If you called La Salle Academy home, then you were no stranger to the infamous dress code "rules" that you were expected to abide by every single day. While some of my classmates proudly stated that they had worn a uniform throughout their entire education, other "Lasallians," like myself, had to grapple with this new wardrobe. When I say wardrobe, I am referring to the dull array of skirts, pants, oxford shirts and boat shoes. Sure, it may seem like a relief to not have to think about what you are going to wear everyday. However, once those few particular teachers started roaming around the halls, I risked getting called out if I looked too comfortable. From knee socks, to tights, to lanyards with IDs, dress code was a vital part of my high school chapter. So, come with me as we journey through the La Salle Academy dress code, with the help of the uniform-wearing Blair Waldorf.
1. Donnelly's
There's no trip like a trip to good old Donnelly's. Plaid skirts line the walls, vests adorn the mannequins, and if you arrive on a summer afternoon in early August––the line is out the door! In this hardly magical place, I got fitted for brand new, crisp, uniform pieces, which included trying on an insanely long uniform skirt (which needed a major hem). Let's not forget the apocalyptic release of the cardigan and pull-over sweater, when everyone and their mom wanted a brand new fall addition to the uniform.
2. Knee socks
If you're not a La Salle newbie, you'll remember the wonderful, whimsical world of knee socks. These little guys were basically our one chance to display our individuality, while keeping our legs cool and comfortable. If you wanted the hottest knee socks on the market, you headed over to Details on Thayer Street. I entered high school with them pulled all the way up to my knees, obviously. Yet, as the years went on, I slowly caught on to the trend of rolling them down to my calves and ankles. That is, until someone told me to pull them up.
3. Top Button
Whether you chose to wear the white shirt or the blue shirt (did anyone really ever wear the blouse), you probably adventurously left your top button undone. It was the simple solution to looking a bit less uptight, and it's not like it showed that much skin. But, if I was wearing a tank top underneath, that made the top button being undone all the more obvious. I'll never forget the "top button buttoned" callouts I got every morning in homeroom. I felt like such a scandalous teenager.
4. Tucking in your shirt.
There were days early on in my La Salle career, where I tucked my shirt into my skirt on all sides. Those were very early days. Before I knew it, I figured out how to make it look like it was tucked in, by giving it a simple roll or two. The real behind the scenes trick was to wear a tank top and roll it with the tank top. While this sometimes worked, a lot of the faculty members could not be fooled by the rolled shirt strategy. Instead of just telling you to tuck it in, they would first tell you to unroll it. Have you actually ever seen the uniform shirt neatly tucked in? It's the furthest thing from a fashion statement.
5. Rolling your skirt.
Whether I wore the rare box skirt, or opted for the more popular kilt skirt, part of my daily routine was giving your skirt a roll or two. Okay, look, of course they look cuter when they are a little shorter. However, I always tried to explain to my teachers and peers that they just didn't fit right if they weren't rolled. For some reason, this uniform skirt just had to be rolled for me to feel put together and confident. Then again, an extra inch or two above the knee is one thing. If you were going to roll your skirt a little extra high, there was definitely an unwritten rule that shorts were worn underneath it. And, if it wasn't evenly rolled on both sides, I could definitely expect to hear, "pull down your skirt."
6. Guy Pants
Sure, wearing a skirt made me feel girly and preppy, pure school uniform material. Yet, some days, especially Fridays, I just didn't have the motivation to deal with a skirt. Here's where I pay homage to a classic La Salle feature, boy pants. They were everything I needed and more. They fit like sweatpants, felt like pajamas, and were an oversized dream. Plus, they didn't have that weird triangle pocket thing that the girls' design had on the waistline. Yet, wearing pants made for a sloppy and rolled shirt, which gave it away that I was definitely not wearing a belt. The comfort was worth it though, so that risk paid off.
7. Wearing your lanyard and ID.
Back when Vera Bradley lanyards were acceptable to wear around your neck, an ID wasn't such a bad hallway accessory. Then, flowery patterns were no longer on the dress code list, and all lanyards had to be maroon and La Salle certified. Funnily enough, this made me forget my ID in my locker more frequently, and it became the most popular dress code violation of all. My favorite part was when I couldn't locate my ID, so I would just wear the lanyard by itself. Attempting to cover the fact that my ID was not attached, I would hold my textbooks close to my chest. Oh, the dramatic excuses I gave to teachers for not having my ID were endless.
8. Tights
I'll never forget the summer when the tights rule was set in place as the new dress code for girls. From rants on social media about extreme heat, to telling myself that I would boycott it at every cost, it definitely shook the La Salle female community. I had to compile a brand new collection of colorful tights, as I stared at my collection of three years worth of knee socks with melancholy. Pants suddenly became more popular, as the itchy fabric of tights was the new companion to skirts. I loved wearing tights in the frigid cold winter, but now I eagerly awaited the announcements over the loudspeaker that declared, "boys don't have to wear ties, and girls don't have to wear tights tomorrow."
9. Shoes
Boat shoes were the necessity, Sperry boat shoes to be exact. I also remember boys wearing those insane Wallabees shoes that looked like a monster had swallowed their entire foot. If I was going to try to get away with UGG boots on a winter morning, I would pair them with pants, so all you could see was the boot bottom. In between these staple dress code shoes, there were moccasins, ballet flats, L.L. Bean boots, and more. That rainbow of footwear dramatically decreased when the "navy, brown, or black solid-colored dress shoe" rule was enforced. Sadly, I was brought back down to Earth by wearing some plain brown oxfords.
10. Teachers who didn't care.
Although some teachers were strict with dress code, forcing you to clean up your appearance as you ran to their class, most of the faculty cut us a break. I remember one teacher told me I was wearing my uniform like I had, "rolled out of a coffin this morning." Or, my particular favorite, "your dress code resembles the Johnston landfill right now." Yet, they didn't even ask me to fix it, we just laughed about it and continued on with the class. In fact, I remember being specifically excited about a few classes because I knew that I could unroll my shirt and not have to tuck it in. Or, I could put my lanyard back in my locker because there was no way that they would write me up.
Dress code might have been a rollercoaster sometimes, but it wouldn't have been La Salle Academy without those pleated skirts, khaki pants and oxford shirts. I actually survived four years without one dress code write-up. If you weren't so lucky, consider yourself a wild rebel that took fashion into your own hands when you walked around the academy. Blair Waldorf salutes you, and so do I.
