01of 17The ExpertsRick Diamond/GettyWe tappedDCCgurus Judy Trammell (right) and Kelli Finglass to share how the iconic look has evolved. Trammell cheered from 1981 to 1983 before becoming the assistant choreographer in 1984. She’s been the choreographer since 1991. Finglass cheered from 1984 to 1988 and has been the squad’s director since 1991.
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The Experts
Rick Diamond/Getty
We tappedDCCgurus Judy Trammell (right) and Kelli Finglass to share how the iconic look has evolved. Trammell cheered from 1981 to 1983 before becoming the assistant choreographer in 1984. She’s been the choreographer since 1991. Finglass cheered from 1984 to 1988 and has been the squad’s director since 1991.
02of 171961Courtesy Dallas Cowboys CheerleadersBefore the squad became official in 1972, local high school students cheered on the Dallas Cowboys from the sidelines.
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1961
Courtesy Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders
Before the squad became official in 1972, local high school students cheered on the Dallas Cowboys from the sidelines.
03of 171979Courtesy Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders"We bought blue and white fabric in bulk in the ’70s," revealed Finglass of the original uniforms. “We’re still using original bolts of white fabric! The blue we’ve had to source once since.”
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1979
“We bought blue and white fabric in bulk in the ’70s,” revealed Finglass of the original uniforms. “We’re still using original bolts of white fabric! The blue we’ve had to source once since.”
04of 171979Courtesy Dallas Cowboys CheerleadersThe original blue fabric was slightly more shiny than the one used today. “It was tricky to find the right shade of blue that was also absorbent for a dancer and had a nice drape to it,” said Finglass. “The current blue is 100 percent poly microfiber and the texture is peach skin faille.”
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The original blue fabric was slightly more shiny than the one used today. “It was tricky to find the right shade of blue that was also absorbent for a dancer and had a nice drape to it,” said Finglass. “The current blue is 100 percent poly microfiber and the texture is peach skin faille.”
05of 171980Courtesy Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders"Back in the ’80s we tried different hairstyles and I think our director liked that," said Trammell of styles like cheerleader Debbie Aycock’s Pippi Longstocking-esque braids. “It was sportier-looking. Now it’s about the girls being as glamorous as they can,” said Finglass. “They all wear their hair down — even in rehearsal.”
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1980
“Back in the ’80s we tried different hairstyles and I think our director liked that,” said Trammell of styles like cheerleader Debbie Aycock’s Pippi Longstocking-esque braids. “It was sportier-looking. Now it’s about the girls being as glamorous as they can,” said Finglass. “They all wear their hair down — even in rehearsal.”
06of 17Early-1980sCourtesy Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders"There were no extensions back then," Trammell said of her all-natural mane. And though it’s gorgeous, this hair wouldn’t fly today — literally. “It’s more about layers, because the movement of the hair is more important than the length. We call it ‘hairography,'” explained Trammell. “Plus, it’s too hot, and it’s not the style now.”
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Early-1980s
“There were no extensions back then,” Trammell said of her all-natural mane. And though it’s gorgeous, this hair wouldn’t fly today — literally. “It’s more about layers, because the movement of the hair is more important than the length. We call it ‘hairography,'” explained Trammell. “Plus, it’s too hot, and it’s not the style now.”
07of 17Early-1980sCourtesy Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders"We had very large pom-poms, which were visually very effective," said Finglass (center). “They were matte blue and white vinyl. And they were huge and they were heavy. At the time, games were about four hours and they would get pretty hot, but they were very effective.”
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“We had very large pom-poms, which were visually very effective,” said Finglass (center). “They were matte blue and white vinyl. And they were huge and they were heavy. At the time, games were about four hours and they would get pretty hot, but they were very effective.”
08of 171988"The ’80s was all about big, teased, sprayed hair and blue eyeshadow, red fingernails [and] red lips," said Finglass. But that wasn’t only because those looks were all the rage at the time. “We were yards away from our fans, so it was like any stage: We tried to exaggerate everything. Now, we have a huge, 60-yard high-definition television board in our stadium, and it gets detail like none other.”
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1988
“The ’80s was all about big, teased, sprayed hair and blue eyeshadow, red fingernails [and] red lips,” said Finglass. But that wasn’t only because those looks were all the rage at the time. “We were yards away from our fans, so it was like any stage: We tried to exaggerate everything. Now, we have a huge, 60-yard high-definition television board in our stadium, and it gets detail like none other.”
09of 171992Courtesy Dallas Cowboys CheerleadersIn the early-’90s, they experimented with a V-front high-rise short without a belt. “That was the time when aerobics and unitards were happening, and cuts went higher on the hip bones,” said Finglass.
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1992
In the early-’90s, they experimented with a V-front high-rise short without a belt. “That was the time when aerobics and unitards were happening, and cuts went higher on the hip bones,” said Finglass.
10of 171993George Rose/GettyThe ’90s also signalled the end of the go-go style boot in favor of a mid-calf Western boot. With that new look came props like cowboy hats, which aren’t often incorporated into today’s routines.
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1993
George Rose/Getty
The ’90s also signalled the end of the go-go style boot in favor of a mid-calf Western boot. With that new look came props like cowboy hats, which aren’t often incorporated into today’s routines.
11of 171993Courtesy Dallas Cowboys CheerleadersCrystals were added to the stars on the vests and the shorts starting in the ‘93–‘94 season. “We went through probably three years of prototypes trying to get crystals around the stars,” said Finglass. “Back then, the glues would turn the fabric yellow or the crystals would tarnish the fabric so we wound up being able to engineer a star that was built on a Velcro base and the crystals sat on the Velcro extended part of the base.”
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Crystals were added to the stars on the vests and the shorts starting in the ‘93–‘94 season. “We went through probably three years of prototypes trying to get crystals around the stars,” said Finglass. “Back then, the glues would turn the fabric yellow or the crystals would tarnish the fabric so we wound up being able to engineer a star that was built on a Velcro base and the crystals sat on the Velcro extended part of the base.”
12of 171994George Rose/GettyJust a year later, in the ‘94-‘95 season, “We decided there weren’t enough crystals, so we added them to the fringe line of the vest,” said Finglass. Additionally, the two-pronged notch lapel was redesigned to the simpler pointed collar that remains on the uniform today.
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1994
Just a year later, in the ‘94-‘95 season, “We decided there weren’t enough crystals, so we added them to the fringe line of the vest,” said Finglass. Additionally, the two-pronged notch lapel was redesigned to the simpler pointed collar that remains on the uniform today.
13of 172002Bob Rosato/Sports Illustrated/GettyThe return of the hip-hugger! In 2002, they went back to the belted short. “There are always the same number of stars on the belts, no matter the size,” said Trammel. “And there are always just three stars on each side of the vest.”
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2002
Bob Rosato/Sports Illustrated/Getty
The return of the hip-hugger! In 2002, they went back to the belted short. “There are always the same number of stars on the belts, no matter the size,” said Trammel. “And there are always just three stars on each side of the vest.”
14of 172006Drew Hallowell/GettyThey upgraded the plain buckle in 2006. “We wanted a kind of glamorous Western buckle that included some crystals,” said Finglass. They tapped Texas-based sculptor Brad Oldham, the brother of fashion designer Todd Oldham, for the design. “We’ve had that design ever since,” she said.
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2006
Drew Hallowell/Getty
They upgraded the plain buckle in 2006. “We wanted a kind of glamorous Western buckle that included some crystals,” said Finglass. They tapped Texas-based sculptor Brad Oldham, the brother of fashion designer Todd Oldham, for the design. “We’ve had that design ever since,” she said.
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2011
Iconic boot brand Lucchese became the official outfitters of the DCC in 2011. “When we first got them, we were trying to figure out the best way to stretch them,” said Trammell. Cue blisters, callouses and everything else that happens when breaking in good boots. “Most of the girls wear mismatched socks under their boots. It’s quite the array of color and style and messaging on their socks,“she said.
16of 172014"The modern-day pom-pom is metallic,” said Finglass. “We actually have a custom-made metallic blue; we Pantone-matched the fabric from our blue blouse. They’re smaller and they have a baton handle which allows a dancer more control of the pom while dancing.” And the poms aren’t going anywhere, said Finglass: “We’ve tried the cheerleaders dancing without pom-poms, just for different genres of music, and we think that it gets away from what makes us great visually.”
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2014
“The modern-day pom-pom is metallic,” said Finglass. “We actually have a custom-made metallic blue; we Pantone-matched the fabric from our blue blouse. They’re smaller and they have a baton handle which allows a dancer more control of the pom while dancing.” And the poms aren’t going anywhere, said Finglass: “We’ve tried the cheerleaders dancing without pom-poms, just for different genres of music, and we think that it gets away from what makes us great visually.”
17of 172016 to TodayCourtesy Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders"The uniform has always been custom-fitted,” said Finglass. “Judy and I both remember our rookie fittings. Now, there’s even more attention to detail … It’s very feminine and tailored to the body.” And the boot has changed, too. “We expect the kicks to be higher and the dancing to be more joyful because these boots are a lighter weight with a softer sole,” said Finglass. “We’ve removed the steel shank. Now that they’re more pliable that should enhance a pointed toe and a higher kick.”
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2016 to Today
“The uniform has always been custom-fitted,” said Finglass. “Judy and I both remember our rookie fittings. Now, there’s even more attention to detail … It’s very feminine and tailored to the body.” And the boot has changed, too. “We expect the kicks to be higher and the dancing to be more joyful because these boots are a lighter weight with a softer sole,” said Finglass. “We’ve removed the steel shank. Now that they’re more pliable that should enhance a pointed toe and a higher kick.”
source: people.com
