Hundreds of alumni wrote in to tell us about their most stylish memories on Grounds. Here are some favorites:

Repp Ties, Jackets & Gant Button-Downs
The majority from the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s recalled some combination of these traditional items. David Skinner

“For those of us non-preppies: painter’s pants! White cotton twill with a few extra loops—for paint brushes, I guess. I’m second from left with the striped rugby shirt and Laurie Ferris (Col ’78) is stylin’ in them, too, on the front right.”
—Nancy Borges Barnes (Col ’78)
The mid-’60s showed an uptick in jeans, which have remained universally popular.  David Skinner
A black umbrella was a ’50s-’60s staple.
Rugby Shirts
These saw two eras: the ’70s and the ’90s. Joe Wolf
Ray-Ban aviators
Late ’70s through mid-’90s Rich Niewiroski Jr.

1967: Tweed sport coat with suede elbow patches, repp tie, blue twill button-down shirt, white chinos, Bass Weejuns or penny loafers, and a silver flask filled with Rebel Yell. 

1971:  U.S. Army surplus khaki jacket, Grateful Dead T-shirt, do-rag, tattered jeans, black zippered boots, and a Bic lighter and Zig-Zag rolling papers.

—Andrew Sussman (Col ’71)

“In my first year (1979-80), khakis with a pink or green polo shirt and boat shoes were the order of the day. I, however, wore jeans and a T-shirt. In 1981 and 1982, that preppy look was still in. I, in contrast, was bombing around Grounds on my motorcycle in jeans, a T-shirt, and a leather jacket.

In 1984, I returned to Grounds after two years off. Suddenly, punk was in. The photo is from spring of 1985, shortly before graduation, and I’m still in jeans, a T-shirt, and my leather jacket. (For those gearheads among us, the bike is a 1982 Suzuki GS1000S Katana.)”

—Donald Thomson (Col ’85)

“Pearls of course and permed hair pulled back in combs... Turtlenecks, Norwegian sweaters and Bean boots in winter with pearls or gold add-a-bead necklaces.”
—Julie Myers (Benton) (Col ’89)
“If you were Greek, a bow tie, sportscoat and khakis of course.”
—Chaz Hundley (Col ’90)

Outerwear that was in
Champion reverse-weave sweatshirts gained ubiquity in the late ’80s, while North Face and Patagonia jackets and fleeces ruled the 2000s.

“Nalgene water bottle, North Face Denali jacket, North Face backpack were my style trifecta.”

—Brandon Walden (Col ’04)

Shoes through the years

Of all the responses submitted, footwear was by far the most prevalent. Here’s a look at footwear through the years.