What people wear at the school gates

[sunrisechurch]

I was idly reflecting on this today when dropping my DD off to school. I’d say I saw something like:

40% active wear (looked like they were off to do yoga or go for a run)
30% jeans and tops / casual outfits
20% flowery dresses or maxi skirts
10% work uniforms or “office” type clothes

That was the mums. The dads were pretty much exclusively in jeans/shorts and t-shirts!

This is at a state primary in the SE. Quite an affluent area and on the whole I think people tend to have their kids a bit later so most parents are in their 40s.

Interested to know what it’s like where you are!

We have nursery rather than school so that maybe skews things but I'd say the vast majority of people are in smart/work clothes. Not often suits - but I think that reflects broader trends - but smart casual workwear. There are a few people who wear activewear but they generally are on maternity leave with a younger child too. There are, generally, more men than women doing the nursery runs too which may also skew things. I'd say it's about 75% men.

I have no idea as dh does drop off and I collect from after school club so don't really see any other parents.

In areas with lots of sahps or where a lot of people wfh, you'll see less work wear. Also a lot of people running off to the office might use wraparound care so you don't see them.

Explains why lots of active wear maybe as it will be all the parents with a day off / maybe wfh or sahp

I see quite a few parents before/after school drop off at my local coffee shop and it’s activewear, activewear and activewear (SE London, a mix of private and state schools in the area).

Everyone is over 40.

I think that’s because the division of childcare is more even among mums and dads, and if you’re the one doing the drop off that day, you’re probably WFH.

Dressing for the school run? http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/amiibeingunreasonable/4714585-dressing-for-the-school-run

I've always worn smart casual - usually jeans and top, I'm a business owner. People in my area who work for other people wear suits.