Dressed to impress

Now that we're well into the year, my drive to work involves passing lots of little people marching to school in matching outfits, and that got me thinking back to my time as a be-uniformed youngster, many moons ago.

The wearing of the green and white checked uniform at my primary school was optional, but with four kids at the same school at the same time I guess it just made sense for mum to bundle us all up in uniform. Can you imagine her mornings if she didn't?

At one point mum went to the UK and managed to find a couple of dresses for us two younger ones that were green and white checked, but a totally different shade of green than what was on the official uniform fabric. Our new dresses also featured buttons, a plain white collar, and they tied at the waist.

The official uniform more or less resembled a sack with armholes, so looking back I suppose our dresses were much prettier than what we would've otherwise been wearing, but that wasn't really the point. Everyone was wearing one thing and we wear wearing something else - as a kid that's embarrassing, no matter how pretty your dress may be.

I should also mention that in winter mum would send us off to school wearing hats that comprised loops of wool all sticking out of a bonnet-style base, which essentially made us look like we were sporting bright white Afros.  Go ahead, point and laugh, everybody else did.

Despite being challenged in the schoolwear department, as a wee Jane I was acutely aware of what was cool in the fashion stakes and through the constant nagging of my parents and bargaining with my older sisters I managed to acquire the following items of clothing:

Black Lycra bike shorts with fluoro-green panels down the side of each thigh
Black kung-fu slip-ons
A white Ra-Ra skirt
Reebok sneakers
A Fido Dido T-shirt
Whitewash jeans from Shanton
Pink Jellies
A thick black fabric headband (worn covering the hairline where it meets the forehead)

To be fair, as the fifth of five girls I was thrilled when I got anything brand new, and if my parents ever splashed out on some high fashion from Farmers I would shower them with over-dramatic kisses and thankyou's before trying to take advantage of their generosity by suggesting we go to Georgie Pie for dinner.

When I got to high school, uniform was compulsory and the rules were strict so fortunately Mum was forbidden to try to coax us into something similar-but-not-quite-the-same as what all the other kids were wearing.

With every student dressed in the exact same outfit, the only way to prove we knew what was cool was by sporting one of the following school bags:

Jansport backpack
Country Road canvas tote bag
Reebok backpack with drawstring top and zipped compartment at the base

Then of course outside of school we were all in Glassons, with the occasional sprinkling of Sportsgirl and Esprit (preferably with the label emblazoned in plain view) and perhaps something from Principals for the sixth form ball.

A lot has changed since my school days. Right now I go by the general rule: if it fits I'll wear it. Now that I'm an old lady, no one seems to care where I bought my clothes, how much they cost, and if they're brand new or second hand. I guess I can finally throw out that Nike "Just Do It" T-shirt.

What were you guys wearing as you grew up? Did you feel under any pressure to don certain styles or brands?

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