Dress Code Across the U.S.

[PeppyGPhiB]

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

Of course it is. I think what some of us are saying is that it seems like a silly thing to classify as "fratty" or "preppy," and it's just sad if people are buying them to fit in, as if it designates some sort of status.

Originally Posted by OleMissRebel

The South doesn't go along with trends. We wore what are parents wore when they were in college. Classiness isn't a trend that fades away over time. We just like to keep it classy at all time, no matter what we may be doing.
At Ole Miss, everyone takes this to heart. Even the GDIs look like they can be top tier brothers. It is tradition.

Is there a reason why you quoted my comment about croakies? What the hell does your response about trends have to do with my comment about croakies? Your parents wore croakies? You're saying croakies are "classy"?

Even if southerners don't follow "trends," I think it's obvious from what southern GCers say on this board - yourself included - that it's very important to y'all to FIT IN. That doesn't mean trendy...it means homogeny.

[Lucky SC]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

But some of these labels have been around for 50-80 years and they have remained pretty traditional. They haven't tried to appeal to a younger crowd that follows trends and fads.

my dad's side of the family is as southern as it gets, farmers from alabama while my mom's side are all still in Ireland so i see both sides of the spectrum... both extremes lol.


I could not imagine nor have i ever seen anyone in my family wearing bow ties with crabs or marlins on them (southern proper, southern tide, vineyard vines etc) or blue, green, pink shorts that a "frat boy" would be wearing.

I'm not making a statement about not liking it, because i wear that kind of stuff. But to say there is no trend in the style of dress is ignorant, people in the 1920's - 1940's were not wearing stuff like this.

get over it, its not all tradition. The only tradition i can see in this is the fact that your grandad might have worn polo, but their line has definately changed from then to now. The only thing probably identical in style is the classic khaki's and a blazer or a plain old suit.

Their is definatley some essence of fad in some of the dress of a fraternity man.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by Lucky SC

my dad's side of the family is as southern as it gets, farmers from alabama while my mom's side are all still in Ireland so i see both sides of the spectrum... both extremes lol.


I could not imagine nor have i ever seen anyone in my family wearing bow ties with crabs or marlins on them (southern proper, southern tide, vineyard vines etc) or blue, green, pink shorts that a "frat boy" would be wearing.

I'm not making a statement about not liking it, because i wear that kind of stuff. But to say there is no trend in the style of dress is ignorant, people in the 1920's - 1940's were not wearing stuff like this.

get over it, its not all tradition. The only tradition i can see in this is the fact that your grandad might have worn polo, but their line has definately changed from then to now. The only thing probably identical in style is the classic khaki's and a blazer or a plain old suit.

Their is definatley some essence of fad in some of the dress of a fraternity man.

Yeah but it's important to note that "fraternity men" aren't the only ones wearing the bowties with the crabs or marlins on them or any of that other stuff. Don't give them too much credit.

And I think this is where people need to stop putting "Southern" in one category. What a lot of people on this board consider "Southern," I and the people I associate with do not--this would be justified by telling us that we aren't from the Deep South, of course, but even the people I know who are from the Deep South don't conform to this Southern style that I keep reading about.

And your father's side of the family are Alabama farmers but thatmight be a different type of "Southern" than some of these "Southern preps" are talking about.

I think there are extremes that are almost caricatures of "Southern." It goes back to what I said about people trying really hard to shove their "Southern-ness" in your face and make you believe that they are "preppy" or come from "old money."

[Little32]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

How about "classic" instead of "classy". Certain styles are classic - you could wear them then, you could wear them now - for example, the blue blazer is a classic. Lapels may change some, and the tie you wear with it, but a blue blazer is a classic.

I was going to make the distinction between classic and classy in my early post, but then I didn't.

I think, however, my point stands. Fashion changes. It just does; that is the nature of the beast.

[Lucky SC]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

Yeah but it's important to note that "fraternity men" aren't the only ones wearing the bowties with the crabs or marlins on them or any of that other stuff. Don't give them too much credit.

And I think this is where people need to stop putting "Southern" in one category. What a lot of people on this board consider "Southern," I and the people I associate with do not--this would be justified by telling us that we aren't from the Deep South, of course, but even the people I know who are from the Deep South don't conform to this Southern style that I keep reading about.

And your father's side of the family are Alabama farmers but thatmight be a different type of "Southern" than some of these "Southern preps" are talking about.

I think there are extremes that are almost caricatures of "Southern." It goes back to what I said about people trying really hard to shove their "Southern-ness" in your face and make you believe that they are "preppy" or come from "old money."

you hit the nail on the head of what i'm trying to say.

because my family doesn't come from money yet they have a long southern lineage, they don't need all of the fancy clothes to show it to anyone. I feel like some people are describing the wardrobe as something that classifies the area around the SEC schools, when in reality its something really more so on college campuses that a preppy or greek person would wear.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Lucky SC

The only tradition i can see in this is the fact that your grandad might have worn polo, but their line has definately changed from then to now. The only thing probably identical in style is the classic khaki's and a blazer or a plain old suit.

LOL. My grandfather wouldn't have dreamed of wearing Polo. Polo wasn't widely available or popular until the 1980s. And I can remember how many, many old-school types thought it was just too trendy, faddish and designerish to wear. (I still don't like to wear it.)

Classiness isn't a trend that fades away over time. We just like to keep it classy at all time, no matter what we may be doing.

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

How about "classic" instead of "classy". Certain styles are classic - you could wear them then, you could wear them now - for example, the blue blazer is a classic. Lapels may change some, and the tie you wear with it, but a blue blazer is a classic.

Good clarification, because, as should be clear, holding to the classics doesn't guarentee classiness.

[ΑΓΔSquirrelGirl]

Originally Posted by Lucky SC

you hit the nail on the head of what i'm trying to say.

because my family doesn't come from money yet they have a long southern lineage, they don't need all of the fancy clothes to show it to anyone. I feel like some people are describing the wardrobe as something that classifies the area around the SEC schools, when in reality its something really more so on college campuses that a preppy or greek person would wear.

Thank you. My whole family is Deep South, but we don't come from money. My parents simply wanted me to look appropriate for the occasion. If I'm making a presentation I need a conservative outfit or suit. If I'm going through Recruitment I need a reasonably conservative sundress. Brands and trends don't matter to me, and I am very southern. This stuff isn't "southern". There are more than one version of "southern" and they don't get to claim it for themselves! I'm southern. I'm Greek. I wear whatever the hell I want. I buy stuff that looks good on me...not because it's either trendy or classy.

I have a favorite story about a family member. His dad worked in a plant that made polo-style shirts. A few companies might use a different thread count, but for the most part even the shirts going to the high end stores were the same as the ones headed to Wal-Mart in EVERY way except for the label on the shirt. When this family member was asked by his dad what label he wanted (Izod? Polo?) he said he wanted none. He didn't need a tag to look good.

[OleMissRebel]

Originally Posted by ΑΓΔSquirrelGirl

I have a favorite story about a family member. His dad worked in a plant that made polo-style shirts. A few companies might use a different thread count, but for the most part even the shirts going to the high end stores were the same as the ones headed to Wal-Mart in EVERY way except for the label on the shirt. When this family member was asked by his dad what label he wanted (Izod? Polo?) he said he wanted none. He didn't need a tag to look good.

I don't really believe this. You can clearly feel a difference in a Polo or BB shirt when compared to a cheaper polo shirt. Also, the fit is a huge factor. Companies like Abercrombie and American Eagle make shirts to small and they look ridiculous. Polo shirts fit, feel, and just look the best in my opinion.

[Benzgirl]

OMR....
you might be correct in comparing the quality of BB to AE, BUTTTTTT......
it doesn't mean that BB or Polo will make you look good. I have clearly seen people wearing very expensive clothes that make them look like hell.

[ΑΓΔSquirrelGirl]

Originally Posted by OleMissRebel

I don't really believe this. You can clearly feel a difference in a Polo or BB shirt when compared to a cheaper polo shirt. Also, the fit is a huge factor. Companies like Abercrombie and American Eagle make shirts to small and they look ridiculous. Polo shirts fit, feel, and just look the best in my opinion.

Sigh. I'm glad that's all you got out of my post.

I do believe this, especially 30 or more years ago. Styles have changed, even in Polo shirts.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by OleMissRebel

Companies like Abercrombie and American Eagle make shirts to small and they look ridiculous. Polo shirts fit, feel, and just look the best in my opinion.

And yet Abercrombie & Fitch was once one of the quintessential preppy/outdoors/classic clothiers. I guess some things really can change.

[Elephant Walk]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

And yet Abercrombie & Fitch was once one of the quintessential preppy/outdoors/classic clothiers. I guess some things really can change.

I could be wrong, but I think they were not the quintessential "clothier" as much as they made excellent tents and that sort of thing.

[Little32]

Well I have heard that Abercrombie used to be way preppy; I think that some older GC folks were talking about it in the "Back in the Day" thread.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Elephant Walk

I could be wrong, but I think they were not the quintessential "clothier" as much as they made excellent tents and that sort of thing.

They sold sporting/outdoor clothing, and they were the place to buy that sort of clothing. I found this picture from an old catalog at The Wiki:



A bit different from their catalogs today.

[oncegreek]

It seems to me that LL Bean and Brooks Brothers are quintessentially classic, (some would say preppy). My dad wore LL Bean, and BB, and husband does too. My own sons wear LL Bean. For women, Talbots and Anne Taylor are always classic and flattering. Maybe Lily Pulitzer insome parts of the country. I live in one of the mega suburbs of So Cal, where juicy sweatsuits and obscenely large and expensive SUVs are de rigeur. (Note, I did not say classy, preppy, or classic!)