Sure. She’ll know for the next time. No harm no foul. No one was suggesting she need to tattoo L for loser on her forehead. No one died. She just didn’t think things through. Next time she will.
http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=34473223&category=SALE_W_CLOTHING
These are some examples. The Gap and Urban stuff I got for an additional 50% off yesterday 
Going back to the OP. Rereading.
The 18 year old was with the parents? I would rather expect her to be with the other 18 year olds, in the hot dorm rooms or attending ice breaker activities with future classmates. Putting myself in the shoes of the traveling parents, I would not have pressed a daughter to pack a “just in case” outfit for a 48 hour orientation. I’d expect to drop the freshman off at orientation, and meet when we all assemble for the flight home.
I’d expect the parents to have grown-up outfits.
Anyone else bothered by flip-flops?
No, the flip flops don’t bother me these days. It’s the gym shorts.
Fwiw- my sophomore in college D does not own a pair of athletic shorts (and she’s 5’7" and a size 4- she’s got the legs) She also does not own anything by Nike other than shoes. The look described here is NOT the only campus look.
I used to be bothered by flip-flops to dinner, but now flip-flips have been upgraded to fashion accessories by most designers. They are often decorated with gold accents or beads or gemstones or a designer logo. They go pretty much everywhere in CA now. Some country clubs don’t allow them on men, and only allow them on women if they are designed to be fashion sandals and not shower shoes.
This whole thing is ridiculous. She was going for 2 days to an orientation with probably hundreds of other students. I think she packed perfectly. For me, whatever fit in my backpack is what I’d take with me because good freaking grief it’s 2 days of walking around and being a nameless face.
The university people are not going to remember you when they are interacting with thousands of students. They’re not going to remember what you wear or don’t wear unless maybe you show up naked.
If you forgot sunscreen, they might remember the terrible sunburn.
@Bay, flip-flop bling doesn’t take care of that terrible sound.
Personally, that’s an OK flight outfit. However, I’m a high school senior (if that’s relevant) and I would never wear exercise shorts in public, save for the gym. If you are going to a restaurant, and touring colleges, you need to be dressed somewhat exceptionally. It seems like her first impression to the college may have been a negative one. I think it usually has to do a lot with what class they’re part of (middle class, lower class, etc) and her upbringing.
Sorry to intrude on the parents’ forum.
@Periwinkle From what I understood, this was after the daughter’s orientation.
@uskoolfish Great finds! May I be blessed with your luck and knack when back to school shopping. 
Gosh . . . where I live (upscale suburb of Seattle) girls collect Tempo shorts like they used to collect Beanie Babies and wear them everywhere. No, they are not the only college look but it has nothing to do with being low class and at $35 per pair they will run you more than many other styles. Now, not having packed a little Vineyard Vines sundress, that might be a class thing. B-)
This might be possible at a very small college, where the people whom she met at orientation might remember her name. I doubt it, though. At worst, if what she chose to wear is unusual for that college, she might have appeared to be a bit eccentric. But her outfit was not offensive.
At a large university, nobody would care and nobody would remember.
Who is arguing that she was inappropriate for group outdoor activities at orientation? Plenty of things may be appropriate one place and require stepping it up a notch elsewhere. its about context.
Maybe she likes burgers better than Thai
You said “really casual”. If I heard that, I would think athletic wear is fine. I asked my daughter and she thought the same thing. If you meant, “casual but nice” you should have said that. If it appeared that your young guest would look dramatically out of place in this restaurant, and she would feel uncomfortable because of this, then I would simply have said, I think you might be a little under-dressed for this place, and offered her a light cardigan or something to wear over the T shirt. Once seated no one would know the difference anyhow.
College orientation could involve a lot of walking around in this blistering heat. I am not at all surprised she wore athletic gear. And on a plane, seriously, who dresses up to fly? Who exactly are you trying to impress? Unless you are on a business trip and won’t have an opportunity to change when you arrive, I can’t see why you would wear dressy clothes on a plane.
There’s a diff between 1.99 plastic flip flops and nice thong sandals.
Many of us have learned to walk in flip flops without making the slapping sounds. The sound of boot heels and stilettos on hard floors bothers me more.
Old habits die hard?
It really was a thing people did in the 1960’s and 1970’s back when airlines served real meals on flights with real silverware, and seats were farther apart.
Now I dress strictly for comfort on planes. Yoga pants and loose top (maybe even a t-shirt!) because flying is so uncomfortable and unpleasant.
I think it is just a divide among people. My kids wear cargo shots and a polo shirt to a casual restarant, but never athletic wear. Maybe to a diner. A casual place that has sit down service to me, never means athletic wear…tho I think that is perfectly ok for orientation.
i son’t like flying with all the “comfort” folks. Some take it way too far!!! Of course flying takes as long as Greyhound these days, so how can I blame them?
My H and I just went for a bike ride. I had a sports bra ( the kind that shows) and a Nike athletic tank top along with workout pants that go to my knee (no short shorts here lol). Similar to this except you can see the sports bra layer underneath.
http://m.nike.com/us/en_us/pd/indy-training-tank-top/pid-10292101/pgid-10292082
Entirely appropriate for exercising or biking. But I would feel inappropriate wearing this for errands or sitting down at a restaurant. I would at least throw on a sweatshirt over it if I couldn’t change.
Would you all wear this type of top out and about?