It’s about that time of year again… packs of alumni roaming the campus, a brighter and larger sea of blue and orange at campus events, and a new zealousness to school spirit. It’s the same protocol year in and year out. The only thing that has changed: the style. As students, graduates, families, and friends fill the campus to attend homecoming events, they’re certain to give some thought to their apparel. But the Bucknell-spirited gear they’ll don this coming weekend is far different than the apparel of years past.
The gist of homecoming attire has stayed the same: blue and orange in color, comfortable for days spent walking to various events, and keeping up with current style. Let’s take a look at how past generations of Bucknell women would dress for the upcoming events.
Bucknell in the 80s:
We all know the stereotypical 80s flare: baggy sweatshirts, colorful accessories, vibrant makeup, legwarmers. If we dial this idea back, we can uncover Bucknell’s homecoming style of years past. Women favored structured blazers and oversized shirts, like the vintage orange suit jacket pictured on the right. Tied together with a pair of light-wash jeans and blue canvas sneakers, our 1980s woman would be all set to go for a Saturday football game!
Bucknell in the 90s:
The 1990s can sometimes seem like an ambiguous era: not as modern as 2000, not as vibrant and flashy as the 80s. But a bit of research gives us insight into what the students before us wore during homecoming weekend. Female fashion favored items like denim jackets or slouchy sweaters. For a preppy look, women wore penny loafers, as pictured on the left. Paired with matching jeans and a Bucknell t-shirt, you would be ready for a day of enjoying the beautiful Bucknell landscape and catching up with old friends.
Bucknell in 2000:
While we may not feel so far removed from 2000, it was already 12 years ago! The amount of change in style since then is not terribly dramatic. Students likely wore outfits similar to our own: spirited cardigans and sweaters, jeans, casual shoes. The slight differences are still close enough in our own memories to seem semantic: slightly flared pant legs, shorter cardigans, mid-rise jeans. Still, the Bucknell women of 2000 do not seem too different from ourselves!
Bucknell Now:
It’s so odd to think of categorizing our generation’s style. It seems far too broad to succinctly pin down. However, one trend has become particularly useful to Bucknell students: blue and orange stripes. In the past year or so, the wealth of clothing featuring our school’s colors has increased dramatically. The readily-accessible color combination makes it easy to look chic and spirited for homecoming events!