blue jeans for a guy for an SEC school?

Parent Cafe
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<p>Thank you for all of your great comments and advice. Son is still deciding on a school but has been accepted in the honors programs at Ole Miss, South Carolina, and Auburn (his current top three choices) and gotten scholarships. He’s leaning toward Ole Miss because he is impressed with the Center for Manufacturing Excellence and the way it lets you major in engineering but take significant coursework in marketing, management, and finance.</p>

<p>OK. Suppose it is a Saturday night in December or January or February and you are a guy at Auburn or Mississippi and you are going to a house party or a fraternity party. Would you wear jeans? I’m asking out of my own curiosity now. I’m glad I asked this and I’m slightly in shock. He might not need jeans? (At the University of Minnesota or Ohio State, unless it were a costume event or special occasion, a 19-year-old guy going out on a Saturday night would be wearing jeans.)</p>

<p>Good heavens. Is there a certain kind of khaki pants the boys wear? Khakis all look like to me. I hope Lands’ End is okay…</p>

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<p>I attend an SEC school and have seen many guys wearing jeans to fraternity parties. In fact, the “official” uniform for pledges is a basic pair of Levi’s, a polo in the fraternity’s chosen color, and boat shoes (Sperry’s). </p>

<p>Especially at schools with large OOS student populations, the dress code is more “wear whatever you feel comfortable in.” While there are guys that dress more “Southern,” there are many that do not. For example, I’m not a huge fan of wearing fishing shorts with a 6" inseam, pleated khaki shorts, shirts with hunting/fishing designs, boat shoes, or sunglasses on a croakie and instead wear clothes that better suit my style and personality. Unless joining an organization with a specific dress code, your son can and should wear whatever he feels comfortable wearing.</p>

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<p>My son was (is) very picky about his khakis and how they fit. He is also picky about the color of the khakis (range from very light to almost brown-ish). He likes a certain style from Banana Republic. Pleats are definitely a no-no.</p>

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<p>My (Greek) son just walked in from SC ten minutes ago wearing khaki shorts, v-neck sweater over a T and sneakers. In the south, they wear shorts year round unless it gets miserably cold.</p>

<p>Khakis - I buy him flat front Dockers or Lees. JCP usually has a good selection. Above the knee but not short. I agree pleats are a no-go. My son prefers the light color khakis (stone color is how it’s often described).</p>

<p>I do think there is a difference between Greek (khakis) and non-Greek (jeans) with some crossover obviously. Son took mostly khakis (pants and shorts) and one or two pair of jeans but that was the culture in his HS also.</p>

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<p>Levi 505’s were mandatory for pledging. S didn’t have them as we are more urban .</p>

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<p>But mostly pleated (yes pleated) for pledge time. He had nothing pleated even though he wore khakis for prep school uniform.</p>

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<p>We are native NC’ers. Both DH and I and our two S’s have attended big state u’s in NC. The khaki thing is really critical for the frats or those who aspire to look like frats. For everyone else, it’s go as you please. </p>

<p>S2 has two pairs of khakis, three or four pairs of jeans (some GAP,some Levi’s,some Kohls) straight leg,not bootcut and lots of khaki shorts in various shades…no cargo shorts. No American Eagle or Abercrombie. Lots of RL Polo shirts (short sleeve knit and long sleeve button downs) in a wide array of colors, a couple of hoodies, and lots of random t-shirts. Footwear is either Sperry’s, Clarks desert boots, leather flip-flops. A pair of athletic shoes is needed but I don’t often see S2 wearing them.</p>

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<p>I thought pleated pants died along with cargo shorts 6 years ago or so? I don’t know, my boys won’t wear cargo shorts or khakis with pleats. I love it though because all 3 like the plain front original khakis from a store at the mall called American Eagle Outfitter… American Eagle also has plain front shorts. I noticed my guys wear Levi’s these days when they wear jeans. Levi’s 527 Bootcut is the favorite. Mine are also picky about color and fit with their khakis. S1 likes a collared shirt in any fabric open over a t-shirt, S2 prefers polo shirts.</p>

<p>The 505s are great jeans, but my boys have thighs like tree trunks and they think they are too tight around the thighs (rolls eyeballs).</p>

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<p>I work in the Honors College at an ACC school that is definitely in the South. The answer to your question depends on whether your son wants to go Greek or not. The Greek boys mostly wear khakis (pants or shorts) or madras/print shorts with polo or button down shirts. All the others wear t-shirts with jeans or shorts depending on the weather. I haven’t noticed certain types of jeans - I’d say your basic Levis, etc. vs. the more upscale jeans prevail.</p>

<p>My impression is that most of my male students don’t much care about what they’re wearing. (Most of my students are not Greek - but we do have some.)</p>

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<p>I think pleats look so much better. S1 and S2 used to be horrified every time I put a nice, crisp pleat in when I ironed their pants and shorts. Sigh.</p>

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<p>Be careful on the 505s. For decades, that was the standard fit Levi with a zipper fly, as opposed to the standard fit with the button fly (the 501). They fit exactly the same. Then, about a year or two ago, Levi changed the fit of the 505. If it fit you before, the new version won’t fit you now. Lower cut, but bigger in the waist. The old ones fit me perfectly, bought a new pair just a few months later and they were horrible. Now, I have to wear the button-fly 501s because it’s the only standard fit jean that Levi’s makes. I don’t know what they were thinking.</p>

<p>Anyway, Levi 501s are always a safe iconic choice.</p>

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<p>I’m a Greek sophomore student at Ole Miss and I’m about to give you a very detailed rundown of what people wear…</p>

<p>There are a few popular brands that have been staples in southern Greek attire for decades, while some have recently become popular. A few of the more well known brands are Levi (jeans), Brooks Brothers, J Crew, Vineyard Vines, Ralph Lauren Polo, etc. The newer brands that are extremely popular are Southern Tide, Southern Proper, Southern Marsh.</p>

<p>For everyday dress: During hot weather, wear shorts. It gets really hot and humid. The shorter the better (trust me, it looks nicer too). Khaki shorts are popular, as well as the nylon shorts made by Patagonia, North Face, Kavu, and Columbia. Chacos (brand of sandals) are very popular in the summer or Rainbow flip flops (another brand). Many guys wear either Greek t-shirts (you will have a HUGE collection of these by the time you graduate), collared polo shirts, button-up fishing shirts, or oxford syle polo button-ups. When its cold enough for pants, guys wear either basic Levi jeans or a casual pair of khakis. Some brands that have good casual khakis include Polo, Mountain Khakis, Kavu, Vineyard Vines, and lots more. Many guys will wear either tennis shoes (Asics or New Balance) or loafers with jeans or khakis. Popular loafer brands include Cole Haan or maybe Clarks. The Cole Haan driving shoe is a popular shoe (google it). When it is really cold, the classic Patagonia fleece is very popular.</p>

<p>For going out: If you are going to a bar or the square, wear pants. Guys wear jeans or khakis, with a button up or polo shirt. Many guys wear cowboy boots, Lucchese is a popular brand, or loafers. If you are going to the fraternity houses to party, however, shorts are acceptable. If you choose to rush, this takes place during the fall of your freshman year leading into rush week (which typically occurs the last week of October). During this time, fraternities will throw public parties for the guys to come hang out and meet them. As shallow as it seems, guys will judge you if you walk in with cargo shorts or really crappy clothes. Southern fraternities are big on being classy, mature, and presenting one’s self well.</p>

<p>Now, I will end by noting the clothing options that would be the quick way to have you judged: do not ever wear anything that is Hollister, American Eagle, Abercrombie, Aeropostale, or anything that is gaudy and not mature looking. These are popular in some parts of the country, but are guaranteed stigmas for a person in the south.
I know this all seems a bit much and you might say “Oh but I want my kid to wear what he wants and be himself”…but fitting in at an SEC school actually pays off in the end. If you adapt to the clothing trends here, you will be able to wear the same clothes as you move into adult hood because the trends focus on mature clothing. So you don’t waste money on a bunch of clothes that you can’t wear when you actually grow up haha.</p>

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<p>Wow.</p>

<p>I’m glad my “adult” attire consists mostly of scrubs.</p>

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<p>I’ve never heard of most of those brands of clothing. I hope our kids don’t go to Ole Miss or we will have to figure in an entirely new wardrobe into the COA.</p>

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<p>Best. Thread. Ever.</p>

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<p>This is a fascinating thread; for me, a peek into a different world.</p>

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<p>Help!</p>

<p>This thread is scaring me!
;)</p>

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<p>olemissrebel-excellent fashion advice. I especially love the part about ditching the Hollister, etc. I know former Southern fraternity men that not only dress in the same style, but many still have the same madras shorts and buton-down shirts from college.</p>

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<p>We’re in NJ. My son has khaki shorts, but they are cargo style. No pants other than athletic pants, jeans and dress pants for real dress up occassions. Good thing he didn’t go down south or want to join a frat! I wonder if the frats up here are dressy too. Maybe in the more elite schools, but he’s at a State University. I can’t imagine the guys here dressing up for a party.</p>

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<p>I have managed to find lots of Brooks Bros. and Ralph Lauren Polo shirts/shorts at thrift stores in my area. Found a brand new Vineyard Vines shirt and a great Patagonia fleece jacket too. S2 is at a large state u. in the south (not SEC) where “going out” is a weekly event. There is def. a difference in clothes worn to class and clothes worn for “going out”. His shorts are all above the knee plain khakis. S2( a senior) has not worn cargo shorts since graduating from high sch. He doesn’t wear the plaid Southern Tide shorts either. That’s a little too fratastic for him.</p>