It all began with a fashion emergency that demanded more than just a side-eye and a sigh.

Fed up with the unkempt appearance of students labeled as “Sloppy Joes” in the 1930s, the Stephens College administration decided it was time for a change. Sloppy Joes took pride in their untidy campus presence, wearing filthy trousers and sloppy sweaters – a look that originated with male Ivy League students who believed it showcased intellectual superiority. It didn’t take long before the trend made its way to women’s colleges, including Stephens. The administration’s solution to the issue: a fashion department focused on the “practical knowledge of good grooming and sensible dress” (Unknown author, Stephens Standard November 1944 edition, article “Fashion in the Making”). By 1944, the Stephens College Fashion Program came to life.

Originally led by Muriel king, one of the first American fashion designers to achieve name recognition, the Fashion Program has evolved far beyond its humble beginnings. Now, the department focuses on cultivating and empowering the next generation of fashion professionals. Since then, the program has received many honors, including being recognized by the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA); ranking number 13 of fashion programs worldwide according to the London-based Business of Fashion: and joining the Fashion Scholarship Fund, an esteemed selective scholarship competition. Furthermore, the Fashion Department has a fashion museum, housing 13,000 historical garments in the Matilda Magnus Price Fashion Collection, including reputable designers such as Charles Worth, Claire McCardell, Oscar de la Renta, Dior, and Chanel.

This year marks the 80th Annual Student Designer Fashion Show, The Collections. Join us as we celebrate how far we have come as we look towards the future of fashion.