Back to the school run: 7 practical but chic staples for easy early morning style

heidi klum
Heidi Klum opts for a classic shirt and jeans combo for a school run in New York in 2018 Credit: Getty 

After months in lockdown, schools have reopened across the UK which means that the school run is back on the daily to-do list. It’s been a while, so to make the return slightly easier, we've conjured up a list of practical pieces to wear if you're back on drop-off duty.

This isn’t about looking the most fashionable or trend-led at the school gates, however. Not least because the ‘new normal’ means dropping children off at a designated entrance and watching them bound in, rarely seeing any other parents in the process. Instead, this is about function. The pieces that you won’t need to iron at 7am when you’re on packed lunch duty, the comfy shoes that you can drive and run in, and the flattering skirt that means it won’t be a complete sartorial disaster should you spill your drink in the car. 

Here are the mix-and-match pieces you need in your arsenal:

The mom jeans 

best mom jeans

Mom jeans, £49.95, Gap; Paige cropped jeans, £245, Selfridges

Aptly named, sure, but the real genius is that mom jeans are flattering on all body types: with a comfy high-waist, loose on the thighs, tapered legs and slightly cropped, they should be a staple in your casual wardrobe.

It's been a while since we were in denim on an almost-daily basis, so ease in with a looser silhouette and a pair with at least 2% stretch. 

A roomy crossbody bag

best crossbody bags

A.P.C leather bag, £365, Matches Fashion; Shoreditch bag, £219, Kurt Geiger London; Iris bag, £1050, Mulberry 

A crossbody means you can go hands-free, and is easy to grab when you’re running out of the door. The smaller capacity means you’ll only pack the essentials so everything is easier to find. 

Look for one with inside pockets that could fit a cardholder, phone and keys, then a bigger section for other essentials. A.P.C’s classic designs will stand the test of time, and are the ideal size to take you straight to work afterwards. 

A warm shacket

best shackets

Corduroy shacket, £29.99, Zara; Denim shacket, £95, & Other Stories

If you’re heading straight to work from school, a blazer is an ideal cover-up, but if not, a soft shacket or utility jacket is a comfy, casual option that’ll work through autumn and into winter with considered base layers. 

A cotton number is likely the first that springs to mind, but heavier-duty denim or a slouchy corduroy number will be warmer. 

A short-sleeved knit

best short sleeved knits

Cashmere knit, £99, Cos; Navy knit, £115, American Vintage

Where a long-sleeved cashmere knit will feel too warm when you’re darting from front door to the car, or boiling hot if you’re walking or cycling to the school gate, a short-sleeved version is just right for this transeasonal period. 

Invest in a grey, navy or camel style and it’ll work with an array of bottoms, and over summer dresses to to take them into autumn. Always pair with the aforementioned shacket for layering perfection. 

Sleek trainers

best white trainers

Leather trainers, £195, ME+EM; Silver low tops, £149, Air & Grace; Adidas Stan Smith trainers, £42, Office

While Tevas and Birkenstocks have seen us through the sunny days, all you’ll do is sigh should you not have a fresh pedi to accompany as you throw them on to head off on the school drop. 

Instead, look to trainers. They work for warmer and cooler days, and with everything from floral dresses to smart suiting, so no faffing about in the morning. 

Chic sunglasses

best sunglasses

The Posh sunglasses, £125, Viu; Gucci chain sunglasses, £535, 24Sevres; Tortoiseshell sunglasses, £17.99, Mango

Unless you’re an early bird who revels in waking before the actual birds, running around pre-8am on a weekday calls for sunglasses. While they no doubt make a style statement, wearing sunglasses regardless of whether there’s a heatwave or not is an essential part of caring for your vision, particularly during bright and breezy early starts. 

Be sure to have a hard shell case to hand for when you throw them in the glove compartment or in your bag. 

A printed midi skirt

best midi skirts

Checked skirt, £28, Topshop; Printed skirt, £87, Ganni

Juggling your mobile phone, a bookbag, a small hand, cappuccino and car keys? Understandably, it could all take a turn for the worst. A midi skirt with a busy print (ideally, with pockets for said phone and keys) and that won’t show up any coffee stains as easily as a block-coloured option would, is ideal. 

Wraps are flattering, but be sure to choose one with an underlay, so that should the wrap blow up (and you have no free hands), you’re not flashing at the gates. 

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