Formal night - dress for almost 14 year old boy

[reeses]

Last time we cruised, DS was almost 9 and I felt nice pants and polo shirt was dressy enough. Now he's almost 14. Suggestions on what is appropriate? He doesn't have suit or jacket. We're sailing on the Glory in July. Thanks.

[caribbean dreams]

The dress code is the same for all ages.

You may want to go to a second hand store and buy him a sports coat & tie.

sometimes you can pick up the whole suit for under $20.

[PlanoDebbie]

I would get him a nice pair of dockers that he'll use again for other special occasions at home. A nice shirt and tie will add to that. For a reasonably inexpensive Sport coat, try going to a resale store or Goodwill store and see if you can find him a used one in good condition for him to wear on the cruise. Navy blue jacket goes great with a pair of tan dockers. He'll feel more grown up and look great!

[hstrybuf]

I'm sure you'll get plenty of opinions on this including a few who will tell you that a polo shirt and slacks are fine for formal night. However, I agree with the above posts. If you can find him a nice jacket at a consignment shop for very little money that, along with slacks, shirt, tie and appropriate shoes will have the teen girls enthralled! He'll also look great in those family photos. ;)

[mapsmith]

Having been a 14yr old boy (a long time ago in a universe far away) take him to a Tux rental place and get him a rental Zoot Suit. He will be a hit with the girls his age and he will feel really cool. Much better than dressing up in a "Penguin Suit" tux or a generic dark suit. Make your kid the coolest 14 year old there. (Get a matching hat for him too!!!)

 

Cool rules when you are 14.

 

(Why do you think High School proms have so many colored Tuxes)

 

BTW you both will have some really cool pictures to show after the cruise

[wework2play]

I will be buying my boys suits. I have to buy them new ones every year, they wear them once or twice, and I give them away. Unfortunately they are the same size so I can't pass them down. :( I have been told to try ebay. Sure enough, there's lots on there. I haven't bought any yet b/c I'm waiting till after June (graduations) and hoping I'll get them cheaper.

[Wennfred]

It all depends on if you are going to take a Family Portrait while onboard then I would recommend he dresses up very sharply to even match his dad. If no formal pictures are taken then the dockers or nice pants and a nice shirt or a polo shirt is fine.

 

Fred

[rufustelestrat]

I agree with those who note that the dress code is the same regardless of age. That being said, the idea of the zootsuit is great, but if he insists on wearing a dress, to each their own.

RUF

[caribbean dreams]

. the idea of the zootsuit is great,

 

And coming from a mother of daughters....The boys dressed to impress, or the ones that get all my daughters attention.

[imbethie]

I've got a 15 year old who will be cruising in May for the first time. He will be wearing Khaki Pants with a dress shirt, tie and jacket. On casual night he will wear Khakis and a nice polo shirt.

 

Of course add the Clark's..........he wears the Clarks with EVERYTHING!

[MrPete]

Last time we cruised, DS was almost 9 and I felt nice pants and polo shirt was dressy enough. Now he's almost 14. Suggestions on what is appropriate? He doesn't have suit or jacket. We're sailing on the Glory in July. Thanks.

 

Looks like you may be negatively influencing him. You were wrong when he was 9, and he doesn't have a suit or jacket because you haven't bought him one.

 

Get out there. Nothing builds self confidence than a boy well dressed getting the eye attention he needs.....and more.

[TennisLover]

My DS has been wearing a suit and tie to formal night since he was 9. He's now 11. He knows he looks good in it. He knows it's the right thing to do. And, you know what, he doesn't even mind! It's a good lesson to learn. He doesn't wear expensive suits-- we do well at Sears or JC Penney.

 

I take him on a great cruise and ask very little. Besides his cruise rules, I just want him to be ready for dinner and dress appropriately. Take pictures when I ask. I love all the formal night pictures we have around the house.

 

My opinion is that it depends on the parents' attitudes. If the suit is a matter of fact, the kids will accept it. If the parents think it's ridiculous or a hardship, then the kids will get that attitude also.

 

Having said that, I also know that you have to "pick your battles." (I have a 14yo DD so I know that lesson!). If the suit is a battle, then give in, but the repurcussion is that you don't eat in the dining room that night.

[lynyrd]

Formal night - dress for almost 14 year old boy

 

I would have him wear a suit instead of a dress if I were you. People may look at him funny if you put him in a dress...............:p :D

[Glama]

I think a dress shirt and tie with dockers or dress pants is FINE. I know that my almost 14 year old would have it off within 5 minutes. You will be in the Caribbean, it's HOT, and I'd venture a guess that only 50% of men will actually wear a sports coat. If he wants to wear one, or if you want him to, that's one thing, but he shouldn't feel obligated just because others think he needs to have one on.

[CARIBBEAN01]

Last year my son was 13 and wore a suit because he just had his gr 8 graduation a month before. He is now 14 and keeps growing like crazy so this summer he is wearing dress pants and two different dress shirts for each of the formal nights. You will see people wearing all different attire on all the nights anyways. Even on RCCL the dress code was not enforced....

[imacruzinma]

for our 13 year old and 10 year old boys. They know it is required, and there is no grumbling. They'll change quickly after dinner and all the photo ops are over, but hey, my husband and I usually change before settling into our evening in the casino. I agree with previous poster, set the expectation that he will dress appropriately and he'll rise to the occasion.

 

[halos]

. You will be in the Caribbean, it's HOT, .

 

It's not hot on the ship. The ships are alll very nicely airconditioned.

 

 

To the OP: Children act out and follow their parents lead. If the parents are grumbling and fussing over having to put on nice clothing, they'll do the same. If a child is 14 and has never owned a jacket or been required to wear one before, it may feel foreign to him, but get one on him now before you totally lose any chance of him ever dressing nicely when the situation warrants it.

Boys need to learn that there are times when they need to dress up. If they don't learn this, they grow into the men you see on these boards who still grumble. :p

[mzloolue]

I think a dress shirt and tie with dockers or dress pants is FINE. I know that my almost 14 year old would have it off within 5 minutes. You will be in the Caribbean, it's HOT, and I'd venture a guess that only 50% of men will actually wear a sports coat. If he wants to wear one, or if you want him to, that's one thing, but he shouldn't feel obligated just because others think he needs to have one on.

 

I agree.

[San Diego Ellie]

I think a shirt with a tie and nice pants is just fine, and that a jacket is optional. The tie is a good touch, even without the sport jacket or suit. I saw a lot of children and teens dressed that way on formal nights on the Spirit. As a matter of fact, there were more than a few grown men dressed that way!

[reeses]

Thanks for the responses.

 

Just a few notes - I never said that my DS was opposed to getting dressed up - just merely that he doesn't own any suits or jackets (because he's never had a need). He's a great kid and will do what's expected of him. (Also, as parents, we don't have a problem getting dressed up either.)

I simply wanted to ask what was normal and/or expected and looking for suggestions before buying anything (thanks to those who suggested places to look for cheap clothing), knowing that he will grow out of anything I get him in less than 6 months.

I'm going to see if he will fit in any of his dad's jackets - hadn't thought of that until this morning.

Loved the comments that girls will be attracted to him when he's dressed up makes me think that we'll skip the formal dinners given that he's already had several "girlfriends"!:eek:

[Kathy0418]

My son wore dockers with dress shirts and tie for the first five cruises he went on. When he was 17 last year he started wearing a suit as he needed one for homecoming etc. He looked formal enough. On all the ships we've been on it seems like half the teens wear suits and half shirts with ties without jackets. The older teens have other uses for them once they leave the cruise ship so maybe that is the reason. Don't sweat it.

[chitown cruisers]

boys e-bay tux's $25 each

 

 

no grandparents were harmed in the shooting of this photograph

[mamamo65]

I went the suit jacket route with my 13 yr old DS last year. Got a great mark down at Sears. I didn't realize till we pulled it out of the garment bag on the formal night that they hadn't removed the security device. Needless to say, he went in dress pants, shirt and tie, no jacket. Oh, well.

[gusandgidgetsmom]

We are taking our 14 y.o. grandson on a cruise--his first--not ours-next month and we found a pretty nice suit for him on sale at Target. This will probably be the only time he will wear it as our church is pretty casual and he is growing like crazy---5'11" already. You would not feel so bad if he didn't wear it again if you did not pay so much. I agree with most of the other posters--teaching a child to follow the rules can only be a benefit later.

[mlturner265]

My boys will be wearing their khakis, dress shirt/tie and navy sport coat. My 8yr old is wearing the one his brother wore a few years ago (once) and I found an identical one at Kohls at Easter for around $20 for my 12yr old. Now I just have to convince Mr. Comfortable (8) he needs to wear the tie and jacket.