<p>I did my annual stint at the Seattle College Fair yesterday. Even though it was scheduled to start right at the time the SAT's were ending the turnout was larger than in recent years. At the Wisconsin table we went through all 75 of our big viewbooks in the first two hours--most years we had at least a dozen left at the end of the three hour fair. At least half of the kids had some prior conection to UW--parents are alums or from the state originally. The rest had either heard about specific areas--mostly biosciences--or were directed over by the onsite counselors after an interview. Lots of good detailed questions about admissions and programs. Fair number of Q's about the weather and town--I thought everyone knew Madison was the best college town around ;-). </p>
<p>I have to say the current dress standards for young females are pretty shocking. At least half still go with the ultra-low jeans and short skimmer top--I felt like I was talking to an endless chain of bellyrings. When I walked by the row of chairs where kids sat waiting to talk to a counselor--well it was pretty much a row of overly-exposed thongs and butts. I must say it cracked me up. Since most kids did come with their parents I have to think this is pretty much OK these days. Glad I don't have a teenage girl these days.</p>
<p>LOL-- "endless chain of bellyrings." I have one of those teenage girls (actually now a freshman in college) and I gave up being shocked over 4 years ago.</p>
<p>Yeah, the belly ring is pretty acceptable when the option could be tattoos....I hate the low pants thing, and no offense, but some girls wear pants soooo tight, that the tire hangs over the top of the pants, thats what get me. The figures of the girls is fine, but they squeeeze it into too small clothes. While the boys, well, they are swimming in xxl</p>
<p>As a mother of girls who go to schools with dress codes, I say thankyou.</p>
<p>But the black bra under the white shirt thing still annoys me</p>
<p>barrons - You're right, the other "UW" is gaining name-recognition here in the Seattle burbs. When I mention that S is in grad school there, most of my students do know something about Madison (we have a good geography teacher) and are curious about UWisc if they are thinking about OOS flagship U's. And I entertain them with S's great experiences there, especially the part about 80 bars within a 1/2 mile radius of campus (S is 24!). Sorry, but S thinks it's the second best college town. :p He migrated to Madison after 4 years in Ann Arbor.</p>
<p>Ann Arbor is great too. I'd be very happy in either town as would most students IMHO. One thing AA has over Madison is a great deli. But Madison does have the lakes.</p>
<p>Many years ago, when S was considering UCLA and UM, I didn't realize that UWisc is an excellent university with high caliber programs. It is clearly on the rise. S loves his professional school, finds his profs brilliant and accessible, and his practical work with state and local agencies challenging and interesting. I love Madison, especially the lakes, given that we are surrounded by them here in Seattle area. It seems such a 24/7 town, much more so than AA. We walk everywhere when we visit (watching out for the crazy mopeders). S lives 3 blocks from capitol and 5 blocks from campus. Very lively with students, even during the summer months (he has lived there full-time for 2 years). For Kerry's biggest campaign rally in town, he set up stage with Bruce Springstein at the intersection of streets where S's flat is located. S was very impressed and well-entertained! I think he said 60,000 filled the streets, extending all the way to the capitol.</p>
<p>re: current dress standards
every teenage girl should have her best friend photograph her from the rear before she buys that pair of pants. Not one in ten looks good in the current fashions. That way they don't have to rely on their friends' honesty. "Oh sure, you look great."</p>
<p>There is a great cartoon in the current New Yorker featuring fashion security officers stopping a man on the street for wearing a bolo tie. Why aren't the fashion police doing their job in the high schools?</p>
<p>About the clothes... I was once walking by a restaurant that had big windows along the wall that faced the street. A young lady was sitting with her back to the window and her pants so low and thong so high I couldn't help but snicker. XP</p>
<blockquote>
<p>I hate the low pants thing, and no offense, but some girls wear pants soooo tight, that the tire hangs over the top of the pants, thats what get me.<<</p>
</blockquote>
<br>
<p>It's not just girls. I've seen women old enough to know better make the same fashion mistake. Whenever I see one of these sad cases I think to myself: That woman obviously does not own a full-length mirror.</p>
<p>low cut jeans are actually a lot more comfortable than the high cut jeans.. i can't stand the pants that go up to my belly button. They're just not comfortable. You can wear low cut jeans without your stomach hanging out.. just wear a bit longer shirt ;) you guys should go try on a pair of low cut jeans sometime, seriously. it's definately a comfort issue for myself. (i didn't say skin tight jeans.. just low cut jeans :)) I just bought some nice pants the other day (solid black, black with white pin stripes, grey).. nice business clothes, and although theyre not cut really low, theyre definately cut lower than the pair my mother bought for me. i gave her her pair back, because I couldn't stand to wear them. i even tried on the new ones for her and showed her the difference, and she admitted that the ones I bought fit much nicer.</p>
<p>When I was in High School, (or was it Jr High?) I had a pair of red bell bottoms that had a 1" zipper. A friend and I shared them. Usually these jeans looks best on girls that have no hips. Shapely girls look like they have giant outsized hip girth, and the pudge hanging over the butt is pretty gross to look at.</p>
<p>My daughter's only 8 but when she sees girls with it "hanging out" she rolls her eyes and looks at me.....let's hope this trend continues into teendom!</p>
<p>what are "hooker boots"?
I remember in the 60's I had a much loved pair of white vinyl go-go boots, I was in 5th grade.
I also loved to wear really short skirts in high school, many of my dresses were so short that if I bent over at all you could tell what day of the week it was!
I don't think wearing lowriding jeans is any more appalling than styles in the 60's.
My 14 year old daughter does wear lowriding jeans, but her t-shirt comes to the top- her stomach doesn't show generally- she also doesn't have a belly ring. She does like tighter t-shirts- I just thank the goddess she doesn't have the upper body of her sister or I. The same style looks much different with a 34DD than a 32A.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>low cut jeans are actually a lot more comfortable than the high cut jeans.. i can't stand the pants that go up to my belly button. <<</p>
</blockquote>
<br>
<p>Fendergirl,</p>
<p>I guarantee you that in about 20 years time you will look back on the fashions of your youth and cringe over the fact that you actually liked that ridiculous look at one time. This happens to every generation. You will also be appalled by at least some aspects of the fashions of your kids and their friends. That happens to every generation too.</p>