ISU Bengal

Issue date: 2/2/05 Section: News

This week we look at a fashion critique found in The Bengal 40 years ago. The staff writer takes a look at all of the outdated fashions that had reappeared on campus in 1965. The Bengal staff does not currently include a fashion correspondent. Send your analysis of the current trends on campus to bgchief@isu.edu.

January 6, 1965
Title: Old Styles Reappear

DIANNA SAYLOR
Bengal Staff Writer

"I don't care what they do to the styles - just as long as they don't bring back the bustle. I've got enough padding of my own!"
This remark by one dainty, ISU coed illustrates this year's trend of reviving old styles.
Women's fashions have been known to follow a cycle. The middy blouse, so prevalent during the 1920's, is a good example of this trend. Today the middy sailor top is in style.
Most fashion trends travel a cycle similar to the middy blouses, but this year the fashion cycle seems to have been disrupted. Instead of featuring fads from one previous fashion period, we see styles blended together from almost every period in history.
CLOCHE HATS
These styles range from the long neck bow of the early nineteenth century Frenchman of the encyclopedia, to the cloche hats of the American "Flapper girls" during the 1920's. "Indeed," remarked Mrs. J. C. Harvey, dorm mother of Gravely Hall "the formals we wore when I was in college would be right in place at our (ISU) dances this year."
Despite the variety of periods represented, there is some continuity in today's fashions. They are adapted to this year's colors, based on popular colors of other years. Reds, blue, bright green and "Hot Canary" (a bright yellow) make up this year's color rainbow.
The trends are also co-ordinated toward feminine naturalness. Gowns are designed to include the fads, but also to accent femininity.
SOCKS REAPPEAR
The latest rage on campus is socks. Appearing in every form imaginable, they imitate "the" colors in lace nylon and mohair or printed knee socks.
These socks with knitted designs in different colors may be new to us, but not at all to the whole world. The Bavarians of the Alps have been wearing striped and barred knee socks for centuries. This may be where we acquired the idea.
Fur has also had a re-birth this year. We find it on everything from ski parkas to evening gowns. Perhaps the famed raccoon coat is the parent of this year's big, white, wooly "sheepherder" coats.
Footwear has always been of interest to women. Mrs. Harvey says she can remember longing, as a little girl, for the day when she could wear the high-topped, high-heeled shoes of the ladies.
Today, footwear is coming into its own in the form of boots. This season's boots come in varying heights ranging from the ankle to the knee.
LEGS ACCENTED
Created for fashion as well as practicality, the boots have a variety of assets. To withstand rain and cold winter snows, boots come fur-lined and treated to prevent cracking, chipping and peeling.
As a fashion trend boots are styled to accent the natural femininity of women's legs, much as the high-topped heels of earlier generations did. They are featured in varying animal skins as well as in patent leathers.
What fads will future generations glorify? When asked about future fashion trends, one ISU coed said, "Everyone had better grab a fig leaf, cause it looks like we may be headed for Adam and Eve's time."

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