As the 2015-2016 school year kicks off, new and returning students are adjusting to the new changes made to the dress code.

Due to ongoing student feedback and the recognition from the administrative team that finding clothes that met La Salle’s old dress code requirements was difficult, many changes have been made.

Some of these changes include lower necklines for girls (2 inches maximum below the collarbone) and allowing shorts, skirts, and dresses to come within two inches from the top of the knee.

This new change is more laid back compared to the old requirement of shorts, skirts, and dresses having to come to the top of the knee, and necklines being not lower than the collarbone.

In a policy change mostly affecting boys, however, a big change has been made, making the dress code requirements more stringent. All athletic bottoms have been prohibited from La Salle during school hours. This includes basketball shorts, running shorts, sweatpants, etc. If wanting to wear shorts, boys are now required to wear only shorts that include a zipper in the front with pockets.

To get a sense of how students are feeling about these changes, several students were asked about the new dress code changes for the 2015-2016 school year

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“I am very happy that the dress code for the girls this year was eased up! It is nice that we can wear tops that go below our collarbone because, last year, it was hard to find cute outfits that met with the dress code requirements. Now it will be much easier to pick out an outfit for liturgy because of the new dress code,” sophomore Megan Lyver said. “Overall, the dress code has made picking out outfits much easier,” she said.  

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“I feel that it makes it more equal between girls and guys,” said junior Emma Wycoff. “I really like that you can wear shirts that go two inches below the collarbone because it’s hard to find clothes that go all the way to your collarbone.”

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“I feel good about the new dress code because it is more equal between genders and not as strict for the girls which makes it easier for me to follow,” senior Payton Thompson said.

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Although many students like Lyver, Wycoff, and Thompson feel positive about the new dress code changes, some think otherwise. “I feel that school should not have to be a place where you have to dress modest and nice,” sophomore Matthew Salisbury said. “I wish that it could just be a place where you can dress comfortably. For me, the new dress code requires me to wear clothing that is sometimes uncomfortable.” 

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“The new dress code did not really affect me at all because I don’t usually wear athletic shorts,” sophomore Bao Huynh said. “I usually make an effort to dress nice so, overall, the dress code has not changed anything for me.”

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Mr. Devine was also asked what improvements and perspective he has seen with regard to the new dress code changes: “So far, in the first few days of school, our students seem to be accepting and adapting well to our new dress code changes. I think the young ladies at La Salle appreciate a more flexible approach to the neckline and skirt length expectations.”

“Of course, for the young men who were used to wearing basketball shorts, our new policy has been a little more challenging and probably frustrating.  But, we’ve had very few students out of dress code and I think the new policy is more consistent and clear about the difference between athletic gear and school clothing.”

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Overall, the new dress code changes have allowed more flexibility for many students and have also made the system more fair between both genders of the student body.

What do you think of the dress code changes? Let us know in the comments below!