Ok first I've got a smaller chapter/small school question: when you all say jersey, what does that exactly mean?

Second, coming from a small chapter/small school/just had a first recruitment of 94 women up from 60 the year before, I can understand the difference between everyone having american eagle/old navy requirements versus just wear jeans. Our clothes, since not a brand requirement, were checked by the dir. of formal recruitment so we looked similar and not raggedy.

Just one other question, what if all the sisters in the chapter can't wear a particular brand? Like they don't have their size? I know not all of my sisters A)like american eagle B)could fit into their clothes? So seriously, what do you do then in a large chapter like that?

In response to the jewelry question, I think the specific number was to make sure that some of us weren't wearing a whole lot of jewelry and the rest of us wearing none at all. Five just seemed like as good a number as any, I suppose. Also, we were told that earrings count as 2 pieces. So my 5 pieces will be something like earrings, lavaliere, bracelet, and ring.

I would also say that dressing alike/frilly things, while superficial, are hard to let go of unless EVERY chapter on a campus is prepared to let go of them. Since recruitment is all about quick, memorable impressions, if one house invites you to a party and does an elaborate skit, serves you cheesecake with your name on all while dressed smartly in matching outfits, and another house is in a bare room, dressed just like all the pnms, and really only has conversations...at the end of the day one house is easier to remember or even seems like it cares more about making a good impression. As long as there are choices to be made, there will always be a competitive aspect of recruitment. If everybody is no frills, then the impressions are the same, but it's hard for some chapter traditions to die, especially if the alumna involved would like to see them carried on, or if you're the only house on a campus willing to let go of them (not speaking from personal experience).

In reply to the original topic:

1) House night: chapter jerseys and denim skirts or capri's

2) Philanthropy night: any white shirt with a collar (oxford or polo), khaki's, a black belt, black shoes

3) Sisterhood night: a nice evening top (something you would wear to a nice dinner) and a black bottom (skirt or pants)

4) Pref night: black dress

I am a PNM and had such a great time shopping for rush!!!

I bought two really pretty bermuda style shorts with gorgeous tops to match. One is a deep green with a narrow plunge neck (very tasteful!) The other is a white ruched short sleeve top. Then I got a white skirt with cami and seafoam green wrap (very pretty!) Finally, I have a cami/shrug set with some very classic pants.

To date I haven't gotten a specific dress code, so I've really been working with one of the girls advice here. She recommended to think of a "classy lady."

Hopefully I'll make it to prefs...but will wait until I get closer to rush to plan that outfit. As of now I own two pretty dresses. One a turquoise one...very fun, but very Florida. Then I have a classic black halter dress. Maybe those will work :)

I'm also working on shoes but will definitely be wearing heels.

I still have to talk my school's recruitment coordinator to make sure I'm all set. In the meantime I can't wait!!!! Two weeks from tommorow, yay!

Don't just go by my opinion, but everything sounds absolutely adorable!! Hope you get to wear that turquoise dress! :)

In Florida, a jersey is a short-sleeved shirt with colored cuffs and a horizontal stitch line just under the neck. On the front: tackle twill letters (optional embroidery can be stitched across the letters), on the back at the top is your name (some put their nickname) on the back in the middle is either blank, a pattern in tackle twill or those who have "family numbers" will put a number. Some put the year (eg. 05) on the back. These raised numbers match the fabric on the front. On the left sleeve above the colored cuff is your chapter affiliation and in some cases, the year. On the right are the initials of your sponsor (aka "Big", "Mom", "Diamond" Sister, etc.) and maybe a heart.

As far as recruitment clothing: my chapter (we had a lot of members!) had to go off and get their own clothing (they had 4 months to purchase everything) and were given detailed instructions on what they needed. IE: (Red short sleeved polo shirt with flattering chino shorts, flat-front no pleats, brown belt and MATCHING brown sandals.) When Spirit Week began, there was Recruitment Dress Preview where you had to try on your clothes for each round and go before the Recruitment Chair, Adviser, Standards and Chapter President for approval (including how you would wear your hair, jewelry, etc.) If it wasn't approved, you had a week to change it out and get reapproved.

Now, the chapter I advised had less members but were still a good-sized chapter (maybe about 45-70 returning members to recruitment) and they actually did purchase all the recruitment clothes for the women, who would then write a check to the chapter for those clothes.

Clothes!
 

Oh how I love this post. I'm rushing in two weeks, and I am extremely excited!

First day- Nice teal polo with either a white skirt or nice brown pants (depending on the weather). I will also have a very simple white and teal necklace on.

Day two- A brown sleevless blouse that gathers under the breasts or a oxford with thin green and blue stripes with dressy khaki capris.

Pref night- Black spagitti strap dress that has a vertical stripe from the neckline to the waistline that has a tasteful amount of sequins on the stripe. The dress falls to my mid-calf area. (I was debating on the color of this dress, but I talked to girls that are already in sororites at my university, and they said that a black dress would be the best because the attention would be given to me and not my clothes.)


I didn't want to go overboard on my clothing because in Dallas it is extremly hot in August, and I didn't want to be too uncomfortable.

I also have a questions that might be a little off topic. For those that are rushers, how important is the clothes that PNMs wear? I know to look put together, but I don't have a lot of money to spend on clothing because I am saving for the financial repsonsiblity of a sorority if I get a bid. So, are simple items with a little character with jewlrey a good choice for rush?

Thanks in advance for anyone who repsonds to my question.

And, good luck to all the other girls that are going through rush this fall too!

Re: Clothes!
 

Clothes don't have to cost a fortune to look good. Just make sure your clothing is tasteful, comfortable, well put together, and it fits you well. Check out the 'What NOT to wear' thread for some advice. Remember that rush is about making a good impression, and appearance is part of that. Your choices sound good. :)

Is this dress too dressy for pref day?
 

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7G949kdxlP...ricalDress.jpg

sorry the picture is soo small, but freakishly enough I have this complete outfit. I've looked everywhere for a dress but I couldnt find one that I liked, and I already had this dress that I've only worn once ( to a wedding) so I was thinking why not. I'm also alittle scared to wear because its last season's from BP and I know it was a popular dress. I've seen it in some girls pictures of their formal. I was thinking that wearing the tights would play it down alittle. maybe I could even belt it? ( thin black belt perhaps) also when I wore this dress I wore my hair in a curled side ponytail similar to this:
http://x9f.xanga.com/48ef2a6637c3523...b187817936.jpg
I didnt think it was too much at the time, but now i'm just super worried that it will be
any opinions at all will be appreciated greatly, even if they are mean ones

I personally don't like the dress (the ruffles, maybe? I don't know why I don't like it), but I still think it would be fine if the guidelines are After 5/Party.


Please refrain from giving NPC recruitment advice. Thanks.

Where are those School House Rock clips when you need them?

It would be way too formal for my school. And if girls from your school are wearing it to formals, it probably is too dressy for your school as well.
Personally, I'm not a fan either.

It's going to depend on your school but with tights and heels I personally think it would be cute. I wouldn't belt it. I also think the LC side ponytail would be cute, if you do indeed curl it like hers (it says laid back, but it's obvious you spent some time on it...so it's an ok laid back...and of course super trendy...if only my hair would curl, I'd be doing that for just about every semi-formal occasion for the holidays).

If you're planning on dressing just like that picture, bring it to one of your recruitment counselors at the question and answer session or on the first day of recruitment and see what they think. Some things don't work at every campus (for the record, that would be perfect for my campus, but some are more/less dressy). They can tell you if you need to tone it down or not. I will say this...IMO it's better to be a little over-dressed than a little under-dressed.

Pardon me, I didn't catch that. Did you mean to say, "I just wanted to say that's a cute dress and she'll look good"?

Thanks!
 

to everyone! and I completely forgot that I could ask my rho chis. I will definately be doing that after the holiday!