DS son & Uni clothes - help!

[merlinsdale]

My ds is off to Uni in sept, which we're all delighted about. He's had an extremely tough 2 years with his mental health and we weren't even sure he'd make it through school this time last year.

Anyway, we have the usual long list of stuff to get ready and I know if I leave clothes buying to him, he won't bother as he's just not interested in the whole choosing/buying/being into fashion although he would definitely care if he didn't have more or less the right 'stuff'.

So I'm happy to help him - obviously he will choose his own clothes but at least I can point him in the right direction.

He's ok for day time clothes but in terms of clubbing/evening/more formal gear & shoes (he has big feet!) and also an evening jacket - any ideas? Shops to go to/ brands? What do your boys wear?

Thanks in advance.

I'd
Wait and see until he has a formal event and send him the money then, he'll have found his his tribe by then.

DS bough formal clothes and a navy blazer for soccer tour in local charity shops while he was away at uni.

DS had his school suit for anything formal but otherwise wears t shirt and jeans and hoodie day and night. He bought a horrible jacket from Vinted for very cold nights.

My DS is 19 and off to Uni too. Honestly I have no idea where he gets his clothes - I think mainly charity shops, vinted and depop. The kids round here have distinctive hippy vibe where anything goes so baggy jeans, docs, scruffy jumpers and tees. Lots of Unis have vintage shops near by (DD at Bath Uni and loads there) so may be worth a look.

Unless he’s going to a uni that has lots of formal events I wouldn’t worry too much. They generally dress down to go clubbing now too.

I would say a good suit for formals/interviews, particularly if likely to join a sports team which has formal type events (rugby).

Couple of going out shirts.

Then just jeans, t-shirts, jacket/jumper/hoodies.

Plenty of underwear unless you have a lot of faith that he will be on top of his laundry.

Maybe just give him a clothing allowance and leave him to it. If he needs something he'll go and get it.

DS is going in to year 3. He has jeans, combats, hoodies, t shirts and a couple of shirts. He's never work anything formal. Clubs are mainly jeans and trainers now. He has many coats. He loves coats.

I spoke to my ds, going to uni in September, about this last night. He looked at me like I have 2 heads and said if he needs a suit at some point he'll go and buy one. He has mostly casual clothes, a couple of shirts, some semi-smart chinos, and his sixth form brogues as well as trainers. He's outgrown his prom suit and I see no point in buying one unless he needs it.

Speaking of underwear. I remember in M&S overhearing a son tell his mum "I don't want to wear those to uni" and a mum replying with "no one's gonna see them anyway".

😁

Will he need an evening jacket for much?

Reminds me of my in-laws who can't quite grasp that my husband wears casual clothes to work and ask him every year if he needs a suit for Christmas (if he ever needs a suit which is basically posh weddings and funerals he wears his wedding suit). They even tried to get him a lightweight suit for travelling for work 😅.

If he needs a jacket he'll get one.

Can't you just send him money when he's there and needs something?

I would concentrate more on making sure he has enough socks and underwear so he's not having to go to the laundry too often. Also if he's sharing a bathroom some decent "loungewear" type stuff to wear around halls (I don't know if teenage boys wear dressing gowns these days!).
A decent warm/waterproof jacket too for walking to and from lectures.

He'll probably find his own style when he gets there and would appreciate a bit of money to buy a few things then.
If there's any formal events sort it out as needed, black tie would usually be hired.

I don't know how much clubbing young people do these days, it could end up being more hanging around in the pub or halls type events so evening wear not really needed.

Is he going somewhere that has many formals?

I dnt think getting dressed up for clubbing is a thing now, jeans and trainers I think

Id send him with some fancy dress things and plenty of glow sticks for Freshers fair - if that's still a thing I'm sure it was a different theme every night, 80s, Robin Hood, Back to School, American West

Mine just packed the clothes they had at home. If they needed anything while there they bought it. Never bought anything specifically new for going to uni.

Sliders are essential. Especially if sharing a room. Alongside loungewear for the hungover days.

Most important thing (not clothing) was a mattress topper.

Ah that's a really good idea, thanks!

Unless he is going to one of (about 4?) Universities that have a formal dinner, he won't need formal clothes.
These days people go clubbing in their jeans and trainers.

He really won't need a load of new clothes - jeans / shorts / joggers and t-shirts / hoodies that he already has. Trainers for feet. Something to wear in bed, or to put on when the fire alarm goes off if he sleeps in the nod. Sliders.

Just let him choose when he's ready. DS orders most of his stuff from Vinted and Depop and also ASOS.

Definitely get him to buy at least 2 weeks' worth of pants and socks before he goes though.