Mums Don’t Despair! Check Out The School Gate Style

You’re a mum, you’re constantly on the go and, to your absolute disgust, you realise you spend most of your day in the car or at home cleaning up. Your love for style has been forgotten somewhere amongst the dirty socks and snotty-nosed children…

But don’t despair fashion lovers, you’re probably hitting the new catwalk every day without even realising it yet.

It is…the school gate.

And it’s not even September yet, so you have plenty of time to get sorted and up-to-date with this Belfast fashion blogger’s style advice.

With her practical, yet flattering, style tips, stay-at-home mum Avril Keys has become an online sensation with her blog, School Gate Style.

The 38-year-old posts her school run attire daily, after dropping her three kids, Gemma, Katie and Calum, off in the morning time. She rates the merits of everything she wears, and shows how she teams all sorts of accessories with her high street buys.  

The reason Avril’s blog has become a daily fashion bible for a lot of mums is the fact that this woman is both budget-conscious and style-savvy, and her own style is the perfect balance of the two.

Avril tells readers she is always on hand for any advice they may need too. She is a bit like a click-of-the-button stylist, who says only celebrities can have them?

Avril brings her blog everywhere with her, a typical post is this one below.

It is a day out with the kids, including a ferry-ride where she attempts to keep them from jumping over the edge, a day most women may choose to throw on the most practical, but not the most stylish, thing in their wardrobes. But why do so? Avril asks. The Belfast woman stresses we cannot wait around for a special occasion to show off our personal style, we should showcase our fashion every day.

For now, with the kids’ first day back to school only around the corner, check out Avril’s top school-gate style tips…

1. Trench coat/belted Mac

Avril thinks every mum should have one. She believes it transforms the most ordinary outfit into a chic ‘pulled together’ look (even pyjamas).

2. Well cut dark denim jeans

"Skinny, straight or bootcut…just make sure they are dark navy denim for a classic look that you can team with almost anything," the fashion blogger says.

3. An amazing scarf

We like this tip. Avril advises to keep your main items fairly neutral but get the colour going in your accessories. "A fab scarf will lift your whole look. Cheap, too," she says.

4. Cross body coloured satchel

"Again, a great way to brighten up your look and also super practical as they leave your hands free to hold on to the kids."

5. Great boots

"The good old Northern Ireland weather makes boots a necessity," the mum-of-three says, "I like long brown flat boots which can be worn under and over jeans and with skirts. Spend as much as you afford — an investment buy."

Finally...Plan the night before

"Take five-minutes each evening to set out what you want to wear the next day," Avril says, "It makes for a less stressed mum and the kids will seem to behave better on the way to school — try it, it works."