Dress Code Across the U.S.

[SWTXBelle]

Money doesn't equal taste. Or style. Or graciousness. (Britney Spears has more money than I'll ever see - but hardly has taste, style or graciousness. Sanity would be a good place for her to start . . .)

My maternal great-grandfather made his fortune in the 30s in Florida and had an (ugly) home in Palm Beach. I remember him, but just barely, so must rely on family accounts of him - he was by all accounts a real bastard, who treated his family poorly. And all that money? A maid faked a marriage when he was 93 and ran off to Canada with it. Years and years later, my grandmother won her case - and the money largely went to attorneys.

My paternal grandmother was the daughter of turpentiners. My grandfather was superintendent of schools in a city in Texas, so hardly wealthy. But my Mimi is absolutely the epitome of a gracious woman, who has a classic, conservative style to this very day - a pillar of her church and community, she is every inch a lady, beloved by all.

When you are talking about dress codes, you have to beware of making gross generalizations. What may be de rigeur in one group (let us say, yours) would make you a fashion pariah in another. That doesn't mean one standard is "wrong" - just different. And making general statements about an entire region is dangerous, because there is so much variety. For example - in Texas, standards in Austin will be different than those in College Station, and I'll hazard a guess that UT dress codes will be different than St. Edward's, even though those two campuses are both in the same city. So may I ask that everyone just tell us what is currently "in" in your neck of the woods without commenting on everyone else's?

eta - and as for predicting it - people = predictable, on GC and elsewhere.

eta- 2 -

[Benzgirl]

Originally Posted by SECdomination

Haha, I've heard the Rovers are pretty bad. You know that I wasn't bashing Mercedes, don't you?

Yes I do. But, I live in an area that is the hotbed of Ford and GM. I won't buy either. Not so much because of the quality (which I think Ford has, but not GM), but because of what the UAW did to the auto industry in the 70s and 80s.

[BabyPiNK_FL]

I too on Thursday witnesses Vineyard Vines dress shirts for men and a Lily(sp?) Pulitzer dress at a TJ Maxx!

[PeppyGPhiB]

Every time I read this thread I get visions of this scene from Heathers:



http://youtube.com/watch?v=LQ-3rikUQ34

Nice to see this is still funny and relevant after all these years.

[nittanyalum]

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

Every time I read this thread I get visions of this scene from Heathers:



http://youtube.com/watch?v=LQ-3rikUQ34

Nice to see this is still funny and relevant after all these years.

*gasp* I love love LOVE that movie!!!!!!! Winona's monocle was so effing cool. And remember when she and Christian Slater had really thriving movie careers? I so hearted Christian Slater (Untamed Heart, anyone?). But "Heathers" was just classic.

"My son was a homosexual. And I loved him. I love my dead gay son!"

"Are we going to prom, or to hell?"

/hijack

[macallan25]

Originally Posted by Little32

Except that what is deemed "classy" does change. The things people wore and deemed appropriate at the turn of the 20th century or even mid-century are archaic today. Those same folks, your great, great grand parents even, would look at what you wear now and shake their heads in dismay.

There are clothiers that have been operating since the 1900s that still remain classy and traditional to this day....brands that many of us wear.

I honestly disagree with your statement. I think what constitutes the appropriate dress for a gentleman has changed very little over the past 100 or so years outside of simple changes in design.

[33girl]

I want to know where these TJ Maxx/Marshall's/AJ Wrights are that have these amazing designer finds, because in my experience they're like the unicorn, they just don't exist. I mean the most designer stuff at mine is Calvin Klein or Phat Farm.

[DSTCHAOS]

Every TJ Maxx and Marshalls (moreso TJ Maxx) that I go to has designer finds--not CK and Phat Farm. I don't care if they are last season. You usually have to sort through the racks but a lot of people aren't patient enough to do so, so I end up with some great finds that others overlook.

Plus, a lot of people don't know who these designers are so instead of being "label whores" people just judge the clothes for what they are--high quality and nice OR low quality and ugly OR high quality and ugly.

I think it may depend on where you live and how big the demand is for certain styles and items.

[ISUKappa]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

I think it may depend on where you live and how big the demand is for certain styles and items.

I agree. Even our podunk TJ Maxx in BFE will occasionally get a few designer items. A few years ago there was a slew of Lily dresses. It does take some searching, and you often have to hit it right after they received a new shipment of inventory.

[SoCalGirl]

The "better areas" get the better stuff. For example I rarely see Coach and Dooney and Bourke purses at the the Marshalls by my parents house. I see them more frequently at the one by my house and almost every time if I go to La Jolla or Solana Beach.

[Little32]

Originally Posted by macallan25

I think what constitutes the appropriate dress for a gentleman has changed very little over the past 100 or so years outside of simple changes in design.

Maybe I will bend a bit and give you the former, though not without reiterating the significance of the latter(thinking about the images of the well-dressed hunter posted by MysticCat; you all aren't running around like that are you?); and I still think that folks' ancestors would be surprised about the fashion today.

Certainly for women, my statement stands.

[macallan25]

Originally Posted by Little32

Maybe I will bend a bit and give you the former, though not without reiterating the significance of the latter(thinking about the images of the well-dressed hunter posted by MysticCat; you all aren't running around like that are you?); and I still think that folks' ancestors would be surprised about the fashion today.

Certainly for women, my statement stands.

I agree that our ancestors may find some of the clothing that is worn today very surprising. And yes, I think for women it is dramatically different.

I just don't see it for a guy so much. Wearing shorts was probably unheard of back then, but for the most part, I don't see many changes.

[LilCutiePIE]

Kentucky-University of Kentucky

Dress Code when on campus: We are a public university so there is no dress code, but the top sororities and fraternities can be easily distinguished by the attire they wear to class. Many people wear polos, lacostes or oxfords with needlepoint belts and topsiders or rainbows. If you are wearing a button down, it is tucked in not worn out.

At Football Tailgates/ Keeneland: Girls wear dresses. Fraternity pledges wear khaki pants, with oxfords, a tie, and a sport coat. The actives wear khakis or colored pants, oxfords, and ties or bow ties. Many guys are seen wearing their needlepoint belts.

At Formals and Monday night meetings: Formal attire is required for everyone.

[MontanaTheta]

Originally Posted by CuriousCasey

I am from the south (SEC country) and chose to go to a northern school. Many (almost all) of my friends who go to SEC schools are in GLO's and I see the photos of them in dresses and such at games and i'm suddenly glad I go to school where I do. I would be terribly uncomfortable cheering and such at a football game if I was in a dress and just..all dressed up in general. Its a football game..

I too, am from the good ole heart of Dixie and chose to go to school in Montana of all places.

there is generally one game where the student body wears shorts or skirts and the like, and all the other games you are generally in sweatshirts and layers, trying not to catch a cold or something!

For homecoming, when a fraternity and sorority pair up, they make a joint sweatshirt with both organization's letters and a theme relating to the overall homecoming theme and that is the only game that letters are worn to because of the drinking that is done by the majority of the student population.

Plus, our Greek system is very small (4 sororities and 5 fraternities) and so there is more of a trend towards blending in to the crowd over standing out.

you best believe though, that the games that are warm enough i am in my dress and heels like i was trained to do!

[PiKA2001]

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

Yes, and still the best cars I have ever owned. Much better than this Land Rover piece of shit I now have or my BMW that blew an engine 6 weeks out of warranty.

HEY! What do you have against your Rover? What model do you have?