LaGrange College - Quadrangle Yearbook (Lagrange, GA)

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THE QUADRANGLE Page Eight The Evolution of Our College Uniform By Miss Jule Tucker IN many respects, the history of LaGrange College is unique. At the time of its founding, there was not in all the world an institution devoted solely to the higher education of girls and young women. A pioneer in this field of growth and develop- ment, she naturally took the initiative in such which has shaped the thought of the genera- tions which have followed. LaGrange was the first Southern college to adopt a uniform for girls. She gave as her reason for this precedent the great saving in expenditures for clothes to be worn on the Sabbath and upon graduation day. Insistence upon simplicity of dress and dignity of demeanor became a salient feature of the college code. Failing in the efforts to secure adherence to their quaint and rigid rules, a standard uniform was chosen, and all the students were required to be uniformed in dresses of black merino with white sun- bonnets and white ruffled pinafores. As a special concession to the beauty-loving hearts of the young ladies, it was agreed that a white muslin, to cost no more than twelve cents per yard and ornamented only by a black sprig or polka dot, by way of figure, might be worn on every-day occasions. The evolution of the sunbonnet maiden has been interesting. The black merino gave place to Confederate Grey. A severe basque and skirt, braided in military fashion.

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Page Seven THE QUADRANGLE

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Page Nine THE QUADRANGLE was surmounted by a little gray forage cap. Later, this in turn, made way for full skirts of black cashmere, plaited about the hips and flared at the bottom, with which a short loose sack over white waists was worn. The hat was a turban of black straw, trimmed in black velvet, piped in red, and further ornamented with a small red wing to the left side. Rebellion crept in; strenuous times followed a monetary panic; we find one of the catalogues appearing with these unique words of explanation of why the long continued policy of a uniform should be laid aside. Neatness and economy in dress will be taught. No uniform will be required. We think that any attempt to force upon young ladies uniformity of dress is opposed to this economy, because it forces them to lay aside all they have on hand and begin ' de novo ' . Calico of any color or texture and white aprons are generally worn by the girls of the college during the week, and one or two nice dresses for the Sabbath will be all they need. Three years later, stays and crinoline having appeared in such extravagance, we read that a strict uniform of black cashmere or other woolen stuff, with plain black