Shopping is a staple of teenage life, with spring shopping being one of the most anticipated activities after the bitter winter season has passed. With spring break a few short weeks away, the main problem concerning the new clothes is whether they are acceptable to wear to school. The spring clothing lines include clothes that are often more fitting for a spring break spent at the beach, which makes it hard for students to judge which clothes are suitable for school and which are not. Shorts and low-cut tank tops are certainly not all the same, but it is hard to decide where exactly that line of appropriate school wear should be drawn.

There are certain obvious articles of clothing that have been unacceptable to wear since elementary school, such as beach attire or see-through clothing, but there are still some grey areas. Without a standard procedure, teachers who all think alike, or stores who sell clothes that adhere to the school dress codes, the guidelines are often disregarded, or become unclear.

Shorts and skirts shorter than mid-thigh, and shirts that show stomach or too much chest have to stay in one’s closet until spring break. Tank tops, spaghetti straps and other shirts that expose too much shoulder or back, although sometimes worn by students, shouldn’t be risked either. The bathing suits have to stay at home until tanning season, and the hats and sunglasses have to stay in your cars or backpacks.

"I think it’s good to have restrictions, and I know certain things shouldn’t be allowed, but at the same time, as styles change and the clothing in the stores change, the kids are going to be buying and wearing those things. I don’t think it is an issue with kids not knowing the dress code or wanting to purposely disregard the rules, it’s just a matter of what’s in style," said Liz Holohan, sophomore. "It may be inappropriate to wear short shorts but if you walk into any store where teens shop, that is all they will be seeing. Sometimes kids can’t help it, it is just what’s being made available to them."

Most Loudoun County schools’ dress codes are similar, being regulated by the county office, but each school has the ability to expand upon those rules. Administrators and teachers, among their numerous other responsibilities, have to also keep watch for unseemly student attire. At the beginning of every year, the administration discusses the student dress code with teachers and tells them what should be done if a student is wearing something inappropriate.

"If a teacher deems that [a student’s] clothing is inappropriate, he or she should tell the student and ask them if they have something else to change into," said Mrs. Fusci, Spanish teacher. "Normally, a student has extra clothes in their locker or gym locker. However, if they do not have a change of clothes, we can send them to the office. It is possible that a parent or guardian might have to bring a change of clothes to the school."

There is also a statement in the first pages of every student agenda that aims to make the dress code obvious to students. It states, "The school has the responsibility to see that the cleanliness, dress, and grooming of students does not present a danger to the health or safety of others or prevents them from performing regular required school activities..."

Yes, parents and guardians should take some of the responsibility for the way their children dress, but ultimately, it is up to the students to comply with the dress code. To make it easy to decide, if there is a question regarding the clothing, don’t wear it! The rules are mandated and upheld by the school; administrators and staff are allowed to decide what they deem appropriate clothing and what they do not.

It is also to be expected every year that some students will test the limits of the teachers and administrators. However, the Briar Woods staff is very good about being understanding towards the expression of individuality. It will be obvious, come spring, whether the students decide to respect the rules or not.