Dress Code

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Starred items (*) are considered "Regulation," meaning the clothing is required and must be purchased from the Bolles Lands’ End (www.landsend.com) store or the Bolles Campus Store.  If you are given uniform pieces from a previous student, please ensure they meet the current dress code requirements.

BOTTOMS*:  Khaki or navy-blue pants, skorts and shorts purchased from the Bolles Lands’ End store of an appropriate fit and length. The Bolles logo will be embroidered on all uniform bottoms. Skorts are the “top of the knee” style, unaltered with a Bolles logo at the hem. Please allow for growth.

SHIRTS*: Oxford button down or polo-style shirts with the Bolles logo purchased from the Bolles Lands’ End store or the Campus Store. Bolles polo-style team shirts (sports, band, robotics, etc.) are also acceptable. They should be the correct size for the student, not oversized and always tucked in neatly.

SWEATERS: Solid color cardigan, V-neck, or crew neck sweaters or sweater vest of the student’s choice. They should be the correct size for the student, not oversized. Options are available from the Bolles Lands’ End store.

SWEATSHIRTS: Bolles school sweatshirts may be worn. They should be the correct size for the student, not oversized.

BELTS: Bottoms (pants, shorts and skorts) with belt loops must be worn with a belt.

SHOES: Shoes must have a closed toe and heel with a flat heel. Examples – athletic shoes, ballet flats, boat shoes.

OUTERWEAR: In cold weather, students may wear jackets and coats with no large logos, advertising or denim. Hoodies/sweatshirts are not considered jackets. Options are available from the Bolles Lands’ End store.

ACCESSORIES: Hair and makeup must be neat, and not in a dramatic style or radical color.  Hair should be well-groomed and out of the eyes. Hats and sunglasses are not permitted. Jewelry and accessories must be simple and understated.

DESIGNATED SPIRIT DRESS DAYS: On designated Spirit Days, students may wear a Bolles polo shirt or a Bolles t-shirt, with uniform bottoms or long jeans with no rips, tears or holes.

PDF Version

Students on the San Jose Campus are asked to dress in a way that creates a positive and focused environment for learning and reflects the mission of the School.

The Bolles Dress Code is designed to help increase student awareness of what they choose to wear and how this impacts not only their experience but that of others around them. An important part of preparing our students for college and life is helping them understand that what someone wears reflects not only an expression of personal style, but also an expression of attitude toward the surrounding community. As in life, different on-campus occasions call for different guidelines. While we have a daily dress code at Bolles, we also have more relaxed dress codes for our dress down Friday and spirit days, and a more formal dress code for more serious occasions, such as all-school convocations and days on which we have speakers on campus. Regardless of the code that day, student clothing must promote community at all times.

DAILY DRESS CODE

The School reserves the right to make final decisions regarding attire/clothing choices as it relates to the mission of the School.

BOTTOMS:  Dress pants: with belt if have belt loops; dress skirts must reach or extend beyond the fingertips when at a normal stance.
Not allowed: shorts, yoga pants, cargo pants, leggings, tennis/running skorts, athletic clothing and jeans

TOPS: Dress tops: short-sleeved or long-sleeved button-up Oxford-style shirts, short-sleeved or long-sleeved dress blouses. All shirts with a collar must be tucked in.
Not allowed: Hawaiian-style collars or print; oversized or long-tailed shirts

SHOES: Athletic shoes, dress shoes, boat shoes, sandals with a back strap, rain boots and dress boots.
Not allowed: backless shoes, slippers, slides, flip-flops, Crocs or other plastic/rubber/Foamrunner-style footwear

OUTERWEAR: Sweatshirts, sweaters, jackets or coats that are plain or have a Bolles logo. Outerwear must be worn with a regulation dress shirt underneath. 
Not allowed: outerwear with college, university or team logos or with large-letter brand-name

HAIR: Hair should be neat, well-kept and out of the eyes at all times.
Not permitted: radical hair colors or styles

Also not permitted: 

• Hats, caps or visors worn inside during the School day, unless with permission for religious reasons
• Clothing with holes or frayed edges
• Facial piercings, tattoos that are lewd, offensive or are a representation of illegal activity must be covered or otherwise not visible.
• Facial hair, unless with permission for religious or medical reasons.

SPECIAL DRESS CODES
For each of the special dress codes, as with the daily dress code, the following are not permitted:

• Hats, caps or visors worn inside during the School day, unless with permission for religious reasons
• Clothing with holes or frayed edges
• Facial piercings, tattoos that are lewd, offensive or are a representation of illegal activity must be covered or otherwise not visible.
• Facial hair, unless with permission for religious or medical reasons.

FRIDAY DRESS CODE
Students follow the daily dress code as above, or they can wear:
Tops: Bolles collared shirt
Bottoms: Dress pants: with belt if have belt loops; dress skirts must reach or extend beyond the fingertips when at a normal stance.

DESIGNATED SPIRIT DAY DRESS CODE
Students follow the daily dress code as above, or they can wear:
Tops: Bolles collared shirt or Bolles t-shirt
Bottoms: Students may wear jeans with no holes, rips, or frayed hems or follow the Daily Dress Code: Dress pants: with belt if have belt loops; dress skirts must reach or extend beyond the fingertips when at a normal stance.

FORMAL DRESS CODE
BOTTOMS:  Dress pants: with belt if have belt loops; dress skirts must reach or extend beyond the fingertips when at a normal stance.
Not allowed: shorts, yoga pants, cargo pants, leggings, tennis/running skorts, athletic clothing and jeans

TOPS: Dress tops: short-sleeved or long-sleeved button-up Oxford-style shirts, short-sleeved or long-sleeved dress blouses. All shirts with a collar must be tucked in.
Not allowed: Hawaiian-style collars or print; oversized or long-tailed shirts

TIE: Tie required

DRESSES: Dresses that fit graduation requirements

SHOES: Athletic shoes, dress shoes, boat shoes, sandals with a back strap, rain boots and dress boots.
Not allowed: backless shoes, slippers, slides, flip-flops, Crocs or other plastic/rubber/Foamrunner-style footwear

OUTERWEAR: Sweatshirts, sweaters, jackets or coats that are plain or have a Bolles logo. Outerwear must be worn with a regulation dress shirt underneath. 
Not allowed: outerwear with college, university or team logos or with large-letter brand-name

HAIR: Hair should be neat, well-kept and out of the eyes at all times.
Not permitted: radical hair colors or styles

GRADUATION DRESS CODE
Beginning with the graduation of 1963, when The Bolles School dropped its military affiliation, the graduates wore white pants and blue blazers at graduation to distinguish themselves from the cadets who wore military uniforms in previous years. With the graduation of the first female students in the class of 1972, the School added white dresses as part of the ceremony. To honor these traditions, please adhere to the following requirements for your graduate:

For Females:
The dress should:

• be white, not off-white or cream,
• cover the knees when the wearer is seated,
• have sleeves or straps of a minimum ¾” width,
• have no cutouts,
• have a modest neckline with the back no lower than the bottom of the shoulder blades.

The shoes should:

• be white,
• have a low-heel, as the graduate will be walking on various surfaces including grass.
• Flats or wedges are a safe choice.
• Flip-flops or sneakers are not in keeping with the formal nature of the event.

For Males:
The shirt should:

• be light blue,
• be button-down,
• be designed to wear with a tie.

The jacket should:

• be dark blue.

The pants should:

• be white, not off-white or cream,
• be designed to wear with a belt. The belt should be brown or black.

The shoes should:

• be brown or black,
• be leather dress shoes.

The tie should be a traditional or bow tie with a conservative pattern.  Ties with characters, commercial products, advertising, team logos, etc. are not in keeping with the formal nature of the event.

For all Students:

As during the school day, facial piercings, tattoos that are lewd, offensive or are a representation of illegal activity must be covered or otherwise not visible. Hair should be neat, well-kept and out of the eyes at all times.

Any questions about the above should be addressed prior to Graduation Day with the Deans of Students,
Ms. Allison Denmark or Mr. Mannie Wellington. Any accommodations to the guidelines should be directed
to the Assistant Head of Upper School, Ms. Piper Moyer-Shad.

Students who are not dressed in accordance with the dress code will be referred to the Deans’ Office.  Repeated disregard for the guidelines will result in increasing consequences.

A student’s first dress code infraction carries no penalty, each additional dress code infraction is one demerit. 

• Official Warning: Warning recorded
• 1^st and 2^nd demerit: Activities duty
• 3^rd demerit: Lunch duty
• 4^th demerit: After-school detention
• 5^th demerit: Saturday Workday

Continued violation of the dress code over consecutive months will result in disciplinary warning/probation or referral to the Disciplinary Committee.