They say you should dress to impress – and that’s exactly what kids at one elementary school in Maine are now doing every week.
From elegant dresses to swanky suits, Chelsea Elementary School’s ‘Dapper Wednesday’ is a chance for children to show off their fanciest looks.
Eight-year-old James Ramage and his friend Lincoln Bolitho’s inspired school attire sparked the tradition and soon everyone wanted in on the fun. Now, the smart movement has even been picked up by neighboring schools.
‘When we started wearing it, a bunch of teachers just complimented us, and then more kids get involved, and they get complimented. It just keeps on going, and a bunch of people can make – can feel good,’ Ramage told NPR.
Ramage’s grandmother gave him his first suit for a birthday present. Once he began wearing them to school, Bolitho decided to do the same thing
James Ramage, 8, and his wardrobe inspired Chelsea Elementary School to start Dapper Wednesday last year
What used to be a fun trio thing for Ramage, Lincoln Bolitho and ed tech Dean Paquette turned into something that the whole school can do together
Ramage began wearing suits after he was inspired by the wardrobe of a character on Fuller House – who only wore fancy attire.
He was then given a suit by his grandmother for his birthday and he said it made him feel good right when he put it on.
‘I felt good. Because I thought when I looked at it in the mirror, it looked cool on me,’ Ramage told Maine Public Radio (MPR).
According to his mom, the new look ‘definitely helped his confidence.’
By December 2023, he owned a few more suits and allowed MPR to get a glimpse behind the scenes of his special dressing up routine for Wednesdays.
Ramage is seen in the video moving clothes in his closet from side to side while searching for the perfect suit to wear.
Once he has picked out a suit, he then selects a shirt and rummages through his box full of bow ties.
Dressed and ready to go, Ramage slides a comb through his hair and tops off his adorable businessman look with a fedora.
Paquette joined in on the fun so that he can support the boys and their fun Dapper Wednesdays and gives out bow ties to the children who forget to dress up
Ramage began wearing suits after he was inspired by the wardrobe of a character on Fuller House – who only wore fancy attire
Ramage’s mom claimed that wearing the suit made him feel much more confident in himself
Ramage revealed to MPR that he liked the suit and felt good when he wore it because when he saw himself in the mirror, he thought it looked cool on him
Ramage and Bolitho now own multiple suits and Bolitho has more than 40 bow ties
At school, his friend Bolitho liked Ramage’s look right away and thought it would be great if he got a suit of his own.
Now, Bolitho owns at least three suits and more than 40 bow ties.
Ed tech Dean Paquette also took a liking to the boys’ suits and decided to join in on their dapper fun.
‘I first saw it, it’s just that I wanted to support it,’ he told MPR.
‘That was that was my big thing as an educator, here are two young boys that are doing something a little bit different.’
By the time Ramage’s classmates starting getting involved, the ed tech was there to help pass out bowties to the kids who forgot to dress up.
One student told CBS News their formal attire made them not feel like they were a kid, while another schoolmate declared they felt like they were a president.
Paquette thought what the boys were doing was fun and wanted to support them. He also gives out bowties to students who forget to dress up on Dapper Wednesdays
Chelsea Elementary School principal Allison Hernandez was thrilled to see what everyone has been doing and is also a Dapper Wednesday participant
Not only are the children and teachers dressing dapper for fun, they’re also receiving support from within and outside of the school.
According to Spectrum Local News, individuals have donated money to Chelsea Elementary along with other dress clothes to create the Dapper Closet.
Oklahoma high school students also sent the school a jacket made of neckties, which was originally used in their school play.
Fuller House star Jodie Sweetin even took the time to meet Ramage and all of his classmates after she found out about Dapper Wednesday.
‘I think they like that it’s team building for the school and makes people feel good about themselves,’ said Bolitho.
‘And I don’t think anyone would expect two kids to start a movement so big.’
At least two schools in Maine have started doing Dapper Wednesdays following the success of the one at Chelsea Elementary School
A teacher at Oleson Elementary School in Texas requested that teachers and students do a Dapper Wednesday last January
Other Maine schools now have a Dapper Day of their own, including P. Burr Elementary in Lincoln and Greenville Consolidated School.
Oleson Elementary School in Texas also joined in on the fun after a teacher, Ms, Burton, insisted they introduced a Dapper Wednesday to help ‘promote excellence and high self-esteem.’