Vermont Fashion

May 15

By Olivia Mueller

What do you first think of when you think of Vermont?

Maybe maple syrup or the beautiful nature and mountains— not necessarily high fashion. Let’s face it: Middlebury, Vermont does not exactly conjure the same images of runway shows, fashion week, and glamorously-styled department store mannequins that say, New York City or Paris might. Instead, you might think of more practical outfits for hiking, skiing, and cold, cold weather. Still, as any Middlebury student coming from out of state will notice, Vermont does have a distinct style all its own.

But what is it about what people wear that makes an outfit distinctly Vermont? I wanted to take a deep dive into what exactly “Vermont fashion” means to people in Vermont—both native Vermonters and college kids who've seen a contrast between their previous style and what’s trendy in the Green Mountain state.

To do so, I asked about twenty Vermont college students what Vermont fashion means to them, and which pieces and brands they wear the most or think of as most quintessentially “Vermont.” Without further ado, let’s get into the main takeaways.

Takeaway 1: Dress practically

All the layers of clothing you could possibly need to survive months of Vermont winter are, quite understandably, popular and trendy here, partly by necessity.

“Vermont fashion prioritizes warmth and durability because you can’t escape the weather outside,” says Middlebury student Audrey Maxwell. “ I think of clothes that would work equally well for a walk across campus as they would for a hike or [cross country] ski. There are lots of layers, like always at least two.”

Think vests, big puffer jackets, and other underlayers, be it flannel or a big sweater– no coincidence these were some of the most popular articles of clothing cited by respondents as wardrobe staples. Some students coming from warmer climates also recommended long underwear as a layering piece. Maybe not the cutest on its own, but definitely a practical addition.

“It’s like people really do prefer comfort over style,” says Sheryln Castro. Castro came to Middlebury from a West Coast city. While sneakers are a staple piece in wardrobes on both coasts, she has definitely noticed a difference in how Vermonters dress. Clothing is more comfortable and less about making a cohesive outfit. She has also seen a lot more pattern-mixing in Vermont athleisure, something that does not fly as frequently in LA.

Nationwide trends that catch on here– like Carhartt beanies– often stick when they’re also practical. Yes, people wear a Carhartt hat for the logo, but also because the hats themselves are durable and warm.

However, there are layers to this emphasis on practicality. There’s more to it than just warmth– not all layers are created equally trendy. With Vermonters’ reputations for being outdoorsy and sometimes earthy-crunchy or “granola,” certain brands and styles reign supreme.

Takeaway 2: Go for outdoor gear and “crunchy” styles

“My idea of Vermont fashion is definitely geared toward being outdoorsy and ‘earthy-crunchy,’” says Middlebury student Charlotte Shapiro from Boston.

Vermont native Chloe Zinn agrees. “We’re into earth tones here and never try to be flashy or too much. It’s kind of like we’re blending into the natural scene around us in Vermont. We’re outdoorsy, and fashion to us means being crunchy: cute, neutral, earthy tones.”

“Crunchy” and “granola” mean slightly different things to everyone (maybe your mind went straight to breakfast cereal), but there are a few common style combinations that almost everyone could agree on. Among them: Birkenstock sandals, socks welcomed, for warmer months, and flannels– think Vermont Flannel Company for an especially authentic shirt. There is also a definite influence of thrifting on styles. Oversize sweaters, cardigans, and straight-leg jeans are staple pieces in many Vermont college student’s wardrobes. All the better if that grandma sweater really came thrifted straight from Grandma.

“I am a huge fan of sweaters! I have been collecting wool sweaters since high school and have amassed a collection that includes wool from Iceland, Romania, and Ireland,” says South Burlington native and current Middlebury student Sergiu White. “I have found Irish wool for less than $20 in thrift stores here.”

Takeaway 3: Just like anywhere else, there is brand elitism in Vermont fashion

Despite the overall emphasis on practicality and comfort, the partiality for outdoor brands means that what’s trendy in Vermont does not always come cheap.

Blundstones boots, a waterproof Chelsea boot, were the single most cited article of clothing by respondents as a staple piece in their closets. While these are practical and cute shoes, they also run around $200 a pair. Not exactly a casual investment.

Some of the other most popular brands and items to come up are equally outdoorsy and also expensive, depending on the item.

Castleton student Kaylyn Morse associates Birkenstock and Patagonia with Vermont fashion: “[it’s] targeted outdoorsy and functional, but also looks good.”

North Face, Patagonia, Birkenstock, Carhartt, Skida. Tack on Maine-based L.L. Bean as part of a larger New England trend. “It gives me [a sense of] gate-kept environmentalism,” says Middlebury student Faith Wood.

A North Face puffer jacket costs $300-400. A Patagonia pullover fleece? $120. Yes, these are high-quality pieces that will last a long time and probably serve an earthy-crunchy Vermonter well, so there is an argument to be made for considering overall cost-per-wear. Still, definitely not cheap. Perhaps that’s where Vermonter’s affinity for thrifting comes in, coupled with a nationwide resurgence in thrifting clothes among Gen Z.

“Thankfully thrift stores in the Williston and South Burlington area are really good! There's a lot of high-quality outdoor gear and comfy knits, often for low prices,” says Sergiu White.

Takeaway 4: There is love for local brands

Coupled with a tendency toward skiing and hiking, Vermonters also embrace local in their choices. Vermont Flannel Co. and Skida were two brands that came up repeatedly for respondents.

Takeaway 5: Vermont fashion is not homogenous. There is a rift between expensive outdoor brands and a cozier thrifted style

Even while emphasizing warmth, comfort, and practicality, dressing for Vermont definitely still leaves room for being fashionable, even if it’s not quite the same definition of fashion that comes from high-street stores in Europe or massive coastal cities. Still, there is a dichotomy in Vermont fashion: the expensive version of outdoor chic versus the more accessible, cozy, thrifted version that is more attainable for many.

“There is the understanding that often, functionality tops fashion,” says Megan Mahoney, a Vermont resident and Middlebury student. “I'm not shocked by the expectation for all Vermonters to be repping a flannel with rugged jeans and their Blundstones, but there's really a lot more variation than just that…just like any place, everyone has their unique style.” Mahoney chooses to wear dresses year-round, for example. Just like there is no one definition of “fashion,” there is not just one for Vermont fashion, which, for me at least, is both freeing and frustrating. As a Vermont transplant for college, I was secretly hoping I would come out of writing this article with a definitive list of trends I could hop on to be authentically Vermont-y. Instead, it’s time to work on my personal style and layer up as usual.

Clover Middlebury