(An item from the “how things have changed” department.)

This post from “The Art of Manliness” reprints a 1948 magazine article about young men’s back-to-college wardrobe.

Your clothes for college will fall into four general categories: class and campus, sportswear, dress-up suits, and formal wear. …

Odd jackets and slacks are worn at colleges from coast to coast and will be your everyday campus uniform. Shetland type tweeds, corduroy and camel’s hair are popular for sports jackets. If you’re going to school in the south you can substitute gabardine, linen, seersucker or cotton cord. …

Suits worn at eastern universities have narrow shoulders and are straight-hanging, with little waist suppression. In the mid-west, broad-shouldered suits are preferred, with full chest. In the west, college clothing goes casual, the California influence being apparent in long point collar shirts, leisure jackets and cardigans. In the south you’ll need gabardine, cotton cord or seersucker suit. Summer formals are worn—white jacket and black trousers.

(Photos included.) H-T to Susan Lewis.