School Gate Style

It was George's first day at school on Wednesday. It went rather well. There were no tears, no tantrums, just  a hug and a big boy wave bye bye when the Grumps and I left him there in the classroom. Awwww. My baby's growing up.

I very briefly contributed to an interesting conversation about the pressures being felt by some mothers to look good for the school run. This reminded me of the rumpus online last year regarding a certain Daily Mail article about fashionable mums who blog. Some of the comments were quite vitriolic about these mums who were deemed to have too much time on their hands and were considered to be vain and cared more about what they look like than their children. I was quite surprised at how much furore the topic generated actually - I'd only just started blogging myself and did wonder what kind of minefield I was going to be getting myself in. I didn't really think that people thought about it that much or could feel so strongly about the matter. I always thought that most women who liked to dress "nicely" did it for their own self esteem and to feel good about themselves - like they did before they had children. If it was a part of them before, who says you've got to stop caring what you look like after you've had children? Anyway, my rather rubbish contribution to the whole conversation went along the lines of "I didn't really notice what any of the other mums were wearing on my school run today". Strange coming from a person who loves clothes but basically I had other priorities such as getting George settled in his class and that Ben was in the right line for his new class year. On another day, I might look more and think - ooh nice boots on that lady! But very rarely do I think, there goes a woman who looks after herself and not her kids. Anyway, moving swiftly on  ....

Did I wear anything special for the school run? No. I wore old clothes which I felt happy and comfy in.

Primark blouse, New Look jeans, Zara sandals (all old).

The £6 Primark blouse I bought post first pregnancy, has paid for itself many times over. This is an old faithful and I always feel good in it. If you take a good look at your own clothes, how many clothes do you actually own which you can just pop on and makes everything fall in to place? Some clothes give instant impact but you struggle a little maybe with the fit, the colour or the design but this blouse, I pop it on and it just works. Same with my Whistles chopped down dress top and same with my Aubin & Wills Annaside top. Simple tops which just work. They have enough about them to hold their own. Treasure them and love them and never ever forget to wear them.

The old New Look jeans came back out to play. I've tried on so many boyfriend jeans this year trying to get a pair which could replace these and all have failed. Let's just stick with what we have. Why was I looking in the first place? I was worried they would wear out. That's a genuine worn to death rip there across that knee.

And a pair of nude coloured sandals to show off the Chanel Elixir'd toes.

For the afternoon school run, I added the owl bag as I knew there would be book bags, drinks bottles, gym bags and jumpers to be carried by good old muggins me. Well it was the first day after all, but they can carry their own from now on. Get them started young, I say ;o)

Primark Owl Tote (current)

To all the mums out there - hope you all had a good first day/week back at school. 

------------------------------

Last note : 

• Credit to the boys' school - they laid on teas, coffees and tissues for all the new teary new starter parents. Awww.

• Some good came out of that Daily Mail article. I found some wonderful blogging ladies who I have been lucky enough to meet in real life. Hi Avril (I couldn't resist stealing your moniker for this blog post), hi Kat, hi Beth, hi Lucy.