Memories like birds--fleeting.  "Catch us if you can."

The Fashion Show Goes On

Moving beyond the early 1930s we come next to a modification of the winter uniform, i.e. a sort of shirt dress of any reasonable pattern, short sleeved, but now adorned with white starched collar and cuffs.  The exact year of adoption of this uniform is not known by blogger, but maybe an alum would be able to enlighten her.  The photos of the late ‘30s and early ‘40s do show this somewhat relaxed style, however.  The white collar and cuffs were “in” until 1954 when the navy blue jumper elbowed it out (gradually).  This was worn over a round-collared blouse: probably not the most happily worn, but enduring until the move from Fifth Street in 1963.

Ah, the move from Fifth Street—what a great and earth altering (literally) event.  This certainly called for an equally elevated style of dress (Hilton Drive is at a higher topographical elevation).  Indeed, a new look in building and grounds required an equally “spiffy” new look in garb satisfied by the dark gray skirt and dress jacket.  Oh how they were loved…by very few.  And so that style lasted a very few years, relatively speaking. By the late ‘60s it had already experienced a happy demise. 

 Do read on to the next chapter of this material evolution.

Fashion Show II

And in stepped the gray-skirted lass sporting, of course, a white blouse.  This latter will remain as part of the uniform, and as may be surmised, found its way spilling more and more over the waistband of the skirt.  What’s to be done?  In the 2000’s, the recalcitrant blouse was replaced by the more manageable shirt with waistband and collar.  But let’s revisit the skirt for a moment.

The gray skirt has experienced its own transitions from pleats all the way around to two box pleats in front and two in the back, then back to the original arrangement.  In the early gray years, knee socks were the “in” but soon gave way to the anklets of earlier times. Gray slacks were also permitted, but proved to be unpopular.  This gray look was interrupted for a (very) few years with the appearance of plaid.  One can imagine the chagrin of in-coming freshmen transitioning from plaid to plaid.  It did not enthrall the upperclassmen either, for that matter.  Back to the classic gray.

(Sorry the last as-of-now photo is not too sharp--no reflection of the girls' appearance!)

And so here we are today with what is probably the most familiar look with its almost 50 year history.  That’s actually a pretty good record for a feminine fashion, wouldn’t you say?