What's the typical "mom uniform" in your area?

[toucaninjapan]

Just what the title says, really. I'm interested to hear what it's like in other places.
I live in Tokyo and all the moms here seem to have the same style. You'd never see anyone wearing something tight or sexy (no cleavage at all times, nothing showing your waistline etc.), most of the outfits consist of a very loose-fitting dress/oversized jumper or shirt in neutral colors over baggy jeans. "Loose" and "neutral" are keywords here. Bonus points if you are wearing UV protection arm sleeves with your short-sleeved t-shirts. Nobody wears shorts or leggings - by themselves, I mean, laying under dress is OK - as that's embarrassing (actually nobody wears leggings unless they're going for a run, that's not just a "mom" thing. As for shorts, I was instructed by my midwife to steer clear of those as I'm a mom now! Anyway you're too old to wear shorts after 30 apparently, even if they are on the longish side). No sunglasses on anyone (I've seen some articles bashing moms wearing sunglasses like "who are they trying to impress?"). Flowery prints not recommended if over 30. Lots of branded bags, preferably something easily recognizable, are desirable.
This thread was inspired by some article I came across this morning with examples of shocking outfits that some readers saw other moms wear - well, not so shocking in my opinion to be honest. Out of place in some cases maybe, but I can't see why anyone couldn't wear a flowery dress or some bright clothes during the weekend or on holiday. That explains some strange looks from other moms at the nursery as I love wearing my flowery prints at the grand age of 32.😁
Anyway, I'm including here 2 pics of "recommended outfits" for moms and 2 pics of the "shocking outfits". Very interested to hear what's it like in other places!

I wonder if we’re from the same town I’ve just described the same 😂

I find it interesting that in the drawings, their faces do not represent what i would see as someone as born in Japan would look like. So dress very conservatively but try to make your face look Western?

South London. Pyjamas for me!!! (DC is secondary age and I don't get out the car 🙈)

OP do you not get a pass for being an ignorant foreigner though, or does it not work that way? 😂
If it were me I would probably start off trying to keep doing my own thing and end up succumbing to the cultural norms like a sheep.

Thanks everyone, I'm enjoying imagining how nursery/ school runs look like in your areas

@CharlotteDoyle DC is only 2 (husband is Japanese) and in a Japanese nursery, but we are planning to send them to a Japanese school for various reasons. I would have maybe preferred an international school even though the fees are very expensive, but only a fracture of them are licensed as educational institutions in Japan (so if your child graduates from an unlicensed one - which was like 90-95% of international schools I think when I researched it - their school diploma is not accepted by Japanese universities and they are basically treated as people with no school education. It's quite troublesome to sort out with your local authority why your kid isn't receiving their mandatory education even though they are actually studying). Not feeling Japanese enough is another problem, I've seen some Japanese (both parents are Japanese) who graduated from international schools and many of them say they don't ever feel like they fit in in Japan. It's noticeable to other people too, even to me.

@Wiennetta no dad uniform sadly!

Can you translate the text please?

Either business wear for those who carry on to the office or jeans/top + blazer/cardigan and Chelsea boots - hair usually styled long or in a styled ponytail/bun

@toucaninjapan was Japanese a hard language for you to learn?

People here living in Tokyo and Melbourne and here me living in Dundee 😔

Ah, but they'll be madly jealous that you've got Desperate Dan.

@GreenDressy yes I have my special foreigner pass. Unfortunately it doesn't work all the time and not with everyone.

@Blueberrycreampie I hate wearing sunglasses but I guess I should.

@dramalynn you mean on the last pic?
The star bubble says "made me do a double take" and the other piece of text says "shocking examples of other moms' fashion choices"

Manchester. No uniform. Very diverse looks. Mostly casual. Lots of work uniforms: NHS or beauticians. Most people very drab. It's not a well off area. Bit depressing now I think about it.

No one trying really. School run not a time to shine. I see School mums on a night out and they look totally different.

I once lived in Dundee for about a year- not my favourite place unfortunately but it was a long long time ago and I expect it's completely different now.

Huge range here. DCs are at nursery, but they’re next to a school and it seems to be just as varied.

‘Younger’ mums (early 30s and below, counting myself in this) tend to be mom jeans, cropped jumpers or chunky cardigans, boots or trainers. Not necessarily specific brands but more Monki, Lucy and Yak etc. than Next or Boden.

’Older’ mums are more Joules, Boden, White Stuff etc. Leggings, dresses, skinny jeans, gilets etc.

And then there’s loads of mums in activewear too.

I tend to be a bit more brightly coloured/eccentric than is usual although not particularly out there. Today I’m wearing a green t-shirt style midi dress with lilac crocs for example.

I’m in China at the moment and mums here make me feel bad because they’re all SO stylish. They wear all the current fashions and they look amazing! There is no ‘mum uniform’ because all women here seem to be really into clothes - either trendy or cool or classy or sporty or sexy - whatever their chosen ‘feel’ is, they really go for it, mother or not. Clothes are so cheap here which helps, I’m sure!

@StressedToTheMaxxx I googled Dundee and it looks very picturesque.
Studying Japanese was hard, yes, but very much worth it. It was one of my majors at university so I had no choice but to do my best

The faces in Anime/Manga having huge eyes is actually early 20th century Disney influence - it is easier to show emotions with such features, especially in cartoons aimed at little children,

Really interesting thread. OP I would love it if you started a thread about the Japanese corporate world from your perspective and about your life in Japan!

I am in a large Suffolk town. Not a wealthy area. I have one DC at primary school and I reckon I'm one of the oldest mums at 48. Most are currently wearing black leggings, hoodie, padded coat/gilet, mum bun, trainers (branded) and white sports socks.

Hardly anyone wears skinny jeans and NO ONE carries a bag.

I am usually on my way to the office, although I can wear jeans there, so I will be either in skinny jeans and a long sleeve stripy (Primark) top, or wide legged black trousers. Small cross body bag. Always in trainers but all mine are from Matalan or a supermarket. In summer I like the dress/floaty trousers and trainers look.

Rural south west. It’s one of two really;

1. leggings, baggy sweatshirt, white trainers, maybe a longline puffa gilet
2. mom or skinny jeans, striped long sleeve top (usually joules, crew or Jack wills!), ankle boots in the winter, deck shoes in the summer, sometimes a quilted or waxed coat

Such an interesting thread; especially hearing about societal expectations in Tokyo. The speechless mum at nursery drop off story made me laugh out loud!

UK midlands here. No uniform, as others have said mix of work wear (uniform or smarter office wear) lots of leggings and hoodies. I go for skinny jeans and jumpers.
There's also a split between no/minimal natural make up and full-on tango and fake eye lashes.

Yes, thanks for the translation! @toucaninjapan

Black knee length puffs gilet new balance 327 leggings it’s bloody bad there millions of them everywhere

Sorry bloody spell check puffa i mean and I meant it’s mad

Welsh town here.

the yellow Joules coat with stripy inside hood features heavily at the pick up point. Or those long puffer coats down to your ankles.

there’s a couple of dungaree mums and one who gets her dresses from popsy clothing, she always looks amazing

Ireland

School gate moms are into their style. You can see they are influenced by instagrammers

Staple this winter
Long puffa coats
Sweaty Betty type leggings
Fancy trainers usually NB
Sweatshirt- fluffy jumpers were big - I think there was an Irish instagrammer selling them
NO SOCKS bare ankles only no matter how cold it is
Sunglasses