<p>Riprorin: I agree with feenotype, I think a suit is a necessity. There seems to be many dress up occasions and a suit is always appropriate. You can also break a suit apart; wear the jacket with a dress shirt and jeans, or just wear the slacks with a nice shirt. I would stick to basic colors like black or dark blue. Don’t forget the dress socks, dress shoes, tie, dress belt or suspenders.
I think that there are some events where a student could be turned away if dressed inappropriately (too casual). I always think that it is better to be overdressed for a function than underdressed. Events to think about: convocations, Buisness leadership events, Honors College events, luncheons, dinners, church events, meeting the girlfriend’s parents, fraternity events? ( I am not sure about this one), conferences where you are presenting, holiday dinner at a professor’s house, and award ceremonies ( here’s hoping). I am sure that others can chime in with other events and reasons.
I think it is better to be prepared and have a suit because if your son is a difficult fit in a suit, it will be hard to find a suit at a moments notice. It also may need to be tailored and I have yet to find a good tailor in T-Town.</p>
<p>For some of those events, a suit is definitely the most appropriate attire. For others, business casual (khakis and a jacket) are fine. For something like meeting the girlfriend’s parents or going to a professor’s house, I would recommend dressy casual. Nice jeans or chinos and a fashionable casual button up shirt or polo.</p>
<p>Do you think he need a suit freshman year? He’s 16 and still growing.</p>
<p>I work at a B-School (not UA and it’s all-post undergraduate; no combo programs like the STEM MBA so students are all >21.) There are LOTS of on-campus reasons for the gentlemen to wear a suit. Recruiters, informal talks with employers, panel discussions, networking etc. I don’t know how quickly the MBA part of STEM MBA ramps up, but certainly by your S’s junior year, he’ll need a suit.</p>
<p>I’ll get him one. He’ll probably outgrow it in a year, but it’s not a big deal.</p>
<p>Since he will probably outgrow the suit(s) until he is at least 21, I would try to buy one at a discount suit warehouse. I don’t know if you have any of those warehouses in your neck of the woods but the quality is usually acceptable.
Then I would purchase several really well made and tailored suits when he stops growing. You can also purchase suits that have a more traditional cut, which would leave some room for expansion. Have the tailor adjust the suit sleeves leaving the extra material in the sleeve hem for later adjustment. Buy pants and have a cuff made so you can drop the cuff when he gets taller. I have had good success with these measures if the suit is cleaned and taken care of.</p>
<p>Great suggestions, thanks! When I lived in Rochester, NY I used to get Hickey-Freeman suits at their annual warehouse sale. Now we are over an hour a way from a mall.</p>
<p>Might be worthwhile taking a ride to one of the Tanger Malls. There is a huge mall in Patamus NJ (Check the websites out for stores that are there) and call ahead to see if they have your son’s size. I don’t know if there is a tanger near you, there are many locations in the US.</p>
<p>[Premium</a> Outlets: Everyday Discounts on Designer Brands](<a href=“http://Www.premiumoutlets.com%5DPremium”>http://Www.premiumoutlets.com)</p>
<p>Join the free VIP club and print new coupons ( which are updated weekly) before every trip.</p>
<p>We got a $850 beaded gown for $185 for prom.</p>
<p>J. Crew, T Burch, S Madden, BCBG, etc with great deals on occasion.</p>
<p>I recently purchased a new top-notch pair of New Balance for myself for about $30 by using VIP coupons.</p>
<p>These Premium Outlets are especially good if you are working from a long list and can make a series of visits: less successful if you are looking for one specific item as their stock changes…</p>
<p>The Houston outlet is a good hour from home, and recently we have gone nearly every Saturday. The buys have been well worth the trouble. It is very nice, except the food court is unforgiving in the gluten-free department.</p>
<p>My son noted that many current students that he met at Bama Bound were sporting the Cole Hahn “driving mocs”, and he apparently needs more “gingham”.</p>
<p>I have absolutely no idea what that means.</p>
<p>Can you decode?</p>
<p>^^^. Lol, it’s an aggie. 
(All in fun to the aggie ;). )</p>
<p>“Driving mocs” - they are soft sole shoes. Very thin sole that is flexible and goes up the back of the shoe a bit. I have some as does my husband. But we are car fanatics with a few collectibles in the stable. I didn’t see many kids at BB when we were there sporting them. </p>
<p>Gingham - is a small print like a plaid but only 2 colors with one being white. Again, I didn’t see much of it at BB except the one I had.</p>
<p>I can :). Gingham shirts are very in for guys right now. We bought DS 3 ( bought blue, kind of a pink one and a red one…his sister bought one in NYC from a another company that’s kind of a green hue) for his “summer look” at work and to wear casually with shorts (tails out , tan RL shorts). Here’s a link:[Gingham</a> | Preppy Dress Shirt | Southern Tide](<a href=“http://www.southerntide.com/products/Gingham-Sport-Shirt.html]Gingham”>http://www.southerntide.com/products/Gingham-Sport-Shirt.html)
As for the shoes…they are just Cole Haan…they are just casual loafers…link :[Air</a> Grant Driving Moccasin - Men’s Shoes: Colehaan.com](<a href=“http://www.colehaan.com/colehaan/catalog/product.jsp?catId=100&productId=822943&productGroup=726748]Air”>http://www.colehaan.com/colehaan/catalog/product.jsp?catId=100&productId=822943&productGroup=726748). He bought them in grey and kind of a dark brown…says they are VERY comfy!!</p>
<p>I guess this falls under the category of learning something new everyday.</p>
<p>My 19 yr old college student daughter helped my son pick out clothes. Probably better than if I did it.</p>
<p>I know for a fact that my DD was sporting Nike shorts and rain boots yesterday on campus. LOL!</p>
<p>On the gingham, when shopping for DD for school before she left for EC. I met her at a dept store and got there before her. I started going thru and picking stuff out and it was getting put in the dressing room. She showed up, picked out a few more and went to go try everything on. She came out wearing this aqua gingham shirt that I had picked out for ME. She was smiling (always a good sign when trying on clothes) and said, “I like this but it is kind of big”. I looked and realized, 'that is for ME! I’ll get one in your size." We have matching gingham shirts 
Almost wore them the same day on our way to BB. I won :)</p>
<p>$99.50? How many gingham’s do you get for that?</p>
<p>What differentiates driving mocs from boat shoes (Sperry’s)?</p>
<p>The sole on driving shoes goes on and up the back of the heel to protect the heel while in "driving"position on the accelerator.</p>
<p>Boat shoes have a sole that is clearly sewn in thread as a separate piece to the leather upper and is designed to grip a wet deck.</p>
<p>Driving shoes/mocs are a super soft very flexible sole. The back of the sole has one part that goes up the back heel of the shoe. This protects your floorboards/carpets from wear and same for the heel of the shoe as it is rubber touching. It is a super thin sole that is not one solid sole. It has breaks in it. They are very comfortable shoes!
Here is a pic of one
[Product</a> - Not Available - Macy’s](<a href=“http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/cole-haan-mens-shoes-air-grant-driving-moc-loafers?ID=448288&cm_mmc=Google_Seasonal_PLA-_-PLA+Sale_PLA+Sale-_-17231727995_-_-_mkwid_65FjL241_17231727995|-|65FjL241&gclid=CITozuS-qrgCFVNo7Aod8xsAKg]Product”>http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/cole-haan-mens-shoes-air-grant-driving-moc-loafers?ID=448288&cm_mmc=Google_Seasonal_PLA-_-PLA+Sale_PLA+Sale-_-17231727995_-_-_mkwid_65FjL241_17231727995|-|65FjL241&gclid=CITozuS-qrgCFVNo7Aod8xsAKg) </p>
<p>This one has a pic of the bottom of the sole:
[Air</a> Grant Driving Moccasin - Men’s Shoes: Colehaan.com](<a href=“http://www.colehaan.com/colehaan/catalog/product.jsp?catId=100&productId=528714&productGroup=255718]Air”>http://www.colehaan.com/colehaan/catalog/product.jsp?catId=100&productId=528714&productGroup=255718)</p>
<p>Driving shoes have been popular among some students for a few years now and are often advertised in the Crimson White.</p>
<p>Some UA students also enjoy wearing leather boots, particularly designs with rounded toes.</p>