Should college kids get some $ for clothes?

[Anonymous]

The ^^PP makes a fair point. Business casual clothes are necessary. Plus we've found that there are a lot of formal wear activities as well as dress clothes for school events, dinners with parents (friends, roommates) or other events.

We also are trying keep an eye on the future. It seems prudent to help the kids build a base wardrobe so that when they graduate they have sufficient clothing, business casual and casual, so that they only need to focus on supplementing. For our boys that means we're buying nice trousers at Jos A Banks or Brooks Brothers or Nordstroms. And blazers, of course. For the girls that means a mix of skirts, trousers, blouses and sweaters. For both boys and girls, winter coats, trench coats, shoes and boots.

I went to Yale along with my twin brother. He had a pair of khakis and one plain button down shirt and one patterned one, and one blazer. Two ties, one of which he "lost" because he disliked it (our mother insisted he take it). He had a pair of oxfords. When he went to dinners he wore jeans, a t-shirt and his blazer. He never conformed and wore the standard Preppy Guy outfit, because that wasn't him. Just like I wore babydoll dresses and Docs when I needed to dress up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What would be a fair amount to give a freshman for clothes for the entire year?

New business casual clothes, dress loafers, boots and winter coat is easily over $1,000. That's not even taking into account everyday clothes. So $2,000 for the year?

Why would a freshman need business casual clothes? Doesn’t he already have a coat? If not, buy one. Like most people I just bought clothes I needed out of my part-time job earnings as I needed them. They don’t have room to store a lot of stuff.

My DC goes to various events that require business casual including e.g. internship fairs, networking stuff, etc.

He also has a business suit he needs for formal events and interviews from time to time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're not made of money and DC is at an expensive college. DC hasn't asked, but looking at college pictures, DC is wearing clothing purchased 1-3 years ago. Going "school shopping" for clothes wasn't even something that popped into our mind for college. But should it? After thinking about it, it's really unrealistic to think DC can randomly afford to buy new jeans, vests, shoes, business casual clothes, winter coat, etc. on their own, isn't it?

Just do what works for you and communicate with DC about what the constraints are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What would be a fair amount to give a freshman for clothes for the entire year?

New business casual clothes, dress loafers, boots and winter coat is easily over $1,000. That's not even taking into account everyday clothes. So $2,000 for the year?

Why would a freshman need business casual clothes? Doesn’t he already have a coat? If not, buy one. Like most people I just bought clothes I needed out of my part-time job earnings as I needed them. They don’t have room to store a lot of stuff.

Umm, class presentations, F500 meet & greets, recruiting & career fair, student org events, Greek life date parties, etc.

They can wear the same khakis and blue button down to each of those things.

The ^^PP makes a fair point. Business casual clothes are necessary. Plus we've found that there are a lot of formal wear activities as well as dress clothes for school events, dinners with parents (friends, roommates) or other events.

We also are trying keep an eye on the future. It seems prudent to help the kids build a base wardrobe so that when they graduate they have sufficient clothing, business casual and casual, so that they only need to focus on supplementing. For our boys that means we're buying nice trousers at Jos A Banks or Brooks Brothers or Nordstroms. And blazers, of course. For the girls that means a mix of skirts, trousers, blouses and sweaters. For both boys and girls, winter coats, trench coats, shoes and boots.

Sigh.
Do any of you realize that you are in the 1%? Please remember that these are NOT essentials. These are "nice to haves".
The rest of us cannot afford this for ourselves, let alone our kids. MOST children on campus will not have such a wardrobe. If your children's friends all have that stuff, it's a sign their circle is too restricted.
Please accept this fact and move forward in your life with a little more circumspection, otherwise you come off as very entitled and insensitive.

Nowadays kids seem to buy ‘throw away’ clothes willingly. Cheap, thin stuff that you wear a few times and toss. I hate it (it’s wasteful), but a teen can pay for their own things with money from their own job plus my teen doesn’t care what I think. I do wish that she would agree to get some long wearing well made pieces but she still won’t even buy jeans without multiple holes in them and she is in college in a very cold area (good luck to her - she honestly thinks that she can run around in holey jeans, thin tights and short shorts forever).

Also - don’t be jealous of this mom. If you need clothes head to Marshall’s, TJ Maxx or Ross and you should find some nice things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son has a navy suit a pair of khaki pants from Burlington Coat factory (about $100), 2 dress shirts and 2 ties. This is all he needs for college events (he is in business school). Then he has about 4 pairs of jeans, 4 pair shorts, 10 t-shirts, 2 polo shirts, 4 sweatshirts, 2 sweaters, some workout synthetic shirts/shorts, sweatpants, a puffer jacket, a raincoat, 2 sneakers, 1 dress shoes, 1 pair sperry. This is all he really needs. He tells us when he needs something new due to growing out of it or it's worn out and we get it for him. We don't have an "allowance" but we do pay for his clothes when he asks.

It is impressive to me that you can itemize your child's wardrobe!

Yea that’s a bit crazy, you could never do that with a gal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What would be a fair amount to give a freshman for clothes for the entire year?

New business casual clothes, dress loafers, boots and winter coat is easily over $1,000. That's not even taking into account everyday clothes. So $2,000 for the year?

Why would a freshman need business casual clothes? Doesn’t he already have a coat? If not, buy one. Like most people I just bought clothes I needed out of my part-time job earnings as I needed them. They don’t have room to store a lot of stuff.

Umm, class presentations, F500 meet & greets, recruiting & career fair, student org events, Greek life date parties, etc.

They can wear the same khakis and blue button down to each of those things.

The ^^PP makes a fair point. Business casual clothes are necessary. Plus we've found that there are a lot of formal wear activities as well as dress clothes for school events, dinners with parents (friends, roommates) or other events.

We also are trying keep an eye on the future. It seems prudent to help the kids build a base wardrobe so that when they graduate they have sufficient clothing, business casual and casual, so that they only need to focus on supplementing. For our boys that means we're buying nice trousers at Jos A Banks or Brooks Brothers or Nordstroms. And blazers, of course. For the girls that means a mix of skirts, trousers, blouses and sweaters. For both boys and girls, winter coats, trench coats, shoes and boots.

Sigh.
Do any of you realize that you are in the 1%? Please remember that these are NOT essentials. These are "nice to haves".
The rest of us cannot afford this for ourselves, let alone our kids. MOST children on campus will not have such a wardrobe. If your children's friends all have that stuff, it's a sign their circle is too restricted.
Please accept this fact and move forward in your life with a little more circumspection, otherwise you come off as very entitled and insensitive.

Double sigh with an thrown in. Don't throw stones if you don't know what house you're throwing them into.

I'm entitled? I'm a public school teacher. My husband works for the county. But we're prudent and frugal for our choices. I buy most of our clothes on sale or at Marshalls or Ross. I'm leaving now to go repair the window broken by some intolerant and judgmental fool who has such tunnel vision that when she bothers to look out she only sees her own reflection.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're not made of money and DC is at an expensive college. DC hasn't asked, but looking at college pictures, DC is wearing clothing purchased 1-3 years ago. Going "school shopping" for clothes wasn't even something that popped into our mind for college. But should it? After thinking about it, it's really unrealistic to think DC can randomly afford to buy new jeans, vests, shoes, business casual clothes, winter coat, etc. on their own, isn't it?

If you can afford to help, yes. Unless you want your kid running around naked! That was a joke if nobody gets it.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the question, OP. I hate DC’s frivolous clothes spending. DC has not gained weight at school. But there has been a size change since HS and a bunch of stuff just didn’t fit. Still torn - no pun intended- about how much to contribute. DC chose a state school to be easy on our finances. I appreciate that decision.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son has a navy suit a pair of khaki pants from Burlington Coat factory (about $100), 2 dress shirts and 2 ties. This is all he needs for college events (he is in business school). Then he has about 4 pairs of jeans, 4 pair shorts, 10 t-shirts, 2 polo shirts, 4 sweatshirts, 2 sweaters, some workout synthetic shirts/shorts, sweatpants, a puffer jacket, a raincoat, 2 sneakers, 1 dress shoes, 1 pair sperry. This is all he really needs. He tells us when he needs something new due to growing out of it or it's worn out and we get it for him. We don't have an "allowance" but we do pay for his clothes when he asks.

It is impressive to me that you can itemize your child's wardrobe!

Yea that’s a bit crazy, you could never do that with a gal.

Very true- I easily rattled off what my son has but my daughter is a whole different story(she is still in high school). My main point was that it's a pretty basic list for college boys and it doesn't need to cost a lot of money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What would be a fair amount to give a freshman for clothes for the entire year?

New business casual clothes, dress loafers, boots and winter coat is easily over $1,000. That's not even taking into account everyday clothes. So $2,000 for the year?

Dress loafers? Are you actively trying to keep your son a virgin?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What would be a fair amount to give a freshman for clothes for the entire year?

New business casual clothes, dress loafers, boots and winter coat is easily over $1,000. That's not even taking into account everyday clothes. So $2,000 for the year?

Dress loafers? Are you actively trying to keep your son a virgin?

That is what I was thinking. Till I got an internship, I never needed fancy clothing.

[Anonymous]

This thread explains a lot to me! I was wondering why so many students were wearing school gear when I visited DC's campus. Back in my day, only athletes wore clothing emblazoned with the college. It was considered a little braggy to lead with where you went to college. But, if parents aren't paying for clothes, it makes sense that kids wear school hoodies and sweats all the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread explains a lot to me! I was wondering why so many students were wearing school gear when I visited DC's campus. Back in my day, only athletes wore clothing emblazoned with the college. It was considered a little braggy to lead with where you went to college. But, if parents aren't paying for clothes, it makes sense that kids wear school hoodies and sweats all the time.

x100 This has been an eye-opening thread. I'm just glad all these kids get free clothes from the schools and aren't running around naked. Yikes!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread explains a lot to me! I was wondering why so many students were wearing school gear when I visited DC's campus. Back in my day, only athletes wore clothing emblazoned with the college. It was considered a little braggy to lead with where you went to college. But, if parents aren't paying for clothes, it makes sense that kids wear school hoodies and sweats all the time.

x100 This has been an eye-opening thread. I'm just glad all these kids get free clothes from the schools and aren't running around naked. Yikes!

They don't get "free" clothes, they buy them at the closest clothes seller-the university bookstore or the local tshirt shop. It's fine, students did that when I went to college.

They could get a job on campus to pay for clothes, or you could buy them some on breaks or for Christmas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread explains a lot to me! I was wondering why so many students were wearing school gear when I visited DC's campus. Back in my day, only athletes wore clothing emblazoned with the college. It was considered a little braggy to lead with where you went to college. But, if parents aren't paying for clothes, it makes sense that kids wear school hoodies and sweats all the time.

They're wearing sweats and hoodies like bums because they roll out of bed and throw on whatever. And leisure wear (leggings, jogger pants, cozy yoga shirts) is super mainstream, so you're no longer judged for being in public looking like a lazy slob. But at serious schools like Princeton and Wharton kids tends to dress far more put together.