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<p>Totally agree!! Respect in this environment is not about fashion or appearance, at all. Why I love it so!</p>
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<p>Clean, properly fitting, not worn out clothes.</p>
<p>Bring two shirts: a red one to wear at Stanford, and a blue one to wear at Berkeley (and not red USC shirts or blue UCLA shirts either). :)</p>
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<p>A high school student will probably have a hard time finding a suit or button down shirt that fits properly. Most such items are made for typical older men, and will have way too much volume in the abdomen area for a high school student.</p>
<p>“Respect in this environment is not about fashion or appearance, at all.”
^^try getting THAT message through to some visitors…
they just don’t get it…at all!
too bad for the student… Sept is always hot on campus, classes will have started, it will be hard to find a parking spot, and there is a lot of walking involved to get from the few parking lots to the various campus buildings.</p>
<p>It’s California, fer cryin out loud. We invented casual. Preppy doesn’t cut it out here.</p>
<p>In fact, the Engineering Department would appreciate a t-shirt with some joke that only engineers understand, or perhaps a reference to * The Big Bang Theory*. (I know, they’re physicists, but all geeky types love that show.)</p>
<p>[Knock</a> Knock Knock Penny Shirt](<a href=“http://www.80stees.com/products/Knock-Knock-Knock-Penny-shirt.asp]Knock”>Big Bang Theory T-Shirts and Clothes - 80sTees)</p>
<p>[Friendship</a> Algorithm Shirt](<a href=“http://www.80stees.com/products/Friendship-Algorithm-The-Big-Bang-Theory-Shirt-link.asp]Friendship”>Big Bang Theory Friendship Algorithm T-Shirt)</p>
<p>[Rock</a> Paper Scissors Lizard Spock T-shirt](<a href=“http://www.tvstoreonline.com/bigbang014.html]Rock”>http://www.tvstoreonline.com/bigbang014.html)</p>
<p>[Bazinga</a> T Shirt](<a href=“http://www.stylinonline.com/t-shirt-big-bang-theory-bazinga-word-black.html]Bazinga”>http://www.stylinonline.com/t-shirt-big-bang-theory-bazinga-word-black.html)</p>
<p>OK, kidding about the Big Bang t-shirts, but really, California college campuses are very laid back about dress. No dirt, no holes, obviously. But an overdressed student will stand out like a sore thumb.</p>
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<p>You mean like those in this catalog?
[ThinkGeek</a> :: T-Shirts & Apparel](<a href=“http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts-apparel/]ThinkGeek”>http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts-apparel/)</p>
<p>Yes! And thanks for solving my Christmas gift-giving problems for my science-y family members!</p>
<p>Professors only care about what comes out of the kid’s mouth. They are accustomed to seeing students in all sorts of deshabille. An admissions interview is a different story. Though several years ago I do remember seeing a father and son in matching blue blazers, gray flannels, and ties at a Brown info session. This was of course the intentional marker of a full-pay, most likely boarding school student.</p>
<p>“bad for the student… Sept is always hot on campus, classes will have started, it will be hard to find a parking spot, and there is a lot of walking involved to get from the few parking lots to the various campus buildings.”</p>
<p>Why, is it harder to walk in a polo shirt and khakis as compared to a t shirt and jeans? Never too early for a young man to learn that just because most people dress like slobs, there is no need to emulate then. Polo shirt and khakis are hardly so “dressed up” that theyd look out of place. I agree with you, gourmet mom. It’s hardly putting on the Ritz to exert a little extra effort.</p>
<p>“Just be comfortable and don’t overdress…or you’ll look like you are trying too hard (and create the opposite impression…nothing worse than kids wearing clothes they never wear and acting all awkward, like pretend middle age people).”</p>
<p>I think a 18 yo should have had enough occasions in his life where he needed to look decent that putting on a polo and khakis shouldn’t make him “feel all uncomfortable and awkward and like he"s super dressed up,” because a polo and khakis doesn’t anywhere meet the definition of dressed up. How can one possibly look more awkward in a polo than a t shirt? What, is a polo some complicated piece of clothing to put on?</p>
<p>Please don’t make the leap that wearing khakis and a polo is tantamount to wearing dad’s ill-fitting suit. Sheesh. The kid is standing in his hotel room with a tee shirt in one hand and a polo shirt in the other. Which to choose? “Mom, what do you think?” “Honey, I’d be safe and wear a collar - go with the polo.” “Yeah, right.”</p>
<p>Not too complicated, guys.</p>
<p>Exactly! On what PLANET is a polo dressy? What possible occasion is there where a polo is overdressed, other than going to bed or painting the garage? </p>
<p>Anyway, how is it doing any young man favors by acting that a polo and khakis are scratchy, uncomfortable clothing for meeting the queen instead of slightly more polished casual everyday wear?</p>
<p>Polos aren’t dressy, but on our planet they are considered insufferably preppy. Older son will wear them, but younger son would much rather wear a casual short sleeve button up shirt, preferably with black jeans. (I don’t particularly agree with them, but that’s the way they see it.) :)</p>
<p>I’m an idiot for dropping my two cents here…but… </p>
<p>My son has several pairs of button fly, really casual khaki pants that he grabs as quickly as he does jeans. These are not dockers or dressy in any way. They have never seen an iron or a hanger. I guess I’m just pointing out that not all khakis are created as stuffy as others. That said, I’d let him wear what HE wants because HE will be more comfortable, letting him know the locals dress far more casually then the east coast crowd he’s used to seeing. If he goes is his casual khakis and a polo because that’s what makes him comfortable (knowing what other’s are wearing) then he won’t focus on his clothes while he’s there. That would be MY kid. Another kid might be more comfortable in jeans/shorts and a t’shirt. Given the school I think that’s fine too. Believe it or not, I’ve seen jeans and t’shirts on east coast kids going to meet professors! :eek: Again, if the kids are more comfortable, and the clothes are clean and fit well, everyone can focus on other things.</p>
<p>There’s a reason that a certain young CEO runs around in hoodies…that is the appropriate dress in this neighborhood. Menloparkmom is right. They will care about what he says, not what he wears. It is one of the great aspects of living in Silicon Valley.</p>
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<p>Wow. Really? That’s a lot of baggage for an innocent-looking shirt. Honestly, I had no idea that a mere polo says so much: insufferably preppy, trying too hard, east coast stuffy. Sounds like a bit of reverse snobbism is at play here - it seems very important to some that they seem not to care about appearances, but in reality, that crappy old tee shirt needs to look * just so * in order to fit in with the very cool California vibe. I got it. </p>
<p>The irony here is that the silicon valley folks seem to be care a lot more about how they dress than the poor kid in the polo!</p>
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<p>It isn’t, though I would not consider it necessarily that much (if any) more “polished” either (for the environment in question). Just make sure that the clothes are clean, properly fitting, not worn out, etc… (As a side note, I don’t get why jeans are so popular, since they tend to be bulky and hot compared to khakis. But whatever…)</p>
<p>A few things would be best to stay away from, like sagging trousers, clothing with political slogans, red/Stanford shirts at Berkeley, blue/Cal shirts at Stanford, etc…</p>
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<p>Does not seem like an issue in the Berkeley / Stanford area.</p>
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Oh I agree absolutely on the reverse snobbism - at least for my younger son who pays a lot of attention to his appearance when he isn’t wearing jeans and a t-shirt. Amusingly he actually decided he needed preppier clothes and another suit after a year of International Relations. He’s got a nice sartorial style that combines casual and dressed up (fedoras, dress jackets with jeans, black button up shirts etc.) He’s not a CA boy BTW.</p>
<p>My older, geeky, working-in-Silicon-Valley son, thinks all shirts with buttons are uncomfortable, but at least when he was still under our roof took my suggestions. His work uniform is cargo shorts and a ThinkGeek t-shirt, if it’s chilly he wears khakis because he thinks jeans are uncomfortable. Not sure what he wore to interviews though…</p>
<p>“On what PLANET is a polo dressy? What possible occasion is there where a polo is overdressed, other than going to bed or painting the garage”</p>
<p>On planet Silicon Valley, out here in the wild, casual west, Polo shirts are considered DRESS SHIRTS. They also are considered preppy[ ugh] and anyone wearing one to a casual event broadcasts to others know they are not from around here. Sorry if some of you Eastern/ Southern folk don’t get that or approve. That’s the way it is here.</p>
<p>"The irony here is that the silicon valley folks seem to be care a lot more about how they dress. "
Nope, that’s YOUR projection of YOUR tastes and style onto others.</p>
<p>AS SV mom stated"
They will care about what he says, not what he wears. It is one of the great aspects of living in Silicon Valley."
sorry others dont get that, or like that or appreciate it. but it is what it is…</p>