Dress Code

In the 1950s and 1960s when most Concordia students were boarders, clothing requirements for both boys and girls were very specific.
During summer months girls were expected to have ‘two cotton frocks of regulation material and style, suitable underwear, a regulation straw bowler hat with College band and badge, three pairs of fawn lisle 60 denier silk or nylon stretch stockings, and nigger brown tie shoes.’
As well, ‘evening frocks’ were not permitted; all dresses needed to be at least knee length with a deep hem; no cosmetics were allowed, and jewellery, other than the College badge and a watch, was not to be worn.  Girls were required to wear hats and gloves at all times while off campus.
On Sundays girls wore a drip-dry white cotton frock if they had not yet been confirmed.  After confirmation a standard white ‘robia voile’ frock was specified, and white underwear and white gloves were also quite essential ‘Plain nigger brown flatties, regulation style’ completed the outfit for attending church.
Some of these fabrics are unfamiliar to us today, and we would certainly prefer to describe the footwear as ‘dark brown.’

The 1963 photo shows a group of Intermediate (Year 10) girls in Sunday dress.