Why high schoolers across the US are dressing up for ‘Adam Sandler Day’ (2024)

Adam Sandler’s fashion school is now in session.

Students across the country are donning ill-fitting T-shirts and baggy shorts to mimic the A-lister’s roll-out-of-bed vibe at official school-sanctioned days — complete with looks from his 1990s blockbusters like “Happy Gilmore,” “The Waterboy” and “The Wedding Singer.”

The “Adam Sandler Day” trend has spread across the US — and even Canada — this fall after popping up on TikTok in March. It’s often part of Spirit Week, when schools set a different theme each day.

Sandler, 56, might be an odd fashion icon to some, but the Brooklyn native’s decidedly down-market look — dubbed #Sandlercore on social media — made him Google’s top search in the “celebrity outfits” category last year, beating out high-style symbols like Britney Spears, Cher and Harry Styles.

Reilly Baron, a junior at McHenry Community High School in Illinois, swiped one of her dad’s shirts to pair with baggy sweatpants, a backward baseball cap and Reeboks to complete her best Sandler impersonation on Oct. 3.

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Roughly half of the school’s 2,200 students dressed up as the “Billy Madison” star, Baron said, even though his more popular movies came out before she and her classmates were born.

“I think it’s just because so many celebrities wear really expensive clothes or unique styles and then Adam Sandler is just wearing casual, everyday clothes,” Baron, 16, told The Post of the funny man’s allure. “He dresses like he’s not a celebrity at all and that’s really cool.”

Charlotte Alexander, another 16-year-old junior at McHenry, said she was “really excited” for Adam Sandler Day since she could to go school in clothes more fitting for a day spent on the couch: a bulky hooded sweatshirt and basketball shorts over a pair of leggings.

“Knowing that he’s amassed a large amount of money and is capable of dressing in much more expensive clothing is really funny to our generation,” Alexander told The Post of Sandler. “It’s ironic.”

Students were behind the push to hold the Sandler-themed day after seeing the idea on TikTok. The former “Saturday Night Live” star — whose fortune is estimated at a staggering $420 million — was the only celebrity who was considered, Alexander said.

“It was Adam Sandler or nothing,” she said.

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Some teachers and administrators got into the act as well, including attendance clerk Nancy Shea, who went all out as Sandler from 1998’s “The Wedding Singer.”

Brent Pearson, a student council advisor at Eureka High School in Missouri, estimated some 80% of the school’s 1,700-plus students took part in that school’s inaugural Adam Sandler Day earlier this month.

“Most dressed like Happy Gilmore,” Pearson said, adding that he did the same, complete with a flannel shirt, baggy sweatpants and a lone golf club. “It was just fantastic.”

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After years out of the classroom due to the pandemic, the teens were eager to express themselves, Pearson said.

“Kids are so creative,” he said. “You can’t help but laugh when they walk in with that type of swagger.”

For Audrey Watson, 16 and a junior at Eureka, the reason the kids chose Sandler to show off their school spirit is as simple as his titular character in 1995’s “Billy Madison.”

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“He dresses in such a particular way, almost as if he just walked out of a Goodwill or second-hand store,” said Watson, who raided her brother’s dresser and wore long basketball shorts and a “really, really oversized” tank top along with an old pair of Nikes. “He is worth so much, but he dresses like an everyday person. It’s kind of iconic.”

The first-ever Adam Sandler Day at Lincoln High School in Rhode Island last week was also an unmitigated smash hit, principal Rob Mezzanotte told The Post. At least several hundred students took part.

“He’s obviously a very popular guy and his movies are kind of classic,” Mezzanotte said of Sandler. “It really just came from our kids. They suggested it as a spirit day and they seemed to all be in favor of it.”

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Teri Rasa, a social studies teacher at Southern Alamance High School in Graham, North Carolina, said Sandler Day garnered the “most participation” of any school spirit days last week.

“At least half of the school and most of the faculty participated in one way or another,” Rasa said, adding that most were decked out in athletic wear, shower slides with socks or “dad shoes.”

A rep for Sandler, meanwhile, declined to comment on the teen fashionistas he inspires. The unlikely trailblazer told reporters in June that it’s a look he’s been honing for some time, Esquire reported.

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“It took a while,” Sandler said. “I was working that angle for years. For a while I was like, ‘Please accept me and the way I dress.’ And 30 years later, they finally came around.”

Sandler’s crude fashion sense also took over the hallways last week at Poteet High School in Mesquite, Texas, where roughly 75% of its 500-plus students wore the baggiest clothes they could find, cheerleading coach Rita Maldonado said.

“It was a big hit,” she told The Post.

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Karis Alcoser, a 16-year-old cheerleader at Poteet, borrowed her father’s cargo shorts to complete her Sandler getup along with an oversized plaid button-down and a Texas A&M T-shirt. Students had considered doing a Spirit Day pitting soccer moms versus barbecue dads, but Sandler won the vote in a landslide.

“It was not close at all,” Alcoser told The Post.

Another Poteet cheerleader, Joliah Flores, said Sandler was the obvious choice since he bridged the generational gap between youngsters and older teachers and administrators — like assistant principal Angela Hammonds, who summoned Sandler’s “The Waterboy” with character Bobby Boucher’s orange No. 9 jersey.

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“He’s so calm and relaxed, everyone can relate to him,” Flores said. “Even though [Sandler] has so much fame, his fashion has never changed. He stays true to what he likes.”

Why high schoolers across the US are dressing up for ‘Adam Sandler Day’ (2024)

FAQs

Why are schools doing Adam Sandler Day? ›

Students, faculty and staff at schools across the U.S. and in Canada are paying tribute to the beloved actor and comedian, whose style has taken on a life of its own, rocking baggy pants, collared shirts, basketball shorts and sneakers on "Adam Sandler Day." Others are pulling sartorial inspiration to match Sandler's ...

What do you wear to Adam Sandler's day at school? ›

Wear a baggy T-shirt, basketball shorts, and black sunglasses. The signature Sandler 'fit typically involves an oversized red or blue T-shirt or polo shirt, a pair of baggy basketball shorts (any color, but they're mostly blue), and basketball sneakers. Don't forget to add a pair of black sunglasses!

How has Adam Sandler impacted others? ›

In addition to his influence on comedy, Sandler's charitable efforts should not go unnoticed. He has been involved in numerous philanthropic endeavors, including supporting organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club of America and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

How did Adam Sandler do in school? ›

Sandler was raised in Manchester, New Hampshire, the youngest of four children. Academically disinclined, he was frequently disciplined for his comedic antics in school. He first performed at a stand-up comedy club in Boston at age 17 at the urging of his brother.

Why Adam Sandler is so popular? ›

He takes ordinary situations and turns them into comedy gold by exaggerating them or adding a twist. This relatability makes his jokes resonate with audiences and helps them stand the test of time. Since Sandler is just not a comedian but an actor as well, he still managed to stay loyal to his comedian roots.

What is day dress dress code? ›

Morning dress, also known as formal day dress, is the formal Western dress code for day attire, consisting chiefly of, for men, a morning coat, waistcoat, and formal trousers, and an appropriate gown for women.

What does Adam Sandler always wear? ›

The actor often rolls up to on talk shows and red carpets in basketball shorts, baggy cargo shorts, shirts, hoodies, sneakers, Uggs and always white socks. “Parachute basketball shorts are basically Adam Sandler's second skin, every article of clothing needs to be extra large and extra cozy.” @wavykarenk continued.

What highschool did Adam Sandler attend? ›

Sandler grew up in Manchester, New Hampshire, after his family moved there when he was six years old. He attended Manchester Central High School. As a teen, Sandler was in BBYO, a Jewish youth group. He graduated from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts in 1988.

Why does Adam Sandler dress so sloppy? ›

"I was jacked so when I had a beautiful body I would hide it and then surprise you at the beach when the stuff came off, it would be like 'the Sandman's ripped? I didn't know that. ' "Now I go loose 'cause it's, it should be hid."

What is Adam Sandler's style called? ›

TikToker @wavykaren described Adam Sandler's look as “the ultimate La-Z-Boy style.” Whether you've spotted the comedian at one of his shows, eyed him in the pages of a magazine, or you're going based on his movie appearances, you've likely seen Sandler wear any combination of oversized clothing.

Why does Adam Sandler wear hoodies? ›

Adam says he choose to wear “whatever's clean in the closet” and often chooses hoodies because “hoodies always feel good… They're comfortable and it covers up some problems.” If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device.

Who is Adam Sandler's daughter? ›

Sadie Sandler is the eldest Sandler daughter, and is now 17. Both Sadie and her sister Sunny have followed their father's footsteps into acting. "They are kind of passionate about wanting to be good in acting and that's all they talk about," Adam Sandler told Jimmy Kimmel in a November 2023 interview.

Why is Adam Sandler so rich? ›

His projected $440 million revenues come from his production firm, TV series, and box office movie sales. Notably, a sizable percentage of Sandler's recent earnings can be ascribed to a lucrative contract he has with Netflix.

What is Adam Sandler's day? ›

Jennifer mentioned that “Adam Sandler Day” has been trending in schools across the country, with students encouraged to wear outfits inspired by the “Billy Madison” actor's personal wardrobe: an oversized T-shirt and oversized shorts.

What does Adam Sandler advocate for? ›

Adam Sandler is a influential advocate through spreading awareness and helping people in need, through his advocacy of donating 400 PlayStations to Israel's victims, made a 1 million dollar donation to boys and girls club in his hometown, and spreading awareness for autism.

Does Adam Sandler have anything to do with Netflix? ›

Sandler has worked on numerous projects for Netflix: In 2023, he led the voice cast of the streamer's animated musical comedy film “Leo” and starred opposite Idina Menzel in “You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah,” and in 2022, he played an NBA scout in Jeremiah Zagar's “Hustle.” Sandler's other Netflix projects ...

What elementary school did Adam Sandler go to? ›

SANDLER WENT TO THE WEBSTER SCHOOL HIMSELF WHEN HE WAS GROWING UP IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. WHAT A FUN SURPRISE ON THE PLAYGROUND, HUH? THAT IS REALLY COOL. TO GO BACK TO YOUR OLD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS PRETTY FANTASTIC.

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