*Don't wear an organization's color theme and/or mascot. That doesn't mean avoid every color that is a sororities (because that would be too hard!)... but don't go to the Pi Phi house in wine and silver blue with an angel necklace.... thats a bit overboard and would probably work to your disadvantage! There are other ways to express your enthusiasm for a group!

Here's my pet peeve
 

Even if they say the round is "casual", avoid screen-printed t's unless it is one that your school has everybody wear for that round.

And for those girls at Southern Schools (or anywhere that it's really hot) and wearing open shoes, if your feet tend to get sweaty and stinky, spray them with aerosol deoderant before you leave your dorm/house/apartment!

Seems like everybody's covered the "biggies", now we're down to the details.

You don't need to spend big bucks on a professional manicure and pedicure, but your hands and feet (if wearing sandals or open toes shoes) should look nice. Now is not the time to express your personality with bizarre shades of polish. Skip the black, blue, purple or other "fun" colors. Fire engine red might also be a bit strong. Stick to the basics or go natural. Just make sure your nails are clean and shaped. This might sound petty, but it's all part of the whole package that you are presenting.

Here's my "don't" -

Don't forget to check your backside after you use the ladies room - especially if you are wearing a dress with hose...:o :(

Luckily it was at the student union between pref parties, and another rushee saw me in the bathroom and told me! I was on my way to Chi O, too!

Recommendation: take shine absorbing face blotting papers with you in your purse or rush bag. That way if it's grossly sticky/hot outside or you are just have oily skin you don't end up piling on powder and makeup after every party and look like a drag queen by the 10th house. :)

If you go to a school in the northeast or anywhere else where rush isn't very competitive and doesn't require dressing up for, at least brush your hair and don't show up in pajamas and a wrinkled t shirt. (It's been done before.)

Avoid anything could probably wear at a club as well. Unless they are a really nice pair of black pants.

Wash EVERYTHING you plan to wear that week beforehand.

Those ruffled minis don't make a good first impression on me, so I don't think it would make a good impression on others.

If all else fails, think JOB INTERVIEW! Or even first day on the job. (You know how you generally dress up a little more than usual when you first start any job.)

Invest in sandle toed nylons if you need to wear them with your skirts and such. The reinforced toe band is super tacky with sandles. And definitely buy more than one pair if you are wearing them more than once.

Forgive me if I repeat some of what others have said......

Don't wear clothes that don't fit. Try everything on a couple of days before rush, and make sure your outfits aren't either too snug or falling off your body.

Don't dress like you're going clubbing. You're there to meet your potential sisters, not guys.

Don't wear clothes that are wrong for the season. You don't want to melt or freeze. But, if it's going to be hot out, carry a cardigan or wrap - you never know when you're going to walk into a party and find the A/C on full, and goosebumps are not a good look. ;) If you find you don't need it, a sister or your rho chi will set it aside and you can collect it at the end of the party.

IF you are given a shirt by Panhellenic to wear for the first round, DON"T desecrate it by giving it your own personal flair of cut holes in the side or frayed bottoms with plastic beads, or the 80s cut shoulder look. We had some PNMs do this the year I was the Recruitment Vice President and they were required to buy a new shirt and be "normal." It was funny.

What NOT to wear

1) Something that is totally not YOU, in the hopes you might impress someone. You're not being true to yourself.
2) Anything too tight, too loose, too revealing or depicting words or images that might offend
3) Anything with a blatant sorority affiliation
4) Shoes that haven't been properly broken in
5) Messy hair and an ungroomed appearance
6) Excess perfume/scent
7) Night club attire
8) Denim (go with chinos or khaki)
9) t-shirts (unless you must because it is a Panhellenic-issued t-shirt that you've been instructed to wear on a set day-- don't mutilate the shirt-- you can accessorize the rest of your outfit)
10) mismatched shoes and belt
11) A cell phone (don't bring it into the sorority house!)

If you're unsure, look at the web sites for the chapters of the sororities at your school. They will more than likely have recruitment week photos of the chapter. The campus Panhellenic web site should have something similar. I recommend you dress yourself up just a notch above the recommended attire-- a good way to stand out from everyone else.

YES: You want to stand out (in a good way) so people remember you from all the other scores of PNM's.

DO: Call the office of Greek Life at your university for the best answers about your recruitment and attire, though.

I would avoid wearing clothing that is made of "thin" material that doesn't leave much to the imagination. On that note, if you wear something that is fitted, make sure to wear body-smoothing garments or a slip if they show any "dimples".

I would also avoid wearing an unlined bra because some houses are well air conditioned. Going from hot to cold can be a shock to the system.

Coffee filters are WONDERFUL for that!

I advise women who are uncomfortable without perfume to spritz their hair, instead of their skin. It will be much more subtle, and you won't use as much.

One thing NOT to wear: a bored look/frown! I can't think of a faster way to insure being cut quickly!

crabtree and evelyn has a little book of blotter papers-not much moola and very nice and compact.

Do people really pay that much attention to hands/feet? I mean...in the short amount of time we're given to meet/greet/understand girls, are hands/feet really going to stick out to people? I usually sport some pretty gnarly blisters, caluses, or band-aids on my hands from rowing and also the reason I won't even consider a manicure till the off season. My fingernails/cuticles are pretty gnarly, too, from photo chemicals and bike work...I just can't remember the last time I noticed someone's hands or feet, or when those things stuck out in my mind.

I don't think you'd get cut for having a bandaid around your thumb, but having nice hands and feet is part of looking put together and professional-- something you should also consider in job interviews. :) At the very least, wash your hands and feet and clean any dirt or grime from under your nails!