This school year marks change in the course of fashion at NU. We're not talking about the latest NorthFace coats or the recent line of Hunter boots, but the unveiling of new uniforms. Earlier this quarter, the marching band, cheerleading squad and men's basketball team revealed new uniforms that bring a flair of modern style to their outdated garb. But what about the uniforms of yesteryear—tucked away in boxes and pictured in old yearbooks? These old polyester getups are more than just pieces of outdated clothing; they embody special memories for the alumni who once proudly wore them. Over 50 years later, member of the Northwestern Hall of Fame and former basketball player Joe Ruklick ('59) vivdly recalls his “comfortably tight” ensemble which buttoned together to ensure the jerseys never untucked. “Our jerseys were very short, almost like bikini swimsuits,” Rucklick said. “They were primitive and comparable to what cavemen wear.”
Meanwhile, Northwestern University Marching Band alumna Brittany Petersen ('09) and vice president of publicity for the NUMB Alumni Association reminisces her “classy” band uniforms which were spontaneously purchased for the 1995 Rosebowl and comprised of plumes, black pants, capes and so much more.
“You can’t forget the black pants, they were unflattering for anyone with hips.” Petersen said. “But I will always have a special place in my heart for the uniform I wore.”
For pictures of previous NU uniforms click, on the images below.
