What to wear to parent social

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a meet and greet for parents on a weekday evening.

What should I wear?

A. Business casual dress (theory)
B. Floral and colorful (lily pulitzer/zimmerman)
C. Black cocktail dress (Alice Olivia)
D. Fitted top with a skirt or nice shorts
E. Button down with leggings and heels

If it matters, I don’t work so I will be coming from home, not work. I mostly wear athleisure and dresses. I do have a closet full of many dresses. I don’t want to look like I’m trying too hard for a meet and greet.

Who wears heels with leggings?

Unemployed country club ladies who think Lily Pulitzer is still in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a meet and greet for parents on a weekday evening.

What should I wear?

A. Business casual dress (theory)
B. Floral and colorful (lily pulitzer/zimmerman)
C. Black cocktail dress (Alice Olivia)
D. Fitted top with a skirt or nice shorts
E. Button down with leggings and heels

If it matters, I don’t work so I will be coming from home, not work. I mostly wear athleisure and dresses. I do have a closet full of many dresses. I don’t want to look like I’m trying too hard for a meet and greet.

Who wears heels with leggings?

Unemployed country club ladies who think Lily Pulitzer is still in.

Lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:B (not Lily Pulitzer,

Mthough) or D. Put E away for the long haul---it's a very dated look.

Op here. I haven’t worn E in years. I do wear lots of lily though to the beach and pool.

I will just wear a simple black or gray dress and call it a day.

Are you a much older mom? Dont think I’ve seen people wearing that much Lily in years.

my child’s 20 something single teacher moonlighted there and loved their stuff. I couldn’t believe it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Definitely no lily!

I think you'd be fine in A or D and I'd probably choose D.

Yes please no Lily! Yikes. Who does that.

She must be from the South - sometimes they post here for some reason. Plus the leggings and heels option. Being on trend isn’t a thing there.

[Anonymous]

Since this thread has been revived and some people found the general advice helpful, I'll post what people wore to the welcome reception for my kids' school (I'm not OP). Overall, people were pretty casual. Some summer dresses and some work clothes. A few people were very casual, e.g. shorts and t-shirts.

I wore a nicer-than-average but not dressy summer dress with wedges and fit in fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Definitely no lily!

I think you'd be fine in A or D and I'd probably choose D.

Yes please no Lily! Yikes. Who does that.

She must be from the South - sometimes they post here for some reason. Plus the leggings and heels option. Being on trend isn’t a thing there.

I’m actually from the north who has been spending more time in the south.

I admit I am not a trendy person. I do have a very large closet full of clothes I don’t wear. I just buy what I like.

I went to the school store in my more comfortable athleisure clothing. I did think the moms looked older again. I don’t know if they are actually older or just look older. It seems less to do with what people are wearing and they just look kind of old.

[Anonymous]

For reference, I’m in my forties and still very fit and look like I’m still in my thirties. These women looked like they are all 50-60 years old.

[Anonymous]

Op again. The women probably are older. I’m not trying to offend anyone. I had my kids in my early thirties. This is upper school so these women likely are in their fifties, especially if they have older kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op again. The women probably are older. I’m not trying to offend anyone. I had my kids in my early thirties. This is upper school so these women likely are in their fifties, especially if they have older kids.

That makes sense. I don’t think anyone is offended by you saying they look older. I have two kids - had one in my early 30s and another in my early 40s. I am sure I will look old to the other moms when my youngest is in high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let’s be real. The reason the dress matters is because we are all pretty judgy these days and private schools probably always have been.

Most people try to be neutral so that their clothes don’t slot them into a stereotype before they’ve found their peeps.

Can’t go wrong with business casual.

Lily Pulitzer can be off putting. It’s offers up a country club clueless vibe.

The women who try too hard by wearing expensive designers to meet and greet also stereotype themselves.

It’s especially déclassé to talk about what you’re wearing.

Way to add more anxiety to the situation. Are you really googling everyone when you leave?

I mean, I already did that from the directory
Lily probably would have been the most like my everyday self since that is what we wear to our country club pool.

I ended up wearing a dressy black dress and probably tried harder than others.

I was surprised how old and frumpy most of the moms were. They definitely came not caring.

I’m probably one of those old frumpy moms you disparaged. I had my kids later after establishing myself at the top of my profession.

Shocking to you, I’m sure, but many women find Lily Pulitzer loud and ugly with no redeeming qualities. If that is where your everyday self is, it’s no wonder you found the majority of women “frumpy.”

Restrained elegance requires a discerning eye. Which anyone who loves Lily Pulitzer sorely lacks.

Same, I’m 50 and don’t wear loud colors or fitted sheathes. But if you Google my name after the parent social you’ll see my professional accomplishments in national newspapers. Not everyone wants to be known for their Lily dresses as a stay at home mom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For reference, I’m in my forties and still very fit and look like I’m still in my thirties. These women looked like they are all 50-60 years old.

60? What were they wearing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a meet and greet for parents on a weekday evening.

What should I wear?

A. Business casual dress (theory)
B. Floral and colorful (lily pulitzer/zimmerman)
C. Black cocktail dress (Alice Olivia)
D. Fitted top with a skirt or nice shorts
E. Button down with leggings and heels

If it matters, I don’t work so I will be coming from home, not work. I mostly wear athleisure and dresses. I do have a closet full of many dresses. I don’t want to look like I’m trying too hard for a meet and greet.

You sound dull. Once people figure out you don’t work, they will not want to continue any conversation. At least, that’s what I do. Once I ask what you do and you say you don’t work,
I immediately start scanning the room for other opportunities.

You sound awful. I’m an accomplished lawyer, but I would never assume that a SAHP is dull and not worth my time. It’s the arrogant, self-important people I try hardest to avoid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a meet and greet for parents on a weekday evening.

What should I wear?

A. Business casual dress (theory)
B. Floral and colorful (lily pulitzer/zimmerman)
C. Black cocktail dress (Alice Olivia)
D. Fitted top with a skirt or nice shorts
E. Button down with leggings and heels

If it matters, I don’t work so I will be coming from home, not work. I mostly wear athleisure and dresses. I do have a closet full of many dresses. I don’t want to look like I’m trying too hard for a meet and greet.

You sound dull. Once people figure out you don’t work, they will not want to continue any conversation. At least, that’s what I do. Once I ask what you do and you say you don’t work,
I immediately start scanning the room for other opportunities.

You sound awful.

Agree - what a mean spirited thing to say and what a nasty way to think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Since this thread has been revived and some people found the general advice helpful, I'll post what people wore to the welcome reception for my kids' school (I'm not OP). Overall, people were pretty casual. Some summer dresses and some work clothes. A few people were very casual, e.g. shorts and t-shirts.

I wore a nicer-than-average but not dressy summer dress with wedges and fit in fine.

NP. This was my experience as well and we are new to the private school scene ourselves. One lily dress and she was probably in her late 30s, definitely not the norm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For reference, I’m in my forties and still very fit and look like I’m still in my thirties. These women looked like they are all 50-60 years old.

What grade?