<p>What are your experiences with going to/having a child at a school with a formal dress code? Did this add a big extra expense? How do/did you/your child feel about it-- was it something that became more difficult over time, or not? And what exactly does a formal dress code mean for a girl? Also, I'm assuming the dress code is only for class or whole school events and that you can wear what you want (within reason) during other times, yes? Any insights, really, are appreciated.</p>
<p>What exactly does the code say? Is there an explicit uniform? Or, as with Exeter–for boys: collared dress type shirt with a tie and long pants (no holes)?</p>
<p>Dress code debates get very complicated. I had to check to see if my kids’ schools counted as “casual” or “formal.” They are defined as “casual,” but both schools have dress codes for class and formal events. I gather some schools have very casual dress codes. It isn’t as simple as formal = Dead Poets’ Society, while casual = Woodstock.</p>
<p>One school with a formal dress code specified (for boys) dress shirt and tie. We saw a boy in a dress shirt, tie, shorts, and flip-flops. Different, loud patterns on each item. The dress code was no obstacle to expressing personality!</p>
<p>As a mother, I don’t care about the dress codes. Storage space for clothes is limited, thus any student must select items for school with care, whether they’re from Brooks Brothers or your favorite grunge-rock band. </p>
<p>I appreciate, as a parent, that my children are learning how to dress appropriately for the adult events approaching, such as working in an office or a job interview. For college interviews, it was very handy to be able to say simply, “class dress,” and know my kid would be appropriately dressed for an interview with any alum who had graduated within the last 40 years.</p>
<p>The school my child is considering is Hotchkiss, which has a formal dress code, not a uniform. My child was showing me a Facebook page called something like the hHtchkiss look book, and I couldn’t really see from looking at those photos what “formal” meant for the girls–they seemed to be wearing pretty much the same things the girls wear at my child’s school, minus blue jeans… The boys clearly need to wear dress shirts, ties, and blazers. I just wondered what people’s experiences were, if kids found it restrictive --especially over time–or if that wasn’t a problem at all. Of course I realize, different kids will have different experiences of it.</p>
<p>We’re doing the same thing, lol, looking over photos of the school to see what everyone is wearing. I found with my child’s current school, the best source was speaking with current parents if possible.</p>
<p>Our youngest is at a day school with a stricts dress code and formal dress for certain occasions. As such:
Collard shirt with school embl. (polo or long sleeved), belt and long khaki pants. Shirt must be tucked in. Shoes or clean basic sneakers. No sandals or flipflops.
Basic hair cuts. No piercings for boys. No piercings aside from ears (1 per ear) for girls.
Formal dress days: Long sleeve button down shirt, tie, belt, suit coat, slacks. No sneakers/sandals, etc. </p>
<p>Oldest is at a very informal boarding school. Basically, you can wear what you want except for PJs to class or school events. Otherwise, if you are covered and not nude…they don’t really care.</p>
<p>Both good schools…but SUCH different environments!
S</p>