Accessorize!

Three images of women in the NPS, the far left is a woman with short hair facing us wearing an NPS jacket. The second one shows a ranger in a tan dress and the far right shows a ranger wearing a long sleeve grey shirt.

We all know that confidence is the best accessory (never leave home without it!), but more tangible fashion accessories include shoes, purses, gloves, scarves, belts, and jewelry. While that may not sound very “ranger-y” to many, NPS employees are people too—with our own styles and (dare we say) flare. Like you, many of us have our favorite earrings or lucky socks, some of us can rock a scarf, and many of our heads are just made for jaunty hats.

For uniformed employees, personal style shouldn’t be the first thing visitors notice. NPS uniform standards establish the “ranger look” by prescribing the major articles of clothing, but they also address accessories and appearance.

Check out the articles below for a (more lighthearted) look at some of the “accessories” that women have been worn with their uniforms over the years. You may be surprised by what they can tell us about women’s roles in the NPS. Come back again to see more. After all, fashion trends are always evolving!

Dress for Success

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    To learn more about Women and the NPS Uniform, visit Dressing the Part: A Portfolio of Women's History in the NPS.


    This research was made possible in part by a grant from the National Park Foundation.

    Last updated: March 1, 2022