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This is the first time in my daughter's entire life that she will not be wearing a uniform to school. We have saved countless dollars on clothes! What do most kids wear at NE preps? My CA kid does not think down is cool. And we did see kids wearing open toe shoes in MA & NH last November! Do you buy cheap clothing because they will be trashed? What's the standard?

By Soozievt (Soozievt) on Saturday, August 14, 2004 - 08:01 am: Edit

I am not a boarding school parent, but do live in Vermont so can tell ya the norm here. Your child's winter coat need not be a down jacket. Neither of my girls wear a down jacket. There are many options out there for a winter jacket. My fifteen year old's winter jacket is embroidered suede on the outside and a shearling type lining inside. In fall, they have both fashionable jackets and fleece jackets that are more "sporty". My older teen has two winter jackets. One is from J. Crew and is suede with a thinsulate lining (very warm but not as bulky as down) and the other is a ski jacket that she also wears ski racing and is made by a ski clothing manufacturer and is not down. In New England, I think teen winter jackets would vary but some styles would be down jacket, ski jacket from a outdoorsy type company like North Face or Columbia, wool pea coat, shearling or current fashion type winter jacket. Most kids also own fleece jackets for in between seasons and also for under heavier coats. Open toe shoes would be rare past November! Make sure she has some kind of shoes to walk campus in the snow that are insulated and waterproof. They don't have to be boots but must be shoes or athletic style shoes that are made for this purpose.

I would not say buy cheap clothes cause they will be trashed. My girls go away all summer and nobody in their programs brings along different type clothing than they would normally wear at home. What happens with my younger child, cause of who she is, inevitably some items get lost. The clothes do not get trashed though.

I don't know your child's style plus she would find kids of all styles at school, but my guess is that kids at a prep school in New England might be wearing the type of fashions you see at J Crew, American Eagle, Gap, Abercrombie and Fitch, and so on. I doubt the look will be as high fashion as you see in the city but more of higher end sporty. Like girls in NYC might be going about in high heels and designer jeans (not ALL girls but some) and a girl in New England in winter would be wearing jeans/cords or shirt skirt/tights and sweater and more sensible shoes. I don't know what teen girls wear in your area but it may not be all that different (other than not having the winter gear). If you are comfortable with it, you may let your child purchase some clothing when she is at school and gets a sense of the looks or what she needs.

Welcome to the world of no uniforms. And yes, you will be spending MORE! Teen girl fashions ain't cheap!

Susan

By Aparent4 (Aparent4) on Saturday, August 14, 2004 - 10:52 am: Edit

My kids went to public school, but they don't think down is cool, either. What most kids seem to go for now are the layered jackets that include shells and fleeces that attach to one another, so you can be as warm as you like. North Face is a good source.

By Outwest5 (Outwest5) on Saturday, August 14, 2004 - 02:26 pm: Edit

J.Crew?(vomit)
The NE really is preppy, isn't it!

By Julibean008 (Julibean008) on Saturday, August 14, 2004 - 05:56 pm: Edit

Hey, I'm a student who lives in Vermont. (Hey Soozie!) Soozie was pretty dead on when she described the coats. North Face fleece jackets with a hoodie under them is a popular style. Also, check out nice wool coats and cordoroy/similar material coats that are lined for warmth but are also stylish.
For regular clothes: everyone wears lots of jeans and khakis, mostly just jeans. Skirts are popular during the summer and warmer months, and so are capris. People don't really have tons of shorts because the summer is only 3 months long if we're lucky. Sweaters are NECESSARY for comfort. I get soft ones so I can wear them without other shirts underneath because that can be bulky. Check out J. Crew/Abercrombie/American Eagle for preppy stuff or a place like Urban Outfitters if that's more the style.
I have casual sneakers (look cool but aren't functional for sports) and some standard brown shoes that I wear most of the time in the winter... sandals are weird past october I would say.
Anyway, I thought I would post because I understand what it's like going to a new climate and being confused (I'm moving to North Carolina). Hope the shopping goes well!

And oh yeah, it's a ton of money. Sorry.

By Soozievt (Soozievt) on Saturday, August 14, 2004 - 07:57 pm: Edit

Juli, hey, this is one of the first times I have run into another VT poster! I was going to mention Urban Outfitters too cause both my girls shop there and one of my kids would say that is her favorite clothing store. When the person asked about prep school, I thought the other stores would likely fit more of the typical look I would expect there. Urban Outfitters is a bit more hip or stylish, yeah. When Abercrombie first came to VT a few years ago, my kids were like, FINALLY VT has some regular stores and everyone liked it. But after a while, they felt that everyone had the same shirt or pants they had and it was not unique enough. They like it ok now but I think for one of my kids in particular, Urban Outfitters is a little less "uniform".

Well, good luck in North Carolina! No more winter jackets and boots for you!

Susan

By Almma (Almma) on Saturday, August 14, 2004 - 10:30 pm: Edit

Most kids at NE prep schools wear lots of polo shirts (collars popped), jeans, khakis, sweaters...just think preppy. Don't even worry about warmer weather clothes because a total of 2 weeks of the school year will be warm enough to not wear layers.

By Jamimom (Jamimom) on Sunday, August 15, 2004 - 05:12 pm: Edit

You make sure they have the proper clothing--that is really all you can do. Whether they wear it or not...well, mine was one wearing sandals in the snow and this was in college. He's lucky to have all of his fingers and toes.

My friend whose d went to Choate was horrified when her d cut the hems on the khakis she was given. Apparently that year, unhemmed pants were the thing. You never know what crazy fad takes hold.

By Meredith (Meredith) on Tuesday, August 17, 2004 - 07:08 pm: Edit

Some boarding school girls, like at Deerfield and Groton, think Abercrombie and Fitch is a little trashy, but prep school kids love labels. Shop at the outlets (Ralph Lauren, J Crew and Gap in particular) for ordinary clothes like polo shirts, skirts, khakis etc. but a "must have" is a cashmere cablestich "slim fit" crew neck sweater, preferably Ralph Lauren. Check on ebay. Cotton cable sweaters are also popular and now shrunken cardigans are in. Strapless dresses and slip dresses are popular for sit down dinners at places like St. Paul's. Many girls like Lilly Pulitzer dresses in warm weather but there are designers with similar stuff. Girls might need a pashmina to keep warm inside. Kids seem to wear a lot of sneakers, even in winter. Overcoats were pea jackets, Columbia layered system and Northface a few years ago when my son was in boarding school. Don't forget to send them with an extra long foam bed pad, mattress pad and a couple of extra long fitted bottom sheets even if they are getting the weekly bedding service.

By Mom101 (Mom101) on Tuesday, August 17, 2004 - 09:06 pm: Edit

Thanks a lot Meredith. The formal dinners had totally slipped our mind. Back to the mall...

By Patr1ck (Patr1ck) on Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - 11:45 am: Edit

Mom101... I go to a boarding school (www.sac.on.ca) and what I packed already (so happy!) is 2 p.j's, 8 shirts, 4 long pants, 4 shorts, 1 wind breaker, 1 jacket and liner and all the essentials. It would be a goood item to order some cloths from the school so she can wear that.. to show spirit!

By Myway (Myway) on Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - 12:26 pm: Edit

Can someone elaborate more on winter shoes? Like what are some good shoes for a girl to wear during the winter? Soozivet mentioned that boots aren't necessary. On that note, what do you think of those Airwalk boots on sale at Payless?

http://www2.shopping.com/xDN-Shoes-suede_boots-payless_shoes

see Airwalk® Suede Regina Boot

I'm thinking these aren't waterproof?? and therefore not good??

Thanks.

By Soozievt (Soozievt) on Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - 12:35 pm: Edit

Myway, I do not know where you are going to school but if it is in a very snowy climate, then those were not the kind of shoes I meant. The ones you are referring to are more for fashion/warmth and likely are not waterproof. I was talking more of shoes that are out there that either look similar to sneakers or athletic styled shoes or slip on versions or short hiking boot style or outdoorwear styles that have insulation such as thinsulate and are waterproof (could be GoreTex but need not be). Think more like LLBean, Merrill, Columbia, Saloman, and the like.

Susan

By Meredith (Meredith) on Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - 06:08 pm: Edit

Maybe in the back of the closet is a pair of snow boots, but it seems to me that boarding school girls are not particularly practical. They will dash between buildings with just a Northface fleece or sweater on. On their feet will be New Balance or Puma sneakers (luckily most walkways are cleared). Some girls wear a hot, pricey brand of Australian boots called UGGS, but I think one needs to be very pretty to get away with wearing such an ugly pair of boots. All this stuff is on the internet at prices much less than at the stores, but it is still expensive. No one needs to be decked out head to foot in designer clothes, but it is nice to have a couple of items that receive compliments from the other girls.

By Babygurl89919 (Babygurl89919) on Thursday, August 19, 2004 - 05:04 pm: Edit

Does anyone know how dressy kids at boarding school dress for the sit down dinners? Specifically at Taft?

By Marpat (Marpat) on Monday, August 23, 2004 - 10:06 am: Edit

From my children's experience, I think clothes styles vary quite a bit from prep school to prep school and there are also subcultures within schools. For schools with a “casual” dress code, girls will wear good quality jeans to school most days with polo shirts in the warmer weather or tees or shirts(Ralph Lauren for polos and J. Crew and Gap are brands to look at). In cooler weather at the casual dress code schools, girls wear blue jeans again or corduroy jeans to school with sweaters, for example wool cardigans and cableknit or plain pullovers from J. Crew, or Benetton or Gap.
Layers make sense because kids will be walking between buildings in all kinds of weather and outdoor temperatures bounce around a lot in most New England months.
On weekends and during sports practices (and to classes most places) girls wear hooded sweatshirts with college or team logos (wait and buy ones from the school itself---or get ones from siblings’ or cousins’ or friends’ schools and colleges).
Whatever tee shirts she already owns will be useful along with boxers to sleep in and some soccer or gym shorts. One or two short corduroy or denim skirts from J. Crew or American Eagle or Urban Outfitters would be worn across seasons with shoes and tights rather than flip-flops when it gets really cold---think December.
Most of these schools have the occasional dress-up occasion when a nice short skirt and perhaps dress pants (lots of mall stores have these) and fitted blouse would fill the bill and most schools also have dances/parties where girls wear jeans with dressier tops from any mall store---your daughter’s own taste would dictate this.
At night in the dormitories and on weekends girls wear plaid flannel pajama pants (J. Crew again or LL Bean) and/or open bottom sweatpants (Gap or other mall stores).
For winter outerwear, a fitted knee length or shorter wool coat from J. Crew or a similar place (mall stores like H&M have similar, less expensive versions) would work for dress occasions. To school and on weekends, girls wear Marmot, Helly Hanson, North Face, or similar brands of waterproof ski shells in colder weather (ski shops or on-line stores like REI.com are good sources) with a sweatshirt underneath or a zip-in or layered fleece. For in-between weather, fitted fleece jackets are popular for girls from Patagonia, REI, North Face, Eastern Mountain Sports, etc. and fleece vests from these same stores are useful.
Fleece gloves are practical starting in November (REI and Eastern Mountain Sports are good sources) and long skinny wool knit scarves are useful---Gap sells these.
Flip-flops (especially Reefs) are worn well into the fall along with retro sneakers (70’s style Adidas or Puma) or Saucony or New Balance running shoes. New England kids don’t wear full-length socks much until it’s really cold but Gap has good choices. Your daughter probably won’t need boots before Christmas unless she will be in Northern New England and might want to wait to buy what she thinks would be cool then. One pair of more informal leather shoes to wear with jean skirts or as an alternative to sneakers with jeans in cooler weather would be useful along with one pair of strappy dress shoes to wear with a skirt or dress on the rare dress occasion. Boarders should have lots and lots of underwear and shirts so they don’t have to do laundry too often.
Most boarding schools have outings to shopping areas or kids arrange these themselves and it would be smart to plan to have your daughter buy a bunch of the stuff she needs later in the fall once she sees what other kids wear and what she will need more of. Nametags are a really good idea for everything.

By Dmd77 (Dmd77) on Monday, August 23, 2004 - 03:13 pm: Edit

>

But a Sharpie is a lot easier and a lot faster! The silver ones will write on any color (except gray). I gave my kids a few black ones and a few silvers ones to take with them, to mark new stuff, for both HS and college.

My son got his calculator (TI-83) back because he'd written his name in Sharpie silver behind the batteries--and the kid who stole it didn't see it until too late after he asked his mom to help replace the batteries. (He told his mom he'd found the calculator he'd lost.)

By Emeraldkity4 (Emeraldkity4) on Monday, August 23, 2004 - 07:42 pm: Edit

Thats a great idea dmd.I am a little worried about my daughter losing something either with or without help now that she is going to a big inner city high school from her much smaller K-12 school.
But I am going to try the calculator trick

By Grapeful (Grapeful) on Tuesday, August 24, 2004 - 04:27 pm: Edit

Do winters in Cleveland Ohio require the snow shoes/boots Soozivet was speaking of?