"Business dress" at 6th form - what do girls wear?

[WhereAreWeNow]

DD is going to a 6th form that requires smart/business dress in September. She's used to wearing a uniform and likes not having to think about what to wear.
She's not into skirts or dresses.
If you have DC at a 6th form with a business dress code, what do they wear? Do they have to wear a jacket/blazer? Or would trousers and a nice top/jumper work?

Might depend on the school. Dd had to wear a jacket/blazer, then a blouse/smart top, then either a skirt or trousers.

Trousers and a nice jumper is fine. At our school they are supposed to wear a blazer too but the reality is that is only enforced for formal occasions. Mostly they wear very very tiny skirts of the sort nobody would actually wear at a business 🤷‍♀️

(We went and hung around outside the school to see, before we went, although that was mostly to do with what sort of bag to carry - for some reason that was a question of some concern)

I think k you'd have to check with the school, most girls at the school I work at wear tiny tube skirts that barely cover their bum, a shirt/blouse and a jumper. None of them wear blazers. I would think just not sports wear or jeans

My daughter is the same age and her sixth form has the same dress code. She likes suits, and not thinking too much about what to wear, so I got her a suit from Next (two pairs of the trousers). So far to go with it she has two shirts, and we're going to buy some lightweight jumpers / long sleeved tops. H&M is good for that type of thing.

Dd has to wear a blazer, or at least be able to produce one on inspection. Chunky knitwear is not allowed. She's wears a bit of everything- from pocket trousers to tailored trousers, short and long skirts, with v necked jumpers and tie neck shirts. She went through a tartan pinafore phase, and she's got a couple of actual suits. Basically we raided charity shops and Vinted. From looking at her friends there's a lot of bodycon dresses with blazers, or tea dresses.

Problem is it varies hugely by school. I would do a drive by at kicking out time and see what they are wearing in reality. A lot allow smart jeans for example whereas some don’t.

My daughter Has to wear a blazer/suit jacket.
No uggs or trainers, spaghetti straps, cropped tops or t shirts and skirts have to be mid thigh or longer.

Blazer is required at both my and DS's schools.

DD is very similar in disliking skirts, and has a couple of suits + a few jackets which she wears with 3 pairs of Uniqlo smart trousers. For tops she has some smart t-shirts/jumpers plus also some very baggy vintage mens shirts. This to some degree works as a uniform but can be combined in various ways.

If she doesn't have a sense of how strict they are, best bet is to get at least one reasonably smart outfit and one back up and then see how far you can push it later on. DD was definitely a lot smarter in September than she is now...

Thanks everyone. Very reassuring. Sounds like a few smart pairs of trousers, some nice tops and jumpers, and a blazer in case needed should be enough to see her through for a bit.
A drive by is a good idea.

A school near me the girls seem to wear teeny tiny tight black skirts and tights with slip on shoes that they toddle and shuffle along in with tight shirts that the buttons stretch tight across their boobs.
They look ridiculous and something out of Ally McBeal 😂

Do a drive by. We're going back a few years now, but my sixth form was 'smart business dress' in theory.

In practice this meant no jeans for some reason, anything else was fair game - this was the 90s so I mostly had a grunge inspired wardrobe.

You could do a drive by now and get a couple of outfits and then plan to go shopping once she's been there a couple of weeks.

This seems very outdated of the school. I don’t know anyone who wears “businesswear” to work now!

DD had to wear a black skirt suit and white blouse or shirt - it was like being a barrister!

I think George at Asda have a sixth form clothes section (deffo used to on the website)

My dd goes to a sixth form with this type of dress code. She wears H&M 'work' trousers with a jumper/top. Occasionally a skirt.

PP are right when it really means no jeans or sports wear.

I have a job that could be quite corporate.

Wore DMs, jeans and a hoodie to work today! Don't own a suit, wear a jacket about twice a year.

The H & M cigarette trousers are good more 'formal' work type trousers without being too frumpy. For my youngest daughter I turn the hem up using wundaweb to make them truly cropped as she's petite. Makes them less frumpy. The navy and black ones are nice quality don't crush and wash well.

Business wear for women at the moment is very flexible. From smart trousers and blouse and jacket to jeggings, top & jacket. Or a nice dress. And everyone is in white sneakers. A game changer for comfort.

@KeeeeeepDancing unfortunately 6th forms don't seem to go for that.
All the girls I see dress like it's the 90s - tiny tight black skirts and tight white shirt.
It's all very odd compared to actual "business" workers.

Yes most people now seem to wear much more relaxed 'business dress'...apart from in schools where staff and sixth formers have to dress like they are stuck in a 90s law firm.

It's ridiculous really, the schools have no idea about proper business dress. For example today I am wearing smart navy trousers, a breton top and a navy blazer, but yesterday I was wearing black trousers a white t shirt and a cardigan.

Next week I might wear a black mini skirt and long sleeved coloured top. Some of my colleagues wear black jeans and a polo shirt.

Very very occasionally someone might decided to wear a shirt and tie not very often though!

At DD’s school it was suits. Matching skirts/trousers and jacket. Within that, any colour.