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Original poster

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

115 replies

livvymc · 04/04/2025 22:03

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!

OP posts:
IsItOnlyWednesday · 05/04/2025 07:46

Layers might be sensible and a big bag to put them in. The buildings in our uni differ greatly temperature wise and if you need to walk between them it might be cold. Other than that, no one cares. The focus is your daughter and trying to keep her ‘warm’ so that she doesn’t change her mind and get tempted to spend her money go somewhere else

GCAcademic · 05/04/2025 07:46

MollyButton · 05/04/2025 07:44

Offer holder day - a last marketing chance for the Uni where there is mutual interest, so in depth intro to department/accommodation. And lots of targeted info - also usually some sessions without parents.
Open day - scatter gun marketing, and very very busy

Yes, that pretty much sums it up. It's certainly not "information vs celebration".

LillyPJ · 05/04/2025 07:50

SwornToSilence · 04/04/2025 22:08

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

I think 'trendy mum' would be equally embarrassing if that's not your usual style! Best to go as yourself and feel comfortable.

Fashionfunformum · 05/04/2025 07:51

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TizerorFizz · 05/04/2025 07:52

@GCAcademic Probably not much celebrating when they tot up the cost of living in London!

Fluffycloudsfloatinginthesky · 05/04/2025 07:53

@tobeefree bacon / sausage rolls at York!

LillyPJ · 05/04/2025 08:03

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£49 for a bag that would shred your tights, be hard on your hands if you're having to hold it all day and is easy to drop stuff or have things stolen from? It seems strange for you to suggest something so specific - are you trying to sell these?

Fashionfunformum · 05/04/2025 08:11

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Delphigirl · 05/04/2025 08:22

GCAcademic · 05/04/2025 07:45

Don't be ridiculous. They're information events, not a party. I've worked at or run these events for over twenty years and no parent has ever turned up dressed for a "celebration". Most people that attend are there because they didn't attend the open day and want to see the university. So there's going to be a lot of walking around.

Show quote history

To be fair since the commenter works at LSE (the uni “opposite” Kings), I can see that their offer holder days may be more celebratory than most. It’s a big deal for lots of people to get an offer from LSE. Other unis treat offer holder days as last ditch attempts to persuade students to pick them… I imagine the vibe at LSE is quite different.

Kindling1970 · 05/04/2025 08:26

I work in a university and work many open days. Honestly it doesn’t matter at all how you dress. We aren’t writing down which students have badly dressed parents and letting the admissions team know not to offer them a place! It’s sweet of you to be nervous but this day is about your child. I can’t tell you how many parents take over and start asking all the questions and talking for their kid. As long as you are encouraging your kid to engage and put themselves forward and have the confidence to ask for themselves you will be the best mum there! It’s great practice for when they are here by themselves.

Franjipanl8r · 05/04/2025 08:41

My mum stripped to her bra in the uni car park to get changed before my graduation - as long as you don’t do that you’ll be fine!

Perfectlystill · 05/04/2025 08:45

No one notices what you wear. I wore jeans and a t shirt to the open days I went to.

theriseandfallofFranklinSaint · 05/04/2025 08:45

@user1494050295 Absolutely no difference between open days and offer holder days in my experience! I've been to a few over the past couple of years...

kanaka · 05/04/2025 08:48

No one cares. Jeans and tshirt is fine. You’re going to a studenty place. I can’t remember what I wore. Just some everyday clothing.

Perfectlystill · 05/04/2025 08:50

Offer holder days and open days are exactly the same, sartorially speaking. Jeans and t shirts and trainers for all that walking.

LOL at ‘air of celebration’ - they still have to get the grades! And plenty of people go to more than one offer holder days, weighing them up.

Mumteedum · 05/04/2025 08:57

Parents of applicants for my course just wear whatever. I wouldn't even think about it.

I've seen plenty of Dads in football shirts. Mums in hoodies and leggings.

I don't notice. It's not important. Just be comfortable.

Mumteedum · 05/04/2025 08:58

Kindling1970 · 05/04/2025 08:26

I work in a university and work many open days. Honestly it doesn’t matter at all how you dress. We aren’t writing down which students have badly dressed parents and letting the admissions team know not to offer them a place! It’s sweet of you to be nervous but this day is about your child. I can’t tell you how many parents take over and start asking all the questions and talking for their kid. As long as you are encouraging your kid to engage and put themselves forward and have the confidence to ask for themselves you will be the best mum there! It’s great practice for when they are here by themselves.

Absolutely this too. Let your child speak and encourage them!

Emanresuunknown · 05/04/2025 09:15

permitholdersonly · 05/04/2025 07:04

Believe me, uni staff are far more concerned about making a good impression on you and the potential student at offer holder days than the other way around! Hope it goes well!

This. These days unis just want to recruit recruit recruit its bums on seats. You could rock up in joggers and a stained t-shirt and they'd still fawn over you trying to make sure your child defo does actually pick them for their firm choice.

QuirkInTheMatrix · 05/04/2025 09:26

I’m a senior lecturer currently sat at an open day and am wearing jeans and a T shirt 😁

TheOGCCL · 05/04/2025 09:35

Absolutely what @Kindling1970 said. I still find it weird the parents come (but both parenting and student financial support has changed over the last 25 years) but the worst is when they take over and make it more about them. In a few short months the kid will need to advocate for themselves so this is good practice.

I’d wear something plain and simple and try to stay in the background.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 05/04/2025 09:35

I posted a few years back when my DS went to his -- when they're invited for the 2nd visit and have an unconditional offer.
Parents were 100% expected to be there.
I asked if my DS should wear a tie , the answer was a Hell No

The Parents were taken to a room to discuss finance and support of their student offspring .

I probably wore jeggings and boots and a warm coat and jumper .
Invisibility Blanket clothes , they will ignore you 😆

OnGoldenPond · 05/04/2025 09:36

Back in my day ( 1980s) no parents ever went to open days/ offer holder days. I remember staying in the halls of residence at Reading for one of them, too far away to do the lot in one day. I was mightily miffed to discover parental attendance was expected when it was DC’s turn 😀

Seriously, though, everyone just wears their most comfortable casual clothes. There’s a lot of walking involved so definitely comfortable shoes. And remember, it’s an offer holder day so even if you completely disgrace yourself your SC already have their place! 😊

Ecrire · 05/04/2025 09:38

I read the OP and thought oooh I’ll know - from my last 15 years of being the academic at open days - and guess what? I cannot remember one bit what any parent wore at any of my last 15 years of open days.

that’s your answer right there

TizerorFizz · 05/04/2025 09:46

@OnGoldenPond At KCL there won’t be that much walking on an offer holder day. Mostly events are in your department and the underground takes you to halls if not near the university. Public transport really helps avoid excessive walking. It’s central London!

Hoppinggreen · 05/04/2025 09:46

DD asked us to go to hers.
I think I wore trousers, trainers and a tshirt with a cardi over, DH probably wore jeans and a clean tshirt with a coat that wasn't his dog walking one - I know this because I made him swap it for one that wasn't as minging!
We really enjoyed it and found it pretty useful, my tip would be feel free to ask questions as long as they are actual questions you want to know the answer to and not just an attempt to show how oh so special your child is.