Disclaimer: I don't know where you go to school and I am not well versed on muslim culture or appropriate dress.

That being said, an outfit like this would be acceptable where I went to school and help out at for recruitment: http://www.anntaylor.com/catalog/out...urrentPageNo=2
I understand that the sleeveless-ness of the top may not work, but even if this was done with a fully sleeved shirt, and accessorized properly would look fantastic!

This is a great blog, and a lot of the dresses they have up would work for pref at my school, though I'm not sure about a more competitive one (our school is comparatively laid-back).
http://hijabulous.blogspot.com/

ETA disclaimer: I'm not Muslim but my BFF is, so I'm not totally qualified to give advice but not unqualified either I hope?

Greekgrrl: You are pretty spot-on on the kinds of pieces for separates look. I didn't read your comment under the link and clicked on it. I saw the price, it was like woahh!But, yes thankyou for the suggestion.

gee_ess: I am looking around in the cocktail dress/formal wear department and those pieces are exactly the ones I am looking out for and trying to find a right combo. The problem that I am having is with the top and with this being august, almost all tops that I have seen have too short or no sleeves. Its actually a challenge to find a top with the appropriate sleeve length. I am still looking, though, so hopefully.

Gusteau: I hope that I can find a balance between the extremes.

MaggieXi: That top is actually really cute. The neckline is great too. I would need either a blazer or a top with long sleeves for it to work. I am going to keep looking but thank you for the visual.

COBaby: I think/from what I have heard, our school is pretty laid back too but I am not too sure. Some of the dresses on the page are awesome but with maxi dresses, most of the ones I have come across while shopping have been too casual. I am still looking though.

Again, Thank you all for your tips. I am going to try looking for a nice pair of formal pants and a top to go with it or a formal-ish maxi dress of possible. I might end up wearing our regional clothing. I have a lot of options now and I think I can go shopping tommorow and actually have my eye out for pieces similar to the ones that have been posted here.

Just as an aside, if I do go for separates, would pastels be okay because I know a lot of people do black or red. I like pastels or maybe a nice purple. Or does the color not really matter?

Disclaimer: I am not attempting to be humorous or to lack respect but here goes: In my neighborhood there are a number of Orthodox Jewish families. The women too must dress modestly. I have seen numerous tea length dresses that look lovely with a cap sleeve worn with a gauzy wrap. A dear friend is going to an ultra Orthodox wedding in two weeks and she is wearing a cocktail dress below the knee, and although the top (solid material) ends just above the breast there is sleeve and up to the neck gauzy material covering her arms and shoulders.

I believe that I have seen Ralph Lauren (not the couture line) tea length dresses that are lovely florals. I would go online to Bloomingdale's, Nordstroms's, Macy's...whatever major department store that you enjoy patronizing. Also, look for stores in Utah. I know that they have more modest clothing there. (No, I am not being snide. We were in Salt Lake City and happened to go shopping and thie modesty factor was quickly explained to us.)

Have fun during recruitment.

hey girl

i PM'd you. i am a muslim in a sorority as well and although I think of myself as somewhat liberal, I am quite modest in what I wear. For my preference two years ago I wore a dress from ann taylor that came to a few inches above my ankles. I felt a LITTLE bit odd because everyone else was wearing shorter dresses but it was not something that my house held against me :) i think the key is to be COMFORTABLE in what you wear because if you feel that you are out of place, others might feel that way too and perceive it as you not wanting to be there.

Pastels will be fine for the blouse. :)

Keep us updated on your progress! I will be interested in hearing what you choose to wear and how recruitment goes.

How long before your recruitment starts? I know the fall lines are starting to come out now - look specifically in Ann Taylor (and Ann Taylor Loft) and you might find some long sleeved shirts there. I only say Ann Taylor because I know someone that works there and she mentioned that they put out all their fall floorset stuff. I would imagine Macy's, etc would be the same since they're in back to school time.

all those examples are very pretty-palazzo pants are so flattering. i wore a pair last year while helping in the backroom at a recruitment and had to leave the room for a moment and overheard a couple of the pnms whispering to each other how cool my slacks were.

I second stores that cater to the LDS as a place to purchase gowns (bridesmaid, formal, initiation) that will be long enough, have sleeves, and don't show too much cleavage. I am not LDS but when I was shopping for a wedding gown I did go to a store that had a section of dresses that were popular with the Mormon brides as I was not interested in anything strapless, sleeveless, halter, backless, or cleavage displaying. You may be able to find a reasonably priced bridesmaid style gown you can order in white if you join and it is appropriate for what that sorority requires of their initiation clothing.

www.latterdaybride.com has a lot of nice stuff so you can get some ideas, though the store I went to in Spokane had dresses from designers who had styles running the whole spectrum. I'm sure there's a store where you live that could help you find a dress.

ellebud: Thankyou for your suggestions. It sounds nice. I am going to google around and check out some catalogues and see what I find.

emel: Thankyou for your message. Your preff dress sounds beautiful and hopefully the houses that I visit on Preff don't hold the way I dressed against me. A lot of you ladies have been recommending Anna Taylor. I am totally going to take a look and see what I can find.

gee ess: I love pastels so hopefully I can find a nice blouse/dress in one of the pastel shades. I hope that recruitment goes well and I will hopefully be able to keep you ladies posted.

agzg: Recruitment is mid September and hopefully, I can check out some fall lines. I hadn't even thought about that. Maybe if I don't immediately find something in the summer line, I might wait a little and find something a little closer to September or early September, itself.

FSUZeta: The Palazzos seem awesome. They seem comfy as well. I hope I can find some luck with a top and I am golden.

Vandal Squirrel: The website is actually really helpful. I wouldn't have even known what LDS was until today. But this is good. Thankyou. I like some of the dresses and hopefully can find something similar here and if not, I can order it online.

Just as an aside: Are initiation dresses always white?

Thanks again for all your help. I didn't get a chance to go shopping today but I am going shopping again this weekend and hopefully will find something(fingers crossed).

Not always, but often. New Members generally find out shortly after bid day what attire is required for initiation because often times (especially in the case of white dresses) it becomes harder to find as winter comes.

Danke Shoen - I just want to commend you on your politeness, in taking the time to repond to each person who has posted. Also, I think that you have a great attitude about trying to find the right outfit which will accommodate your religious beliefs.

I agree. I like this thread a lot. :)

agzg: Thankyou, I love wearing white so I was wondering. I know that thinking about initiation is assuming a little too much but I am trying to stay positive.

KD4Me and 33girl: Thankyou for your compliments. You two are way too kind:)

what about wearing like a short dress with a belt, and then black leggings underneath? don't know if that is too informal, but there are a lot of "dressy casual dresses" at forever 21 now...so maybe you could do that?