So who is dreading the school gate 'fashion parade' ?

[tulip27]

My ds starts school next wk and it seems to be that all the parents I have seen in the last few years look immaculate, fashionable and trendy, almost like they have stepped from the boden catalouge. Will my jeans and jumper surfice?

depends on whthe they are stripey PJ's or not
I've worn PJ's under my abaya which then flapped open to show the whole world my very old and untrendy PJ's

your kids obviously go to the wrong schools

we only have office working mums, wearing usual smart trousres/skirt, smart shoes/boots, suit etc

and SAHMs wearing jeans, rain jackets etc

no glam mums here

Aren't all of us here today "too much timers" really?

The time we all spend on here, we could look like Lily Savage if we put our minds towards makeup!

JJ

I get the opposite actually.
I care about my appearance and dress tidily when I pick up dc, but some of the other mums make comments (light hearted) when I walk past. It is all just silly.

Our school has so many different types, from goths to horseys (gillets and wellies). We are surrounded by farmland though, so they are expected.

I wanted to say how happy I was that you ordered the bikers jacket tulpe ! You even have me thinking of getting one. Oh, wont that just f*ck off some of the mums at the school gates?!

i dont think there is anything wrong with trying to look nice when picking up from school etc the scruffy types always go on about how they "dont care" well they must or they wouldnt go on about it all the time bin your fleece and feel a hundred times better(colder admittedly)sp?

I think the scruffy types go on about it cos people sneer or look. Its very wearing sometimesnot caring about clothes. Had MIL asking me when I intended to cover the grey appearingin my hair. I don't.

i think its very wrong to sneer at someone for being scruffy but i am just saying when you do make an effort you feel better in yourself when ive got on my Boden cardigan i could take on the world a bit ott i know but it is amazing how different i feel when i am dressed nicely(horrible word)i can outstare the starers if you see what i mean

ahem. we look nice for ourselves. don't we?

i usually look scruffy. when i make the effort to look good on a week day it is FOR ME not for anyone else. makes me feel better about myself.

if you're as envious as your OP suggests then do something about that: either stop caring and feeling resentful of them, or make an effort to feel better about yourself...

what a waste of life dreading this!!!

Ok then help me to smarten up, where apart from Boden can I shop? All links appreciated.

do you want to 'smarten up'? what makes you feel good when you wear it?

me, coming into autumn is skinny jeans and nice knitwear/dress on top depending on weather. not smart.

and it's more about washing my hair than clothes!!!

don't be intimidated...

shops i like are H&M, comptoir des cottoniers, occasionally topshop and lots of zara.

the only one online is topshop i think.

[i hate boden]

Now you've got me worried......

DS1 starting school next week, am I to be hung, drawn and quartered at the school gate for wearing my walking trousers, fleece and waterproof?! Please say 'no' as the other options are PJs or birthday suit

it's a real mix at my dd's school. The ones who are really fashionable and/or well groomed always are/were/will be. Theyre not doing it to show you up!

It was worse at work I thought because, with the school mums, I feel it's back to being proud of a bargain again.

At work I always felt poor that I couldn't afford jigsaw, whistles and karen millen.

I think the point is feeling good about yourself. Whether you wear Boden or a fleece and jeans, as long as you are comfortable with what you are. I wear decent clothes and makeup, but it might just because I look like the undead without my slap.

The problem is that the mums who don't make an effort slate the mums who do and vice versa. The school gate can be very petty at times.

Just stroll up and don't worry about any cliques. They do exist at some schools, but more often than not everyone gets along.

Maybe that is just where I live though.

Oh I LOVE the school gate fashion parade! It's hilarious!

Just change schools to mine, all the mums (including me) just look like they've rolled out of bed 5 mins before!

There are about 6 who bother at dc's school. Ds' friend's father and me always watch out for the backless top/dress with barbed wire tattoo down her spine; my days slightly spoilt if I miss it

heated!

God you must all live in another part of the country to me.

Mrs Badger my mum once dropped me off at school in her PJs. I was about 12. It was the most humiliating day of my life up to that point.

There was a mum at our old school who wore really (really) tight white leggings and midriff baring tops all the time. The leggings were too small and stretched way beyond what was decent. The red thong underneath was a nice touch too.

And she always smelled of alcohol!

Er... Sophable, that isn't you, is it?

What a lot of twaddle

Either you are imagining this

Or, if you are not imagining this then it's a game you shouldn't play, because clearly it's not a game you're enjoying

Just seen JolieJolie's post.

I meant you're not the one in the backless top/dress with barbed wire tattoo down the spine, are you, Sophable?

Not a lush in see-through leggings

...although I reckon being the 2nd one could be more fun