The Fashionable Effects of Southern Culture
Giddy Up,
We are going
South!
Students attending school out-of-state immerse themselves in a completely different culture. Culture is defined in many ways, but fashion is a unique reflection of everyday wear. While the United States is considered a homogenous culture, the other regions often have their customs, values, social structures, and even languages. The University of Oklahoma has many students from out of state, providing a breeding ground for acculturation and ideas colliding.
“That is how everyone else dresses around me; I wanted to fit in,” said Amari Norman, a University of Oklahoma Student from St. Louis, Missouri.
For those out-of-state students who join sororities, their experience is heightened. Sororities have been a longstanding tradition of being Southern upper-class individuals. Even for those who don’t have enormous wealth, emulating the style of those who do in these societies is imperative. Joining a sorority and purchasing vast amounts of material things allows everyone to look like an upper-class Southern girl.
A fundamental factor of a culture is the fashion that it represents. The South is no different. With its unique history of trends and fundamental values, Southern culture influences the way young women dress in Southern society. The ideas were ingrained through many years of influence and cultural cultivation, culminating in defining what it means to be a desirable woman in the South.
“When coming to OU, I adopted more of a Southern look, a Southern sorority girl chic,” said Norman.
The weather plays a significant role in the aesthetics of Southern fashion. The warmer climate influences the popularity of light fabrics and brighter colors. The warmer weather allows people in the south to wear “less” clothing. The idea of shorter shorts, cropped tops, and lighter fabrics seen in everyday Southern fashion indicates a summer vacation.
“Often, people in the south will wear every day what people in the north would only wear on vacation,” said Professor Lloyd E. Cracknell, Associate Professor of Costume Design at the University of Oklahoma.
The weather's effect on Southern fashion is seen throughout history and into the modern age. This idea of less clothing isn’t always a means to keep cool in warmer weather. For young women especially, wearing little clothing can be seen as provocative.
“Missouri dresses more modestly; I didn’t start wearing crop tops till I got here,” said Norman.
This idea of little clothing has become something more. Showing off one’s body through the clothes they wear affects the way college students dress casually. Wearing LuluLemon’s leggings or athleisure wear in an academic setting is common in Southern schools.
Provocative style of dress is something that has been introduced to Southern culture. A part of the Southern idea of beauty is a woman’s sexuality—showing off one’s body to show one's natural beauty. While the South is homogeneous with a conservative Christian culture, the idea of wearing shorter shorts, cropped tops, and tighter clothing has proven to resemble a woman's innate sexuality within the Southern system.
“People wear leggings like 25/8 up there to show off their asses and tight clothes,” said Swipes.
At a Southern university, game day is an event. The tailgating, the rituals, and the outfits are all apart of a game day experience. Young Southern girls use game days as an opportunity to dress to impress. Especially in the Greek life system, dressing nice for game days is a must.
“Up North, game day outfits are just what is most comfortable,” said Swipes.
The idea of wearing cowboy boots as game-day footwear has influenced many out-of-state students to purchase a pair. Adding this element to their wardrobe provides a sense of Southernness. With cowboy boots and hats being homogeneous with not only Southern culture but Texas culture, adding these boots helps transform an everyday wardrobe into a Southern fashion statement.
“I never thought about wearing a dress and boots to a game or jeans and a cute little top to go out. That's just not what happens back at home,” said Norman.
Hallmarks of Southern fashion are unique in how they represent the Southern culture's growth. Western wear has maintained its popularity and resembles a way for everyday people to remember their region's heritage. The presence of cowboy boots and hats as every day or even formal attire is unique to this region of the United States. While many places have Western roots, this style is a defining influence on Southern fashion and not a statement to wear for specific events.
Southern culture is often defined by its people’s political opinions, accents, and history, but it is much more. A rich culture developed uniquely to reflect the environment surrounding individuals, Southern fashion is a hallmark of Southern culture.
The influence Southern culture has on the fashion of educational institutions is formidable. This fact influences out-of-state students who attend Southern universities such as the University of Oklahoma to change how they dress and their fashion choices.
“I dress more Southern here. There are a lot of misconceptions coming from Wyoming. People think I should be more Western since I was born in the “Wild West.” People here tend to wear boots and hats, and I never did that growing up in Jackson.” said Ellie Frantz, a University of Oklahoma student from Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Fashion is crucial to the life of a young Southern woman. She dresses in a way that displays her values and aligns with the current trends. Appearing “put-together” is a skill taught to women at a young age. The obsession with being perfect and likable in their environment is at the forefront of young girls' minds.
“Young Southern white ladies have long been encouraged in the feminine arts, and aspects of beauty have been taught in female academics, charm schools, and modern modeling salons.”
Beauty, Cult of, The New Encyclopedia of Southern Culture: Volume 4: Myth, Manners, and Memory.
Young Southern women’s dress trends and ideas are often foreign to out-of-state students. Students cite the different styles of casual dress as shocking when attending OU. Athleisure, athletic wear worn as everyday clothing, is worn on a whole new level at OU. Students, especially females, often wear very similar things: leggings, tank tops, etc.
The dress style for more formal events is often categorized as having a more girlish look. With the popularity of oversized sleeves, floral prints, and bright colors, out-of-state students often have to shop locally in Norman to achieve the Southern look.
“ I shop at more boutiques because they are more frequent here than in the Midwest,” said Rheagen Nevins, a University of Oklahoma student from Missouri.
There is also the idea of constantly showing off the excellent items one's family can afford. Wearing lovely jewelry and shoes is often accompanied by casual and comfortable clothes. Even if individuals cannot afford these items, they seek out copycat items that look as if they were real. Wearing fake designer jewelry and shoes allows young Southern women to appear upper-class and fit in with the masses.
“Stores like Golden Goose and Lululemon were not heard of until a couple of years ago, and even then, only the upper class will even think to purchase merchandise from there,” said Emily Swipes, a University of Oklahoma student from Wilmington, Delaware.
The idea of the Southern Bell is the perfect Southern woman full of grace and confidence. Southern Bells hold a beauty unlike no other, with refined taste and adequate social standing. Though seemingly archaic, these ideas have defined Southern fashion's statements in the modern age, affecting those who attend Southern universities.
The popularity of beauty pageants in the South tremendously influenced young Southern women’s appearances. This idea of being a “fake perfect” is reflected across the board. The obsession with extreme blonde hair and fake tans are ways young Southern women express beauty unlike anywhere else. The idea of being the “perfect and beautiful” young lady, combined with the pristine outfits and the obsession with causally owning designer, provides a way for all young women to model the upper class and look as such.
Many out-of-state students witness this behavior and wish to fit in with the Southern beauty standard. The clothing style, the jewelry, and the cosmetic requirements to be the perfect young woman influence the habits of out-of-state students.
Written by
LK Cox