Solar Eclipse Fashion!

The 2024 Solar Eclipse is in the record books. This amazing life changing, soul searching event brought together people from all over the US (and in some cases the world) and from all walks of life.  The total solar eclipse was visible in the US from Texas to Maine with a partial eclipse visible almost nationwide.

To celebrate an event like this, sometimes it takes a bit of cohesion for those that are in a group, thus, solar eclipse fashion! During the Richmond Solar Eclipse Event that took place, April 5-8, 2024, in Richmond, Indiana several individuals, and groups joined together sporting solar eclipse fashion! My friend Linda and I attended the event as guests of Visit Richmond Indiana and Nancy Sartain of the Bureau was the hostess with the mostess! We were set up in a media tent at the University of Indiana East and had an amazing view.

Wayne County Indiana advertised as “The BEST place to be in the dark!”. There were over 50 events that took place over the weekend.

The Event

Dr. Wes Tobin, a professor at the University of Indiana East shared Totality would begin at 3:08 p.m. Eastern time. It ended at 3:11 p.m. “In Richmond Indiana, it’s been over 1200 years since the last Total Eclipse. It last occurred May 15, 831,” Dr. Tobin said.

The next Total Eclipse in Indiana will take place on September 14, 2099. A bit of time away! So, it was important to make the most of the big day. Nancy had us all outfitted for the Totality. The t-shirt you can purchase at the Visit Indiana Visitor’s Center design was selected from a contest. “Carvin Reinhart’s design was chosen. Carvin used the sun, and we could play with it,” Nancy said.

Besides fashion, it was important to have the correct safety equipment. Dr. Tobin shared how to use eclipse glasses and more.

Nancy provided us with glasses, with the correct ISO. I also had a few other fun Eclipse items to identify and remember the day!

Along with the glasses to see the sun, Visit Richmond also had some cool viewers made. These were wonderful to look through, and especially nice for kids!

A filter also had to be used with a camera or telescope. Nancy outfitted us with special Solar Snap filters that fit over the lens of the phone. After downloading the app, a small piece of Velcro held the filter over the lens!

The students!

At the University of Indiana East, several students were helping visitors find their way. They directed us where to go and showed us activities that were taking place. To help identify them, they had their own eclipse fashion.

Visitors solar eclipse fashion.

Kent Leach came to Richmond from Green Bank, West Virginia. This town is a Wi-Fi free zone, Kent shared. “We are in a Quiet Zone,” he said.

He lives in a 13,000-square-mile area that is home to the Green Bank Observatory. The observatory uses steerable radio telescopes to measure invisible energy waves. To do this they require complete electromagnetic silence. They have made amazing discoveries.

Kent’s friend said he used his cell phone and sent a text for the first time during their visit to Richmond. Kent picked out a fun shirt online that was made in Sri Lanka. It fit the day perfectly!

The Herrmann family was visiting from Ohio, and their son traveled from Minneapolis. “We came here a couple of days ago to check out the tours, and got some eclipse memorabilia and hats,” they shared.

the Herrmans were especially impressed with Richmond, Indiana’s Chocolate Trail.

While Mr. Herrmann used a hat from the 2017 eclipse, mom and son had new Visit Richmond solar eclipse hats. They also chose their clothing colors for the different colors that the eclipse would reflect red and green in particular react to the lack of sunlight.

A visitor from Silver Springs, Maryland was a serious viewer. Set up with a telescope, he selected a shirt that reflected another hobby that fit the eclipse theme as well. “I chose my frisbee shirt. It fit together for eclipse travel.”

Planning ahead!

At the end of the day back at the Comfort Suites hotel, I met a group that traveled from North Carolina. They were comprised of a group of nine college friends that gather for each eclipse.

They went to Kentucky for the 2017 eclipse and came to Richmond for the 2024 Total Eclipse. Decked out in their 2017 shirts, one gentleman in the group said they were planning ahead. The next total solar eclipse is set to happen on August 12, 2026, over Greenland, Iceland, Spain, Russia and a small part of Portugal according to NASA. They are talking about traveling to Spain. Will you be there?

Eclipse Fashion is still available.

Jewelry is always my favorite travel souvenir. Besides the cool eclipse necklace Nancy provided us with, I bought eclipse earrings at the Village Forager in Centerville. Besides the earrings, there was also necklaces, cups and more!

Each town in Wayne County pulled out all the stops and provided their own take on the eclipse. At the Red Chandelier, in Cambridge City they were calling their celebration Moon Fest on Main, and they were selling T-shirts. They had a 5K with this theme.

Nancy shared that they still have T-shirts, hats and some cool eclipse puzzles available at the Visitor’s Center in Richmond. So, you can get some memorabilia to preserve the day. What eclipse fashion did you wear for the 2024 Totality? I’d love to know.