Tip: have your college bound student wait to buy clothes until they get there

[KKB]

This may not apply as much if your student is going to school locally.
But our son had me buy him a number of items at the end of his senior year--suddenly sports gear wasn't sufficient.
When he got to school at TCU he found that there were some differences in fashion--students all wear Birkenstocks here, not so "in" there.
He suggested that when his siblings to to college, to wait to do much shopping for clothing until you get there!

 

[RitaE]

In our case it is a better tip not to buy my college student clothes at all. He says I dress him like a 1980's Ken Doll when I try it.

 

[sk!mom]

This may not apply as much if your student is going to school locally.
But our son had me buy him a number of items at the end of his senior year--suddenly sports gear wasn't sufficient.
When he got to school at TCU he found that there were some differences in fashion--students all wear Birkenstocks here, not so "in" there.
He suggested that when his siblings to to college, to wait to do much shopping for clothing until you get there!

Yes, here in Texas, guys wearing Birks would be unusual especially at a school like TCU where "Frat Boy" is the norm. By college however, many students want their own style rather than the typical so they would be fine.

In our case it is a better tip not to buy my college student clothes at all. He says I dress him like a 1980's Ken Doll when I try it.

Ditto for me with my DD19. We love to shop together and did several times this summer but I rarely buy clothing without her these days.

 

[powellrj]

Other than a few pair of jeans and some new under things, we haven't bought our college kids new clothes. When DS got to his school, he joined a frat and he became much better dressed than he had ever been. We had to get a couple of new suits (Goodwill had several) and dressier clothes. I wish he were still in school. Since he graduated he is now wearing what I refer to as the organic farmer look complete with a man bun.

DD goes to a Christian College and also found she needed some dress clothes after she got there. I have noticed that the girls on her floor tend to share clothes which is nice for dressier clothes. While they do dress a little more modestly than her brothers state school, it wasn't as modest as I was expecting. Still lots of short shorts and spaghetti straps.

 

[MrsPete]

I didn't buy my kids much in the way of college clothes. Most of the time, college is a dress-down type of place. They don't have much space in the dorms, and my girls wear the same old jeans or stretchy pants and tees or hoodies all the time anyway.

However, I'll make these suggestions for college clothing:

- Suggest that your student take one nice outfit. My college senior occasionally needs to attend a dinner or other community event, and she needs to dress a bit better than she does for Biology class.

- Depending upon your student's major, he or she may need to go out into the community for various professional reasons, especially after freshman year -- tell the student to think "job interview outfit". For example, we live near a major university, and we frequently are visited by student teachers who need to observe X number of hours for their classes. Most of the guys come in dressed appropriately (but it's easier for them -- khakis and a dress shirt), whereas the girls often look a bit too much like they're headed for a dance club. And I had one fellow a year or so ago who came in wearing nasty old black sweat pants and a Pink Floyd tee, and then he left early but wanted us to falsify his hours! He was not invited to our school as a student teacher.

- Finally, each year in college I've bought my nursing school daughter a couple sets of scrubs, which she uses in her part-time job. When she graduates next spring, she'll have a small scrubs wardrobe at her fingertips rather than finding herself with ONLY what are very obviously school scrubs (embroidered with her school name -- would definitely mark her as "the new girl"). She won't need to scurry and buy a bunch of clothing when she gets her first job. I'm starting the same thing with my freshman daughter, though she's a business major, so we're choosing different things for her: basic pencil skirts, dress pants, and tailored blouses -- they aren't really "her taste", but she recognizes that they're professional and will work in a variety of office settings.

 

[mousehockey37]

As far as buying clothes for college, your student has their own identity. That's the fun of college, everyone coming from everywhere and intermixing.

I'll agree with a PP that 1 or 2 dress up outfits is a good idea. They do have formals and such (not as common, but if DS or DD winds up being asked by someone to go to a dinner, they'll need that outfit).

For myself, I was a music major. I had my own tux. Why? Professional ensembles require professional performance attire.

Other than that, what your kid wore in HS or is wearing now shouldn't change just because of where they're going.

 

[tvguy]

DW and I were paying for the clothing, and it was purchased at home before heading off to College. That included the year DD went to school in England. She did purchase a winter coat, boots, and a comforter for her bed once the snow arrived in England. But everything else she brought.

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

In our case it is a better tip not to buy my college student clothes at all. He says I dress him like a 1980's Ken Doll when I try it.

Hahahahaha! Your post made my night! I love it! I have a college first year (freshman) at the University of Virginia. After Christmas senior year of high school, I found a really nice dark blue pea coat on sale. Knowing UVA is a pretty preppy school and he'd probably NOT want to wear his high school letter jacket as a winter coat in college, I showed it to DS. He said, "Mom! I'm going to college, not joining the navy!"

DS wore uniforms to school for the past 13 years so he needed EVERYTHING. I spent the last year buying Ralph Lauren quarter zip sweaters, button downs and t shirts from Marshalls and TJ Maxx whenever they had them. I also bought T shirts and button downs from Vineyard Vines when they had their Whale of a Sale on all sale priced items. I got khaki and colored shorts from Kohls with coupons, and khaki pants from LL Bean. He had a blue blazer and white dress shirt from Jr year confirmation that still fits. Had to get him a new pair of Sperrys (old ones fell apart) and sneakers. Like I said he needed everything, but I shopped sales and spread it out over a year. He just told me he is good with clothes, has enough and everything is the appropriate style for his school. Whew!

 

[mjkacmom]

All dd19 seems to wear are leggings, tshirts and sweater - complete slob wear. Then she has her party clothes for going out (crop tops, booty shorts...). Day and night. This is what I have figured out by doing her laundry when she comes home on breaks. And flannels. She is in the business school, so she also has proper business attire.

 

[Turk February]

Man I wish my parents were still paying for my clothes when I was going to college

 

[KKB]

LOL--I don't buy much for them without them being with me or shooting them a photo of it (DS has loved my 75% off for Polo shirts; and Von Maur has free shipping so I send it right down to him!
DD is even harder. But her college visits have already shown her each school has fashion trends. She is slightly more bohemian in her taste, but thought she still would not buy much new before going.

 

[aprilchem]

- Suggest that your student take one nice outfit. My college senior occasionally needs to attend a dinner or other community event, and she needs to dress a bit better than she does for Biology class.

I think that sort of depends on where you go - at the college where I'm a professor the kids dress up quite a bit - the saying for football games is "guys in ties, girls in pearls." There are lots of cocktail parties, receptions, etc.

 

[AlohaNow]

Knowing UVA is a pretty preppy school

Understatement of the year.