Imagine walking into a classroom and being hit by a wave of color. There is slicked back hair and slacks, curly hair and poodle skirts. Something that would definitely not be seen today. This was the fashion of the fifties. Changes in fashion over the years is interesting to many modern students. Fashion depends on the time someone was growing up or where they were growing up. A seventh grader, Lola Winchell said “Over the course of the past decades, clothes have continued to change and to get more casual. I like that we changed what we wear; it is much more comfortable and more practical, though sometimes I think people need to dress up more for certain occasions.” As Winchell stated, students have gotten more comfortable in their own skin than students were in the fifties. 

The 1950’s and 60’s were a happy time. The fashion was becoming more and more casual, but effort was still a definite part of getting ready each day. In schools, it was commonplace for boys to wear nice button-up shirts with slacks or jeans. Girls were less casual and wore sweaters, skirts, and dresses. They also matched their outfits with accessories. “I think that there are a lot of differences between now and the sixties. Some include hairstyles, clothing, and what we eat. I have liked how the outfits that we wear have changed. I would not like to wear dresses and skirts every day. Now we can wear sweats, leggings, and sweatshirts,” says seventh grader Bella Boyum. Another thing that contrasts with what is known today is that individuality was not a common thing yet, so the more alike outfits were, the better. Finn Peterson, a seventh grader said “I think the differences between now and the sixties are that in the sixties everything was bright, fun, and ‘”groovy.’” Now a lot of “trendy things” are neutrals, black, and some pastels. I think the more we progress in time the faster trends come and go.”

The 1970’s to 1980’s were much closer to what is seen today. There were sweaters, jeans, t-shirts, and sweatshirts worn by on both boys and girls. This era was the start of girls not being forced to dress up and wear skirts and dresses every day. This period was the start of individuality in school, with kids no longer dressing alike, but embracing their differences. There were some differences though between now and then. One example of this is that there were a lot of turtlenecks and brighter colors on clothing than are seen today. This makes sense considering the drastic change from the 1960’s to 70’s. A seventh grader, Lizzie Tipton, thought “I think fashion in the eighties was very bold because there was a very blank and boring era from the 1900s- to the 50s and technology was expanding so the color was expanding too.” The seventies and eighties were the start of fashion becoming what it is today.

The 80’s and 90’s are very similar to today, with this generation having their own fashion trends that go in and out. “In middle school, we wore flared jeans, bright colored shirts, denim skirts and Doc Martens shoes – the clunkier the better.  We wore barrettes in our hair, or mini butterfly clips.” states Katie Harrison, who was a student in this era. This period’s fashion also had a great deal to do with celebrities. If a popular celebrity had a style, it was copied to the best of the student’s ability. “The Rachel” haircut was a big trend, inspired by Jennifer Aniston’s character in “Friends”.  The guys loaded gel into their bleached hair (to mimic the hair color of Eminem from his Slim Shady era), wore huge JNCO jeans, and Vans sneakers.” Harrison says. This era had fashion based on idols and trends.

The differences between decades can be vast and thin, but as we get closer to this decade, the clothes get closer and closer to what we know today. Every decade has its fads and trends, that can last one day or one decade, but a lot of trends can happen in fifty years! As seventh grader, Lillian Olund, put it wisely “I think that the difference in fashion from all those time periods is amazing. I think that it has evolved wonderfully, I can confidently say that I feel that fashion looks better now than it did decades ago.”

Teachers/staff:

Amy Dombeck                              Nicolette Hernke                                 Holly Winget

Dan Meyers                                   Bruce Erlanson                                   Renae Otto

Josh Olson                                     Josh Banks                                         Kirsten Hoffman

Brett Zimmerman                        Stacy Larson