To an open day, wear something neat and comfortable as a parent. Think of good jeans or chinos, a calm knit or polo, a practical coat and comfortable shoes. Smart casual, in other words, without a blazer or striking colours. The day is about your child, so keep your outfit low-key. Below you can read how to approach it, with outfits for mothers and fathers.
What kind of day it is
Open days take place in autumn and early spring, often on a Saturday. You walk a lot, sit in lecture halls and regularly go from inside to outside. The buildings are often spread across a campus or through the city, so you walk a lot and go in and out regularly. Choose comfortable layers and shoes you can walk in for a long time.
The most important rule: stay in the background
Many young people prefer it when their parents do not dress too conspicuously on a day like this. A father in a three-piece suit or a mother in a striking outfit quickly makes a seventeen-year-old uncomfortable. So choose calm, plain colours and avoid anything too formal or too festive. Neat and calm is enough here.
For mothers: three pieces that work
A knit with some character. The Liorah in navy, a cable-knit polo with gold-coloured buttons, is warm enough for a fresh October day and neat without becoming formal. A finer option is the Josephine in cream, a knitted polo with V-neck, which you wear under a coat or cardigan.
Good jeans. The Adelaide in blue, a high-waist contour-fit jean, looks neat and is comfortable to walk in thanks to 2% elastane. A dark or mid-blue wash is neater than a bleached or ripped one.
A coat you wear open. Lecture halls are often warm, and outside it is windy. A coat you can easily take off and carry over your arm is more practical than a thick winter coat.
For fathers: neat without a blazer
Chinos or light trousers. The Vincent in khaki, a slim-fit trouser with a mid-rise, is neater than jeans but less stiff than office trousers. With 6.8% elastane, it also sits well after an hour on a lecture-hall bench.
A knitted polo. The Alistair in navy, a knitted piqué polo with stripe detail, looks neat and keeps its shape all day. Wear it with a thin sweater or cardigan over it if it is cold.
Sneakers or loafers. Choose clean leather sneakers in white or navy, or suede loafers. No running shoes, and no new shoes that still need breaking in.
Three outfits for an open day
- Classic: blue jeans, navy cable-knit polo, camel coat, brown loafers. Works for university and college, indoors and outdoors.
- Light and fresh: blue jeans, cream V-neck polo, navy coat, white leather sneakers. Calm and youthful, without being too casual.
- For him: khaki trousers, navy knitted polo, a dark coat and suede loafers or smart sneakers.
Practical: what do you take with you?
- A bag with room for a small bottle of water, a notebook and the brochures. A shoulder bag or backpack in leather or canvas is handier than a handbag.
- A foldable umbrella; the routes between buildings are often outside.
- A scarf: it can be draughty in big halls, and it is windy on an open square.
- A charged phone for the map and the programme.
University, college or academy: mind the atmosphere
The atmosphere differs by programme and location. At a classic university with old buildings in the city centre, you see many parents in smart casual: a good knit, neat jeans or chinos, a wool coat. At a college with a modern campus, the atmosphere is often slightly more informal, and a neat sweater or polo with sneakers fits perfectly. At an art academy or conservatoire your clothes may show a little more personality, but there too: the student is the focus. Take a quick look beforehand at the programme's website or social media. Photos of earlier open days give a good idea of what is usual.
The weather in October and November
In autumn the weather can change a lot during an open day. In the morning it can be fresh and misty, in the afternoon suddenly sunny, and between two buildings you can get caught in a heavy shower. Layers are therefore more important than one warm coat: a thin shirt, a knit and a coat you can wear open. Choose fabrics that do not become heavy when they get a little wet, and keep your bag light. A small umbrella and scarf are handy for this reason.
Even if your child does not want you to come along
More and more prospective students go alone or with a friend, and parents go separately to the parent information session. The same advice applies then. At a parents' meeting you sit among other parents, ask questions to study advisers and sometimes talk to teachers. Dressed neatly and calmly, you feel most comfortable there.
Afterwards
An open day often ends with a cup of coffee or a dinner together to talk it all over. With an outfit that is neat enough for a restaurant, you do not need to change. For more ideas for a smart day in town, take a look at our Boulevard collection for women and City Life for men, or at the knitwear for women.
Shop the look
Liorah: cable-knit polo, navy
Josephine: knitted polo with V-neck, cream
Adelaide: high-waist contour-fit jeans, blue
Vincent: slim-fit trousers with mid-rise, khaki
Alistair: knitted piqué polo, navy
Frequently asked questions
Are jeans smart enough for an open day?
Yes, dark or mid-blue jeans without rips are fine. Combine them with a neat knit or polo and smart shoes.
Should I wear a blazer as a parent?
No. An open day is informal. A blazer can come across as too formal; a knitted polo or fine sweater is neat enough.
Which shoes are best for an open day?
Shoes you have already walked in comfortably: clean leather sneakers, loafers or ankle boots with a comfortable sole. You often walk several kilometres.
