We can't wear our badges with jeans or flip flops or shorts. nothing you couldn't wear to formal chapter. Same was with our pledge pins. We had an informal recognition pin for everyday use whle pledging.

I believe this is a chapter by chapter thing. When I pledged, my chapter voted to change formal mtg dress to skirts/dresses stockings and closed toe shoes. My 2nd chapter is quite a bit more casual and I cringe when I see the badge with jeans and "a nice top." Hey, at least they got out of their pjs for the night.

I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you!

We could never wear our badge with jeans. In our chapter, they took "formal" chapter meetings very seriously. I remember when I was a NM the seniors actually wore formal gowns to meetings (with their badges, of course).

For me, it's a respect issue. I respect my badge and Delta Zeta, so I wouldn't dishonor her by wearing her badge when I don't look my best. But that's just me...

I completely agree. I would never wear my badge if I wasn't dressed appropriately to. Also it's stated for us that jeans and shorts are not to be worn as pin attire.

are you SERIOUS?! wow. Are we talking formal gowns as in prom type? I just can't imagine anyone doing that at my chapter meeting.

Pin attire in my chapter is "khakis or nicer". We have formal chapter once each month, at which all members wear pin attire with their pins. Actually, seniors don't have to, but often we have alumnae at the meeting so we do anyway.

The same rule goes for the NM badges, but we also give our new members wooden arrow pins that they can wear with jeans or whatever, so that they can feel special and recognized all the time.

I authored my chapter's original bylaw on this. We have "Class A" attire and "Class B" attire. A is basically jacket and tie. Class B is business casual. I did go into a lot of detail to ensure that people would understand what business casual meant -- i.e. no denim.

When I was in school our pin attire HAD to include panty hose or trouser socks, no tube tops or one shoulder tops without a cover over it and no really short skirts.

I kinda liked it...it made us all at least consider what we were going to wear and I felt it did our pin justice.

Business attire is for badges, your NM pin is also business. Business attire- interview clothes.
Ribbons can be worn with respectable clothing. ie no hoochie class wear.

We had casual chapter once a month and got to wear whatever, we didn't wear badges then.

Yep... prom-type dresses. It was quite a sight! They argued that our Founders would have loved it!

This discussion is enlightening. I simlpy assumed,per the experience of my Fraternity, that anything other than suit and tie (or dressier) would be unheard of as proper attire for wearing the badge (pin) of your group. And do your groups circumscribe this use through your ritual, etc.? Because of this I've only worn my badge a couple of times. I usually will waer a lapel pin instead.

Depending on the region you are in... pin attire can either be very strictly enforced, or very lax. I was shocked to see the trendy non-business clothing that passed for pin attire when I lived on the West Coast... just as I am sure that ladies in South Carolina would have been horrified by our open toed shoes and no pantyhose in Florida.

Within ADPi, both the badge worn by initiated members and the new member pin are to be worn only with business attire. You may not wear your pin with denim, casual clothing, or formal attire (unless it is an installation banquet.)

ETA: With members running into so much overprogramming, you just have to pick your battles. I'd happily run a yearly "Business Attire and Resume/Interview" Workshop with members so they at least have an idea of what is expected in the "real word," but regionally, it is hard to peg what is "business attire."

Folks in Los Angeles show up to work in jeans and flip flops... and yes, even velour track suits. Whereas, in Boston, you see a lot more suits, ties and button down shirts.

That's interesting... so you couldn't wear your badge to a formal?

no, not unless it is a chapter installation. I've seen some members wearing their pins with formal dresses at recruitment prefs, and that's not correct, either.

But again, you have to pick your battles. I'd rather make sure my members have a healthy sense of self-respect and respect for each other instead of being paranoid about pins on taffeta ;)