I was thrilled to be asked, along with Abi @stealmystyleat40 to share my top 5 style tips on School Run Chic dressing by the most wonderful ladies over at Betty Loves. We chatted all things style, school, accessories and fashion at Betty Loves and of course my tips, here they add their spin on it, and I have to say it’s pretty fabulous. Here is their article “Top 5 Tips On How To Look Great On The School Run… In Minutes”
BL’s; It’s 7.55am and you’ve got to leave in 5 minutes. The children are up and dressed, they’ve eaten a hearty breakfast and look like perfection in their clean uniforms. Meanwhile, you’ve barely had time to brush your hair or finish your morning caffeine fix, and as you stagger out of the house, school bags, PE kits and lunchboxes over your shoulder, you look down and realise you’re still wearing your …. slippers?! Let’s get School Run Chic nailed!
If this is you, then we hear you. We’ve all been there, and what makes it worse is that as you pull into that precious parking spot that it’s taken nearly 10 minutes to find – and tick tock no doubt your ears will be ringing with “But we’ll be late Mum!” – it happens. There they are. The glossy, glamorous set who glide out of the car, head to toe fabulous, chic accessory in hand and equally well-groomed children in tow.
How on earth do they do it, and how can you look equally effortlessly stylish in a matter of minutes? We’ve asked top stylist Victoria Hamilton Style & style influencer Abi (stealmystyle40 ) for their advice, and we have put together these top tips to help ensure you’re fashion-forward and uber-cool on the school run:
1.THINK COLOUR
No, don’t just resort to head to toe black. Have your colours checked (believe us, you’ll save a lot of time and money by ensuring you’re wearing the right colour tones for you) and pick a bold colour from your colour palette for your coat or jacket.
Colourful outerwear such as a poncho or blazer will brighten up any outfit and will always give maximum style for zero effort.
2. DON’T COMPROMISE STYLE FOR COMFORT
If – like Carrie Bradshaw – 6 inch heels are your thing, then go for it. If like the other 99% of the population they’re not, then stick to flats or trainers. Stylish trainers are everywhere just now and look great teamed with a floral dress or skirt, or your favourite jumpsuit or jeans. These zebra print trainers from John Lewis are perfect for adding some glamour to your outfit.
3. ACCESSORISE, ACCESSORISE, ACCESSORISE
When it comes to quick style enhancements, nothing beats the power of a gorgeous accessory or two (or three!) The right piece can lift your outfit and hide a multitude of sins.
Our top stylist tips here are two items:
Firstly, a good quality shoulder bag or a highly practical cross-body bag, such as the popular tan messenger bag which also leaves you hands free for when you have to make that perilous crossing with your precious ones.
Secondly, add a stunning scarf or blanket wrap. They’ll be everywhere this season and are a fantastic way to glam up any look.
To be honest, you only need one gorgeous accessory to make you look and feel alive and bright on the school run. The right piece can lift your outfit and hide a multitude of sins.
4. PREPARATION, PREPARATION, PREPARATION
The mantra here is to plan ahead. Take the stress out of getting dressed by planning what you are going to wear the night before (check this fab planner out!)
But if this isn’t you, and you simply don’t have the time to think ahead, then what can you do? How can you avoid staring into the abyss that is your wardrobe, panicking that you’ve absolutely nothing to wear and donning the first thing you find, only to regret it as soon as you’ve jumped in the car? Is there a way you can ensure that even on the busiest of school run mornings, you can just grab and put on any combination, knowing it will look fabulous?! Don’t worry, this isn’t as impossible as it sounds. Once you have your colours analyzed, you’ll know what suits you and can plan the perfect wardrobe, where everything goes together. Combine your new knowledge with some wardrobe de-cluttering, throwing out anything you haven’t worn for a while (and let’s face it, there are bound to be items in there that you’ve never worn).
Be ruthless, and really think about how your outfits go together. Don’t just wear everything the same way you did 10 years ago. Your shape will have changed, so that oversized jumper won’t look as good if you’re no longer stick-thin, but embrace those newfound motherhood curves and add a waist cinching belt and you’ll be warm, comfy and bang on trend for the fashionistas at the school gates.
5. ALWAYS BE YOU
This is perhaps the most important tip we can give you. Don’t let the latest trend or what other people are wearing in the playground determine your style IF it’s not your style. Gucci sliders and an Adidas tracksuit might suit the youngest Mum in the playground, but if it’s not your style then you could end up looking like Edina from Ab Fab! So wear for you and be forever you, always.
Lastly, don’t shy away from investing in something that makes you feel fabulous. As Mums, we often think of ourselves last when spending money. But even if you’re on a tight budget, just a slick of lippy can work wonders to brighten up your look; or even just some affordable statement jewellery to finish off your outfit.
We’d like to end our post with a few words of wisdom from the influencer and style guru, Abi @stealmystyle40. We asked her how she manages to look so stylish on the school run, and she gave us this gem of a response:
“I revert back to my basic mum uniform of jeans/blazer/trainers with a tee or jumper underneath most mornings! It’s a fail-safe combination for me and it’s comfortable but looks a bit more put together than just chucking on my jumper and jeans. Don’t get me wrong, I do also wear jumpers and jeans but with that look I’ll always try and elevate it with some jewellery or fun trainers/a bright bag just so it gives the impression I have tried a bit harder.
I also make a conscious effort to mix it up if I see I have been in jeans all week for example and I’ll pull out a skirt or dress to change up my look.
Ultimately style is very individual. I like clothes and if I love my outfit it can make me feel more confident inside, but that’s just me. (Although I think there has been research into the links between clothes and emotions and how women are particularly susceptible to this). Comfort is key for me and I’m rarely in heels in the daytime, tending to favour trainers. At the end of the day it’s not about what you wear, it’s about how you choose to wear it.”
Hope these expert tips have helped take some of the stress out of the start of your school day. We’d love to know what you think, so connect with us today on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. If you’re interested in updating your look, then check out our beautiful range of accessories and glam up your look with Betty Loves!
Be forever you, always
Victoria