As a nanny you may feel that it is a case of 'dress down Friday' every day of the week. After all, who would risk an expensive outfit in the vicinity of a tomato ketchup-wielding four-year-old, or attempt outdoor activities in a miniskirt?
At the same time, wearing the right clothes is an important prerequisite of the job. Nannies who are keen to appear calm, capable and professional agree that clothes have a conspicuous part to play. But now that 'smart casual' rules the day it can be difficult pinpointing a suitable style. For example, when are jeans and trainers appropriate, and when would they be frowned upon? Would a nanny appear over-dressed if she wore a skirt and smart shoes?
Things were a lot simpler in the past, when the starched collar and immaculate uniform was as synonymous with nannying as the Silver Cross coach perambulator. Norland nannies, in particular, have always been associated with the kind of formal attire that underlined a nanny's professionalism and the fact that she was on duty. Although Norland College has not dispensed with its traditional uniform, it now provides an updated alternative. The familiar fawn- coloured dress with the brown belt is still an option, and is worn for graduation ceremonies, but most students now prefer to wear its chinos, polo shirt and fleece with the college crest on it.
Kay Crosse, principal of Norland College, says, 'Ninety-nine per cent of Norlanders do not wear the dress when they are employed or training in placements, and only a very few employers would expect it these days. It is far more appropriate to be casually dressed, although it does mean that nannies lose the automatic distinction between being on or off duty.'
It seems that even those who enjoy flicking through the pages of Vogue are resigned to the fact that catwalk fashion is not for nannies. Clothes which have a hint of the outrageous, or which expose parts of the body such as the midriff, are left in the cupboard by nannies on the job, even if they favour this kind of attire outside of working hours. But while most now play it safe with smart casual, no one could dispute that a nanny still needs to look neat and presentable. Baggy T-shirts with leggings are definitely 'no go', according to Louise Taylor at Kensington Nannies.
'We don't specify what our nannies should wear, but we advise them that it is important that they look smart and well groomed,' says Louise.
'Employers want their nannies to be dressed in clothes that are practical for the job, and for most, trousers are wholly acceptable.'
Louise reports that the latest trend is for some employers to kit their nannies out in a uniform of khaki trousers and T-shirt from the likes of Gap. 'Others go for dark blue trousers or shorts with white T-shirts,' she says. 'Nannies like this because the clothing is practical but fashionable, and saves them having to invest in work clothes themselves.'
Although only a tiny percentage of nannies now wear formal attire, there are some who still genuinely enjoy doing so. Laura West, who has been nannying for more than 15 years, tells prospective employers that she prefers to wear her Norland uniform, or skirted attire, and finds that most employers are delighted.
'There are lots of advantages to wearing a uniform once you get used to the idea,' she says. 'For a start, it marks you out as a professional person and distinguishes you from anyone else who may be employed by the household. It means that you can always fit in with any culture without offending anybody, and most important of all, it gives your employer confidence in you.'
While the idea of wearing a uniform may not be appealing to every nanny, the least that can be said of it is that it gets around the problem of having to decide what to wear every morning.
Uniform
Laura West, 39
'I have worked all over the world in all sorts of situations, including royal families, people in showbusiness, single-parent families and ordinary families living in suburbs, and I have always worn a formal uniform. At the moment I am working in Switzerland and my uniform includes a light wool skirt which I wear all year round and which is very easy to launder. I wear a blazer with this and smart shoes. I have also found the Norland nursery nurse uniform very practical because it can be boiled and is hygienic for looking after babies. I have always done a lot of travelling with families, and again, just having to think about a uniform and a couple of changes of clothes for when you are not on duty, makes life a lot easier.'
Smart casual
Camilla Helling, 30
'If you are looking after a baby and a five-year-old you have to assume that you will be in sticky situations a lot of the time and it is not worth wearing clothes that cannot withstand a battering. Having said that, I've always avoided denim jeans because I feel more professional if I am wearing smarter trousers. I feel confident talking to the mothers at the school, and also dealing with teachers, if I am dressed appropriately. I tend to keep my clothes very simple, which means either a cotton, button-down shirt or a T-shirt or jumper and trousers - but never a skirt.'
Jeans and T-shirt
Jennifer Green, 20
'I haven't been nannying for very long and I have very little money to spend on clothes. I don't wear a wide variety of outfits to work, and what I do wear has to be durable and practical. For me that generally means jeans with a T-shirt or other type of top, but nothing too fancy. In the winter it's usually a chunky roll-necked sweater. I wouldn't dream of wearing anything frilly or remotely dressy, because it would be reduced to a rag in a matter of days. My charges are three and seven, so there is quite a lot of rough and tumble involved in their activities, and jeans are very suitable. I suppose I dress in a rather student-y way, but this is mainly because I am on a budget. However, I don't skimp on shoes, because I have to do a lot of walking, so I always wear good-quality trainers.'
Dressed for the country
Fiona Smith, 31
'I work with four-year-old twins and a six-year-old on a large farm in the country, and am outdoors a lot of the time. The family has dogs, horses and numerous farm animals, so my clothing has to be suitable for being in contact with animals as well as children. My employers bought me a set of clothes including combat-style trousers, polo necks and sweat shirts that fit in with what other household employees wear and carry the farm logo. I really like this gear because it is so practical and it is probably the sort of thing I would wear anyway. I wear wellington boots quite a lot of the time, but otherwise it's flat loafers. The clothes take a battering, so I am glad that I am not having to invest in my workday wardrobe myself. It leaves me free to buy other clothes for when I'm not working.'
Sporty
Karen Holmes, 23
'I look after a six-year-old and a nine-year-old and they both think the way I dress is pretty cool. I suppose some people might think my clothes are a bit too casual, but I've always worked for families who haven't been bothered by what I wear. At the moment I'm into really baggy trousers and tops, with trainers, and I often wear a baseball cap. Otherwise I'll wear jogging trousers and a hooded, zip-up sports top and a vest underneath. I do a lot of sports activities with the children and feel my clothes are perfect for the job. I dress in a very different way to my employer, but I don't feel I have to change my style in order to fit in.'
With thanks to Kensington Nannies and Fosseway Nannies. Names have been changed.
