- Katie Sinclair ’22 & Kaitlyn Smith ’22
Running out of clothes to wear? Constantly scared that you are wearing the wrong thing? Well, as the school year begins the rules and regulations of the dress code have increased and are actually being enforced.
Girls all over campus, no matter the grade, have received comments and complaints from staff on their “too short” skirt length or the width of the strap on their shirt. Teachers do not realize how hard it is for a girl to find a skirt that touches their fingertips. It is not easy when you have long arms or shorter legs. The last thing you want to worry about when you are shopping is if your clothes will fit the dress code.
We interviewed Farah Pavri ‘21, who recalled a time she got dress coded wearing a Brandy Melville skirt. She was pulled aside by a teacher who pointed out that her skirt was way too short. That day, Farah had already seen three other girls wearing the same skirt, so she felt very singled out since there were multiple girls wearing tighter and shorter skirts. The teacher then brought Mr. Quattlebaum into the conversation, he asked her if she had any other clothing, but since she did not, he just reminded her not to wear it again. Even though Farah was not forced to change, it still annoyed her that she had seen many girls wearing the same skirt or tighter ones that had not been asked to change. Farah believes that it is unfair for girls to be asked to change outfits, and wishes students did not have to worry about being called out for their clothes.
As the dress code states “all clothing allows a full range of motion — sitting, bending, reaching — without discomfort or readjustment.” Farah felt that her skirt was plenty comfortable, it may not have passed her fingertips but it was not affecting her “range of motion” one bit. As the perfect shorts and dress weather leaves California, and the 60-degree fall weather approaches, it’s no longer hot enough to wear flip flops and sandals to school, but the perfect weather for slippers.
The dress code states in article 28.6 of the student and parent hand book, to never wear slippers, pajamas, or blankets to school, but the second part of the handbook states that “all shoes must be worn at all times”. Slippers are shoes, no matter how comfortable or hard to walk in as they look, they can easily get you across campus. They cover your entire foot and allow for a perfect range of motion, and of course, they are the best option to wear on a cold California morning. Blankets as well, as long as you are not dozing off to sleep while taking notes in class, blankets are perfect for those teachers who decide to blast the A.C. during first period. They keep you warm, and you might even be able to take a quick nap to catch up on some sleep during office hours or a free period.
Even though the dress code has been enforced more than usual, its repercussions barely affect the boys on campus who don’t have to deal with too short skirt lengths or have to scramble to find the perfect shoes for their outfit. As the days go on, more and more staff have become stricter about the dress code, leaving students in peril and on high alert while entering and leaving the cafeteria for break, office hours, and lunch.
We should not have to feel afraid each day in an outfit that reflects their own unique styles and does not violate the dress code. Girls should be able to express their personalities through their outfits and not have to worry about being ridiculed by administration. called out by a teacher.
Photo provided by Ava Reinstein ’21
