Look Good on the School Run

Mums have to carry everything but the kitchen sink around with them so treat yourself to a nice tote bag. If you're into designer fashion, think about saving up for a Mulberry Bayswater as these are so timeless and fit so much in. (Or even a Birkin... ha, ha, ha...)

There are however plenty of options on the lower end of the price scale. My M&S straw bag (this season's version linked) is a great dupe for the Loewe basket bags and does exactly the same job. A beach bag is great for summer styling - why just use it at the beach?

A final tip for choosing your perfect catch-all bag - keep accessories neutral so they go with everything and you never look like you got dressed in the dark (even if you did).

Speaking of colours, stick to darks if you have young children. I'm sure you already know not to wear white around a 6-month-old!

A good tip for all mums, and anyone who wants to look more polished even when they're in a rush or didn't sleep very well, is to have a good core collection of midi dresses in your wardrobe. I promise you, even if your hair is a mess and you haven't touched your make-up bag in weeks, people will tell you you look nice if you're wearing a midi dress. I know because it happens to me all the time! People compliment me because I instantly look dressed up when I throw on a midi dress, and I promise you I often do just throw them on! I find them so much more comfortable than jeans or leggings and you don't have to worry about finding another item of clothing to match with them.

For busy parents, I would recommend midi dresses rather than maxi, as you don't want to trip over when you're chasing a toddler around the house!

Make sure you ALWAYS have sunglasses to hand!

If you've shoved your hair up and ran out the door, sunglasses will hide so many sins. If you have time, add a pair of dangly earrings and a bold lipstick too - you could always keep them in your car or your handbag for emergencies.

Sunglasses actually aren't as 'throw on and go' for me as they are for everyone else, because I wear regular glasses so I have to either buy prescription sunglasses or wear contact lenses with non-prescription shades. If you're like me, I'd recommend getting at least one prescription pair for this reason, because it's so much quicker to throw these on than to put contact lenses in, but make sure you really love the frames you choose because prescription sunglasses are expensive, especially if they're designer too.

We've already mentioned neutral accessories but have you thought about only having neutral clothing in your wardrobe? This would mean that, no matter what's in the wash or how late you got up, you're never going to turn up to the school run in clashing colours. A head-to-toe look in the same colour is so easy to achieve and looks so chic, and if it's black, it's practical too!