<p>My daughter's boarding school has a dress code: skirts, nice pants (no jeans, shorts), collared shirts, turtlenecks, blazer. Unfortunately, 90% of my daughter's wardrobe consists of Abercrombie and Hollister jeans and tee shirts. (I know, it's pathetic that she buys into the whole abercrombie thing--it is even more pathetic that I pay for it! :-).</p>
<p>Any suggestions on where to find suitable (not too expensive) clothes that meet the dress code requirements? How many pants, dresses, shirts, blouses, do most girls bring to school?</p>
<p>If you can afford it (which you probably can because you buy her Hollister and Abercrombie), stores like Ralph Lauren, Lily Pulitzer, Vineyard Vines, Nordstrom, and Bloomingdales will carry all of that stuff. If not, Gap and Old Navy should have it for a low price (but you may have to trade in style).</p>
<p>polo shirts! get like, 20 and she's set. and then let her pick out dresses (for dances, etc.) when she's there.. it might be a theme or something.</p>
<p>Wear Lacoste, Rl, Lilly, etc. if you want to look like everyone else. </p>
<p>Personally, I don't wear RL and Lacoste because everyone else does.</p>
<p>On a budget, Gap, Banana Republic can have stylish basics. Also, Brooks Brother makes a good blue blazer (don't remember if you said she needs one).</p>
<p>I prefer to shop at Barney's, Saks, and Bergdorf Goodman in NYC, but those are really expensive. Try stores like Anthropologie, etc for cheap(er) stuff.</p>
<p>The dress code is much more strict for boys than to girls.
One place we like to go is to the outlet stores where you find the ones you have mention (J.Crew, Banana republic, Abercrombie, etc.) and cheaper prices. There is a very nice one in Freeport, Maine. I know of this other nice place in Lancaster, PA.
Check the Freeport website: <a href="http://www.freeportusa.com/%5B/url%5D">http://www.freeportusa.com/</a>
We normally take a weekend to go there.
It works for us.</p>
<p>My sister likes Anthropologie, and, while I am not very into fashion (at all, really), I think they have some very nice clothes, but I woudln't say they're cheap at all. Slightly less expensive than Barney's or Saks, but still.</p>
<p>I went to a private high school which had a dress code something like yours. Places my classmates and I shopped included Gap, The Limited, Aeropostale (polos), Banana Republic, Express, J. Crew, Old Navy, Lily Pulitzer, Ralph Lauren, and Vineyard Vines.</p>
<p>Also, I also looked in TJ Maxx and Marshalls a fair amount... if you want relatively cheap clothing (which frequently has the same brands as in more expensive stores), those are also good places to look.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the helpful suggestions! I will definitely check out some of the stores. Did want to mention that my daughter and I stopped in at Target over the weekend and purchased 9-10 polos for $9.99 each.</p>
<p>Why would you make a statement like that creative1. Everyone can't afford Barney's and Saks. And further more, I wouldn't want to spend so much money on something so trivial as clothing. Please tell me that we young people of higher intellect are not involved in someones personal business and family history as to question about their financial status. I thought that typical boarding students were on a higher level of thinking which require intelligent responses.</p>
<p>I guess my comments weren't clear because you are interpreting them the exact opposite of what I intended. Sarcasm doesn't read well on a post I guess. I was laughing at the fact that people think those clothes are cheap, budget clothes.</p>
<p>What I meant to say was I CAN'T believe that a few posters think Athropologie and Banana Republic are budget friendly or cheap. I view them as on the pricey side myself and, although my daughter (I'm the mom) enjoys their clothing and buys a few pieces, I think she understands the value of a buck and I'm glad to see you do too, razzle! :) She will willingly shop Marshall's and has found great vintage stuff at thrift stores, too!</p>
<p>Sorry my post wasn't more clear. I agree with you 100%!</p>