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Now vs. Then | What to wear at the fair

A 1960's article suggests fashion do's and don't for those attending the San Diego County Fair.

SAN DIEGO — As many of us know, fashion has really changed over the years. The San Diego County Fair, formerly known as The Del Mar Fair, started in 1936. A CBS 8 viewer sent in a copy of an article from 1964 with suggestions on what to wear and not to wear to fairs. 

In an article by Joan Rattner, there are lists of what women and men should not wear to fairs.

For women the article reports:

  • Don't wear shorts or slacks
  • Don't wear clothes designed for the beach, low, low backs, beach shifts, too sheer [of] fabrics, shoestring straps
  • Don’t wear elaborate hats, beach hats or hair rollers
  • Don't wear after dark glamour clothes unless it's after dark and you're heading to one of the Fair's nightspots
  • Don't wear too many, too big or fancy accessories
  • Don't wear fussy hairdos
  • Don’t wear sneakers, fancy cut out shoes, beach sandals or very high heels
  • Don't wear way out make-up

"Back in the 50's, all the women came dressed in high heels. They couldn’t walk in the park and their heels went into the ground," said a male visitor at the San Diego County Fair. 

For men, the same article reports:

  • Don't wear flapping shirt tails or wild prints
  • Don’t wear beach hats or joke hats
  • Don't wear beach sandals
  • Don’t wear too much camera equipment
  • Don’t wear too short shorts
  • Don’t wear shorts at all if you don’t wear knee high hose

"It's pretty interesting and crazy! I don’t know why they wouldn’t let you wear hats!" laughed Sheena Waters, a visitor at San Diego County Fair.

It surely shows a sign of the times and how much changes over the span of five decades. 

From then until now, the fashion sense is much different at fairs in 2022.

"I think it's awesome for everyone to express their individuality! Why not? It is definitely California comfort for sure," said Waters. 

From sparkly baseball caps to crazy socks, at the fair; anything goes. 

"We just like sparkles," said a mother wearing matching sparkly hats with her daughters. 

"We wear shorts and tennies. Be comfy!" said another mother. 

"It is so interesting and pretty crazy. I love old style and that part of history, but I'm glad to live in this century," Waters laughs. 

Watch Related: Here’s what it will cost for a family of 4 at the San Diego County Fair (Jun 15, 2022) 

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