KR, I wasn't mentioning you specifically--you're one of my favorite GCers, and I like hearing what you have to say regarding clothing! :D I do remember in the past, some posts and questions about Kate Spade purses and Mikimoto pearls, and I would hate it if this post became something like that. Even though I went to school in the North, I am familiar with a lot of the pressure women go through to join a sorority in the South--and I know we don't want to add onto that by bringing up things that people feel like they have to afford.

I have known women who were going through Southern Rush who had their wardrobes (the sundresses and Pref dress) made by a seamstress--if you can find someone who can sew well, a great compromise between style and savings! (and these were people who could have afforded to buy the entire contents of any Lilly store...but wanted their own sense of style!) :)

I go to Amelia Island also every summer!!!! It is absolutely gorgeous and peaceful

When the tone of a thread leans into "How much to spend on rush outfits," I get kinda nervous. Some people have said that this is common in Southern schools (needing to have a blinging wardrobe) and some say its also Western schools. I go to the U of AZ and don't know personally a single sorority girl so I don't know if my rush is like that (I'm a transfer from a smaller college and there were no sororities). I surely hope not. I like to shop, but I have to be conservative. I love Target to death, but I'll hit the mall stores more often than not. Can anyone help me out as to what U of A is like? Are substitutions in clothing frowned upon??:eek: :eek:

PNMsMom - I am a recent alum from OSU, I am in law school now at that other university in Oklahoma. I actually am still involved in rush at my chapter (which I won't name but is probably obvious from my screen name). OSU's rush is pretty competitive: not cutthroat like southern schools, but not nearly laid back like in the west and north. I really enjoyed it; both rush and my 4 years in school and my sorority.

Just a suggestion: If you are looking for shorts for the first rounds to wear with the panhellenic-issued t-shirt I would recomend capri pants. That way you don't have to worry about them being too short. Another suggestion is one of those longer denim skirts that are in style right now. If the t-shirt is too big (and it probably will be) I would tie it in the back if the bottoms aren't such that she can tuck it in. Just some suggestions. If you have any questions specific to OSUs rush I would be happy to answer them.

Good luck to your daughter!

lily dress
 

As much as i love looking at these gorgeous dresses, i have to hijack this thread for PNMS! if you are rushing in the north i would not go out and find a lily dress. (plus they are hard to find in the north anyway)
To say again what sugar and spice said earlier, i dont really see too many people wearing something like lily to our rush in michigan. Granted one year it was really warm and so then a kakhi skirt or maybe a lily type dress (NOT THE BIG BRIGHT FLORAL PRINTS but maybe some of the simpler ones) would be appropriate. However, our rush is always held in september or early october when it is usually quite a bit cooler and usually a sweater set and kakhis or a simple skirt is more appropriate. Actually the year i rushed i remember being sooo amazingly cold and hating having to wait outside for so long!
Rush i think in the north is a bit more conservative. As well as pref dresses go, the picture in our brochure shows a very simple black dress so many girls wear black. I do think wearing something besides black is actually a good idea because it helps distinguish yourself, however, keep it to muted tones, a nice darker blue, a dark purple, etc. What our rho chis said was to maybe think about what you wore to homecomming in high school. I know that i have found a lot of cheaper dresses from 50-100 range and have never paid over 100. I have shoped at the banana republic in michigan, the macys in san fran, and the watertower place in chicago. All very expensive type places to shop, however, just watch for the sales!
edited to correct typo.

Last night, I studied the OSU sorority websites. At Kappa Alpha Theta's site at www.okstate.edu/osu_orgs/kat are some great pictures of the members dressed for rush parties. From looking at those pictures, I think that we are all pretty much on track. I don't see anything that really looks like a Lily dress, but many are close. I did notice that there are several strapless dresses, so maybe my daughter's strapless dress would be a good backup. You never know when something tragic like a major spill might happen, so it will be nice to be prepared. Besides, my daughter feels a lot more comfortable in her new dresses and that will help her to relax during party time. Thanks for all your help!

Brand names
 

I think what killarneyrose and others are trying to do is encourage what I call "cross-shopping." You go look at the most expensive option and even the least expensive option. Study these in the store and determine what it is that makes each unique. Then, go look in your price range and find the one that incorporates all the best qualities you really think are important.

After looking at the Lily dresses on the internet and even trying on the dresses at Target, we went shopping and found dresses within our budget (on sale) that we are very pleased with. A lot of luck certainly helped! My husband went with us and even cross-shopped at some very expensive men's stores. He knew he wasn't going to purchase an $80 tie, but by seeing what $80 ties looked like, he was able to make a better decision at Penney's.

Re: lily dress
 

For those of you in Michigan looking for a Lily dress, they're at Marchall Fields at Somerset North in Troy. I'm sure the other department stores at Somerset probably have Lily too!

Re: Brand names
 

This is something I try to do all the time, but I have heard, and read on this board, that some girls frown on this, as it's seen as "trying to get away with a knock off." I don't see this as such but apparently, trying to find a less expensive version of a cute style is "tacky" in money-driven communities such as mine. Oh well, I have to do what my wallet will let me.

I have to throw in that I love Amelia Island!!!

but also that I do not like Lilly dresses! (but oh so much power to those of you who do). I saw them for the first time just a minute ago...all that pink...just not my style at all. PNM's mom: I'm glad you had a thorough and productive shopping trip!!!:D

Lilly on sale
 

30% off Spring 2003 at:

The Villiage Palm

http://www.villagepalm.com/

If you're interested....

Re: Lilly on sale
 

Only if you're paying the other 70%. ;)

Re: Re: Lilly on sale
 

lol! I was thinking the same thing. Cute dresses even thought they will probably never hang in my closet. :)

Well, just for all the PNMs out there freaking out about designer clothes - I have a little story for you!!

I waited about a week before recruitment to find me sun dress for "meet the greeks" day. Well, in august a lot of the stores are clearing out their summer stuff and bringing in their winter stuff and I was having NO luck.

I finally got frustrated and went to Old Navy to find just some normal clothes, and loaw and behold - I see a clearance rack of summer dresses. I got my meet the greeks dress for $10. I go to a school in Mississippi (southern rush), and I got invited back to every single sorority the next day. It didn't look like a versache, and it was pretty obvious that I didn't pay an arm and a leg for the dress - but it was cute and looked great on me.

Funny thing is, progressivly, the more expensive my outfit got, the more I got cut. hahahaha I saved my $180 Cache dress for pref. night - but by pref. they aren't really looking at your appearance, it goes a bit deeper than that.

(Don't get thrown off by the Cache dress either, it was around the time of my birthday when my mom and I went shopping - and my mom wanted to get me something really nice to go through recruitment with so she bought me that - as a semi-good luck thing and mostly a happy birthday dress. I laughed when I saw a girl wearing the same version of the dress only in pink on the same day I was wearing my $10 dress. She got cut from everything. Your appearance can catch an eye and help people to remember you, but you have to have the personality too.)

Re: Re: Re: Lilly on sale
 

Now, now. Be nice. I was trying to help.