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"As the Washington and Lee website so elegantly states, Fancy Dress is one of the University’s oldest and most cherished traditions. The event was started in 1907 by the school librarian Anne Robertson White, otherwise known as “Miss Annie Jo.” W&L was still an all-male college at the time, and Fancy Dress was meant to provide a nice night out for the students and girls from the neighboring women’s college, or “steadies” from home...
I personally love the idea that generation after generation of students here have attended the same event. Parents, and grandparents, of many of my friends have told us their own Fancy Dress experiences...
So we get dressed up and have concerts and date parties and make wonderful memories, pushing away the stress of our presentation that is due on Sunday and the tennis match next week and the student ambassador meetings and committee gatherings that we also need to think about...
The build-up to Fancy Dress is all a part of the fun that makes this event different than the rest; and the idea that tradition lives on, however one would like to interpret the interesting duality that W&L offers, is the most exciting part of it." - Fancy Dress: A cherished tradition, Ring-tum Phi
Our exhibit will examine how this long lived tradition has changed over the years. The areas that have seen the most significant change are the themes, the attire worn, and the locations that the gala was held. We found these particularly interesting because many people don't realize the change that has occured. Rather, they are only aware of the Fancy Dress galas of their time as a student.