How MSJ's Dress Code Balances Professionalism and Comfort

Two students wearing matching purple striped polo shirts and backpacks give thumbs up while standing outside a school building with trees in the background.

When it comes to private school, professionalism is part of the package, and being professional starts with dressing appropriately. Harvey Specter from the show Suits said it best: “People respond to how we’re dressed, so like it or not, this is what you have to do.” That quote captures exactly what I think about when schools enforce their dress code.

At the Mount, students may wear a button-up shirt and tie year-round. They may wear the MSJ polo during the first and fourth quarters, with the option of a button-up. During the second and third quarters, button-down shirts with a tie are required. Students are not the biggest fans of the tie requirement, often saying it gets in the way or feels too tight. And tucking it in, that’s a much longer conversation…

Dress pants are another argument students had. Many students say they feel stiff, tight, and rough. A solution students found was golf pants, which conveniently meet the dress code. They are stretchy, loose, and comfortable. The smooth, almost silky feel had everyone rushing to buy pants from Under Armour and Adidas.

A dress code violation pass noting the student's name and reasons for the violation, including 'No Tie' and 'Incorrect Outerwear'.

Students often argue that during the colder seasons, they need a coat or sweater in the classroom and when moving between classes. The school has always cracked down on this and made students remove any outerwear once they enter the room. The rules for outerwear are strict: no logos, no patterns, one solid color. Students can also wear a gray and black quarter zip with the school seal on them, bought from the school store, which may be worn during class; all other outer coverings are coats and should be removed during the class period. Students were outraged, saying that just because they are indoors does not mean they are warm. Since then, MSJ has provided a heavier quarter-zip for students to wear at any time.

MSJ recently introduced a new weekly option. Every Friday, students may skip the tie, but they must wear a blazer for the entire day. I asked one of my teachers, Mr. Schultheis, what he thought about the new dress code option. He said, “I have been loving it. For me, it’s better because my tie is not choking my fat neck.”

During the 2022–23 school year, several students pointed out to the administration that Hey Dudes met the school’s shoe requirements. They are one solid color, have a white strip at the bottom, and technically “lace” up. When the administration approved them, several students immediately started wearing them. Within a week, almost everyone had a pair! At that point, there was nothing the administration could do. They could not go back on what they said, and they had to accept the situation. The following year, they made the rule very clear, announcing that “Hey Dude style shoes are not permitted.”

Light beige slip-on shoe with white accents and a textured upper.

MSJ’s dress code shows what steps the school is willing to take to maintain uniformity, even at the cost of potential comfort and student expression. Whether it’s replacing ties with blazers, restricting outerwear, the rise of golf pants, or the brief reign of Hey Dudes, students are constantly searching for ways to work within or around the rules. These moments reveal that while schools aim to prepare students for professionalism, they often overlook that confidence and comfort shape how students carry themselves. Uniformity may create a polished image, but when enforced too rigidly, it can feel more like control than preparation.