Clothes for college-age boys

Parent Cafe
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<p>Our son lost weight at college…so we’ve been shopping over spring break. He’s on a NE campus and tends toward a more preppy look. </p>

<p>Popular items:
T shirts (long and short sleeved) for layering under plaid or checked shirts (popular are J Crew outlet, Tommy Hilfiger, Chaps); Levi jeans, cords, casual khakis (usually from Penneys, Kohl’s), several cotton crew sweaters from JC Penney (now in clearance) in a ton colors; shorts (flat front last year and this year he added cargo - no velcro as he said too noisy) plus athletic shorts for sports; a few polo shirts with no or subtle logo, a few dress shirts; sport coat; shoes are sturdy winter boots (Timberland outlet), canvas sneaks, adidas sneaks, docksiders; coats include full zip hoodies and Northface fleece both for layering, heavy duty winter coat, jacket and rain slicker; knit hat, couple pairs of gloves (including one pair that are finger-gloves for marching band and outside campus job) and socks in a variety of styles and weights, especially for winter. </p>

<p>I don’t have a daughter so I have enjoyed the shopping with DS. It’s tough to get boys to try things on so I tend to do a bit of exchanging. I like Kohl’s because you can most easily return items, and JC Penney has a lot of selection.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

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<p>My son has also lost weight his freshman year. Most of his shorts and pants hang off of him. He says he is too busy to eat. I think he just doesn’t want to walk to the cafeteria.</p>

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<p>I hate to say this but I always thought that if my kids gained 15 pounds at school, it would be sign that I was a bad cook! Both my boys have lost weight at school because they say the food is okay, but it is all the same ---- they want variety and good home cooking!</p>

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<p>Honestly it would be so easy to gain weight. It’s all gross unhealthy crap. I’ve gone to some summer college programs and had a taste of dining hall food, and it’s just…ew</p>

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<p>Thanks for all your replies. I can’t send him to school without some things - he wears a uniform and has very few casual clothes, and from a very different culture.</p>

<p>mamom, you said “My S would not go near an LLBean or Lands End article of clothing.” Why not?</p>

<p>gosmom, don’t khakis need a lot of care? And pleated or plain front?</p>

<p>When you all say button downs, what do you mean? Solid, plaid, stripe, Western?</p>

<p>Kajon. where is the best online store for full zip hoodies?</p>

<p>momofthreeboys, what kind of sweater. I have read cardigans are popular, but I have trouble believing that! And cargo shorts are no longer popular? What are athletic shorts?</p>

<p>What about shorts length - above the knee, below the knee?</p>

<p>Socks? Those little short ones? Colors?</p>

<p>What kind of collars for the button-down shirts?</p>

<p>Besides boat shoes, what other shoes are guys wearing. Athletic shoes not so popular?</p>

<p>Polo shirts - solid, stripes?</p>

<p>Wallabees? I haven’t heard that name since the 70s. Loved my Wallabees.</p>

<p>ucbalumnus, yup. My son is lanky and has a very narrow waist.</p>

<p>Mycroft, your list is so comprehensive. Thanks. I don’t have a daughter either but always enjoyed buying stuff for them when they were little!</p>

<p>lololu, "I hate to say this but I always thought that if my kids gained 15 pounds at school, it would be sign that I was a bad cook! " Totally agree.</p>

<p>Thanks again for all your ideas. I’m still researching! But any new ideas, esp. online sources are very welcome.</p>

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<p>If you can go to a major department store or a Kohls look at the mannequins for ideas or if you can only shop online see how the models are dressed. Most of the time they go overboard but at least you can get a general idea.</p>

<p>I would guess that Lands End and LL Bean aren’t considered cool enough by a lot of people. For basic items though I see nothing wrong with them. No one will see the inside label of your son’s pants or shirts while he is wearing them.</p>

<p>Plaid shirts (not so much the western yoked ones) are becoming popular again. </p>

<p>Plain front pants are more flattering than pleats for most people. Dockers or khaki pants aren’t that hard to care for. My son never irons.</p>

<p>Athletic shorts are the shiney nylon ones (think basketball shorts). Where we live kids still wear shorts at or below the knee. I still see kids in cargo shorts and my son still wears them. I bought him plain front shorts as well but I refuse to buy a whole new wardrobe when his other things still are in good condition.</p>

<p>My son wears the socks that just cover his foot so no one sees them. I would buy your son a package of each and he can see what the other kids are wearing before buying more.</p>

<p>I would say buy a mix of solid colors and striped polos as well as the button down shirts.</p>

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<p>My older son only wears khakis and shirts with no buttons and sneakers. Summer he wears a lot of t’s with nerd jokes in the winter they are all unadorned and long sleeved. I get most of his clothes at Old Navy - the nerdy t-shirts are from ThinkGeek.com. He only likes thin gold toed socks.</p>

<p>My younger son for a long time only wore jeans, but since he’s gotten interested in International Relations he’s been around grown ups more and so he has some khakis at his request, and now owns two suits. He informed me recently he needs more shirts he can wear with the suits. Most of his button up shirts are plain dark colors or striped. No plaids or western style stuff. He’s got a huge collection of mostly funny t-shirts, and very few of the plain long sleeved t-shirts his brother wears. He usually wears sneakers, but owns a pair of black dress shoes from his orchestra days. He also has a small collection of cool hats (fedora, top hat, and the Indiana Jones hat went to college with him.) He mostly wears mid thigh athletic socks.</p>

<p>Both kids wear shorts in hot weather - often cargo shorts. They are around knee length I think.</p>

<p>Neither kid will wear polo shirts if they can help it.</p>

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<p>my S1 will be starting college in New England this fall. He usually dresses with some style…because his mom drags him to get new things. Then all of a sudden he has some decent clothes to wear when he needs them and then I hear a “thanks, mom”!</p>

<p>Just recently I bought him something he’s never owned before, but I bet he’ll get a ton of uses from them. Men’s Wearhouse had a buy 1, get 1 free sale on these beautiful suede type feeling blazers, much more youthful than sportcoats. he got one in dark grey and one in tan. He was so resistant at first since he never wore anything like it, but I bet he’ll find a dozen reasons or more to wear them at school. It certainly dresses up any outfit. You can wear them with jeans, black jeans, dockers, chinos, tee-shirts, button down shirts, etc.,etc.,etc.</p>

<p>Sometimes we buy things that look like the brand name, without the price ie; northface. He also has a nice pair of casual brown sketcher type shoes as an alternative to the sneaker. Looks nicer for a date! :)</p>

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<p>OP, first please realize that shopping for a college age son is the most thankless job in the universe. </p>

<p>But if your shopping gene is as strong as mine, you will keep trying. Here is my list of basics based on 2 years of trying:</p>

<p>Levis 514 (slim fit) jeans in dark blue and black - 5-6 pairs</p>

<p>Target T shirts, one size too small (Merona, I think) - 10 shirts</p>

<p>Target button up shirts from Converse - 2 or 3 for over the Ts</p>

<p>12 pairs black low cut black socks (they all match, all the time)</p>

<p>Converse hi-top sneakers</p>

<p>12 pairs boxers in ugly colors and plaids</p>

<p>3 pair flannel drawstring pants for sleeping and for 8 am classes</p>

<p>One pair ugly slippers (see 8 am class, above)</p>

<p>One dress shirt</p>

<p>One tie</p>

<p>One sportcoat (which will be worn with jeans)</p>

<p>One pair dress pants, which will be worn with converse high tops (sorry!)</p>

<p>That should get you through the first semester, unless he will live in a cold climate. If so, toss in a couple of hoodies.</p>

<p>Best of luck.</p>

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<p>What does he prefer to wear when school is not in session?</p>

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<p>Most can be machine washed and dried. Plain is usually preferred for skinny or athletically built men, while pleated tends to be favored for, ummm, other men.</p>

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<p>Cargo shorts are still fairly common, though your son may have specific preferences for or against. Athletic shorts are those made of quick dry material so that they don’t become uncomfortable when sweating; some are made for specific sports (e.g. bicycle shorts, board shorts for surfing, etc.).</p>

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<p>Typical is just above the knee to just below the knee (other than those made for some specific sports activities, which may vary based on the activity). Probably about 9" to 13" inseam for most, but a tall and skinny guy may find that most shorts appear shorter because (a) his legs are longer, and (b) some are made shorter in smaller (waist) sizes based on the assumption that smaller waist means shorter height and leg length.</p>

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<p>I would strongly urge you to buy as little as possible so that your S can add to his wardrobe after he arrives & sees what others are wearing and what HE likes. Even our S, whom I never thought cared about fashion has been able to acquire quite a lot of very nice things at low prices on the internet.</p>

<p>When he’s in the US, many of the merchants will mail postage free in both directions (meaning there is no postage, even if he returns the item). In my experience, kids really LIKE to get things that THEY choose. This Christmas, I bought S a dozen pairs of slacks and he kept ONE pair! It is very tough to fit our slim sons! I have given up the effort and will let him clothe himself at this point (he’s 23 & knows what he likes on himself).</p>

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<p>The average man’s waist size in the US is supposedly around 39".</p>

<p>The market for smaller waist sizes like 30" in the US is miniscule in comparison.</p>

<p>Note that in Japan, men are told that they are unhealthily fat if their waist is over 85cm (33.5"); this is about half the height of the average man in Japan (170cm or 5’7").</p>

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<p>My S has a waist of 27-28" and is 5’6" similar to his dad’s dimensions at a similar age. It is challenging to find clothes that look good on him “off the rack,” especially slacks. We have found Banana Republic classic khakis–plain front (no pleat), 28x28. They look great on him and are washable. They were slightly reduced for a Christmas special; that is the only pair of slacks that fit out of the dozen I bought for him to try.</p>

<p>Costco unfortunately doesn’t carry many of the slimmer sizes; H has a tough time even finding 30x30 slacks or much in size small there. S doesn’t even bother looking at their clothing since nothing fits right–mostly supersized.</p>

<p>In HI, over 49% of adults are overweight or obese; I’m sure most of the nation is similar or worse.</p>

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<p>S will not wear LLBean or Lands End because they aren’t cool. He wears the no show socks or black wool crew athletic socks. He will wear Banana Republic pleated khakis because they are so comfortable. He resisted when I first bought them but after he tried them he said they are the most comfortable khakis he has. He likes pleats because he likes his pants loose. (I guess he qualifies as one of those “other men”. He is 6’3" tall and is 220lbs and plays football and basketball) Has to wear khakis to school. All other times he wears sweats, the long sports shorts, tee shirts and sweat shirts. He only wears jeans occasionally. </p>

<p>I agree that probably the best thing is to bring your son shopping after you get to school or just give him some money lat his shop himself after a few weeks.</p>

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<p>I also agree with buying some basics to get started but waiting to see what “the look” is at his school before buying too much. Different schools in different regions can really vary as to what’s “in style”. At my S2’s big southern state u., the pleated khaki shorts have made a big comeback. I think all of S2’s are pleated and shorter than the old baggy American Eagle cargos he wore in h.s. which he wouldn’t dare put on now. He’s a 6’ 204 lbs. former football lineman. I think the preps (frats) sort of started it and even the non-frats (my S) followed suit. Same with the Sperrys. S2 says nobody wears AE at his college “it’s for h.s. people” but it might be all the thing somewhere else.</p>

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<p>Cargo shorts are not “in” where we live or at S’s college. My D goes to school in the midwest and cargo shorts are “in”.S wears plain or plaid shorts made by Volcum, Hurley, QUicksilver (whatever brand I find on sale). Also at D’s U both male and female wear athletic shoes. At S’s west coast U athletic shoes are for when you are doing sports. For everyday use they wear skate shoes, Vans and Converse. My S likes athletic shorts for playing basketball. These go below the knee.
Shirts- S says he is not picky but he is. He likes plain T’s. We have found them at Sears, Target, Costco and Ross. He also likes a polo type for dress up with his black khaki pants. He likes screen printed shirts if they are unusual. He won’t wear mainstrean surf t shirts. Flannel shirt if it is cold. For a sweatshirt my S likes a plain grey zipper front sweatshirt. Available at sears and many other places.
S nor his friends would wear Hollister or AE or Abercrombie.</p>

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<p>Might help if you indicate what U your S will be attending and what clothes he currently LIKES wearing when he doesn’t have to wear his uniform. </p>

<p>In LA & CA, dressing tends to be more casual. At USoCal, cargo shorts with t-shirts are still quite popular, but some prefer the “preppy look” of khaki’s and collared shirt with or without blazer.</p>

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<p>Would it be possible to web/mail order more if needed? Seems like that is often the only choice left for someone who is of unusual size that is hard to find in actual stores.</p>

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<p>This is oddly fascinating. Why are so many moms here shopping for their college-aged sons?!</p>

<p>If you want a 22 y.o. guy’s perspective, I’d advise you to wait until your son can scope out the tenor of his school and then let him make the calls. Regional variation in fashion is pretty high as others have mentioned.</p>

<p>If that’s not possible, here’s a basic primer:
(My style is biased from a blend of Ivy League prep, California/skate culture, and misc. urban)</p>

<p>Things that are cool: Vans (usu. authentic original), boat shoes (usu. Sperry Topsiders), Levis (511 or 514), plaid/flannel shirts, v-neck t-shirts, light colored button down oxfords, zip hoodies (usu. American Apparel), cardigans, LL Bean duck boots, North Face winter jackets, seersucker/salmon shorts (on the east coast), Air Jordans, slim khakis, Toms shoes, Clarks Wallabees and Desert Boots, vintage crew-neck sweaters, grey jeans, Ray-Ban Wayfarers (or knock-offs), wool peacoats, toggle coats, Ralph Lauren polos, wingtips, slim ties </p>

<p>Cool places to shop: H&M (arguably the best… cool clothes, cheap prices), Gap, J. Crew (expensive), Urbanoutfitters, American Apparel, Banana Republic (might be too formal), Ralph Lauren (expensive), various skate/surf shops, Vineyard Vines (super preppy)</p>

<p>Things that are NOT cool: American Eagle, Abercrombie, Hollister, other “high school brands”, axe body spray (get real cologne), cargo shorts, baggy jeans, old man khakis, tasseled loafers, loose billowing shirts, overly-tight toolish muscle t-shirts, Ed Hardy, Affliction, Tapout, and anything seen on “The Jersey Shore.”</p>

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<p>Because so many college-aged sons hate to shop and seemingly have no interest in clothing…at least until they get to college.</p>

<p>I will say this…I’m glad my son decided to wait until he got to college before ‘updating’ his wardrobe. It would have been a complete waste of money for me to have bought a lot beforehand. College is a totally new environment and a place where kids forge new identities. AND it’s very dependent on the specific college/part of the country. </p>

<p>If I were the OP, I would go to Target and pick up a small quantity of plain front (non-cargo) khaki shorts and pants. A few solid color polo shirts. Throw in a few button down oxford shirts (solid, light color), a few pairs of athletic shorts, a tie, flip-flops, Sperry topsiders, logo t-shirts and a pair of jeans and be done with it. Either send him with a credit card to pick up whatever else he needs at school or wait until he’s home on a break to fill out his wardrobe.</p>