1930s McGill Fashion

The McGill You Knew

An Anthology of Memories

1920-1960

“Remember the thirties? In the thirties, the chic dress for women students was a “sloppy joe,” and enormous pullover sweater, falling loosely over the hips. If it fit, it was not smart. The shoes were saddle shoes, flat, rubber-soled, white with a brown or black "saddle" over the instep and dirty. Only the most uninitiated, only the greenest freshman would appear on the campus with clean saddle shoes. It simply wasn't done.

Then there were beer jackets... they were dirty in a very special way. They carried signatures, and the more numerous and important were the names scribbled on, the more devastatingly smart were the jackets. There were cases reported – tragic cases – when a beer jacket went to the laundry by mistake.”

-Sloppy Joes and Beer Jackets

Barbara Whitley, BA '40

 Note - the 'sloppy Joe sweater' has yet to go out of style!