Auburn University Fashion Trends Over the Past Century
The decision to come to Auburn University to study apparel merchandising versus going to a fashion school in New York City was major for me; I worried I wouldn’t experience the zeitgeist of the fashion industry from hundreds of miles away. I may have swapped interning at New York Fashion Week for a week of pre-planned sorority recruitment outfits, but I gained the knowledge that trends in Auburn, Alabama can be just as powerful, and sometimes as painful, as the looks spotted on street corners of the hottest cities in America. Throughout the past 167 years, the campus of Auburn University has seen trends and fads grace its beautiful plains. Ahead, 10 decades of fashion in Auburn are shown to pursue and reminisce.
Source: Auburn University Digital Archives
The 1920s were a time of simplicity, as WWI had only ended just before the start of the new decade. Feminism took a new form as women gained the right to vote, and society saw new trends such as the short-haircut known as the bob and flapper dresses which were drop-waisted, shift style silhouettes; female hemlines also rose above the ankles - shocking! Depicted above are members of the Kappa Delta sorority, the first sorority on Auburn’s Campus. They are shown sitting outside Cater Hall. Read more about this time period and its fashion history here.
1930s: Loose Silhouettes, Bows, Buttons, and Belts
Source: Auburn University Digital Archives
A Home Economics class photo is shown above, depicting the pleats, ruffles, collars and other accents that graced the garments for most of the population. Following the stock market crash at the end of the ‘20s, many consumers shifted to making their own clothing and females started up-cycling men’s clothing for the first time. T-strap shoes and Mary Janes were still popular, as were the free-flowing cuts of skirts and dresses which allowed women to be comfortable in their clothing and ditch the pesky girdles and corsets their predecessors wore daily!
1940s: Hourglass Silhouette, Saddle Shoes, and High-Waisted Garments
Source: Auburn University Digital Archives
A street dance held in Ross Square, just behind Samford Hall, was the place to be on a Saturday night at Auburn University in the 1940s. Saddle shoes were all the rage, wide-leg trousers added an edge to a man’s wardrobe, and the feminine silhouette shifted from a tubular shape to the hourglass figure - thanks to the rise of Hollywood and its glamorous starlets. Women started wearing skirt suits during this decade and buttons up the front of skirts became extremely popular. WWII impacted many of the trends of this decade, shifting the looks to be more utilitarian and simplistic when compared to the styles in the earlier part of the 20th century.
1950s: Dior’s New Look, Work-Wear Style, and Full Skirts
Source: Auburn University Digital Archives
The 50s were a fun time for fashion - with the rise of Christian Dior’s “New Look” in 1947, the popularity of a tapered waist, dramatically full skirt and tailored shoulders came into style for this decade. Womenswear took on a modern approach, with business focused trends such as strong collars, the female ‘bow-tie’, blouses and matching cardigan sets galore. Definitely a fan of the business casual look for the daily gal! Pictured above is the Women’s Student Government at Auburn in 1953 - check out the fabulous pin-curl hairstyles and tailored-to-perfection blazers.
1960s: The Mini-Skirt, Peace-Sign and Bubble Sleeves
Peace, Love, Rock-N-Roll ran across campus and the staff for the 1969 edition of the Glomerata was no exception! The wide-leg pants for men and women, peace-sign beads (and hand gestures), Bridgit Bardot inspired makeup looks, and the iconic mini-skirt were seen in this decade and transcended into the next. Thank goodness for the faux fur, fringe and chain belts, which edged the 1950s trends out into the great beyond. Blouses took new shapes, from wide-billowing sleeves to tunic style tops.
1980s: Knitwear, Turtlenecks, Parachute Pants, and Denim
A jump into the 1980s from the 70s was definitely a change! While mini-skirts and wide-leg pants were still a style in most people’s closets, the peace-love movement died down and the electric athleisure-wear moved in. Think infomercials for voluptuous hair, video-taped workout classes and the increase in leg-warmer purchases. We also cannot forget about the fanny-packs - although I know we all prefer the term “belt bags” today. The jewelry game was strong, with chains on chains and hoops big enough to be bracelets for small children, I can definitely see why everyone’s parents reminisced on their youth in this decade! Turtlenecks and knitwear became a staple in a wardrobe, while parachute pants in bold colors and patterned prints were a fad one loved to hate and hated to love. Shown above are the Miss Homecoming nominees from the 1989 Glomerata.
Source: IMGFlip
1990s: Grunge Aesthetic, Crop-tops, and Oversized Silhouette
Source: Auburn University Digital Library
The 1990s were greatly impacted by pop-culture - music, TV and movies, as well as cars (according to the 1999 Auburn University Glomerata). When thinking of ‘90s fashion, the arrival of baby-tees, t-shirt dresses, scrunchies, bucket hats, the infamous mom-jeans and oversized pants we still love to wear today definitely comes to the forefront of my mind. These garms became the norm for the youth of this decade and students at Auburn were spotted in a mixture of styles ranging from grunge, hip-hop, to minimalist and conventional.
Source: Quickmeme
2000s: Halters, Tube Tops and the Platform Sandal
Source: Auburn University Digital Library
When thinking about the trends in the early 2000s, I immediately think of the movie “Legally Blonde” (2001) and the iconic outfits showcased on every cast member. The range of casual styles to Y2K business-professional garbs really encapsulates the norms of this time; from wrap dresses, halter tops, and platform sandals for women, to polo/rugby shirts, distressed denim and cargo pants for men; the relaxed nature of garments for young adults in 2004 is something modern-day college students can aspire to invoke in their day-to-day garbs. Members of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority are depicted in the 2004 Glomerata capturing the kitschy and futuristic flair the fashion industry devised in the early days of the dot-com.
Source: Gfycat
2020s: Athleisure, Accessories, and a Revival of the Past Trends
We see it on many college campuses, but specifically here on campus at Auburn - with Lululemon leggings, Hoka running shoes, Free People tees and sweatshirts paired with boutique-style puffer jackets - the trend of athleisure has a choke hold on us all. Golden Goose sneakers bring back the eccentric-ness of the 80s, meanwhile the trending Y2K mini-shoulder bags and layered chain jewelry cover the accessories scene; don’t forget you can’t be seen downtown without your trusty belt bag and New Balance sneakers in the newest colorway - bonus points if they are a style your dad may have owned 30 years ago! Since men’s fashion is less trend-based here on the Plains, a pair of cowboy boots, vintage wash jeans and a trusty button down take the lead for most loved styles. While today’s fashion is a range of styles and mixtures of past trends and fads, the fashion at Auburn holds true to the people that live here. A mixture of southern charm, suburban roots, outer-Atlanta edginess and out-of-state urbanity, the students at Auburn have adapted a style that, when compared to the more preppy styles of some of the nearby universities, borders on a high-toned, distinctive aesthetic hard to describe unless you see it for yourself. We may not have models of NYFW or movie stars gracing Thach Concourse with their effervescent appearances, but the rise in influential dressers breaking societal fashion norms is definitely emerging. For now, taking a trip to The Pant Store, Lululemon and your parents’ closets are a good place to start to stay up-to-date with the newest modes.
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRss6Wjf/
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRss6Wjf/
Auburn University Fashion Trends Over the Past Century
The decision to come to Auburn University to study apparel merchandising versus going to a fashion school in New York City was major for me; I worried I wouldn’t experience the zeitgeist of the fashion industry from hundreds of miles away. I may have swapped interning at New York Fashion Week for a week of pre-planned sorority recruitment outfits, but I gained the knowledge that trends in Auburn, Alabama can be just as powerful, and sometimes as painful, as the looks spotted on street corners of the hottest cities in America. Throughout the past 167 years, the campus of Auburn University has seen trends and fads grace its beautiful plains. Ahead, 10 decades of fashion in Auburn are shown to pursue and reminisce.
Source: Auburn University Digital Archives
The 1920s were a time of simplicity, as WWI had only ended just before the start of the new decade. Feminism took a new form as women gained the right to vote, and society saw new trends such as the short-haircut known as the bob and flapper dresses which were drop-waisted, shift style silhouettes; female hemlines also rose above the ankles - shocking! Depicted above are members of the Kappa Delta sorority, the first sorority on Auburn’s Campus. They are shown sitting outside Cater Hall. Read more about this time period and its fashion history here.
1930s: Loose Silhouettes, Bows, Buttons, and Belts
Source: Auburn University Digital Archives
A Home Economics class photo is shown above, depicting the pleats, ruffles, collars and other accents that graced the garments for most of the population. Following the stock market crash at the end of the ‘20s, many consumers shifted to making their own clothing and females started up-cycling men’s clothing for the first time. T-strap shoes and Mary Janes were still popular, as were the free-flowing cuts of skirts and dresses which allowed women to be comfortable in their clothing and ditch the pesky girdles and corsets their predecessors wore daily!
1940s: Hourglass Silhouette, Saddle Shoes, and High-Waisted Garments
Source: Auburn University Digital Archives
A street dance held in Ross Square, just behind Samford Hall, was the place to be on a Saturday night at Auburn University in the 1940s. Saddle shoes were all the rage, wide-leg trousers added an edge to a man’s wardrobe, and the feminine silhouette shifted from a tubular shape to the hourglass figure - thanks to the rise of Hollywood and its glamorous starlets. Women started wearing skirt suits during this decade and buttons up the front of skirts became extremely popular. WWII impacted many of the trends of this decade, shifting the looks to be more utilitarian and simplistic when compared to the styles in the earlier part of the 20th century.
1950s: Dior’s New Look, Work-Wear Style, and Full Skirts
Source: Auburn University Digital Archives
The 50s were a fun time for fashion - with the rise of Christian Dior’s “New Look” in 1947, the popularity of a tapered waist, dramatically full skirt and tailored shoulders came into style for this decade. Womenswear took on a modern approach, with business focused trends such as strong collars, the female ‘bow-tie’, blouses and matching cardigan sets galore. Definitely a fan of the business casual look for the daily gal! Pictured above is the Women’s Student Government at Auburn in 1953 - check out the fabulous pin-curl hairstyles and tailored-to-perfection blazers.
1960s: The Mini-Skirt, Peace-Sign and Bubble Sleeves
Peace, Love, Rock-N-Roll ran across campus and the staff for the 1969 edition of the Glomerata was no exception! The wide-leg pants for men and women, peace-sign beads (and hand gestures), Bridgit Bardot inspired makeup looks, and the iconic mini-skirt were seen in this decade and transcended into the next. Thank goodness for the faux fur, fringe and chain belts, which edged the 1950s trends out into the great beyond. Blouses took new shapes, from wide-billowing sleeves to tunic style tops.
1980s: Knitwear, Turtlenecks, Parachute Pants, and Denim
A jump into the 1980s from the 70s was definitely a change! While mini-skirts and wide-leg pants were still a style in most people’s closets, the peace-love movement died down and the electric athleisure-wear moved in. Think infomercials for voluptuous hair, video-taped workout classes and the increase in leg-warmer purchases. We also cannot forget about the fanny-packs - although I know we all prefer the term “belt bags” today. The jewelry game was strong, with chains on chains and hoops big enough to be bracelets for small children, I can definitely see why everyone’s parents reminisced on their youth in this decade! Turtlenecks and knitwear became a staple in a wardrobe, while parachute pants in bold colors and patterned prints were a fad one loved to hate and hated to love. Shown above are the Miss Homecoming nominees from the 1989 Glomerata.
Source: IMGFlip
1990s: Grunge Aesthetic, Crop-tops, and Oversized Silhouette
Source: Auburn University Digital Library
The 1990s were greatly impacted by pop-culture - music, TV and movies, as well as cars (according to the 1999 Auburn University Glomerata). When thinking of ‘90s fashion, the arrival of baby-tees, t-shirt dresses, scrunchies, bucket hats, the infamous mom-jeans and oversized pants we still love to wear today definitely comes to the forefront of my mind. These garms became the norm for the youth of this decade and students at Auburn were spotted in a mixture of styles ranging from grunge, hip-hop, to minimalist and conventional.
Source: Quickmeme
2000s: Halters, Tube Tops and the Platform Sandal
Source: Auburn University Digital Library
When thinking about the trends in the early 2000s, I immediately think of the movie “Legally Blonde” (2001) and the iconic outfits showcased on every cast member. The range of casual styles to Y2K business-professional garbs really encapsulates the norms of this time; from wrap dresses, halter tops, and platform sandals for women, to polo/rugby shirts, distressed denim and cargo pants for men; the relaxed nature of garments for young adults in 2004 is something modern-day college students can aspire to invoke in their day-to-day garbs. Members of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority are depicted in the 2004 Glomerata capturing the kitschy and futuristic flair the fashion industry devised in the early days of the dot-com.
Source: Gfycat
2020s: Athleisure, Accessories, and a Revival of the Past Trends
We see it on many college campuses, but specifically here on campus at Auburn - with Lululemon leggings, Hoka running shoes, Free People tees and sweatshirts paired with boutique-style puffer jackets - the trend of athleisure has a choke hold on us all. Golden Goose sneakers bring back the eccentric-ness of the 80s, meanwhile the trending Y2K mini-shoulder bags and layered chain jewelry cover the accessories scene; don’t forget you can’t be seen downtown without your trusty belt bag and New Balance sneakers in the newest colorway - bonus points if they are a style your dad may have owned 30 years ago! Since men’s fashion is less trend-based here on the Plains, a pair of cowboy boots, vintage wash jeans and a trusty button down take the lead for most loved styles. While today’s fashion is a range of styles and mixtures of past trends and fads, the fashion at Auburn holds true to the people that live here. A mixture of southern charm, suburban roots, outer-Atlanta edginess and out-of-state urbanity, the students at Auburn have adapted a style that, when compared to the more preppy styles of some of the nearby universities, borders on a high-toned, distinctive aesthetic hard to describe unless you see it for yourself. We may not have models of NYFW or movie stars gracing Thach Concourse with their effervescent appearances, but the rise in influential dressers breaking societal fashion norms is definitely emerging. For now, taking a trip to The Pant Store, Lululemon and your parents’ closets are a good place to start to stay up-to-date with the newest modes.
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRss6Wjf/
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRss6Wjf/
Hello!
I am a senior at Auburn University studying apparel merchandising and double minoring in journalism and international human sciences. I have a passion for the fashion industry and editorial magazines. I'm very detail-oriented, value strong communication, and bring a positive outlook to my work. I'd love to connect with you!
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