The Girl Scout uniform is a unique piece of clothing that transcends decades of fashion trends. What started with green berets, and midi skirts, eventually evolved to reflect societal standards on women’s fashion and historical events – introducing a more practical design to help Girl Scouts move comfortably in the outdoors and complete community service projects.
As an essential component of Girl Scouting, uniforms – whether vintage or new – carry years of stories and memories with them. With a glance, anyone who was connected to the Girl Scout Movement, gets flashbacks of joy and nostalgia, like they found a time capsule. For Angela Slater, this is what it felt like to see her daughter wear a 1980’s Girl Scout Brownie uniform that once belonged to her.
“I remember shopping for it with my mom and my grandma, and we didn’t have a lot of money, so it was a really big deal for me to get it,” said Angela. “When Willow goes door-to-door wearing her uniform, a lot of people strike up a conversation as soon as she rings the doorbell; they say things like ‘I remember that uniform’ or ‘my daughter used to have that uniform’.”
Growing up in a traditional church, girls were expected to follow rules that boys didn’t have to. Joining Girl Scouts, for Angela, was a way to go against the grain and breakthrough sexist attitudes that fueled divisive gender stereotypes. Some of her favorite childhood memories stem from her seven years of Girl Scouting – she traveled to Greece for the first time and got to participate in service projects, craft activities and tent camping. Now, she encourages Willow and her eldest daughters to take risks and grow into fearless women in spite of contemporary challenges.
“I want them to be independent, and when an emergency happens, to be able to take care of themselves and other people which is something they start learning since Daisies,” said Angela. “Being a Girl Scout has really helped Willow with her confidence; It has helped her build interpersonal skills, a growth mindset, and a willingness to try new things.”
For Willow, wearing pieces of her mom’s uniform keeps her close to family traditions, and helps her sell during cookie season! She describes her vintage uniform as a great conversation starter that sparks lots of curiosity and interest in what it’s like to be a Girl Scout. Like Willow, Angela also participated in the Girl Scout Cookie Program, and remembers her grandmother being the reason she met her cookie goals during a time when digital orders were nonexistent!
“Being successful during cookie season depended on your parents because they would take your order form to work with them, and since my dad was a heavy equipment operator and my mom stayed at home, my grandma who was a hairdresser, would take orders from her clients,” said Angela. “My grandmother’s favorite cookie was the trefoil, and though Willow didn’t get to meet her, she tells her customers ‘these were my great-grandma’s favorite’,” said Angela.
Even though Girl Scouting has changed so much over time, not only evident through the uniform, but there’s also a stand-out similarity that connects Angela and Willow’s experience, something that has remained true through generations: Girl Scouts has always been a community that empowers girls to reach higher, dream bigger, and change the world.
Published in the 2023 fall issue of Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council’s Girl Scout Connections.