That 70s Rush!

[BBelleADPi]

I went through rush in the fall of 1971. Peasant blouses, check. Baby oil mixed with iodine. Check. But I must admit wrapping albums w/ tin foil to reflect the sun is a new one-but had we known about it, I guarantee you, we would have done it. No tanning creams, no spray tans, no tanning salons-girl, we'd cut class to have a good tan for going out at night. Hot pants were the biggie for all of us going thru rush then. And you're right about no designer jeans, etc, giving you that "elite" style. I think it was more Villager skirts, dresses, and blouses. Oh, and jewelry.

The sororities did all dress alike, every night, from what I can remember. I know we all wore the same blue and white checked peasant dress for ice water teas night, and all wore the same black one-piece pantsuit w/ wide legs for pref. Big sets, food, etc. Oh, and for pref, all the sororities had them in alums' big houses in our college town. Other parties were at the houses.

Carry on, I'm loving this!

[CougarGrad]

Originally Posted by BBelleADPi

I went through rush in the fall of 1971. Peasant blouses, check. Baby oil mixed with iodine. Check. But I must admit wrapping albums w/ tin foil to reflect the sun is a new one-but had we known about it, I guarantee you, we would have done it. No tanning creams, no spray tans, no tanning salons-girl, we'd cut class to have a good tan for going out at night. Hot pants were the biggie for all of us going thru rush then. And you're right about no designer jeans, etc, giving you that "elite" style. I think it was more Villager skirts, dresses, and blouses. Oh, and jewelry.

{mini-70's-fashion-and-beauty tangent}

How about squeezing fresh lemons into your hair before you laid out in the sun? My mother and cousins did that in the 70's... anyone else?

{/mini-70's-fashion-and-beauty tangent}


I'm gonna be pooped after trick-or-treating with the kids tonight, but I will find the energy to come back here and see if That_70s has added anything more...

[aephi alum]

Suddenly I feel so young... I was born in the 1970's. I'm kinda glad I missed the travesty that was 1970's "fashion". Although I do remember being the only girl in my kindergarten class who had short hair - long hair parted down the middle was all the rage, even for 5-year-olds, but my parents forced me to have a bowl cut. I looked like a boy.

Keep it coming!

[AnchorAlumna]

Originally Posted by aephi alum

I'm kinda glad I missed the travesty that was 1970's "fashion".

Don't worry.
In 35 years, today's fashions will be a "travesty"!

[MerryGPhiB]

[QUOTE=CougarGrad;1738406]{mini-70's-fashion-and-beauty tangent}

How about squeezing fresh lemons into your hair before you laid out in the sun? My mother and cousins did that in the 70's... anyone else?

{/mini-70's-fashion-and-beauty tangent}


Oh yeah! Loved the lemons and the baby oil and we used to sit out on our roof top " sunning ourselves" in our short beach chairs. We usually got attention from our next door neighbors the Chabad house.

i also remember one night when I lived upstairs a leg coming through my slighty open window. It was the Sigma Chis trying to do a panty raid. As I sunk my nails into the guys leg he let out a blood curdling scream. the rest of the guys ran away and left him to a house full of Gamma Phis who came running. BTW he did get invited to the next dance......

[That_70s_Rush!]

Oh, panty raids and squeezing lemon juice into our hair! The memories!

Donna – The outside of this house looks absolutely gorgeous, even if it is the same ugly color it has always been. There are tiny twinkling white lights in all of the trees, and large glass bowls in their colors are filled with floating candles and lining the walkway to the front door. There is a canopy draped across the front door and it is covered with a blanket of their flowers. The sides are decorated with dozens of little replicas of their symbol, and as I move closer I realize that each one has the name of a sister on it. I thought that was very touching and really made me feel like they had a bond. The sisters are all in matching black dresses and pearls. Again, I feel a little less than elegant!

Here, we start off with some dessert, an iced cookie in the shape of their symbol. They’re serving punch out of a fountain and I think it’s the coolest thing ever. My cookie has my name on it as well as the name of the girl preffing me, who went to Prissy Prep and was a year ahead of me. We’d been in several clubs together there, so I knew her rather well and really liked her. We have a great conversation about how we have so much in common and how comfortable I feel with everyone in the house. It really did feel like coming home when I walked in the door. But I’m not sure if that’s the best thing or not. Will I have a chance to grow and experience new things if I am with so many of the same people for the next four years? Or will this provide just the anchor I need in a giant sea of the unknown at this huge school?

The ceremony was another touching candlelight event. A Prissy Prep Senior I knew was one of the sisters who spoke about her Donna experience. Then another Prissy Prep alumna shared a beautiful poem. My rusher squeezed my hand tightly and smiled a genuinely warm smile at me. Afterwards, she presented me with a small gift in a handmade box that not only represented the sorority but was personalized with something that symbolized Prissy Prep as well. I was blown away by the thought that went into making it. (Yes, girls, for those who are counting, that makes two gifts plus flowers received during pref. How times have changed, huh?)

Once we come to the end of the party, guess what? ANOTHER WISH! Either all of these girls really really really want me or they are just trying to let me down easy and they say that to all the rushees! But right afterwards, just as we are walking out the door, my rusher whispers “You have always been a Donna. I hope you will make it official tonight.” I burst into tears (and I had been doing so well here!) because I knew exactly what she meant.

[aephi alum]

Originally Posted by MerryGPhiB

Oh yeah! Loved the lemons and the baby oil and we used to sit out on our roof top " sunning ourselves" in our short beach chairs. We usually got attention from our next door neighbors the Chabad house.

Too funny!!

[OldAOPi]

Love your Story! We didn't get presents at my state college---

But, back to tanning issues, I am not sure the girls these days understand what we did to have a tan on at least our top half before formal. Where we wore our leftover prom dresses. Gunne Sax,, etc. I was telling someone the other day what it was like to lay out with the oil trying to catch some not so strong midwestern sun on a sunny day in April. 70 degrees was worth trying for. You had SO few chances....I actually had a tanning lamp - which was a high voltage light with tanning bulb....just made us kinda red but it was a precurser to those tanning beds! And the tanning products were horrid. By the time summer hit, it was out the door with the oil and blankets - plan on 3 hours for a good afternoon...

[micky80]

I think I saw a clue in one of her posts! It's a great story. I went through rush in the early 80s, but a lot of these types of things were the same. Theme day was over the top. During my rush, everyone wore embroidered Mexican dresses.

michelle

[DaffyKD]

Originally Posted by CougarGrad

{mini-70's-fashion-and-beauty tangent}

How about squeezing fresh lemons into your hair before you laid out in the sun? My mother and cousins did that in the 70's... anyone else?

I put the lemon juice in my hair before laying out. It was suppose to help bleach your hair and oh how I really wanted to be a blond. I never did achieve that look. Was always a brunette, but looked like a brunette who put lemon juice on her hair and laid out in the sun.

Originally Posted by OldAOPi

Love your Story! We didn't get presents at my state college---

I went to a state college too. We were not allowed to take anything out of the house during rush, so we received no gifts on preference night. I went through rush in fall of '71.

DaffyKD

[OldAOPi]

Originally Posted by BBelleADPi

I went through rush in the fall of 1971. Peasant blouses, check. Baby oil mixed with iodine. Check. But I must admit wrapping albums w/ tin foil to reflect the sun is a new one-but had we known about it, I guarantee you, we would have done it. No tanning creams, no spray tans, no tanning salons-girl, we'd cut class to have a good tan for going out at night. Hot pants were the biggie for all of us going thru rush then. And you're right about no designer jeans, etc, giving you that "elite" style. I think it was more Villager skirts, dresses, and blouses. Oh, and jewelry.

The sororities did all dress alike, every night, from what I can remember. I know we all wore the same blue and white checked peasant dress for ice water teas night, and all wore the same black one-piece pantsuit w/ wide legs for pref. Big sets, food, etc. Oh, and for pref, all the sororities had them in alums' big houses in our college town. Other parties were at the houses.

Carry on, I'm loving this!

I went through a bit later in the 70's - we wore alot of sundresses and cork wedge shoes with the straight hair parted down the middle. The short hair girls all sported Dorothy Hamill 'dos. I was more the Clairol Kindness Hot Roller kind of girl myself. The dressy outfits sometimes required white wedge sandals with the lovely accent of coffee colored panty hose - usually LEGG EGGS.

My sister took me shopping before RUSH and I do believe I had some fun outfits with vests and sparkly threads. I liked straight leg levis which made me more of a rebel than a trendsetter.

Anyone remember cap sleeve tees and overalls with matching bandana scarves tied on loop? Or was that just a backwards Nebraska thing? Jogging suits and terry cloth shorts were real popular too (not during rush!)

Can't wait to see how the rest of the show goes! (The "Girl of AOII" song keeps going through my mind...and "Remember")