<p>If you’re sending silk ties or anything that needs dry cleaning (nice jackets, etc), then you might want to invest in some fabric protector and spraying his stuff down.</p>
<p>Just remember, that no matter how hard you try and no matter how strict the school dress code he will still look like a 13 year old boy. Remembering this simple fact can save you years of stress. I spend years trying to figure out how other parents got their kids looking so good, when mine’s hair was always too long, pants too short, shirt to short but WAY to wide, shirt tale hanging out, stains, shoes untied. I finally came to the conclusion that they all had robots, but I had a real 13 year old boy. I felt superior!</p>
<p>Zooser, does he have to wear a tie everyday or just for certain events?</p>
<p>I still say, ties can be quite inexpensive, and can easily be replaced. </p>
<p>No one in my family has ever had a tie dry cleaned or laundered. They replace them.</p>
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He has to wear one every day from November 1 to around April 15.</p>
<p>07Dad, thank you for all the measurements. That is extremely helpful.</p>
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THat is great advice! Even though he is now half a foot taller than I am, I can still see the little boy lurking in there. I’m not in a huge rush for him to be fully a man. As long as he conforms to the dress code (the punishment is to be sent to the bookstore to purchase the missing/inappropriate item and have its cost added to tuition), I’m going to be ok with his messiness and lack of polish at this point.</p>
<p>Are the “tie days” for something like “Chapel Day” or “Assembly Day” or something?</p>
<p>I know that some Catholic schools have the boys wear shirt/tie for Mass Day…and those uniforms are called “Mass Apparel”.</p>
<p>Also, check to see if there are limits as to what “outerwear” is permissable on shirt/tie day. My kids couldn’t wear school hoodies on those days.</p>
<p>edit…I see I cross-posted… lol</p>
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<p>Men’s dress shirts are sized by neck circumference and sleeve length. The neck circumference implies a chest and waist circumference, which may or may not be correct for a given man. Men with somewhat unusual proportions may find that most off-the-rack dress shirts fit poorly and do not look very good. “Unusual proportions” sadly often means anyone who is not obese, since it seems that many dress shirts are more generous at the waist than standard sizing would indicate (the dress shirt market is mostly older men, with higher rates of obesity).</p>
<p>The standard sizes for men:
[US</a> standard clothing size - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“U.S. standard clothing size - Wikipedia”>U.S. standard clothing size - Wikipedia)</p>
<p>And boys:
[US</a> standard clothing size - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“U.S. standard clothing size - Wikipedia”>U.S. standard clothing size - Wikipedia)</p>
<p>There exists a market for made-to-measure dress shirts and suits, some of which are offered on-line (you send the measurements and payment and then a factory in China or Thailand makes a shirt and sends it to you).</p>
<p>For someone who is still growing, it is best to buy as few items as you can get away with (as in the minimum needed between laundry intervals).</p>
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<p>A lot of men are not stable in size – many grow and shrink width-wise, and not always in the same places.</p>
<p>Regarding shoes, be careful in that many shoes are too narrow in the toe area and are therefore not very comfortable.</p>
<p>If you live in or near an affluent community, you can find great, barely-worn silk ties at thrift shops for as little as $1. Also blue blazers, should you need those. Dress shirts can also be had, but smaller sizes are hard to find. </p>
<p>Target has decent wrinkle-free pants, in both boys’ and men’s sizes. Also, their wrinkle-free shirts are pretty good – we have gotten three years of wear from them and they cost about $25. The size “S” fits tall, skinny boys. Finding khaki-type pants for tall, skinny boys who have outgrown boys’ sizes can be difficult. The 30W 34L size is nonexistent, and it’s usually difficult to find 32W 34L as well.</p>
<p>J. Crew has khaki pants in 28 and 29 waist available in “hem to order.” My son is 6’ and 145 - he can wear a 30" waist, but his pants hang very low without a belt, and a 29" is better - he really needs a 29/34 pant. Sounds like your son could wear a 28/30 pant right now.</p>
<p>This is one of the best fitting, best looking all around khaki I have found:</p>
<p>[Essential</a> chino in classic fit - essential chinos - Men’s pants - J.Crew](<a href=“http://www.jcrew.com/mens_category/pants/essentialchinos/PRDOVR~64782/64782.jsp]Essential”>http://www.jcrew.com/mens_category/pants/essentialchinos/PRDOVR~64782/64782.jsp)</p>
<p>BTW: my son has little interest in clothes, but he likes to pick out his own ties - seems to prefer rep stripes. I just throw them away after they’ve spent too much time at the bottom of the gym bag.</p>
<p>Lands End has a whole “School Uniform” section, it might be worth a look there to see if they have good prices on anything, in the sizes you need.</p>
<p>In the Men’s section they have waists down to 30", and you can customize the length for free or order them unhemmed if you want, which I think gives you up to 36" so you can hem them yourself, and have extra fabric to re-hem if desired.</p>
<p>The Men’s stuff tends to be pricey unless you shop the sales and close-outs.</p>
<p>My 13, almost 14 yr old has the same measurements as your son. He has a dress code at his middle school, so we’ve been doing this for the last 3 years. The larger sized boys dress shirts tend to be “boxy,” just a bit short in the arm length, and cut wide. We have had greater success this year with buying mens dress shirts–which can be found in a 14 or 14 1/2" neck, slim fit, of course. H&M is fabulous for inexpensive dress clothes, and seem to be designed with this body shape in mind. </p>
<p>Let him learn to tie the tie, once he gets used to it, it will take him about 3 seconds to get it done, and you won’t have ties that have been mangled by the end of the year. They’re the one part of dress code that won’t be outgrown 
My son has several ties that are interesting/unique designs, but not silly. They let him express his personality, within the dress code (they also do a better job of hiding stains). </p>
<p>I also recommend teaching him how to iron his own clothes. :)</p>
<p>Your son sounds too thin for a men’s shirt. In fact my grad school son, taller and heavier than yours was able to fit in better boys shirts (as well as men’s small J Crew, Gap and Brooks Brothers for most of the time until the arms got too short. </p>
<p>Your thin son would likely do better with Ralph Lauren, Brooks Brothers, or similar boys shirts. My college Jr wears a Brooks Brothers 16, sometimes 18 as well. Your son is thinner and unless he has broad shoulders at this age, a 16 would likely do. Ebay is wonderful!!</p>
<p>Son has tux. Wears dress shoes, not patent leather. Depends on what your son is willing to wear!!</p>
<p>Ties are easily had but you have to go with a style/pattern your son likes. </p>
<p>Socks- dark. Black with black. Navy or black with tan. Black with black shoes or pants. Navy with navy or tan pants. Don’t get too caught up on this. Just no white socks.</p>
<p>Marshalls or TJMaxx is a great place for less expensive ties, shirts, socks, khakis, belts etc. Take your son with you to help get things he likes. </p>
<p>Men’s shirts- try fitted style. Start small like 14 or 14 1/5 by 32.</p>
<p>Zooser - My S wears jeans every day and I only buy 4-5 pair at a time (enough so that there is always a clean pair for the next day) as boys this age grow like weeds. Kohl’s and Penneys have a large range of sizes as well as good prices. As for dress shoes, S prefers the slip-on “loafer” style. I buy them in black and they look fine.</p>
<p>As for the hair issue…S had a shaggy mop from about age 12. Suddenly he has turned 16 and wants it cut. My advice is say nothing and just tell yourself “this too will pass” :)</p>
<p>When my boys were accepted to their new school (grade 7 for the older one, 6 for the younger) we sat in the parking lot one spring day and watched the kids come out, to see what they were wearing. Then we talked to a few parents of boys at the school. That’s how we decided what to get and where to shop. My younger son (now 25) is a clothes horse and I can’t seem to find anyone to take his old clothes (size 18 charcoal suit, size 18 tuxedo, tons of dress shirts, polo shirts and pants). I’ve looked on Craig’s list to give them away! No one wants them. I’ll find a group to donate to. Anyone in the Tampa area need them? Also, just found great silk ties for $5 at Penney’s.</p>
<p>I second the suggestion that you look for shoes at Bass Outlet. I just bought dress shoes and Sperry type boat shoes for my “sneaker-loving” 14 year old son. He needed the dress shoes for his impending confirmation and he actually asked for the boat shoes. Both look like they are of really good quality and were a really good price. Also, the outlet had quite a large selection of both.</p>
<p>zm, my 13-yo DS has been wearing uniforms for the past 2 years. Strangely enough, the school uniform is exactly what he always chooses to wear anyway, with the exception that there is a logo on the shirts. The school uniforms even come from Lands End, which has been my main source of boys’ clothes for many years. Lands End has great sales in the overstock section, but as far as I can tell the “uniform” items never go on sale. If you get on LE’s mailing list, they will send an email every day with an offer - free shipping, or bargains - the best is 20% off on everything on the site.</p>
<p>LE khaki-type pants are great. I’ve also gotten some good ones at Gap online. One thing to be careful of - some boys’ pants have very stiff button closings, to the point that it is almost impossible for the boy (or me) to manage it. I’ve never had this with LE pants, but have with other brands.</p>
<p>The uniform exchange is a great idea. My son’s school has them several times a year. </p>
<p>I echo the advice not to buy too much before school starts, or to get a look at the kids. I learned that some parts of the dress code were not followed. I bought the uniform shoes but learned later that the other kids just wore sneakers. Similarly, most kids did not wear the specified gym clothes. They could bring in any shorts and t-shirts.</p>
<p>zm, my 13-yo DS has been wearing uniforms for the past 2 years. Strangely enough, the school uniform is exactly what he always chooses to wear anyway, with the exception that there is a logo on the shirts. The school uniforms even come from Lands End, which has been my main source of boys’ clothes for many years. Lands End has great sales in the overstock section, but as far as I can tell the “uniform” items never go on sale. If you get on LE’s mailing list, they will send an email every day with an offer - free shipping, or bargains - the best is 20% off on everything on the site.</p>
<p>LE khaki-type pants are great. I’ve also gotten some good ones at Gap online. One thing to be careful of - some boys’ pants have very stiff button closings, to the point that it is almost impossible for the boy (or me) to manage it. I’ve never had this with LE pants, but have with other brands.</p>
<p>The uniform exchange is a great idea. My son’s school has them several times a year. </p>
<p>I echo the advice not to buy too much before school starts, or to get a look at the kids. I learned that some parts of the dress code were not followed. I bought the uniform shoes but learned later that the other kids just wore sneakers. Similarly, most kids did not wear the specified gym clothes. They could bring in any shorts and t-shirts.</p>
<p>I did not read the whole thread, so forgive me if this is repetitive. My son is finishing his senior year of private school, just send me your address and I will send you a big box.</p>
<p>I bought my son’s best pants at Jos. A. Bank. They are travelers pants and they go on sale. They wash like a dream. Before I discovered travelers, I bought some khakis at the Banks outlet for as little as $5. Banks is on-line, so once you figure out sizes, you can watch sales. </p>
<p>I have bought shirts at Banks, too, but mostly I have bought the Land’s End no-iron shirts. They are quite reasonable in boys’ sizes, up to size 20.</p>
<p>I spent a bundle on shoes and even bought inserts because I thought it was important for my son to take care of his feet all day, so he could play sports after school. The first pair lasted two years and I have bought desert boots each of the last two years.</p>
<p>Enjoy, it goes by FAST.</p>
<p>S1 wears a 14 neck, 36 sleeve, and a 28 waist, 34 length. Darned near impossible to find. He can still wear the suit we bought him senior year of HS, but have had to take down the cuffs and let down the sleeves. Waist still fits. He has gotten broad shoulders from his social dancing.</p>
<p>I’d only get ties on sale. Guys will tear them off as soon as the bell rings and the tie may or may not make it into the backpack. I don’t worry about hair as long as it is clean and groomed. It is probably one of the few things kids have control over in a school with a strict dress code. Both of my guys have long, gorgeous curly hair. Lord knows they didn’t get it from me.</p>
<p>Didn’t notice if he needs a navy blazer. If so, Macys sells Michael Kors navy 100% wool blazer w/bronze-looking buttons. Retail $275, on sale $99. Just check and wait for the sales. I buy two each year. One gets the school patch, and the other is left plain. They last the entire year IF he doesn’t grow too much. 
My son is a 38L or 39L, and you can’t usually find the long in the store. Regular on my son has sleeves WAY too short. Most styles for the leggy, toothpick boy are tough to find in any store. </p>
<p>BTW- shirtsleeve should hit thebase of the thumb where it meets the wrist and jacket sleeve should hit 1/2 above that, right men??? I say this because it looks ridiculous if the shirt is too long or jacket sleeve too short, or some combo of the above! i get obsessed with correct fit, so bear with me!</p>