What to wear as a parent at DD uni open day?

[livvymc]

My DD has an offer holder day at Kings College London next month.
We’ll be travelling down from the NW for it, but staying over the night before so outfit doesn’t need to be suitable for travel.
What on earth do I wear?! I’m normally jeans/tshirt or leggings/hoodie type person, although I wear suits for work.
Has anyone been to such a day and can advise on what they wore? I won’t wear leggings obviously but is there a suitable middle ground between that and a suit?
Thank you!

I’ve done this four times and I can honestly say no one cares. They’ll be parents in everything from shorts and crocs to suits. Jeans were everywhere.

On a funny note, DH was interviewed for https://archive.thetab.com/uk/sheffield/2015/09/22/moving-day-best-dressed-dads-9482 by students at the University of Sheffield paper. Sadly there are no pictures anymore because I’d love to relive it! 😂

Jeans, an oversized crisp white shirt and a sleeveless top? with trendy coloured trainers and a nice crossover bag that picks up on the trainers colour. Blend in, look approachable, trendy mum street style. No potential student wants to drag a fuddy mum along! Def no suits

Went to a couple of offer holder days and just wore normal weekend casual clothes. Assume other parents did too but would only remember if someone wore something outlandish.

God, don’t wear a suit! Jeans are fine. What does your DD want you to wear?

Jeans are absolutely fine.

I see a lot of parents at open days at our local uni, just wear your usual weekend clothes. Nobody is going to be looking at you.

Comfortable shoes. No one looks at the parents. I wore jeans and a shirt to my DCs open days.

I wore a tracksuit

Crisp white shirt? Travelling from NW?!?
Honestly, OP, you do you. Wear whatever you like, is comfortable. Jeans fine.

Oh this has made me feel so much better! I imagined everyone in business attire, no idea why! 😂
DD is happy for me to wear whatever I want, she will likely wear jeans, trainers and a cardigan. Jeans, shirt and trainers is a great shout for me!
So glad I asked, thank you!

Normal weekend dressing I think. No one really looks at the parents anyway

PMSL at "crisp white shirt".

A pair of comy shoes, big bottle of water and some snack.

Nobody cares about the parents at University open days!

The kids will be checking each other out (Are they like me? Could I be friends with them?) but as a parent, you just slide into the background and don't do anything that could be remotely embarrassing, i.e. anything but breathing! 😂

Wtaf?
My advice would be don't go.
If you absolutely insist on going then wear something greige, stand at the back, and don't speak or make eye contact with anyone at all and especially not your own kid.

What? Pretty much all parents go these days.

I’m a lecturer - parents at our open days tend to be pretty casual. Leggings and sweatshirt, jeans and cardi, trainers, all fine, definitely no business wear. Teaching staff don’t even wear business wear, only senior management!

Comfy shoes
Comfy shoes
Comfy shoes

Don’t wear anything too smart otherwise people will ask you where the loos are.

Check the weather forecast; wear comfy shoes - lots of schlepping around indoors and out. Take a bag that you can fit weather appropriate clothing in if necessary and yet won't weigh a ton.

Remember going to these places and going from freezing cold, windswept outdoor areas to stiflingly hot lecture rooms on occasion. Also sitting outside while the dc went into trial lectures, seminars and the like.

Do they still offer food on offer holder days? Going off topic here.

Yep, only requirement is comfy shoes, it'll be super casual. Have a great day!

Parents at open days are just there to quietly and invisibly support, no one will be looking at you!

Oh god you've just reminded me of the first uni visit I did with my ds. I dressed smart and felt like a right twat. Everyone was in jeans or similar. Just wear casual and something you are happy to walk for miles in. Enjoy!

Do you have your gown from your own graduation?

Just to let the competition other parents know you mean business.

I mean I’m all for a supportive S&B thread but what sort of question is “is there a suitable middle ground between that [leggings and sweatshirt]and a suit?”

Yes, everything. Op you can’t actually exist in RL and not have any idea at all surely?

Jeans? A dress? Trousers? I mean that’s a broad question.

DD is at Kings. I went to the offer holder day. I can’t remember exactly what I wore but definitely jeans and trainers or flat boots. I did not go to the sessions with her. I went next door to Somerset House and had a coffee. Was all very relaxed.

When I went with my DD last year, there were whole families there!!!