<p>We went ahead and bought son a suit for a family wedding last summer. He’s worn it several times since then, so I’m glad we made the purchase.</p>
<p>A student who goes to religious services (such as the High Holidays for Jewish students) may want to have something a little dressier.</p>
<p>And don’t forget meeting the girlfriend’s parents! You never know when that might entail a nice restaurant downtown where jeans would be inappropriate!</p>
<p>I’ve been lucky in that throughout his childhood/early adolescence my parents have kept him supplied with something from Brooks Brothers on the jacket front.</p>
<p>I think I’m going to have to bite the bullet on the navy blazer, even though I doubt he’s finished growing. He’s already supplied in the Brooks Brothers oxford shirt/khaki/tie front. And he has a pair of nice black loafers…</p>
<p>He’s going to the far northern Ivy. <g> I have the feeling that the navy blazer will come in handy.</g></p>
<p>And brown loafers.</p>
<p>Yeah, the black ones are something I got to fulfill the black shoes requirement that went with the pseudo-tux. They don’t even fit well, since I got them too big at an overstock/discount store on the theory that all he had to do was clump on and off stage in them and his feet might grow. (They didn’t.) Of course, if I buy brown loafers, I will then have to add a brown belt, since the ones he has now are black to go with the black outfit…this is beginning to mushroom! :)</p>
<p>Be glad you have a boy, you are getting away cheap. We have 2 girls…need I say more.</p>
<p>You said it! Son has 1)tennis shoes, 2)brown shoes to wear to church with Khakis, 3)black dress shoes for choir, and 4)slides. We were out an outlet mall and bough thim a pair of topsiders because it was such a good deal and he sees the purchase at totally unnecessary. Content with 4 pairs of shoes. As for his sisters…the 15 year old has 3 pairs of metallic sandals, and that is just the start of the list!!!</p>
<p>S attends what I consider a real informal dressing school. The daily attire of the majority of students (including my S) is the University t-shirt, jeans/shorts, and sneakers/sandals. However, he is on a sports team that many times requires him to wear khakis/dockers, button down shirt and tie when travelling. </p>
<p>I was actually surprised at the numerous other events for which he had to dress (dances, dinners, meetings, etc.) more formally. He is now a junior and his wardrobe includes a navy blue blazer (and yes, it has the gold buttons), a nice pair of grey dress pants, a couple pairs of khaki dockers, several golf/polo shirts that can be worn with the blazer, a few button down shirts (blue/white), dress shoes, and a number of ties (H had fun teaching him how to tie one!)</p>
<p>Oh!</p>
<p>Add this to the list of life skills my high school freshman son should have before he leaves for college. </p>
<p>How to tie a necktie.</p>
<p>MM2, my S can play the Tchaikovsky violin concerto, but he still needs his teacher to tie his tie for him before going onstage! I thought I was the only one… :)</p>
<p>oldfort, I hear your pain.</p>
<p>I realized the $$ advantage of having an S while he was still in utero. I walked by the Bergdorf Goodman windows, where they had the most <em>darling</em> dresses for toddlers. $295 per… and this was 21 years ago. I started counting my blessings right then.</p>
<p>Of course, don’t get me started on the electronics… even if that doesn’t kick in until, what, age 6? It might make up for the wardrobe savings.</p>
<p>Casual wear is the death of America…buy him the blazer and other good fashion choices will follow.</p>
<p>Yes, with boys it’s the electronics. We are beginning to sound a bit sexist now. I do look at those darling dresses now for potential grandchildren someday. I am getting ahead of myself.</p>
<p>I felt that S should have a sport coat in his closet, just in case. So we bought him a really nice Ralph Lauren one on sale.</p>
<p>He is at Tulane, not in a frat, not a musician (a performing one, anyway).
He didn’t feel it was necessary to get the blazer at the time, has NEVER had any occasion to wear it and it’s still nice and new inside the special garment bag it came with. </p>
<p>By the time he actually needs it (family wedding this fall), I’m afraid it won’t fit anymore :)</p>
<p>Like Binx, DS is a musician with two tuxes, a set of tails, white dinner jacket, and two nice suits…one black and one navy blue. He also has two navy sport jackets (one wool and one a summer weight) to wear with khakis. BUT my son had and wore these clothes in HS.</p>
<p>Here is what I would suggest…if he didn’t need a sport jacket during high school, I wouldn’t buy one now unless I could find a nice used one (try Goodwill or a consignment shop). There are usually LOTS of used navy blazers in these shops. DS’s last one was under $10…and was brand new. That way you won’t spend a fortune on something that might never get used.</p>
<p>Wouldn’t it be nice if all sons thought ahead and told us what they needed in a timely manner?</p>
<p>Addlepated DS #1 was in a choral group that required black tie for its concerts. TWICE he had to hurriedly borrow a roommate’s black jacket…once he was just lucky the guy was around to ask him. And the 2nd time he at least had his own bow tie cause we bought it for him. But having graduated he believes he now has no more reason for formal wear…hope he’s right. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>“Addlepated DS”</p>
<p>Oh, that’s good. Much better than my “for a smart kid you’re dumb as a post” comment!</p>
<p>You mean OTHER people have an adepated DS, also?</p>
<p>My son got a blazer because they ask them to wear a jacket to convocation. He wore it to an internship fair that the career office said they should attend in “business casual”. He hasn’t worn it since, but it’s nice to know it’s there if needed.</p>
<p>Funny stuff. I recently insisted that S have something formal for one of his senior picture outfits. We looked and one option was a blue blazer. It fit well and he said, “ok.” Got it home and he could not get past the brass buttons and said he didn’t really like navy. So, back it went. The guys at the store said they routinely change out the buttons on those!</p>
<p>We then headed to Express and got a very nice charcoal pinstripe suit that he loves. Growing up in the south, I loved the blue blazer concept but S did not. Said it made him feel old and frumpy – go figure. He loves the suit and the beautiful red, French blue and gray shirts and cool ties that we found to accompany them it. He will be auditioning this year and will get use out of the suit and as others have said, it will be used for weddings, funerals and other appropriate occasions. Once they are over 16, I think they need something appropriate for more formal occasions. I love the blazer (including the brass buttons) but realize it’s not about me. I’m thrilled he loves the new suit and am confident he will wear it.</p>