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Looking polished and in control of our appearance is one way many mothers defend themselves against a society that has become so image conscious.

The pressure placed on mothers at school drop off has resulted in many feeling anxious and stressed. The morning is usually a frantic time; of sandwich making, shoelace tying and deciding what needs to be bought for dinner. Many mums feeling they need to wake up extra early to get ready and dress like a celebrity for school drop off.

Mums if you look around you will see most mothers are just like you – frazzled and in need of sisterly support. As an image consultant I like to tell mothers that your appearance needs to express your personality and individuality. It needs to be easy and not take to much time. We would all like to look and feel fabulous everyday but only if it fits into our schedule.

As mothers we should be uniting rather than trying to live up to celebrity expectation of immaculate designer clothes and platform heels.

Are you a mother who simply wishes to arrive at the school gate without being labelled a:

  • Career mum
  • Mum who is trying to hard
  • Trendy mum
  • Athletic mum
  • Mum who does not dress her age
  • Mum who wants to be invisible

The key is to make dressing in the morning simple and effortless. You can do that by owning your school drop off style and being proud of it. Here are some tips on how to look and most importantly feel fabulous about who you are:

  1. Remember each and every other mother probably has had the same chaotic morning or day.
  2. Style comes from within so confidence and self-esteem is important.
  3. Build a wardrobe around your best colours. – A well colour co-ordinated wardrobe will make getting dressed in the morning will be much easier.
    1. Start with foundation colours – black, brown, navy, charcoal, beige,
    2. Add personality by adding extra colour with accessories, scarves or shoes. Colours such as red, orange, purple, pink and yellow.
  4. Wear a maximum of three colours – primary colour, secondary colour and a dash of a third.
  5. Keep the look simple yet stylish– Choose jeans and top skirt and top or a great wrap dress, they are always in fashion and easy to wear.
  6. Have one personality grabber – To have an effortless stylish look have one focal point, which may be a necklace, scarf, shoes or boots.
  7. Be practical – Wear shoes that are easy to walk (run) in. Often you will be chasing your school child down the street or in the playground – 6inch platform heels are not practical.
  8. Have a great 3/4 coat – Now that we are coming into the colder seasons a great accessory is a coat. A trendy ¾ coat is a great piece that will keep you current and hide the track pants.
  9. Carry small bag – If you have primary children chances are you will be carrying their school bag or books. Carry a small shoulder bag that holds a wallet, mobile and keys. This will stop you from doing the shuffle of wallet, mobile and keys in hand.
  10. Makeup – Is makeup essential? Well it will make you feel like you have made an effort and complete. Even if you are simply wearing powder, mascara and some lip-gloss. Remember it should be about how it makes you feel and if you feel great in it then do it.

As a mother you are often feel pressured to look “just right” for that school drop off because all the other mothers and teachers are watching. Don’t get caught up in the celebrity image expectation. Take the pressure off yourself by expressing your style and personality. Remember the best thing to wear is a friendly smile.

Do you have any tips to add for school drop off style?

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  • No wonder there is so much pressure on women these days – let’s just stop worrying about what others may or may not think and get on with our lives.

    Reply

  • Seriously. What would be useful would be an article promoting focussing on our (personal, children’s, communities’ and environment’s) mental and physical wellbeing that is achieved by “drop-off style” that is active transport…may be less time spend on image and more thought? Quite frankly, when I see parents driving a couple of blocks to drop kids off, I don’t care about their “style” (appearance), I just think they should re-think!

    Reply

  • Can not say I put to much thought into what I wear, I always go for what feels right

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  • yeah i would never go to the school in just my pyjamas but i have seen so many barefoot ladies doing this. i can’t judge because i think that they were just busy that morning

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  • As long as I feel comfortable and respectable, I couldn’t really care what others think. Practical with no dangling earrings or necklace, leave handbag in car and drop the kids off without too much of a hassle. Goodluck!

    Reply

  • not overly fussed how I look, I wouldn’t go with jammies or anything though lol, make somewhat of an effort. go to love school runs lol

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  • This is the best and most realistic style advice I have read in my life! I love the part about wearing a smile. If I have had to dash out of the house looking not great, I remind myself not to try to be invisible, but to smile and be friendly as usual.I have discovered that people mostly are thinking about how they look themselves anyway. Can we even remember what someone was wearing yesterday?

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  • from reading this article, i dread the morning run when my son is of school age.

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  • When you are as ugly as I am, it makes zero difference, so why bother!

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  • I’m really not too fussed with what other mothers think of my ‘style’..

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  • My wardrobe needs an overhaul

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  • love these tips for simpilizing, I will have to try and work them into my life

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  • Yep. Recognized all those labels.

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  • I don’t care what any one thinks of me. I see mums in pyjamas dropping their kids off. Does not worry me what people are wearing as long as they have clothes on.

    Reply

  • one thing I can say is that I don’t care about the other mums dress style I dress for me not for them

    Reply

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