<p>The college clothing thread made me wonder about formal clothes- Do you think I'll need them? Should I be bringing formal dresses? How many?</p>
<p>I'm not sure what college occassions call for formalwear and how often I'll need them- and is it common to rewear formal dresses in college, or should I plan on a new one for each event?</p>
<p>My daughter has been to a couple of formals in her two years at college. She just used old HS prom/formal dresses. She said that's what most of the girls did, much less stress.</p>
<p>It depends a bit on which college you will be attending and what kind of activities you will be taking part in. Rural/suburban colleges may be a little less formal than urban ones. Some colleges are more preppy/formal than others. My S never once had to wear formal clothing. He spent 4 years wearing jeans, T-shirts and fleece sweats.
If you sing in a chorus, you may be expected to wear a long black skirt or black trousers and a white blouse. You may wish to pack a couple of short skirts and a couple of long skirts, nothing too formal.</p>
<p>elizabeth22 - Wellesley is not a very formal place (I think that's where you're going?). Wasn't in my time and still isn't to the best of my knowlege. The singing groups did wear somewhat dressy (maybe formal) dresses. I think you live close enough and should have enough notice that you could go and get something from home/have it brought or sent, or go buy something new or vintage.</p>
<p>Myself, I would feel a bit silly unpacking formal dresses when I arrived in September not having any idea what event/season they would be for.</p>
<p>I think it depends on your school. My friend told me that her son who went to Georgetown went to many events where he wore formal clothing whereas her 2nd son attends a west coast school and has never had occasion in 2 yrs to even break out the khaki's.
I am hoping my D doesn't require any formal attire since she doesn't own any.</p>
<p>Where will you be going?</p>
<p>My D asked me to send one of her long dresses (very sleek and versatile) the first fall she was at school on the east coast. Apparently there are some dances that some kids dress for.
She also had a plain black skirt that she dressed up when the occasion called for it with a dressier sweater or top, and also had a sort of dressy jacket that she wears a lot. She probably wore the long dress once, and the skirt three or four times, max.</p>
<p>What she did find uselful were more casual long skirts - she has a really warm fleece skirt that she wore a lot in the winter.</p>
<p>Yup, I'm going to Wellesley, and I'm also probably going to sing with one of their choruses. Think a simple black dress would cut it for that?</p>
<p>I also live 2.5 hours (by car) from the school, and have a mother who likes driving and would probably be happy to bring a dress down if I needed it for a special occassion, so I guess the dresses will stay at home for now :).</p>
<p>Elizabeth:</p>
<p>You'd have to ask the chorus what kind of outfit they would like. In some, your black dress would be just the thing. But if they expect all the women to be wearing a black skirt or trousers and a white blouse, your simple black dress would not suit.<br>
Wellesley has got some very nice (and rather expensive) clothes stores. I just read in the Globe today that the Garment District near Kendall Square ($1 for 1lb of clothes) is in danger of closing. Generations of students have gotten outfitted there.</p>
<p>Wait until you get there Elizabeth, your Mom can bring or send a dress, or you mgiht find something. Musicians probably do need some concert clothing, but wait until you know exactly what to get, and remeber it has to be comfortable and relatively loose fitting, so you can breathe.</p>
<p>as many said it really depends on which college you attend...at penn I wear formal/semi-formal clothes at least once per week. Many times 2-3 times per week.</p>
<p>You might get invited to a formal at Harvard. ;)</p>
<p>And if you need to, you can go to Filene's Basement and get amazing formal clothes at unbelievable prices.</p>
<p>There is the Freshman Formal at Harvard--only dance that my D mentioned going to that required a formal. One of the girls in the dorm had family that lived about a half hour from school. The mother brought over 5-6 formal dresses for the girls to choose from for those who came to college without a formal.</p>
<p>I echo what other posters have said about finding out what you will need before bringing it--for example, although the singing group will almost certainly require some sort of black or black-and-white clothing, you won't know just what until you are in it. It sounds as though for dress-up clothes either having your mother drive the dresses down or sending them will work fine (I sent several dresses and a pair of shoes to my D second day FedEx--which is surprisngly reasonably priced-- when she needed them. I would love to live close enough to drive packages to her, and definitely would consider two and half hours well within that limit, so I don't think its imposing on your mother at all:)). </p>
<p>My daughter also found there is a lot of borrowing of party clothes in her hall, which I'm sure is a fairly universal practice, so you add to your wardrobe that way (and lend, too, of course). Interestingly, even though my D goes to a rather dressy school, the emphasis is on semiformals, so long dresses weren't worn except on a very few specialized occasions--so less need for her prom dresses than might be expected. It sounds as though some of the other schools that posters are familiar with involve more formal/long dress occasions, but again, living relatively close to home, you can wait until you need them to bring them--especially since you probably don't know yet how much storage space your will have and whether it is tall enough to accommodate a long dress. (I would bring one short dress and pair of heels or dressy flipflops though in case you need them early in the school year.)</p>
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at penn I wear formal/semi-formal clothes at least once per week. Many times 2-3 times per week
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bern, what type of occasions is this for?</p>
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bern, what type of occasions is this for?
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</p>
<p>Must be an Omega. "Thank you sir, may I have another!"</p>
<p>Mattmom,
You're right about the borrowing of clothes. My daughter was showing us pictures of one of the dances she attended at her college and one girl's dress looked very familiar..... Sharing definately extends the wardrobe!</p>
<p>This reminds me of a post last year. Someone told the story of a niece who had gone from up North to Vandy, and was going through rush and winter formals, and her roommate finally sat the girl down and gently asked her if she needed clothes or money, because she had worn the same dress twice in a row. The poster was incensed, but, except for the wealthy, everyone in the South ransacks Mom's closet, sisters, roommates, cousins, the Junior League shop, where ever to get clothes - just because you don't wear the same outfit twice in front of the same people, does not mean you own them all, or bought them new.</p>
<p>jmmom: It depends...here are the most common events that require semi-formal/formal (by semi-formal I mean sportscoat&tie and formal I mean suit or tuxedo)
1. employer session, dinners, etc.
2. Cocktail parties
3. Charity Balls, Fraternity/Sorority balls,formals,dances (few times a years)
4. Secret Society events (I attend many events put on by a certain secret society on campus and most of these are at fancy restaurants, swanky lounges/bars, etc.</p>
<h1>1 occur a few times a month, #2 a few times a month, #3 a few times a times, and #4 weekly or a few times per week.</h1>
<p>It thought I'd be nice to post this so that some of the moms or girls going into freshman year can take a look at what kind of formal stuff people take to school...I know how many of you worry about clothes and what to wear, lol at least my mom and sister do...:) Btw this is a site created by some penn students that posts pictures from various social events. Some on here might be helpful like the Tabard Charity Ball so you can get an idea as to what kind of clothes (how formal) people bring. Warning: Some pictures show alcohol consumption.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.dankpictures.com/%5B/url%5D">http://www.dankpictures.com/</a></p>
<p>btw to clear something up I am not involved in any frat or secret society as audiophile suggested.</p>