On a typical day at Vassar College, you might have to dart between “Movement for Actors” and “The Origins of Periodical Literature” with only 15 minutes to spare, and you have to dress accordingly. With such a vast array of classes, Work-Study and extracurricular opportunities, Vassar students are forced to find the perfect “fit” that can check off every box. I interviewed three students with very distinct senses of style and got their opinions on the fashion landscape for 2024 at Vassar College.
What fashion trends do you see around campus?
CHARLOTTE TANNER-MORASH ’26: “I think Vassar definitely has its own microbiome, so to speak, when it comes to fashion. In an environment as busy as Times Square in December, I could identify a Vassar student with 86 percent accuracy. Currently, I am seeing a lot of knitwear, ‘your father’s’ leather jackets and identifiably thrifted sweaters with an off-the-rack American Eagle baggy jean. Overall, I think the goal of Vassar fashion at the moment is to look like you would be an amazing barista in some hole-in-the-wall Greenwich Village coffee shop.”
SOLSTICE LAUREN ’26: “The number one thing that stands out to me about Vassar fashion is how different and alternative people are willing to dress. Even on a Sunday morning, when someone has nowhere to go except the dining hall for brunch, they might dress in ripped jeans with a short skirt on top, a corset top layered with a knit sweater, combat boots, piles of jewelry and thick eyeliner. There is also a culture of alternative styles that I think is really fascinating— from bleached eyebrows to modern tattoos. Vassar students aren’t afraid to step outside the typical college fraternity/sorority uniform.”
ERIN KAUFMAN ’26: “Fashion trends around campus—I honestly don’t feel like I can accurately pinpoint fashion trends at Vassar because of how different they all are. I love to see what people can create with completely different pieces in their wardrobe and could change their style every day.”
What is your go-to Gordon Commons outfit?
CHARLOTTE TANNER-MORASH: “By dinner time, I have spent most waking hours in business clothes. However, I will usually switch to some athleisure for the Deece to make it seem like I had the time to go to the gym. Got to keep the student body in check, you know? Also, a hood of some sort is always a perfect accessory for hiding from those people you really do not want to see.”
ERIN KAUFMAN: “I’m a huge believer in a comfort outfit in the Deece. For me, that’s usually an off-the-shoulder sweater with jeans and Uggs.”
EMMA LAWRENCE: Once the clock strikes 6 p.m., it’s time to Deece. Typically, I change from my more put-together class clothes and don my favorite matching sweat-set. You have to be comfy and mobile to dart between The Grill and Sweets, okay?
What is your classic class fit?
CHARLOTTE TANNER-MORASH: “Black turtleneck, black dress pants, black riding boots, silver jewelry, blown-out hair and chipped nail polish (because it is classy and French to have one appearance component unfinished of course). Sometimes, I will switch up the jacket.”
ERIN KAUFMAN: “My classic class outfit is usually a pair of dress pants, white boots and a black top. Throw on a slightly oversized black leather jacket and I’m ready for orgo.”
For me, it depends on the season. Recently, I’ve been loving black sheer tights, my trusty Aritzia black skirt, a tight black tee, under-the-knee black boots and my classic jewelry. Oh, and a must for the winter is a thrifted faux-fur coat.
Favorite shoes to brave the Nircle (Noyes Circle)?
CHARLOTTE TANNER-MORASH: “The Nircle at this time of year? No, thank you! I do not even want to drag my poor TH-designated Air Force 1s through that mud. Also…going to Kenyon or Blodgett is so out.”
SOLSTICE LAUREN: “Forest green Dr. Martens lace-up boots.”
I second Charlotte: You’ll never catch me trekking through the slush during the winter months. It’s safe to say that the Halloween Tent is the sole reason I will sacrifice a pair of shoes to the Nircle.
House pride: any trends you notice in and around your dorm?
CHARLOTTE TANNER-MORASH: “I feel like Davi [Davison House] residents have the most docile hivemind when it comes to fashion trends. In other dorms—Joss [Josselyn House], for instance—about 20 people can go by and all seem like they are on the same wavelength. In Davi, you will see someone dressed in full cosplay walking next to a Wall Street wannabe.”
SOLSTICE LAUREN: “I notice people in [Jewett] wearing a lot of elephant pants and flowy clothes.”
OOTD: Where is everything in your outfits from?
CHARLOTTE TANNER-MORASH: “Everything (excluding accessories and my non-pictured, go-to boots from DSW) in this fit was thrifted! As far as brands go: trench coat is from Burberry (perhaps my favorite thrift ever), shirt and pants are both from Theory, earrings are from Amazon, backpack is from Herschel and pearls were a gift and are from Tiffany’s. I think this is a great example of a solid class-to-Work Study outfit. I honestly feel most confident in business casual attire anyway, especially when I can find pieces like this shirt and pant combination that are particularly flattering. [My favorite piece] would have to be the trenchcoat. Just because…how could you not love a Burberry coat you got for $20? We are inseparable in the temperate fall (best) weather.”
SOLSTICE LAUREN: “[The] dress [is] thrifted, no tag, tights [are from] Target, socks [are from] Urban Outfitters [and my] boots [are] Dr. Martens. I am wearing this to auditions! My favorite thing about this outfit is that there are subtle roses throughout it. You might not be able to tell in this picture, but the shoes have rose appliqués, the socks have small black roses on the backs, and the dress has small lace roses on the top. Roses are a fashion staple of mine, so I’ll always love an outfit covered in them.”
ERIN KAUFMAN: “This has got to be one of my favorite outfits. I thrifted the strapless top, the pants are from Aritzia, [the] silver jewelry [is] from various places, the pink choker that was originally a headband and the AirPods Max that, I think, really make this my usual outfit. This is probably my go-to class outfit.”
Yet does the “Vassar Bubble” require a particular dress code? I certainly have noticed that when I return home to Florida, my style changes immensely—and not just because of the rising humidity levels. I find myself living in hot pink tennis skirts and workout sets, while Vassar maintains a certain “dreary Upstate New York” kind of vibe. Lauren believes that their style does not change when they leave campus, but they “definitely don’t always put as much effort into my outfits at home unless I’m going somewhere fun. At Vassar, I feel justified in dressing up on any given day, whereas [in] other places, it feels excessive.”
Loved this glimpse into Vassar’s diverse campus fashion! The mix of thrifted pieces, alternative styles, athleisure, and personal expression shows how students use clothing to reflect individuality and creativity.