Can the way we dress as parents influence our children?

Conscious dressing has a huge impact on our confidence and children can pick up on that. Award winning Personal Stylist and founder of One of a Style, Stefania Bartolomei examines the recent trend of parents dropping their children of at the school gates wearing their pyjamas.

As a consequence of the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic, loungewear became a staple in all our wardrobes, and style went out of the window.  But the late Karl Lagerfeld once      said, “sweatpants are a sign of defeat,” but with parents’ home schooling their offspring’s, many turned to their loungewear for comfort as they taught their children’s daily lessons.

It seems that as this penchant for relaxed style has continued; real-life has ramped up again. One primary school in Middlesbrough, Teesside, has even pleaded with parents not to turn up wearing pyjamas and dressing gowns at the school gates.

London-based personal stylist, Stefania, believers the way parents dress for certain activities can influence their children, and parents can look stylish on the school run with minimal effort required. With a background in fashion, design and product development, Stefania founded One of a Style as a way to make styling more accessible to everyone, by focusing on the qualities that make each client unique rather than what is currently considered fashionable.

Since the pandemic, she’s seen a huge shift in attitude towards personal style. “Over the last few months, I’ve seen a huge increase in demand for my services – even more so than since before the pandemic – from women wanting to create a new casual style,” Stefania says.

But how can you make school drops practical and easy for a busy parent whilst maintaining standards? Here, Stefania explains and offers her advice.

So, how can parents prepare their clothing for the school run easily?

Keeping a wardrobe tidy and organised in capsules (work/leisure/evenings) is a perfect strategy. It means you know where to pick which clothing item, even when you are in a rush. When a wardrobe is well organised, it is easy and more efficient to dress, every time and in every circumstance. This is my top tip, but also when you know your morning is going to be hectic, preparing your clothes the evening before is effective.

Why has there been an increase in parents wearing pyjamas at the school gates?  

Due to the pandemic, we have gone for a long time without dressing up or focusing on ourselves and our appearance. But, for many parents (especially working parents who still work from home), getting back to a dressing routine can be very probably challenging. So, keeping their pyjamas on and feeling comfortable at their home desk has perhaps become a habit and, maybe, also a priority.

We have witnessed a recent trend in pyjama wearing. Is there a way that pyjamas can be acceptable or even fashionable? 

I don’t think so. Pyjamas were born to keep us warm and comfy in our beds and sleep. They’re not meant to be worn outside. There are many comfortable leisure clothes options these days, and especially during the pandemic, the purchase of leisurewear have multiplied. So do we need to keep our pyjamas on? It’s not just about the way we look to others but also, and foremost I’d personally say, about the way we feel. Many of us have probably become lazy and find it difficult now to make an effort and change clothes, but it is something we should do for ourselves. It makes a difference on our self-confidence; we cannot deny that.

Can you recommend any outfits/colours that can be singled out for the school run? 

As a mum myself, who knows about the school run, I personally go for my most casual clothes, which I also love to wear and make it easy to move (or sometimes chase my little one) while still looking great: jeans (skinny for me), a t-shirt, my favourite hoodie (rigorously in one of my best colours) or a cosy colourful jumper, and trainers. Now that the weather is getting cooler, I wear a coat on top; it gives that “smart casual” look that is always great.

Why is it essential to consider what you are wearing at the school gates and during activities with our children?  

School gates and other activities we attend with our children are places where we meet other parents, children and teachers. Whether we like it or not, they are places of exchange and network, where the way we present ourselves affects how others perceive us. Therefore, we should really make an effort to look presentable and “friendly”.  The way we dress also influences how our children see us.

How can ‘conscious’ dressing impact on your confidence, wellbeing and influence your children?  

Conscious dressing has a huge impact on our confidence, which sets an excellent example for our offspring. From a tiny bit of makeup to wearing a top in a colour that suits us can make us look fresher, to wear a whole outfit that makes us feel good has an incredible effect on our wellbeing and self-confidence, which we can transfer to our children. This is why I’ve constantly encouraged people during the pandemic not to give up on their beauty and dressing routine. Primarily for not feeling down and do something for themselves, which is ALWAYS good for the soul and sets a good example to our children who look up to us.

Avery Parker