you care about at, for example, a family wedding, than you maybe do on the school run. But I still like the tip and it's what I aim for. I also can sometimes find occasion wear type outfits a bit stuffy and restrictive, so my preference is casual, or as a pp put it "out for lunch" type style.

[Idonotwantitthanks]

@SpinbikeNotebook

I heard a good tip which was to invest more (money and thought) on day to day wear, as it's what we wear the most. It's really common to do the opposite and invest more in pieces for big events or nights out, but then they just linger in the wardrobe till the next event, or they fall totally out of favour. So it's more economical to spend more time, money and effort on the casual stuff (assuming that's what you wear most).

I get why people do the opposite, as usually you see more people you care about at, for example, a family wedding, than you maybe do on the school run. But I still like the tip and it's what I aim for. I also can sometimes find occasion wear type outfits a bit stuffy and restrictive, so my preference is casual, or as a pp put it "out for lunch" type style.

Yes that’s a good point, I’d wear a pair of jeans so many more times than a dress for a wedding so it makes sense to pay more for and even give more thought to the jeans

[blametheparents]

Re dungarees / jumpsuits, I have just bought these from Uniqlo
www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/women/tops/dresses-jumpsuits?quickView=438259
Really flattering, and a nice thick fabric.