Dress Up, Dress Down: Weekend Wear

Deerfield’s formal attire may influence fashion choices past the weekdays and inadvertently inspire ultra-casual weekend wear

Though Deerfield’s dress code has become more open to student interpretation, it remains rooted in the goal of promoting formality and presentability in attire. Specifically, the formal dress code is a defining characteristic of Deerfield’s professional academic environment during the fall and the spring. While the extent of dress code stringency is up for debate, it does ensure that students are tidily dressed for class. I have noticed that this relative formality in dress code, however, invites stark contrasts in weekend wear.

My observations of friends from other high schools, both from home or other peer boarding schools, have yielded the same impression– weekends are often a chance for students to dress up and showcase their personal style. The opposite is true at Deerfield; weekend wear typically consists of hoodies, sweatpants, crewnecks, and t-shirts. It is rare to find a student rocking a pair of jeans, trousers, or a nice blouse on the weekend. And, in the case they do, the natural assumption is that the student had just returned from an off-campus obligation where dress-up was necessary.

The reason for this contradistinction is easy to identify. By logical inference, the strict dress code during the academic week compels students to seek a break from the formality, making comfortable clothing all the more appealing on the weekends. In fact, if we had a looser dress code, I would imagine weekend wear might present itself differently than our current standard.

However, Deerfield students’ spirits to fashion are not diminished by ultra-casual weekend wear. In fact, the assortment of lounge wear, oversized shirts, and tailored sweatpants is so diverse in stylistic influences and personalizations that some Instagram accounts have sprung up to spotlight it.

When I asked a student behind one of the accounts about the page’s rationale, they mentioned, “I created this account in order to open up a space where so-called ‘calm-drip’ or more relaxed outfits could be showcased in similar manner to the class dress featured on other accounts.”

While the weekend clothing norms between Deerfield and other high schools are striking, they reveal a deeper truth about the role of clothing in self-expression. Even when our outfits are considered “pajamas” in other contexts, weekend wear at Deerfield is a means of expressing one’s style and personality organically. As the aforementioned interviewee added, “Without tags and posed photos, [redacted] account aims to veer away from emphasizing brand names, and encourage students to embrace their weekend wear and personal comfort preferences.” By celebrating relaxed attire during the weekends, Deerfield students assert their individuality and step away from the rigors of academic life.

Written by: Ashley LaBrucherie

Edited by: Iris Wong