<p>wis75, I was referring to on-campus wear. It really does depend where you live. In out community (not well off, just very, very far south you only see people wearing sweatpants if we have a rare “cold snap” 1-2 days a year when it goes under 50 degrees. And not even then. South Florida is very hot, humid, and fashion conscious. Plus, kids here all wear uniforms (even public school) so they’re accustomed to wearing khakis/chinos for every day wear.</p>
<p>Berkeley changed their nudity laws to make it an administrative ticket instead of a misdemeanor so it would be a daily fine. Public nudity went way down after there was no option of a jury trial.</p>
<p>It’s really REALLY cold on some of these campuses. I bought sweatpants on my son’s campus on a visit because I hadn’t packed warm enough clothes. If anyone thought I was weird /inappropriate to be wearing them, he/she was kind enough to not mention it.</p>
<p>Re: Shoes</p>
<p>I’ve seen many women’s feet, and some men’s, messed up (bunions, plantar fasciitis, foot pain, constant blisters, etc.) from years of wearing “dressy” shoes (high heels, flat shoes with no support, or pointed toes) or, on the other extreme, flip-flops. From a medical perspective, wearing athletic shoes or brands like Merrell or Birkenstock makes sense. I will not compromise where my feet are concerned, and I have emphasized the same to my children. I don’t want to end up like my friend, who is confined to specific orthotic shoes at a rather young age after years of wearing “cute” shoes. Also, it’s important to me to have shoes that I can run a short distance in or that will hold up well in rain.</p>
<p>Wearing dress pants vs. sweatpants or a nice shirt vs. a T-shirt won’t cause you health problems later on in life. Wearing stylish shoes instead of more comfortable ones might well do so.</p>
<p>I don’t get this at all. I’m 47. I wear mostly flats, some wedges, and the very occasional heel. I wear good running shoes for running or working out. I’m packing for an international trip where I’ll do a lot of walking touring and so I have super comfy walking shoes. I’m not “compromising where my feet are concerned” and don’t put up with uncomfortable shoes at all. But that doesn’t mean I have to wear primarily sneakers.</p>
<p>I think of the young nursing students who work as CNAs at my hospital, using every last cent to get through college, keep the rent paid. And every bit of energy to work a PM shift, do homework afterwards, and get up for early classes and clinicals. I’m sure some of them wear sweats to classes, as they do to work prior to changing to scrubs. They wear make up, have shiny clean hair. That they dress for comfort is the least of anyone’s concerns, and I am awed at how hard they work to get through school. </p>
<p>One D in school in the upper midwest I’m sure wore sweats to class on occasion. As budding scientists who did field camp together in the summer, they were used to seeing each other in all sorts of states. That is a very cold and icy campus midwinter, and flats would not be appropriate, as they are not in my upper midwest city during the winter months, aside from something to don as you walk inside and doff your snowy runners or boots. Those who live here and wear flats in winter probably go from garage to parking garage, never setting foot outside. </p>
<p>Other D at school in the PNW, dressed rather nicely, in colorful and artsy clothing. Her climate and campus were far more conducive to that than her sister’s campus. </p>
<p>For some of us, flats don’t cut it in terms of support. If you’re a hard working, on your feet sort of person, you don’t want to wear most flats for very long. And cheaper ones wear out fast, so little bang for the buck. </p>
<p>Some folks are very visual. Some are not. Some communities more formal than others. That there is a great deal of personal and regional variation is what makes this thread and this country interesting.</p>
<p>When you guys say sweatpants, are you thinking Champion-type with the elastic at the ankle or are you thinking (for a girl) the kind of little exercise outfit that Lucy or Lululemon might sell - yoga pants, coordinated jacket, etc?</p>
<p>Ha, greatlakesmom - my H is a physician and wears scrubs 99% of the time! But except in an emergency, he wouldn’t wear them to dinner out or to run errands. He’d wear sweatpants to cover over shorts when it’s cold out and he’s heading to the gym, but not as casual wear.</p>
<p>Pizzagirl–I’m 60. I remember being 50-ish, when I was telling my 80+ year old MIL that she wasn’t a teenager anymore. You might feel the same when you are 60 or 80 or you might not. I had to change my footwear and even my MIL had to switch to sneakers, much against her wishes. She loved fashionable footwear. It became dangerous. Best wishes.</p>
<p>Well, I’ll deal with that when the time comes :-)</p>
<p>I’m glad I live in an area where people could give a flip about what you are wearing. I have no idea what those store sell, Pizza because I’ve never even heard of them. When you have to name drop or “label” drop around here, people will think you are off your rocker because it just doesn’t matter. I’m sure the cardiologist that shows up at band practice in sweatpants, yes, the Champion ones with the elastic at the ankle is thinking more about staying warm then he is about what someone might think, or the CEO of a multibillion dollar international corporation that buys his jeans at ‘gasp’ Walmart because they are only $15. Off to put on my wind pants and sweatshirt…</p>
<p>I am not giving up yet. :)</p>
<p>My new work place is rather casual. Friday is jeans day. To fit in, I have on a pair of jeans, cotton sweater and a very nice pair of boots. I have been here for 2+ months, and the funny thing is most of those kids are beginning to upgrade their wardrobe.</p>
<p>I have 2 drawers full of shoes. I wear walking shoes (not sneakers) to work, and change out of them when I get in my office. All of my shoes are very comfortable even though I have hard to fit feet, and that includes some dressy high heels. The trick with high heels is the heels need to be placed in a certain position to give proper support. H used to import European shoes, so I used to try on shoes for him.</p>
<p>I don’t presuppose anybody gives a flip about what I’m wearing. I do and that’s all that matters. </p>
<p>And for the zillionth time, this isn’t about money or labels. I’m talking about a concept, not “head to toe in Prada.” </p>
<p>I’m getting dressed for the day in a few minutes. I have a casual dress office -jeans entirely appropriate -and an appointment at the end of the day. Dark wash jeans, a light gray tee, little black cardigan and black suede flats. Some interesting earrings and maybe a scarf since its getting chilly. Done! I wouldn’t embarrass myself if I had to step on S’s campus!</p>
<p>BTW, even in a casual-dress office like the one I have, I can still see which young women (and I’m just talking about women now) are going to be able to “up their game” and look polished in front of our clients (where we are business casual) and which ones won’t know how. </p>
<p>Every year on CC, there’s some dreadful post from some college junior or senior who has to go on a nice date / for a job interview / etc. and has “no idea” what to wear because their parents utterly failed them and never showed them anything other than sweatpants and sneakers.</p>
<p>My son’s campus didn’t give a flip about what I was wearing.</p>
<p>Sigh. Neither does mine. BUT I CARE.</p>
<p>PG, MOST people know how to dress appropriately for those situations even when raised in tennis shoes and sweats.</p>
<p>PG, I guess what I don’t understand is why you seem to care about what other people wear and why you seem to think we should care about what you wear. I care if someone assaults me or anyone else. I care if someone verbally, or physically abuses anyone. Clothing…?</p>
<p>I care a lot about what I wear and what everyone else wears. Clothes fascinate me and are one of my favorite hobbies. It is almost impossible to dress “neutral” as your clothing choices always tell the world something about you. Someone who dresses in sweats could be very consciously rejecting PGs idea of appropriate dress for a variety of reasons. They could understand very well why she dresses as she dresses and make another very deliberate choice. They may know she cares and want to get in her face. It could be deliberate. </p>
<p>Or they could be like one of my best friends, a sixty yr old counter-culture type who has always primarily worn sweats (never has had to work in an office) because she’s too cerebral to care about personal presentation. ;)</p>
<p>Sadly, I have reached the very-ugly-shoes-for-travel-that-includes-a-lot-of-walking stage of life. My super stylish friend, who very much cares what everyone wears and with whom I traveled this summer, was rather appalled with my footwear. I told him these absolutely awful shoes had been so successful for our current trip that I was going to carefully preserve them for our next trip next summer!</p>
<p>Pizza–I think the point you are missing is that we don’t understand why you care so much :D.</p>
<p>Our kids wear jeans and t-shirts 90% of the time. They have appropriate clothing for situations where they need to wear something other than jeans and t-shirts ranging from formal clothing to khakis and a polo shirt. The boys both know how to tie a tie and that you don’t wear white athletic socks with black dress shoes. DS went and bought a tie to match his homecoming date’s dress all on his own the other day too. I’m sure I will get asked to iron his dress pants and dress shirt though :D. Even the most informed of us get flustered when it says “business casual” because at one business that is khakis and a polo shirt and another that means you wear your suit without a tie.</p>