This is QUITE shallow, but I was wondering about clothing I should buy/bring to Yale. I come from a small town in California and am not familiar in general with the weather and style of dress.
Also, to be honest, I’m a little intimidated by the reputation of privilege at Yale, which I know isn’t entirely true, but still. Do people generally dress formally like lil’ prep school stars, or casually, as in sweatpants regularly? (I’m a girl, if that matters)
I’m not looking to drastically change my style, as I’m somewhere in between, but it would be nice to know before packing, which I have to do lightly given the distance.
It’s extremely laid back – very little pretentiousness for the day to day attire. There will be some semi formal events so a nice dress or two is good for the closet. Some nice business casual might be nice for the guest speaker or recital or fun venture into NYC – but after that, it’s completely chill. Please do a search on the Yale Parents thread about what winter gear to eventually acquire (hint: nothing you buy in CA will match in quality & value you’ll find once you get to CT – so some sweaters – but hold off on the boots and coat until you get to Yale).
I recall going down to a SEC school for a visit. My friends and I were amazed to see women carrying purses, wearing dresses & full makeup to class.
I’m only a parent (and of a boy at that), but have seen only a few preppy kids. As expected, lots of jeans and T-shirts. Shorts when it’s warm enough. Parties seem to bring out the khakis and shirts.
My son got through this past brutally cold winter without a jacket that a parent would consider warm enough :). Distances aren’t that far on campus, so you won’t be in the elements for that long. Still, a warm jacket, some gloves, cap, etc are a good idea. As T26E4 suggests, buy them in CT and spare the luggage.
A suggestion: find a few Yale kids’ FB pages, and take a look at their on-campus photos. Granted, FB photos might not be a true representation, probably long on parties and group events, but even so I think you’ll see it’s a relaxed style.
If you look through the Yale View Book above, you’ll see how casual the kids dress. That said, being from California, check the weather if your coming for Bull Dog Days, as temps range from 45 to 65 in mid-April.
For some reason, even though I’m technically going to be one, Yalies don’t seem like real humans. In my head, I imagine them as genius perfect people, but it’s nice to know that they’re not always so polished, at least on the exterior haha
Thanks again for taking the time to help me out!
LOL: I get it. But when that obnoxious neighbor on the other side of your suite’s fire door won’t turn down her music or your suitemate who refuses to clean up the toothpaste goop and hair in the sink despite everyone’s expressed displeasure, the glamor of your fellow Yalies will wear off VERY quickly! hahahaha
It’s extremely likely they ARE geniuses – but are can also be simply annoying as your little brother too!
I just wanted to add that students at Yale wear a lot of Yale-logo stuff, which of course you can buy in New Haven. As noted above, you will need some nice clothes for special events.
Will boys actually need suits (not just for Yale, but for interviewing), or would something like khaki or gray dress pants and a navy jacket be sufficient?
@Planner, I think it is. DS said he didn’t need his suit and that his blazer was sufficient. I imagine that in later years (he’s a freshman now), as the internship interviews become more meaningful, an interview suit or two might be required. So far, his interviews have been over the phone or on campus.
@jt6078 - Welcome to the family!!! Yalies are far from “genius perfect people”. They are teenagers and young adults, aged 17-22. Freshman are one step out of high school. Not polished but real, down to earth people. Even those that come with “airs” in the beginning quickly realize that no one is impressed. And, after the school work kicks in, the late nights start, and the snow starts to pile up, how you look goes by the wayside. As stated up thread, my D also lives in jeans and sweats. Every once in a while she may put on a nicer shirt. There have been some special occasions for freshman and upperclassmen where she has dressed up but that has maybe been 3 or 4 times the whole year. Yesterday when the Yale graduate that won the Oscar for the Frozen song was on campus speaking, she dressed a little nicer.
An example of how “normal” they are: When the singer from One Direction left the group a couple of weeks ago, my D sent me an e-mail distraught - I thought someone had died. For the next couple of days, her best friend at Harvard and her sent e-mails back and forth on this topic - I thought it was hilarious. The point here is that they are teens, smart teens, but teens.
I agree that you should wait till you get to New Haven to buy a lot of cold weather and rain gear. Hunter boots are a great bet. Look them up online. Also, Bean Boots (LL Bean) are very useful for cold, slushy days.
Op,
DD is from So Cal. She was so cold and miserable that first year, and then we learned and got warmer clothes. Seriously wore everything in her closet and was still freezing. The materials that you wear in NE are different than in CA.
Need a HEAVY jacket, a fleece lighter jacket, wool or some synthetic socks, hat, gloves, scarves, snow type of boots (everyone wears the LL bean boots), rain boots (hunter is the trendiest, but you can find cheaper hunteresqe boots). We got most of the clothes from ski stores in CA. The HEAVY jacket can be bought at TJ Maxx or ski store. When DD comes home for Xmas, arrives sweating in the NE clothes, and has to put on shorts to deal with the So Cal Xmas weather.
DD originally tried to hold off getting cold weather clothes until she got to Yale, but the problem is that it’s difficult to go shopping without a car, etc. So did much better shopping in CA.
Also, kids wear slightly longer skirts in NE compared with CA.
Also should get 1 dressy sort of dress usually in black.