Vassar Girls
LCF sent me its MA fashion journalism newspaper last week and I couldn’t put down Rebecca Tuite’s story about the ‘Vassar Girl’ look (the female Ivy League look, if you will). The Vassar Girl look was epitomised by an unofficial uniform of Bermuda shorts, Brooks Brothers shirts, twinsets, Shetland sweaters, loafers and knee socks. “Looking too feminine wasn’t in,” recalls interviewee Mira Lehr. “I started wearing less makeup and very simple clothes and hair cut — kind of a female version of what the guys were wearing at Princeton and Yale. I was dressing to show intellect and to be part of the elite.”
The story was actually published here last year and Tuite is also working on a book called Vassar Style: Fashion, Feminism and 1950s American Media to be published this year. I can’t wait to see more pictures like this…
[Images: Rebeccatuite.com]
6 April, 2011 @ 8:12 am
Oooooh what a fabulous post – I will def be taking some outfit inspiration from these ladies!
x
6 April, 2011 @ 9:31 pm
I know this could be taken totally wrong but don’t you think that only certain girls can pull this look off? The university I go to has a Polo team and there is an Asian girl on it and she has her hair slicked back, pearl earrings, collars up, gilet, uggs-check and check and she just came across like it just wasn’t her. Aaaarrrgh hope this doesn’t offend anyone, just a mere observation!
6 April, 2011 @ 9:32 pm
Oh and just to clarify, the above description is somewhat different to the “ivy league” look but still kind of fits on the same category, at least I think so!
8 April, 2011 @ 8:30 am
Really love this look, glad that you posted this as not very often we see this style!
19 April, 2011 @ 10:08 pm
i love this look! i think i have been subconsciously dressing this way for a long long time, although i never knew what the name for it was
21 April, 2011 @ 5:53 pm
I don’t know Khatija . . . I think I disagree. I think when preppy/wasp looks are worn by non caucasians it gives it a refreshing spin and pumps new life into the idea. That’s what fashion is all about, isn’t it?