By Lami Zhang
In 1947, Frank D. Ashburn identified one of the core problems within the Brooks community – dress code. He was appalled by the “lack of standards” in how the teenage students dressed and considered it a “manifestation of deep trouble in the world.”
Like many other aspects of Brooks, the dress code has come a long way since the paper collars of the 1940s. It has changed throughout the decades along with gender roles, fashion trends, and complaints of parents. Often, the Brooks school dress codes were revised almost as fast as students found loopholes. This is part of the reason why the dress code portion of our student handbook keeps becoming more and more complicated, expanding from the three-sentence blurb of 1976 into over two pages today.
So, after a couple dusty afternoons in the Archives, I proudly present…
Brooks School Dress Code through the Ages
1976 – Brooks was an all-boys school.
At all classes, meals, and official school appointments boys were expected to wear jackets, dress shirts, and ties. Term and Christmas dinners, Lawn Ceremony and Prize Day required dark suits or blazers with dark trousers.
1977 – Everything stays pretty much the same, but turtlenecks become a thing.
1978 – Still an all boys school and turtlenecks are still a thing.
1979 – The arrivals of females. Girls wore casual skirts with neat blouses, and or sweaters, dresses or dress pants.
Boys wore jackets, dress shirts with collar and tie or turtlenecks, and dress trousers.
On Sunday evenings and other special occasions, boys wore suits or blazers with dark flannel trousers, dress shirts, collars and ties.
Girls wore formal dresses or skirts with blouses.
1980 – Dress pants must be worn with blazers/jackets for females. Socks are now required for boys.
1985 – There goes the Rolling Stones T-shirts.
Clothing such as T-shirts, sweatshirts, jumpsuits, camouflage pants, denim jackets or painters pants are casual wear.
Boys can now wear blazers with dark flannels (because colored flannels are just not okay.)
1989 – We all know that one person who brings a jacket in case they get dress coded.
Coats and blazers are to be worn at all times unless otherwise indicated by the Headmaster.
Shirt tails must be tucked in and ties pulled up.
School dress does not include the following: denim, t-shirts, sweatshirts, army clothing, visible long underwear, rugby shirts, and flannel shirts.
Hats are not to be worn in the classroom, dining hall, or chapel.
1995 – Four models of dress code and their purposes are as follows:
Academic – seriousness of purpose and attention to detail.
Athletic – unity and custom.
Special occasion – tone of formal settings.
Casual dress code – provide comfortable social and study time .
2000 – Dress code starts getting fabric specific. Pantsuits gain popularity.
Boys – blazer or sport coat, collared button down shirt (tucked in) with tie, or turtleneck. Dress slacks, trousers, corduroys or Bermuda shorts. Dress shoes, boots, sandals, Birkenstocks, Tevas, and hiking boots (winter only.)
Girls – dress or skirt with blouse or turtleneck tucked in. Slacks or trousers, and blouse or turtleneck tucked in and ladies blazer/jacket. Khakis or corduroys or Bermuda shorts. Dress shoes, boots, sandals, Birkenstocks, Tevas, and hiking boots (winter only.)
The following items are not acceptable for academic dress:
Overalls, carpenter pants, stretch leggings, denim, colored denim, polo shirts, athletic attire, midriff clothing, exposed underwear, shirts with logos, clothing with spaghetti straps, athletic shoes and flip-flops (single strap).
Fleece may be worn as an outer layer for weather purposes but should be removed while in class.
Special occasion – girls – skirts, dresses or pantsuits required.
2004 – Not your average shower flip-flops.
Leather sandals and Birkenstocks allowed. No beach wear or plastic flip-flops.
2015 – Dress code gets weirdly specific about the length of a skirt.
Dress, skirt, and short length should be at a length at which a student can sit comfortably in public, underwear is not exposed either while sitting or walking up stairs. At a minimum, dresses, skirts, and shorts should fall below the fingertips.
Bare shoulders are considered unacceptable attire for school.
2017 – Gender Neutral dress code – making strides towards gender equality.
Formal academic dress ( Monday, Thursday and special occasions) – dress, dress blouse and skirt. Dress pants or slacks worn with a collared button down shirt, turtleneck or dress blouse and a tie, blazer or cardigan. Dress shoes, sandals or boots (no sneakers or flip-flops.)
Academic dress (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays) – includes of a long list of prohibited clothing including the following: Sweatshirts, sweatpants, yoga pants, sleep wear, slippers (including moccasins,) and leggings unless with a shirt that falls mid- thigh. Please refer to student handbook, pages 30, 31, and 32 for further information.
ALL Saturdays are spirit Saturdays.
The Brooksian 