Is wearing sweatpants and sweatshirts appropriate and suitable on campus?

[Bay]

Great, please just don't wear them all the next day when you are sitting next to me. Thanks.

[soccerguy315]

When you guys say sweatpants, are you thinking Champion-type with the elastic at the ankle or are you thinking (for a girl) the kind of little exercise outfit that Lucy or Lululemon might sell - yoga pants, coordinated jacket, etc?

yoga pants that show what type of underwear you are wearing count as well dressed, apparently...

especially if it's a "good" brand...

[bethievt]

Bay, my elderly relatives are so happy when I visit them, I could probably wear meat.

[great lakes mom]

EK, those are some nice shoes. She has my feet. High arches as well. We'll see how things develop. Best wishes with the surgery!

[Bay]

Bay, my elderly relatives are so happy when I visit them, I could probably wear meat.

My Dad was happy for my visits, too. He also complimented me on my attire. I was glad I made him feel proud of me around is friends.

[ucbalumnus]

The people who are easily offended by people not dressing up may want to stay far away from Silicon Valley computer companies.

[alh]

#294 pizzagirl wrote

Somewhere upthread someone mentioned seeing a mother perhaps on a college tour who was wearing tight leopard pants, high heels, something very Sopranos or Jersey Shore. Of course, the implication was that we should all smirk at her lack of taste and inappropriateness and mutton-dressed-as-lamb or whatever the saying is. She could have been a lovely person - who knows. But the point is - yes, what you wear does say something about you. Don't pretend it's true for Ms. Jersey-Shore-leopard-pants and then pretend it's not true for other types of clothing.

I am not pretending what you wear doesn't matter in the eyes of others. Just the opposite. What I am trying to point out is that the eye of the beholder is not universal. Your "uniform" of skinny jeans, flats, blazer, and scarf is a very mainstream and safe look. It will evoke a certain response in the general population. It will not evoke the same response in the entire population. Some will want to dress as far away from your look as possible because they aren't going for the same response you are going for. They do this either consciously or unconsciously. Ms Jersey-Shore is dressing for a different audience than you. Her audience is just as impressed with her "uniform" as yours is with your "uniform". College kids in sweatpants on campus are dressing for a different audience than Bay. Their audience approves the look.

So we get down to who is the final arbiter of taste? Right? Is there some accepted, final authority in such matters?

edit: PG- I like your uniform AND I like Ms. Jersey Shore's uniform. I am definitely not smirking at anyone. I love that there are so many uniforms!

[eireann]

Unless of course it is intentionally offensive like GaGa's meat dress.

Yeah, I think the only truly offensive clothing is either something like that or something like a swastika t-shirt.

I like your uniform AND I like Ms. Jersey Shore's uniform. I am definitely not smirking at anyone. I love that there are so many uniforms!

My point of view exactly. There's the safe, flattering, in-style outfit that follows current trends (nothing against that). There are people who use their hair color and body jewelry and tattoos as artistic statements. There are people who dress out of the Victorian period every day. There are women who wear men's clothes exclusively. Everyone is portraying the look that they want and putting thought and effort into their appearance. I actually find it really interesting to see all of the different fashion looks people have and way that people express themselves uniquely -- really don't understand taking offense at any of it.

[Bay]

So we get down to who is the final arbiter of taste? Right? Is there some accepted, final authority in such matters?

Absent a dress code or violation of law, no, there is no final authority, only various opinions, none of which are right or wrong, but all of which exist and may be considered or ignored.

[sseamom]

You know, I've been thinking a lot about this. Obviously I have WAY too much time on my hands! The founder of D's school wears men's clothes and shoes. I've seen her exactly once in a photo wearing a tasteful woman's dressy blouse, but not even the school's first graduation brought her out in anything but her standard dress choices. She is openly gay, if that matters. Here's the thing-she has managed, despite wearing clothes that would give some people on here the vapors, to raise all kinds of funds to support the school. She regularly meets with nationally known movers and shakers and despite her clothing gets their support for her projects. Isn't that wonderful?

And, I live in a city where it's not uncommon to see a kid with a purple mohawk, clothes held together by safety pins, serving your latte at one of the zillions of cafes around town. Isn't it great that he gets to look like that and still have a job? Obviously customers are not repelled by or feel disrespected by him since the place continues to employ him.

And where I live it's not uncommon to see immigrant families dressed in all manner of clothes that are a mix of western and African items, often not matching or seasonally appropriate-yet they have jobs, the kids do well in school, have friends, etc. all the same. Isn't that great?

I'm with alh-it seems to me that many "beholders" do not have the same standards as some here. I'm glad that's the case.

[oldfort]

Many years ago when I was in high school, I was given a work study job at an insurance company because of my high academic stats and the GC knew I could use the money for college.

I showed up at work everyday on time, worked very hard while I was in the office. I still remember it was a very hot June day, I went to school wearing a pair of shorts and I went straight to work from school. I didn't give too much thought to what I was wearing, and no one ever talked to me about it. Next day my supervisor called me in to let me know that it was inappropriate to wear shorts to work. Before the school ended, I was let go to make room for returning college students. When I took the job, I was told that I would be able to work there for the summer. It was a good lesson for me because I think I was fired because I didn't know how to dress appropriately, it showed my immaturity. Back then, summer jobs were also hard to come by for high school students. It was a shame that no one told me how to dress.

[romanigypsyeyes]

How does one get a "work study" job in high school? Isn't work study funding reserved for college financial aid only? Or were the rules different?

Yes, every person who gets a job should know to look for the dress code and to dress according to that.

[oldfort]

Back then there were companies that offered part time jobs for students. They would let high school's counselor know and GC would recommend students for those jobs. I am not sure if those companies received any tax incentive for doing it.

[emeraldkity4]

Sseamom, I was struck by the numbers of people with facial jewelry working not just at coffee shops but at banks ( granted this was on Capitol Hill)- however this was also at WaMu so it was a few years ago. I don't think they are as common anymore, although H said a bunch of new hires have all kinds of " interesting" markings, including septum piercing.

I think living in a place where I have learned not to rely too heavily on initial assumptions about someone has helped me to think a little more broadly & " out of the box". ( not as often as I'd like)

I've found it challenging but rewarding, as I have made friends with people I may not have otherwise.
Embarrassing, too though, when my assumptions are so entrenched that I think in cliches.

[oldfort]

We can discuss all we want here about whether it matters what someone wears, but in all my life I don't think I have ever met one person who doesn't care what he/she looks like. People's styles maybe different, but whatever they are wearing they are making a statement.