Clothes packing list for boy going to school in Boston?
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Anonymous
I skimmed it. Value? Some. |
Anonymous
Yes, regattas! It’s college in Boston — there’s the Head of the Charles. It’s a thing kids do. Anyway, a navy blazer is an essential part of the American male wardrobe — no arguing. At Princeton in the ‘90s, it was good to own a tuxedo. This advice holds true some places. |
Anonymous
PP. My husband's first navy blazer with brass buttons was a nice Ralph Lauren from Council Thrift for less than $15. The point is that college kids need a nice outfit. No need to add drama. |
Anonymous
| Last winter was not particularly cold in Boston. My kid said most boys at his college in Boston just wore their sneakers or regular hiking boots all winter. I’d wait to buy any boots, jackets etc until your DS says he wants some (or give them to him for Christmas). |
Anonymous
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Adults who live where there is snow should have decent snow boots.
I learned this the hard way. 100 year storm came to my campus. Snow fully covered our parked car. Didn't own a shovel. Had to walk through deep drifts to hardware store in a pair of old boots my MIL gave me on a previous visit to her house because I had nothing like them (lived in DMV then). Boot broke open due to age/dry rot on the way home. Didn't even succeed in buying a snow shovel...all sold out. Got an earth spade that was the only option. Learned that when there's a situation where you need boots, it's too late to do anything about it quickly. I can afford boots. Therefore, it's dumb to be unprepared. At least have some waterproof footwear. |
Anonymous
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Not sure what he is majoring in, but my daughter is expected to dress business casual on occasion for presentations, interviews etc. She does go to school in the south though. I would ensure he has at least one "professional" outfit for whatever might arise.
On the other hand, a lot of this stuff can wait - it's not like he will need a winter coat or boots the first week of school. He can order or buy those later in the Fall when he has a better sense of what he needs. |
Anonymous
| Students walk everywhere in Boston in any weather. Good shoes that have traction. Sidewalks are brick, uneven, and icy. Wool socks. Long underwear for the really bad days. Layers are the best way to stay warm and dry. A nice soft wool button up shirt over long underwear and some chinos (denim absorbs too much water and doesn’t dry fast enough and there is constantly a wintery slushy mix.) A good soft wool hat and gloves and scarf, with a couple backup sets. |
Anonymous
It was $4.50, I believe. |
Anonymous
| My DS was there last year during the fall and thought people dressed up. I’d say definitely bring warmer jackets and layers. |
Anonymous
Hi, honey! 
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Anonymous
It's been a few decades, but no one wore a blazer while around the kegs at the Head of the Charles. |
Anonymous
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Global warming has affected Boston weather. Snow is becoming rare. Temperatures are not as frigid as an even a few decades ago. The wind off the harbors can be brutal if it’s a cold day however.
The majority of students are not in fraternities. Boston College does not recognize fraternities although there are a small percentage of students in a fraternity. Harvard doesn’t recognize Greek like but they have exclusive clubs called Final Clubs. Other colleges in Boston have very small percentages of students in Greek Life. It ain’t Alabama. Casual is the norm in Boston. |
Anonymous
MY DC isn’t in Boston, but he was a gym shorts and t shirt guy that definitely upped his game after a semester of college. He asked for a formal top coat for winter, and he actually wears it (I admit I was skeptical that he would when we bought it). He wears button down shirts when they go out to restaurants and wears a suit or blazer to events (dinner with the University President, etc) multiple times a semester. DC has an internship this summer that requires business attire and we bought a second suit and a bunch of dress pants and shirts to go with the blazer. This is a long way of saying that you should not assume that he’ll never need dressier clothes, and should leave some room in the budget for your kid’s tastes to change. |
Anonymous
Exactly. IME, it’s likely that your kid will be invited to some function at which it would be appropriate to wear at least a navy blazer, often with short notice, and it could be difficult/impossible/expensive to acquire one at the last minute. They’ll need one (if not a suit) for job interviews, if nothing else. Knowing how to dress appropriately is part of the social polish that colleges are supposed to provide, and those who are resistant to this aren’t doing their kids any favors. Do you really want your kid to be the kid wearing a sports jersey to the reception with the Dean? |
Anonymous
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You never want to be in a position that you turn down an invite due to not having appropriate clothes.
Yes - you may be able to borrow from a dorm mate - but if you have the ability to set your child up for success -why not? (note to self - make sure he packs a belt |