Catalogue Entries on Dress

The earliest College Catalogues show a great concern for all aspects of students’ lives at Vassar, including dress, which, if the spirit of the catalogue were to be followed, was supposed to simple and inexpensive. The original language on dress was written in a section entitled, “The College Family” with subsections on “Moral and Religious Education” and “Society and Dress.” In particular, the ladies and their families were instructed thus:

It is especially desired that the dress of the students shall be simple and inexpensive. Simplicity saves time and thought and money, which to a scholar are precious for higher uses. As exercise will mostly be taken in the College grounds, city walking-dresses are not required, but rather such clothing as will not be injured by active sports and vigorous education….Each student should be provided with an umbrella, thick boots, india-rubber over-shoes, and water-proof cloak; and a warm dressing-gown is indispensable in case of sickness. Students much bring their own towels, napkins, and napkin-rings. Every article belonging to a student should be distinctly marked with her full name.

This language remained for a considerable period of time. In 1872-73, the name of the subsection changed to “Social and Domestic Regulations” with paragraphs on “Moral and Religious Education” and “Health and Physical Training” following.
The language on dress and the specifics of what to bring were removed in the 1875-76 catalogue—perhaps the College realized it was a losing battle.

The commitment to simple dress may have been both to avoid distraction and any vices that come with fancier dress, but it may also have been an attempt to create a level appearance for students coming from a variety of backgrounds. Letters between Matthew Vassar and Sarah Josepha Hale, Editor of Godey’s Ladies’ Book, show Vassar’s personal concern both for the practicality of female dress, perhaps recognizing that the fashions of the day were not well-suited for all activities, and for the jealousies that might arise when girls of different classes came together at college.