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!

Most of my 'mum friends' go to the gym or walk the dog after drop off, so it's active wear or jeans/slouch walking clothes.

Am not a mum, but this thread has been an interesting read.

@toucaninjapan - would you consider doing an “I live/work in Japan AMA” thread? Would love to hear about the corporate world, homes, shopping, eating out etc.

A few decades ago, our UK business (banking) sent over some of their senior execs from Japan for about six months. The guy in our department was lovely, but initially completely bemused by our way of life. I have some fond and funny memories of his time there.

I don't do the school runs, but from what I've seen, it's leggings, trainers and a long puffa coat

@BigFatMummyOnTheCeiling I'm surprised how many people have mentioned Joules here. I remember reading one of the Joules threads lately and everybody was saying that they hardly see anybody wearing it these days, but looks like it's still going strong. Btw love your username

@Furries I think there was a “I live in Japan AMA” thread actually, and everything there was very much on point. OP was an English teacher I think (sorry if I'm mistaken). I do have lots of funny stories about working/ doing job interviews here though so I might do a corporate life version of that AMA thread one day.

Middle-class Toronto: Black leggings, canvas slip-on flats, oversized blue collared shirt with sleeves rolled up, pony tail, light eye make up.

Not joking: 3 of my neighbours and I ran into each other walking our babies last summer and we were all dressed EXACTLY like that. We had a good laugh.

Very interesting OP! I've been to Japan and thought it beautiful, and very friendly (which I'd not been expecting). Japanese culture is intriguing!

I'm in German-speaking Switzerland and the school-run isn't really a thing. The vast majority of kids are expected to make their own way to school. Its pretty common to see primary-aged children by themselves on the tram in the city, even very young ones.
It's a bit of a culture shock for foreign parents, particularly those from the US and UK.
https://theswisstimes.ch/the-magic-of-growing-up-in-switzerland/

I would love to visit Japan someday to study at a language school (have started learning Hirigana very slowly...) but the bonkers rules, hierarchies and expectations, along with the lack of work life balance would honestly put me off working there or trying to live there longterm.
What's your workplace like?

I'm guessing from your username you're from Ireland😁
Switzerland sounds like a pretty cool place, but don't they have their own set of bonkers rules? I've heard they are very lax in some ways and very conservative in others..

It’s primarily SAHM’s whose kids go to the local village school. There’s a weirdly specific trend for rainbow cardigans, long knee length ones. Otherwise it’s waterproof coat/long puffa coat and dog walking gear (plus the dog).

@UpToMyElbowsInDiapers now I know how to blend in in Toronto 😏

@JustRingJoeDuffy wow didn't know that. In Japan they make 6 year olds go to school alone and I'm already feeling a bit anxious about it.

@Farmageddon I mainly WFH these days, but our office is situated in a skyscraper overlooking the city. The views are amazing, you can see Fuji mount from there on sunny days. Everybody's Japanese except for a couple of foreigners. It's not overly traditional (I did work in a very traditional place in the past),

I’m in South Wales, it’s an oversized jumper, leggings and trainers.

It's those v expensive leather wellies, to prove you do something with horses. Or your hospital/ vet scrubs to prove you work. Or leggings where the arse is the star of the playground. Or my personal choice of painty mens tracksuit trousers and a Primark fleece coz I'm nearly 50 and I can't be arsed any more.

Oops pressed post by mistake.
@Farmageddon well it's not overly traditional here (they are even promoting daddy's 5-day breaks from work if wife gives birth, hooray!), but people still get promoted according to their age and not how well they perform. I was shocked when I learned how much your work performance affects your actual performance review - can't post the actual percentage here but it was way, way less than 50%.

Where I live (small naice-ish town, North West) it's skinny jeans, stripy top and knee length puffer gilet thing with white trainers for the older mums and then leggings/top coord with knee length puffer gilet thing with chunkier white trainers for younger ones.

To a weird extent - I live right by a primary school and at picking-up time it's a SEA of white trainers and puffer gilets, it always tickles me 😊

South Wales here. Generally the majority of mums wear skinny jeans, leggings or joggers with a hoody/ jumper and trainers, those long khaki puffy coats are quite popular too.

Yes, I'm from Kildare! But have lived in Switzerland for over 20 years 🙂

There can be loads of rules - but it does depend on where you live. The first place I lived, for 12 years, was quite rules-mad. You shouldn't shower after 10pm (as its noisy!), shouldn't cut the lawn/use the washing machine/beat carpets(!) on Sundays to keep things quiet.
But that was more down to the regulations for the apartment where I lived which was owned by a big corporation and everyone rented. Where I live now (in the same city, about 1km away but we all own our own apartments) has none of these things - you can do what you like.
There is a very strong sense of people being responsible for themselves, which makes regulations around health and safety generally a bit lax. Though you'll be told off if people think you are behaving irresponsibly. Some people hate it and don't stay here very long! But it does make it a very easy place to live, if you just behave with a bit of common sense and regard for other people.

Thanks both, sorry to derail the thread a bit - was just interested to hear about what these places are like to live in rather than just visit.

@JustRingJoeDuffy
Love your username. I'm listening to him now. He's always so kind and polite to older contributors, especially Dublin "aul ones".

I found the Japanese people so lovely and polite.

DD is in seniors now so I'm a year out of date but lots of gym wear, relaxed work outfits, still skinny's and trainers (Surrey!).

In the summer - quite a mix, floral dresses and big sunnies, shorts, more gym wear. Generally quite casual but a bit fancy.

DD is happy I no longer show her up by arriving in muddy riding gear. Winter and summer, only difference being the level of mud.

It's a very mixed bag at my school runs. Anything from smart shift dresses with heels, through gym wear, jeans, summer dresses....anything goes really! I don't think anybody really judges, well I don't.

I've been asked with real curiosity "do you have horses?" As if I was trying to look country on purpose.

Yep, I applied the bit of hay stuck in my hair just so as I left the house.

And painted the mud on my falling apart boots especially

Norway.
Black gym leggings, black trainers with a white sole, black puffy jacket, high ponytail. No one would look down on you for not conforming though.

I'm in Wales, trainers, gym leggings and a long duvet style coat/ long gilet seems to be the uniform here.

There isn't one particular 'uniform' here. People vary from very casual to smart and on the way to work in a variety of outfits.....