Appropriate clothing for 10th grade boy?

[scootch]

I think tshirts are fine..... who does he really need to impress anyhow??? Might as well fit in, that seems to help most kids in high school.

 

[FireDancer]

In high school all I wore were t-shirts, sports jerseys, and either jeans or shorts. The only time I put on a polo shirt was for work.

As for appropriate, the dress code at my high school only had 4 restrictions.

1. No clothing with profanity
2. No clothing with drug references
3. No clothing with alcohol references
4, both genders had to wear shirts with sleeves. No tank tops and if you wore a basketball uniform you had to wear a t-shirt underneath.

I think that is all that is needed as far as a dress code goes. These dress codes banning hoodies, sports teams, or certain colors are just ridiculous IMO.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

My DS16 wears cargo pants (or shorts) and either Tshirts or polos (in an untucked, slightly frumpled way, definately not preppie, school uniform way).

My rules are nothing obscene/offensive on the shirt and the clothes have to be clean.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Out of curiosity, what would you consider appropriate clothing for a boy in 10th grade?

We live in a typical middle class area and our schools don't require uniforms, and my son prefers to wear t-shirts and jeans to school. The shirts are clean and not torn or faded or worn out and don't have rude or obscene messages on them and I think he looks fine. For example, today he wore an angry birds shirt. My boyfriend says that he needs to start dressing better and wear polo shirts and not t-shirts.

What do your boys around this age wear? Am I out of touch by thinking t-shirts and jeans are ok school-wear?

My dd is also in 10th. Every kid has their own "look". I see girls and guys wearing whatever. My dd's shop second hand at Plato's closet these days.

I tell you what, buy a few polo's stick them in his dresser and see if he ever wears them.

 

[Janepod]

Jeans and t-shirts or polo shirts here. Jeans are I don't know what to call them, but "normal" fit - not baggy and hanging off, not skinny and tight either. Just "normal."

 

[CharliNye]

I don't think I've ever seen a kid at my dd's high school wear anything but t-shirts and jeans.

Your boyfriend is the one who is out of touch here.

Yup, this.

I live in a pretty upper middle class town and after roaming the halls of my son's HS I'll tell you that tees and jeans are the absolute normal. I don't think I've ever seen a polo on a boy.

Even when I was in high school in the 80's. eesh.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Yes, this, the above...

I came back here, because it just really hit me when I noticed the word 'appropriate' in the title.

There is just NO question that any halfway decent jeans and T's are appropriate for teenagers. Please be sure that your boyfriend is observing 'appropriate' boundaries when it comes to his opinions regarding your son.

 

[elgerber]

my sons is 19, 2nd year of college, and yep, still t-shirts and jeans, with the hoodie thrown in for the winter. And yes, my dh, in his mid 40's still wears t-shirts all the time too. If we go out, he puts on a button up shirt, but at home, the store, wherever, t-shirts.

 

[pacrosby]

Those turning up their noses at boys who wear polo shirs or collared button downs are just as bad as those who turn up their noses at t-shirts. My kids wear both. As do many of the other kids I see. As long as it's clean and neat, it's appropriate. Now personal preference is another thing. I actually prefer my boys to look like they are going somewhere other than out in the field when they go to school..but that's just me. Whatever floats your boat.

 

[SpecialK]

I say let your son wear what he's comfortable in as long as it's clean and not offensive.

I don't think my husband even notices what our 9th and 11th grade sons wear. I find it odd that your boyfriend would voice an opinion on your son's wardrobe.

 

[ckay87]

Those turning up their noses at boys who wear polo shirs or collared button downs are just as bad as those who turn up their noses at t-shirts. My kids wear both. As do many of the other kids I see. As long as it's clean and neat, it's appropriate. Now personal preference is another thing. I actually prefer my boys to look like they are going somewhere other than out in the field when they go to school..but that's just me. Whatever floats your boat.

What was that about turning up noses again??

 

[Mkrop]

I say let your son wear what he's comfortable in as long as it's clean and not offensive.

I don't think my husband even notices what our 9th and 11th grade sons wear. I find it odd that your boyfriend would voice an opinion on your son's wardrobe.

It was probably just a suggestion based on how he was raised. gosh everyone is jumping over the BF here.

As I stated before my DH does notice, he is very particular when he picks out his own clothes, and he actually likes getting dressed up and he wears suits everyday for work. He thinks there is a time and a place for tshirts and basketball shorts...I just have to show him that the time and the place are not as narrow as he thinks.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I don't think I've ever seen a kid at my dd's high school wear anything but t-shirts and jeans.

Your boyfriend is the one who is out of touch here.

Yup. I'm the Operations Manager at my company & I don't wear shirts with collars. Sometimes I'll need to help out in the warehouse or drive the company truck (no AC) and it's a hot & dirty job. I dress in a manner that's consistent with what I actually DO as opposed to what's printed on my business card

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Oy, we will find things to squabble about, won't we?

My DS is almost 15. His staples are athletic shorts, clean, comfortable tees with sports logos and sneakers with white anklet-type socks. (Many around here are wearing long black socks with shorts and tees now, anyone else have that trend around them?) Shorts are exchanged for sports pants when it gets cold, but even then it's reluctantly. (Some boys still wear shorts all winter.) Pullover sweatshirt or sports jacket in winter.

I've always kept a few polo shirts on hand for DS but he's almost never worn them. Some I gave away brand new when he outgrew them. (Same with jeans.) Funny thing, he asked me to buy him some golf shirts this summer but he wears them for golf and he wore one to a dance. They're there if he wants them. My DH is essentially the same as DS.

Which brings me to the boyfriend issue. I guess, to me, it depends on how close the BF and the DS are. If they get really close and the BF begins to take on a more fatherly role for the DS, then it might be natural for the DS to want to emulate him. But ultimately, it should be the DS's choice, and there shouldn't be any ongoing put-downs. BF will have to accept it even if it's different than his way. I have one guy in my family with no kids who is generally a nice dresser, and he will sometimes give my DS a hard time about what he's wearing if we're going out somewhere, so I can understand this type of interaction. We just ignore it if we've deemed him to look ok. (And yes, I know this is different, but just thought I'd throw it in there for disagreement's sake. )

 

[Gumbo4x4]

(Many around here are wearing long black socks with shorts and tees now, anyone else have that trend around them?)

Primarily black kids & their white friends. Since we're 99% white here, no I don't see it much. We do see quite a few of the Nike shower shoes though, although not all that frequently with the knee-high black socks.

 

[lelei]

I say let your son wear what he's comfortable in as long as it's clean and not offensive.

I don't think my husband even notices what our 9th and 11th grade sons wear. I find it odd that your boyfriend would voice an opinion on your son's wardrobe.

We have been together for many years, and I value his opinions very much. I guess after this long its a bit misleading to refer to him as just a "boyfriend." He's been in my kids lives a very long time and is a parental figure to them, just like their stepmother is on their dads side. I also welcome her opinions when it comes to making decisions about the kids that we are mutually raising. Ultimately, I end up being the one that calls the shots in the end though- while I adore my kids stepmom, their father is a completely different story.

The subject was brought up when I was sorting through my sons clothes, and getting rid of stuff that was looking faded or worn out. His point of view was as an adult he will need to dress neatly and nicely and we should encourage him to head in that direction by having him switch from tees to polo shirts. I do admit I think he's a bit out of touch with what the other kids wear, and he tends to dress conservatively. I dont get much opportunity to check out the other kids at his school, so I was looking for some input from other parents.

I value my boyfriends opinion very much and I welcome his input, just like I welcome input from my kids stepmom. I guess I am just very lucky to be surrounded by level-headed and mature adults who all want the best for our kids. While my boyfriend might not make any final decisions about our kids, I would worry about our relationship if I did not feel comfortable listening to his opinions and considering his input.

 

[SaraJayne]

Those turning up their noses at boys who wear polo shirs or collared button downs are just as bad as those who turn up their noses at t-shirts. My kids wear both. As do many of the other kids I see. As long as it's clean and neat, it's appropriate. Now personal preference is another thing. I actually prefer my boys to look like they are going somewhere other than out in the field when they go to school..but that's just me. Whatever floats your boat.

 

[Pikester]

Your son is dressing just fine for school. I noticed my son (almost 15) got in a tshirt rut for a little while and since he still lets me shop for him (he doesn't have to be there to pick every single thing out) I've introduced some v-neck colored ss tshirts from Arizona (JcPenney). They are still a tshirt but the v-neck adds a little dressiness to it. He's also done some of the shirts that snap up the front and have a collar to wear open over his tshirts.

 

[Mkrop]

Oy, we will find things to squabble about, won't we?

My DS is almost 15. His staples are athletic shorts, clean, comfortable tees with sports logos and sneakers with white anklet-type socks. (Many around here are wearing long black socks with shorts and tees now, anyone else have that trend around them?) Shorts are exchanged for sports pants when it gets cold, but even then it's reluctantly. (Some boys still wear shorts all winter.) Pullover sweatshirt or sports jacket in winter.

I've always kept a few polo shirts on hand for DS but he's almost never worn them. Some I gave away brand new when he outgrew them. (Same with jeans.) Funny thing, he asked me to buy him some golf shirts this summer but he wears them for golf and he wore one to a dance. They're there if he wants them. My DH is essentially the same as DS.

Which brings me to the boyfriend issue. I guess, to me, it depends on how close the BF and the DS are. If they get really close and the BF begins to take on a more fatherly role for the DS, then it might be natural for the DS to want to emulate him. But ultimately, it should be the DS's choice, and there shouldn't be any ongoing put-downs. BF will have to accept it even if it's different than his way. I have one guy in my family with no kids who is generally a nice dresser, and he will sometimes give my DS a hard time about what he's wearing if we're going out somewhere, so I can understand this type of interaction. We just ignore it if we've deemed him to look ok. (And yes, I know this is different, but just thought I'd throw it in there for disagreement's sake. )

Yes that is very popular here, they tend to be white or black Nike socks only with a tshirt.

Primarily black kids & their white friends. Since we're 99% white here, no I don't see it much. We do see quite a few of the Nike shower shoes though, although not all that frequently with the knee-high black socks.

All the teen boys wear them around here.

 

[Hrhpd]

I am just thankful that our high schoolers fashion trend is athletic shorts/tees or jeans and tees and not jeans hanging down to their knees or some of the other fashion fads that were recent.

If black socks or colored jeans are the worst we see, we are in a very lucky fashion period.