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Original poster

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

239 replies

tulip27 · 28/08/2009 11:48

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?

OP posts:
hmc · 01/09/2009 21:34

I really don't think anyone cares what you wear at our school (local village school, circa 150 pupils) - unless you turned up in 'slut' clothes such as hot pants / a leather mini skirt or other 'racy' clobber....

hmc · 01/09/2009 21:36

And then we would be secretly pleased to have something scandalous to mull over...

blithedance · 01/09/2009 21:43

Yes the only odd look at our school gate (also a village) would be anyone who appeared to have made the effort solely for the occasion of the school run, as opposed to being on the way to work, or dressed-up being your normal look.

Are you sure the school-run look isn't just an urban myth dreamt up by bored mumsnetters flicking through the 15th Boden catalogue of the season?

FairyMum · 01/09/2009 21:48

i think as long as people brush their teeth.

UnquietDad · 01/09/2009 21:59

This is a real eye-opener to me. Do people actually get dressed in special clothes for the school run? How alarming.

at hmc. Actually there are one or two mums at our gate who I wish would turn up in "racy clobber" as you put it. There is one of about my age (thirty-ahem-ahem) who is blonde, wears black tights with leather biker jackets and hot boots and those denim skirts with - I'm not sure how to describe them, but sort of deliberately frayed-looking hems? She has, in the words of the song, got it going on. My goodness.

hmc · 01/09/2009 22:07

"i think as long as people brush their teeth."

Shit, sometimes I haven't even done that if I am in a particular rush that morning and am going home directly after school run (I will then brush my teeth at that point)

twelveyeargap · 01/09/2009 22:20

I seem to remember COD starting a thread in "style" about a Next summer shift dress that would be "great for the school run". Is that where the school-run-attire thing started? It was fairly tongue-in-cheek as I remember.

hmc · 01/09/2009 22:23

Indeed, indeed. She was barking at times but unique and kind of a lovable rogue

Ninks · 01/09/2009 22:46

Good idea about a smart-ish coat.

My top tip now that I have bobbed hair which needs blow-drying first thing is to buy some hats

MACKAT · 01/09/2009 23:20

We have a few super trendy mums, but they are like it all the time, no special effort for school, just very fashionable (not Boden, proper edgy fashion). There is at least one mum who bitches about them behind their backs. Not good. I try for clean, hair brushed , looking like I have some clue what is fashionable without looking daft, with some make up because it makes me feel better and more confident if I don't look pasty pale and scruffy.School run has given me opportunity to broaden my style as mix with lots of different mums with very different looks and stopped me getting in a rut. Some good inspiration in the playground!
Telling some friends about the trendy mums at my school, one said, "oh goodness it is not at all like that at our school". the others all fell about laughing and said " yes it is, that's you". She always looks immaculate, and had no idea that others were intimidated or even noticed that she looked more sophisticated than others.
As long as you are happy it doesn't matter. Our trendies are very happy to talk to us lesser mortals. And when it is raining its hood up on the Berghaus shell jacket regardless of style coz that is the practical option.Bottom line especially in reception is majority are eager to exchange a few words about how child is getting on, what teacher like etc and as long as you are confident enough to strike up that inituial conversation it all flows on, trendy or not

OurLadyOfPerpetualSupper · 01/09/2009 23:57

Someone chuck a bucket of water over UQD.

EachPeachPearMum · 02/09/2009 00:34

rofl@Noah... you have turned into Xenia

CotswoldMummy · 02/09/2009 00:36

I love this thread :-) I honestly cannot believe that people are taking this so seriously. Priceless..

I am a Mummy to a lovely son who is starting school tomorrow and if the rest of the Mums at the school gate cannot accept us for who we are then what sort of lesson is that sending out to our children. I cannot stand this sort of competitive behaviour. I dress fine, my family are great and if no-one wants to see beyond that then I despair.

Good luck everyone. It sounds like a tough old world out there in the primary playground!!

cherryblossoms · 02/09/2009 00:54

There's no fashion parade at my dc school . There are a couple of people whose dress sense I like but really ... no.

It's odd, really. I wish there was a little more of a sense of mums waking up, running over to their wardrobes, flinging the doors wide and exclaiming (to no-one in particular,) "What do you think God wants me to wear today?"

Having said that, I'm not going to be the one to turn the tide. I'm not a morning person and find I can barely stumble to the school on time, let alone get together a conceptually-interesting, rocking outfit or even "groomed".

I always think it's rather lovely when people dress in ways that catch your attention and give a little visual pleasure. It's a little fairy-dust in a sometimes dull world.

TheScatterGunApproach · 02/09/2009 09:09

I love it when people open a thread specifically because it is about something of no interest to them and posts only to tell us all that as far as they are concerned this thread is a great big waste of their time.

I myself don't even brush my hair on non-work days - but I shall defend to the death my right to be shallow!!

Starbear · 02/09/2009 09:53

Bravo!

Lizzylou · 02/09/2009 09:59

@ UQD

There is a Mom who must be about to give birth now, she has looked amazing throughout her pg, effortlessly cool and chic even in linen trews and T-shirts. I think that this has been helped by her being under 30, slim with just a cute bump, very pretty with thick lustrous blonde hair.

So far removed from what I looked like pg, indeed now.

MrsPuddleduck · 02/09/2009 10:10

I have recently discovered that one of the perfectly preened Mums from DS1's class is the Bounty Lady who comes around the hopsital when you look like shit taking photos of your baby. I am due on 14th Oct. I can hardly wait.

Starbear · 02/09/2009 10:15

What a fab job, only if she does the make-up as well and makes you look better in the photo than your DH taking your photo with a mouth full of water and you gown half open showing your bum. Wish she came over to me and sorted me out. I might do that when I retire make mums look good after the birth of their kid.

MrsPuddleduck · 02/09/2009 10:18

Starbear - what a great idea - most new mums would love you for it!

Starbear · 02/09/2009 10:21

Business plan being written now! Oh! I could sell it to mum at the school gate! Make-over and take photos at the school gates to show Daughter-in-laws that they were really rocking as a mum!

MaggieVirgo · 02/09/2009 18:45

I don't understand the get back to work comments...
this stuff is worse at work.

mums at my school gate also from the roll out of bed brigade.

Just choose your coat well, a coat is expensive anyway, so why wouldn't you choose a nice one.?

MaggieVirgo · 02/09/2009 18:45

I don't understand the get back to work comments...
this stuff is worse at work.

mums at my school gate also from the roll out of bed brigade.

Just choose your coat well, a coat is expensive anyway, so why wouldn't you choose a nice one.?

BonsoirAnna · 02/09/2009 19:43

Thread mentioned in today's Telegraph

CybilLiberty · 02/09/2009 19:44

OMG they mentioned my Leopard trench coat. Everyone will know it's me. I sound like right Bet Lynch now.