1920's
Classes began in this decade on September 29th, 1920. Now only seniors were required to wear black convocation robes to class. With robes no longer being required by all students the U of A student newspaper, The Gateway, began to be filled with advertisements for fashionable clothing. This included advertisements for both men and women focused on what students may wear to class, dances, or sporting events. [1] Below you can see a sample of the advertisements that were published. Past issues of The Gateway, including those from the 1920s, can be browsed online.
Stylish Clothes for the Stylish Dress, The Gateway, March 6, 1926
Essery & Co. Ltd., The Gateway, November 12, 1928
Beauty Shoppe, The Gateway ad, February 19, 1925
Christmas Slippers Walk Rite, The Gateway, December 14, 1929
As the decade progressed women's fashion trends did away with the long hair and skirts that were popular at the beginning of the 1920s and allowed for shorter skirts and bare arms by the end of the decade. [2] Examples of this can be seen in student Edith McKinnon's outfit in 1920 [3], compared with women among the The Gateway staff at the end of the decade in 1929. [4]
Edith McKinnon, Home Economics, [1920]
Gateway Staff on steps of Arts Building, 1929
The Aggies'20
CKUA Office Staff, [1927]
University of Alberta Basketball Team 1920-21
Class of Dentistry, 1927
Freshmen on Parade, Oct. 1928
Girls Track Team, 1929-1930
Group of Boys in Residence Room, [1929]
While fashion trends were changing, it should be noted that U of A student fashion was still often being dictated by the program and faculty you were a part of. For example, Nursing students were not allowed to cut their hair even though fashion trends had changed during this decade with many women shortening their hair. Nursing students would also wear veils to cover their hair. [5]
Nursing Students, 1927
Sources
[1] Schoeck, Ellen. I Was There: A Century of Alumni Stories About the University of Alberta, 1906-2006. Edmonton, AB: The University of Alberta Press, 2006, p. 168.
[2] Schoeck, Ellen. I Was There: A Century of Alumni Stories About the University of Alberta, 1906-2006. Edmonton, AB: The University of Alberta Press, 2006,
[3] Edith McKinnon, Household Economics [1920], University of Alberta Archives, UAA-1973-018-012.
[4] The Gateway Staff, 1929, University of Alberta Archives, UAA-1969-010-017.
[5] Schoeck, Ellen. I Was There: A Century of Alumni Stories About the University of Alberta, 1906-2006. Edmonton, AB: The University of Alberta Press, 2006, p. 168.