Hi everyone! I’m going to Brooks School as a freshman this year, and their dress code is basically no jeans, no t-shirts with graphics, no sweatshirts, no leggings, or strapless/off the shoulder tops. On Mondays and Thursdays they have formal academic dress, which is basically a dress or a sweater and a skirt.
I come from a public school, so my wardrobe is basically jeans and sweatshirts. My parents are giving me money to buy clothes for the next year (probably like $500 or so) but I don’t really know what brands to buy my clothes from, or what to buy really. Does anyone have any suggestions? It could be stores/brands, or certain things I should buy that work for both occasions.
I would advise jeans-like pants that aren’t denim (black jeans, white jeans, etc.) and a bunch of causal dresses. Nothing has to be expensive. It’s all going to end up balled up at the bottom of your laundry basket anyway, right? As much as possible I’d go for things you can mix and match. I wouldn’t worry about brands. If you find a lot of girls wearing something you like but don’t have you can ask for it for Christmas.
You will wear those jeans and yoga pants in the evenings and on the weekends. Strappy dresses can be worn with a cardigan.
I like the idea of looking at the Brooks website. While you might want to pick up a couple of things that you know you’ll need (cardigan or jacket to make a sundress suitable or a blouse something that can transition into cooler weather) I would recommend hanging on to most of your money until you get to school and see what everyone else is wearing. It’s so easy to order online.
I have found Gap, Old Navy, and Nordstrom Rack to be awesome for quality, reasonably priced, clothes that work for a dress code. All these stores offer great colored jeans (black, grey, white, and colored), sweaters, and nice blouses for a decent price.
American eagle online is also a great place to get jeans in non denim colors and online they sell the version without rips (which are also probably
Not ok for the dress code). AE almost always has a buy one get one 50% off deal so it makes buying several pairs pretty affordable.
Look for rompers too as a dress alternative.
Cardigans from Abercrombie, hollister, Target. The grandma style was everywhere at the schools we revisited this spring.
As much as possible I’d go for things you can mix and match. I wouldn’t worry about brands. If you find a lot of girls wearing something you like but don’t have you can ask for it for Christmas.