Is it obnoxious when an adult wears an Ivy league college sweatshirt?

[Anonymous]

I'm starting this thread because it's an off-topic spin-off that's taking over another thread. Trying to give the original thread some oxygen. Here are some of the key comments so far ...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

So if mom or dad went to Syracuse it is ok to deck the kid in orange head to toe, but if they went to Harvard then school gear is obnoxious? Why can't someone who went to a top school give their kid school clothing? That alone isn't obnoxious.

Had this exact conversation with someone last week. Other person’s view is that the Harvard parent needs to recognize that lots of people will think it’s obnoxious to wear Harvard gear because it could be viewed as bragging, but no one would think it’s obnoxious to wear Syracuse gear because no one would ever brag about Syracuse.

It is obnoxious to wear your elite college gear any place but the gym. That is my philosophy. It is stupid to compare wearing Harvard gear with schools that have good sports teams, Michigan, Cal, etc. The only reason to wear ivy gear is to brag. It is low class and is considered as such at our school.

I’m going to take it a step further and say it’s obnoxious to wear your elite college gear, period.

You know what? The only people who care are those who are envious and insecure. DH and I are both Ivy grads. Our kids wear them because it's part of our family traditions. They have visited our schools, including during alumni week, and know that many of our oldest friends are from those schools, too.

It's quite obnoxious to suggest that UVA or Penn State grads can happily tout their school loyalties, while Harvard, Yale, and Princeton folks who do so must be snobs.

My entire immediate family went to ivies or Stanford (some of us "lower ivies," but ivies still). My sister regularly attends the drunken Princeton reunions. My dad goes to Penn homecoming. My brother gives lectures at Stanford as a notable alum. So we get it. But if you cannot see at all how wearing this stuff could be perceived by some as snobby, that is unfortunate. It is like the dorks who still use their alumni accounts. Be a grown up. Leave some of that behind.

Yes, totally agree as a general matter that anyone who is still wrapping himself in college gear 10 years after graduation need to turn the page. But I think lots of people have college spirit and fond memories of those times, so they do it regardless.

The question here - I think - is why it's generally considered socially acceptable for a Maryland grad or even a Georgetown grad to wear college gear, but offensive for an Ivy grad to do the same thing. I know Ivy grads with lots of genuine school spirit and fond memories, but it seems they have to be careful about wearing their college gear for fear someone else will judge them as bragging. I think it's really mostly about the fact that lots of people have insecurities about where other people went to college.

Maybe be should start a list ...

Ivy or Stanford - totally unacceptable to wear because you might be bragging
Duke or UVA - obnoxious, don't do it
MIT or CalTech - ok to wear because it's just so nerdy?
Navy or West Point - ok because it's a military school?
any other state school - fine
any small liberal arts college - no problem because they're so obscure?

[Anonymous]

I think it is ok to wear the clothes of your Alma mater.

[Anonymous]

Oh please. Everyone here thinks I must be ashamed of myself for only going to Cornell. Hell if I care if they also think I'm a try hard loser for wearing a Cornell sweatshirt when I'm cold. I wear what I want. Got a problem with it? Go pound sand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it is ok to wear the clothes of your Alma mater.

+1, I also wear sweatshirts from my kids’ schools because that is what I received as my Christmas present from each in their freshman year.

[Anonymous]

I suppose you could expand this topic to cover other similar signals people use. Ok to put a sticker on your car that says "My child is an honor student at ___ Middle School!," but obnoxious to put even a plain "Sidwell" sticker on your car?

[Anonymous]

Way too much energy spent discussing this.

I don't like branded material in general, and college gear really isn't elegant or nice-looking. But since people are going to dress sloppily ANYWAY, hey, they can add a huge ugly logo if they want. Who cares if it's Ralph Lauren or Harvard?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I suppose you could expand this topic to cover other similar signals people use. Ok to put a sticker on your car that says "My child is an honor student at ___ Middle School!," but obnoxious to put even a plain "Sidwell" sticker on your car?

I don’t like honor student stickers
I guess current schools kids attend are ok but I don’t personally do that

[Anonymous]

OK, here's the truth.

I'm going to judge you anyway, so go ahead and embrace your identity. Makes my job easier!

[Anonymous]

I prefer college t-shirts, sweatshirts, and hats to those bragging about where you went on vacation. Why do people feel the need to buy an overpriced 1/4 zip just because it says "Jackson Hole" on it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
OK, here's the truth.

I'm going to judge you anyway, so go ahead and embrace your identity. Makes my job easier!

Will do because I don't want people like you in my life.

[Anonymous]

Not nearly as obnoxious as adults wearing Greek gear.

[Anonymous]

Never occurred to me to think that's obnoxious (and I think a lot of things are obnoxious!)

[Anonymous]

Couldn’t care less what tshirts people choose to wear. Unless it’s an “I’m with Stupid” one with an arrow and they’re standing next to me...

[Anonymous]

I don't think it's any more strange than people wearing sports team apparel and accessories. I find them all to be strange and arbitrary.

[Anonymous]

we are immigrants with heavy accents and while I get it why it would be obnoxious to wear Ivy League gear I am tempted (and yes both are "top ivies"). we don't have any stickers on our cars and I worry that people just assume we are low class (not strivers or anything but actually lower). this is not in DC btw.