A History of the College Going Out Fit
It’s a Friday night, your phone just connected to the speaker, the “getting ready” playlist is on full volume, and you may or may not be enjoying a sparkling seltzer. It’s time to reach into the closet and figure out what to wear. At this point, it’s safe to say that a lot of us have a classic going out look. This look may involve leather pants or baggy jeans, a corset-esque top, and either black boots or dirty sneakers. Walk down Walnut or Spruce after 11pm and it’s easy to see that there is somewhat of a shared idea of what the appropriate “going out fit” is. Something sexy, not too formal, and maybe with a bit of a rougher edge.
But how do we collectively decide what counts as a good “going out fit”? Recently, with the rise of TikTok and microtrends, certain items or styles like the Skims shaping bodysuit have become ubiquitous on college campuses. However, like almost everything in fashion, what makes for a perfect party outfit has changed over time and followed broader trend cycles. Below, we trace the history of these outfits from the days of Gen X to the current cargo pant obsessed undergrads of the 2020s.
80’s
The 80s first popularized the mom jean and exaggerated shoulders. Students also leaned heavily into preppy influences, reaching for plaid mini skirts, polos, and button downs. However, there wasn’t necessarily one dress code that everyone followed. Generally students switched up their outfits depending on the occasion, whether it be a sorority event, concert, or casual night out with friends.
90’s
Going out in the 90s meant you were embracing the grunge look. Students favored flannels, even bigger mom jeans, and chunky belts. Going out looks erred on the casual side with guys and girls embracing more oversized comfy party outfits. From beanies to overalls, going to a party was more likely to be a laid-back affair.
2000’s
In the early 2000s, going out fits were all about the now infamous going out top. It was an era filled with low rise jeans and sparkly, embellished tops. Around this time was when the idea of a “going out fit” solidified, as these styles were reflected in popular TV shows like the O.C. (pictured below).
2010’s
A college “going out fit” in the 2010s acted as a student’s partying uniform, consisting of bootcut jeans or later skinny jeans, a peplum top, and chunky heeled booties. If you wanted to really spice things up, you would throw on a chunky necklace or switch the booties for wedges. These styles may seem outdated and as some may say “cheugy”, but it’s only a matter of time before the trend cycle brings them back around.
2020’s
Since the start of our present decade, individual items popularized by TikTok and Instagram have become going out staples found on college campuses across the nation. A perfect now widely-documented example is the Urban Outfitters “Out From Under” corset top or even more recently the Edikted flared leather pants.
Today
As we shift away from corset tops, it seems as though we are entering an era filled with brands like I.AM.GIA, Miaou, and Edikted. The “going out fit” of today feels centered around baggier jeans and tighter tops that are still somewhat corset-inspired. It seems that the presence of quiet luxury has trickled down onto college campuses in the form of minimalistic “going out fits”.
Although styles vary across campuses and time, the constancy of the “going out fit” remains. It serves as an opportunity to get dressed up and look cute, even if only to go stand in a grungy frat basement. And who knows, next year we may all be wearing peplums and skinny jeans, although let's hope not.
Featured image courtesy of Philadelphia Magazine