Jump the Q  offers the following practical tips for mums to stay fashionable on school run.

Develop a Signature Style. The advantages are huge:

-          This almost ‘uniform’ approach allows you be out the door quickly.

-          You can buy multiples of the same item.

-          You can easily co-ordinate items and accessories

-          With only a few pieces you can create several looks.

-          With a co-ordinated look you never get caught looking like you just grabbed anything.

-          It’s good psychology – when you look good ie Signature Style, you feel good. And the kids may be good!

-          A uniform approach creates order and you can more efficiently get out the door

Where to start:

Decide what’s your favourite item that makes you look and feel great. It may be a long skirt, jeans or suit.

Create several looks using that one item. You may want to start a Scrap book or Look book of magazine pictures  you like.

Make sure the look suits your fashion personality, whether it be classic, sporty, feminine, elegant so you feel comfortable

Select a look that suits your body shape and personal colouring.

Create a look that is easy to clean and maintain and is child friendly ie bending over isn’t going to expose excessive cleavage or allow people to admire your new underwear.

Be realistic,  5inch heels look great but are best kept for your weekend look

An example may be:  You love your jeans.

Consider these looks, one for each day:

1. Jeans and fashionable blouse
2. Jeans and classic white shirt -
3. Jeans and jacket with cami – think Elle McPherson
4. Jeans and ‘popstar’ t-shirt
5. Jeans and leather jacket

Jeans can be exchanged for black trousers and more classic business looks for work at home mums. Or career mums may want to create a style similar to Coco Chanel. The trick is to change one or two items not every item.

You can now plan you’re weeks wardrobe in 15mins. Put together 5 looks and have them ready to go on a separate hanger for each day.

Moschino’s Rossella Jardini  recent quote in Instyle magazine makes a good point “A celebrity is influential when she has a definable style.”

To create a definable style you must understand your body shape and how to dress it as well as selecting items in your best personal colours. Individuals such as Paris Hilton who have developed a distinct look have developed very valuable personal brands as a result. When you have a signature look it tells the world you know who you are. Religiously adopting fashion trends from head to toe reveals you may not have found yourself yet. Adding fashionable items into your core wardrobe is an inexpensive way to maintain your signature style and stay current.

Wow, Grazia Magazine has created a whirl wind of requests and queries from the Media. A Current Affair and the Today show were quick to seek more information.

Jo Knowsley Journalist for Grazia Magazine asked  about the School Run Fashion Stakes.  Do you feel pressure to dress up to take the kids to school? Do you make an effort to look great? Or do you resist all those pressures – and maybe you’re just too busy! – and just ‘go as you are?

Jump the Q had to respond. Little did she know…

Rachel Quilty advised Grazia Magazine journalist,”As a Professional Image Consultant the  number of  mums seeking our services  to develop a school run look has grown. Particularly as a result of celebrity mums such as Victoria Beckham and others regularly topping the “most fashionable’ lists .  Gone are the days when seeking the services of a Professional Image Consultant where strictly the territory of  upwardly mobile career women or divorcees seeking a makeover or media personalities. Mum’s school run is the hottest new ‘runway’ and the pressure is mounting to  dress accordingly.’