Grad School Attire?

[whirledpeas13]

I'm just curious what the norm is. Business casual? Casual?

[Usmivka]

There is a long post about this somewhere. I'll find it and edit in the link.

 

For me, it is whatever is at the top of the dresser. But field scientists don't necessarily worry about not looking ridiculous...

 

EDIT: three threads, two of them way too long

Edited January 11, 2013 by Usmivka

[PhDreams]

For interviews or class?

 

There is a huge difference if the program is research or professional. Business, policy, and law folks always seem to be business casual. Research programs are more relaxed, it seems. Also, if you have clinicals, practicum, or rotations, those usually have a standard dress.

 

I dress the way I always dress. Jeans, boots, blouse. Comfortable, but neat.

[fuzzylogician]

On days when I don't teach or have anything out of the ordinary: jeans, blouse or nice sweater, sneakers. Neat but not fancy. I dress nicer on days when I teach, and also for presentations, meetings with people from outside the department, etc.

[CarlieE]

I wear the same thing I've always worn: whatever the hell I feel like that morning. I wore red lipstick and did my hair up in victory rolls today. With a pencil skirt and heels. I've also worn bowling shirts and slacks. Or jeans and a whatever-top. 

 

As fuzzylogician mentioned it all depends too on what's going on that day. 

[toasterazzi]

Typically, I wear jeans (either blue or black) and a sweater or polo (depending on the weather). Sometimes I wear my school hoodie. Some people in my program dress fancier and some dress even more relaxed than me. None of our profs seem to care as long as we keep up with our teaching and school work.

[Muppet Meat]

I would say grad school attire is a bit nicer than undergrad, but still not "business casual" (which makes me think of polo shirts--ick). In my master's program, it's really easy to see who the students are who've just come straight from undergrad, vs. the students who are older (no more ugg boots, please). Also, if you'll be teaching, I think it's important to dress nicer, especially if you look young. I wouldn't want anyone to confuse me for an undergrad when I walk into a classroom to teach.

[shockwave]

On days when I don't teach or have anything out of the ordinary: jeans, blouse or nice sweater, sneakers. Neat but not fancy. I dress nicer on days when I teach, and also for presentations, meetings with people from outside the department, etc.

Same here.  Days I teach I usually wear slacks, dress shoes, and a button down (usually untucked) and often with a nice looking sweater (or hoodie) over it.  I am still better dressed than half of the department.  In the summer sometimes I will wear dress shorts with boat shoes if it is ridiculously hot. 

 

Days I just have class usually just jeans, less formal button down, sneakers or boots.

[blakeblake]

It depends a bit on where you are going to school.  The further east you go, the dressier everyone (grad students, undergrads, community members) will be.  The further west you go, the less dressy everyone gets.*

 

 

*If you go to a very upscale school or live in a very upscale community, ymmv.

[selecttext]

i usually wear worn out jeans with crotch holes darned shut by my girlfriend with some nature-y t-shirt. sometimes I wear a button down shirt. no one seems to care - especially given how my supervisor dresses...but i am an ecology grad student...hehe.

[TeaGirl]

I've seen grad students who wear dress pants and button down shirts every day, and others who live in t-shirts, shorts, and flip flops. It really depends on you.

I usually wore jeans and a nice blouse, sometimes with simple accessories or jewelry, nothing too fancy.

On days where I had teaching or presentations, I dressed more business casual, and definitely more formally than the undergrads.

[The Whistler]

 I wouldn't want anyone to confuse me for an undergrad when I walk into a classroom to teach.

 

THIS. This happened to me when I was teaching in primary school. The cleaning lady scolded me for being outside of a classroom after the bell. I was 24, the oldest kids in primary school are, like, 15. And it didn't happen once.

 

I guess converse and no make-up wouldn't be a good choice for grad school either, then.

[wildviolet]

Every school has its own norms. At my school, there's a range of styles--my advisor is super casual, but he does dress up sometimes (i.e., a button-up shirt, no tie or jacket). I feel a bit overdressed compared to my colleagues, but that's because most of the clothes I have are business casual from my professional teaching days, and I have made a commitment to not buying new clothes this year. With this cold weather, I gravitate towards boots, jeans, and sweaters/cardigans/nice tops (not t-shirts). In warmer weather, I'll wear a skirt/dress with sandals. I always wear natural-looking makeup, but that's just me. Other people don't wear any makeup, not because they're in grad school, but because that's just what they normally do. Wear whatever makes you feel comfortable!

[whirledpeas13]

Thanks for the insight everyone! I have applied to programs all across the country. At my current undergrad institution it does seem pretty casual, but nice. Grad students dress well, and I can definitely pick them out in my classes. Undergrads often do the sweatpants with ugg boots (UGGG!!). Personally, I am trying to refine my look to be a bit more professional (I never liked ugg boots, but I do wear sock boots -- I look like such a hippie -- but they are soo comfy).

[CarlieE]

Why do people get down on Ugg Boots? I'm a grad and I wear them. There are just some days I can't be bothered to wear heels, or it's raining and cold and I don't want my sneakers to get wet. They're just footwear, same as anything else. 

 

And yes, even grads wear sweats. Believe me, there are days when the world is lucky I brushed my teeth before I stepped out of the house. At some point in every semester, everyone has THOSE days grad or undergrad. 

[ANDS!]

 

Why do people get down on Ugg Boots?

 

They are so ugly.  I mean they look comfortable as hell, but my god when I see them on a young lady (usually paired with yoga pants and some LOVE PINK gear) I do a mental eyeroll.

 

As for what to wear, most students have graduated out of giving a damn what someone thinks of them, and are more concerned with managing their bank accounts than being in the latest/nicest fashion.  That said, I personally wouldn't be caught dead in a pair of sweats.  About the grungiest I go is super-casual Wrangler jeans, and a school jersey.

[misskira]

It's what you wear with the uggs that determine if they're ok or not. just saying. My sister wears them and pulls them off every time. But she doesn't wear them with mini dresses or leggings. And we are also in oregon. We are known for frumpiness.

[TeaGirl]

I don't think there's a problem with Ugg boots particularly or with any other comfort clothing. I just found it hilarious when I'd see students wearing them with mini shorts and tank tops in 100F plus Arizona weather. Don't their feet get hot? Or smelly?

[cthulhu]

I have to admit that I wear Uggs, too. But only when it's below 0°C (≈ 30°F).

 

This thread is so nice, I'm really curious about how grads dress. I think I can be easily mistaken for an undergrad since I mostly wear band/comic t-shirts, hoodies, and sneakers :S Not sure if grad school can change anything about that.

[hejduk]

I think this depends a lot on the atmosphere of the program. Personally, my department is quite casual, but when I take classes in other departments, the students are dressed more professionally, as a majority of them come straight from work to attend class.

[katerific]

There is a long post about this somewhere. I'll find it and edit in the link.

 

For me, it is whatever is at the top of the dresser. But field scientists don't necessarily worry about not looking ridiculous...

 

EDIT: three threads, two of them way too long

 

Hey! Fashion trends change each year (thus "trends"). I would never be caught wearing a Hawaiian t-shirt and khakis from 2012. Gosh!

[Katzenmusik]

My program had what you might refer to as a "casual plus" style.  Most people would dress comfortably, but instead of T-shirts, they'd put on blouses or button-downs, and instead of sneakers they'd wear flats.  Some of the hipper guys would go in for ankle boots or chukka shoes. Some women were really into cosmetics and fancy nail polish, and others weren't at all. 

 

There was one guy who was always incredibly casual, wearing sweaty undershirts and such to class.  In general he presented as being a bit eccentric and as a result could get away with pretty much anything.  I had to admire him.

[St Andrews Lynx]

Being a scientist I wear anything from business casual to jeans & t-shirt, but I always make sure my outfit is "lab safe". Full length trousers, trainers/closed shoes, sleeves not so long that they come out from the sleeves of my lab coat, etc. I want to wear clothes that I feel professional in, outfits that try to ensure others take me seriously.  

[juilletmercredi]

I'm usually somewhere between dressy casual and business casual.  Typically jeans or slacks with a nice blouse or sweater, and some nice shoes.  Occasionally if I'm feeling relaxed I'll wear a t-shirt (typically a geeked out one, like a video game or comic t-shirt) and some jeans and Keds.  I wear Uggs too, but that's because it's NYC and if it's 25 degrees outside I'm usually walking to get where I need to go.  Uggs are comfortable and warm, and honestly, I don't care whether someone else is judging me  from across campus.

 

I also don't care if I look like an undergrad, at this point.  While I dress nicely when I teach and present because I want to be respectable, I've pretty much accepted the fact that dressing up is not going to make me look like the teacher.  It's going to make me look like an undergrad who has a presentation in another class, lol.  I have found that regardless of how I dress, though, after the first day the undergrads are pretty clear on who their teacher/TA is.