To Wear or Not to Wear

Spring outfits are in full bloom around the University of Oregon campus. Students hurry around campus anticipating their classes coming to an end. Regardless of the stress of finals approaching, everyone’s style is as expressive and daring as ever. After all, it is the ’70s.

As seen in the Oregon Daily Emerald’s spring fashion issue, women are showing more skin, wearing halter tops and mini skirts with their hair wrapped in bright scarves. The student paper also shows skirt hemlines are shorter and tops are ever so small.

But each step forward for Women’s Liberation moves men a step closer to hell, according to the Emerald’s writers. “Much of the blame for current campus fashion trends must be laid at the callused feet of women’s lib chicks,” Alan Smith writes in the April 1970 fashion issue.

Jeans and a sweatshirt, a popular outfit free of bold exposure, is a perfectly fine style for men, but offensively wrong for women. Poor old Mr. Levi, rolling over in his grave because women are wearing blue jeans that they shouldn’t even be allowed to buy in the first place, Smith writes. He continues, “Girls… shave your legs. Nothing hampers the view of a well-turned calf like two weeks growth of beard,”

At least writer Denise Alexander is looking out for women with her column, telling “hapless bodied females” to prevent their bottom and hips from looking big by wearing cotton, smocked gingham dresses and not wearing jersey bellbottoms.

“Don’t try to stuff yourself into the latest skinny ‘Young Edwardian’ label at your favorite boutique. It may look great on Penelope Tree, but not on you, so why try?” Alexander writes.

It’s the ’70s. Fashion progresses, but everyone still hates “chicks.”

A Note From the Publisher

Dear Readers,

The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.

That’s because of you!

Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.

Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.

We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.

And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.

None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.

As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.

Thank you for standing with us!