School Run fashion

According to a poll conducted by Debenhams, six in ten moms feel pressure to dress to impress whilst doing the school run. More than 1/3 wear  heels when they are walking/driving their little ones to school. On average,  they spend one hour and 15 minutes getting ready to drop the kids off. Why is the school run now a fashion event?

When I started to do the school run, I started off going in jeans and flat shoes – even travelling by car we could still have a ten minute walk due to the parking situation.  I was amazed at  just how some of the moms were dressed. Tight skinny jeans, teamed with high heels and Rick Owens style leather jackets seemed to be the norm for some of the moms, with glossy Cheryl Cole hair and a full face of that clever barely there make up. I felt quite dowdy in my jeans,flats, scraped back hair and no make-up look, although I have to say I had lots of allies in my dressed down-ness, and did also appreciate that lots of the smarter, glam mom’s were also then heading straight to work.

I have since decided that the school run yummy mummy’s are split into two distinct categories. Allow me to introduce them to you.

The Claudia

The Claudia mom follows the perfectly groomed example of Claudia Schiffer. From the top of her glossy hair to the tips of her heeled shoes or boots, the Claudia treated the school run as another catwalk appearance. Vintage, Markus Lupfer luxurious knits are about as casual as the Claudia ever gets. Elle McPherson was another honoured member of this group. She even wore red leather trousers to do the school run. These mommy’s are  never without sunglasses, even if it is a wet Wednesday morning.

The Liv

The Liv follows the example of the lovely Liv Tyler. The school run is when you drop the kids off at school, not a photo opportunity. Therefore, warmth and comfort are the name of the game. chunky knits, flat shoes and Ugg boots all make an appearance. Jeans can be boyfriend style rather than skinny, even converse pumps can make an appearance. SJP is a member of this group, with her cute beanie hats and Ugg boots. These women still wear the inappropriate sunnies…but they are celebrities after all!

The Debenhams poll cited that 39% of women cited competition with other moms as the reason for the glamorous school gates look. Clearly, the Claudia’s have a lot to answer for. 13% dress to impress the hot single dads,whilst 37% admit that they change straight back into something more comfortable when they get home.

So, which mommy are you? Do you paint your nails before you leave for the school run, or are you dragging something from the bedroom floor whilst trying to  get the kids to brush their teeth? Whether you’re a Claudia pounding the playground catwalk, or a Liv kicking a football with the kids, the school run promises to remain an interesting and fashionable experience for all involved in it.

Sharing is caring!