How formal is Pref. night?
 

I know it changes per school, and per sorority, and per year, but my school's website only shows two dresses on the website which doesn't give me a very good idea.

I assume by 'formal' it means cocktail dresses, not prom-like dresses.

I have found a dress that I love, but I keep thinking it might be too formal. It is a form-fitting bubble hemmed pink dress.

It's the same material most prom dresses are made of (the shiny material), but it short and more party-like.

Here's my questions:
1. How formal was your dress? ((A link to a similar dress would help if you can. If not, it's cool. :]))
2. Where did you find your dress?
3. Is the dress I described above too formal?
4. Is it best to stick with neutral/simple colors, or are bright colors acceptable?

Thanks girls! If there are similar threads, just link me. :] I've searched around and can't find exactly what I'm looking for (but I tend to overlook the obvious sometimes. ha ha)

depends on where you are going through recruitment. Some schools are "no frill" or have a pretty casual recruitment all together. Other schools are more formal. I would think that from what you're saying "formal" means like a cocktail dress...definitely NOT a prom dress. Also, at some schools, PNMs wear black dresses to pref. But, that wouldnt be required but it might mention it in the recruitment info. I would say dresses like these would probably work with what it sounds like they're suggesting.

http://i32.tinypic.com/jj0ntg.jpghttp://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/.../09style.3.jpg

just make sure its simple and classic. not too short or anything.

The dress you are describing sounds like it COULD be bordering on too prom-y for pref. Think more cocktail, less homecoming.

Personally, I got my dress at a local boutique and it was black with kind of a cut out scoop neck that was covered in a black mesh with beading (that sounds slutty/weird but it was really cute!).

I would say colors are ok if you are a person that normally wears colors (I usually stick to neutrals). You want to be comfortable and still be yourself.

Something like this:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3101832/...bo=6014146&P=1

or this
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3101467/...bo=6014146&P=1

would be great. I personally love Nordstrom but there are cute dresses available at any budget. If you do end up joining a chapter you will probably be able to wear it again for a formal or something so you can get your money's worth.

Ps- now I REALLY REALLY REALLY want both of those dresses. But I am not a PNM, le sigh.

You want it to be very classic/mature/cute, not so much flashy... I got mine from J Crew.

Ah, good to know. Thank you!

Turns out my taste tends to be more formal than is required. I'll start looking for more of a cocktail dress. Thank you once again, to Nordstrom I go. :]

Pref attire will differ from school to school. I've never heard of a school where PNMs wear formal, prom-like dresses, but maybe there are schools like that.

1. My dress was a 3/4 sleeve multicolored wrap dress. I went through recruitment in winter, though. Looking back, I would have gone for more of a cocktail look.
2. I got mine on eBay. It was BCBG. I had been lusting over it and found it cheaper there. I didn't get it specifically for pref, though. It was just what I decided to wear out of what I had.
3. At my school, it your dress would be too formal.
4. I've never heard of a school where an LBD isn't appropriate for pref. At some schools it is a necessity (Texas comes to mind), at others, a colored dress is perfectly fine.

Thanks for the help. And suggestion of store. :]

I think I will stick to a LBD with a pop of color to be safe but myself (the pop of color).

I was thinking of checking eBay but I've always been paranoid of things like that because I tend to float between two different sizes so I never know what to do.

you have all summer to find a dress. I'm sure you can find a cute one that's in your budget and not have to get it off ebay. Or you might even have something in your closet now that would work! Good luck shopping!

The only dress I have in my closet that is the least bit formal (I have given away all my other formal dresses from the years) is my prom dress from last year (which, now that I look at it, is more like a cocktail dress..).

But thanks! :]

The school that I volunteer for has a no frills recruitment and the sorority women and PNM's wear cocktail dresses- short never long. I think the 2 examples from Bee Bee are perfect. BTW, I would go more classic then high school prom- that way you'll be able to wear the dress again for other sorority functions.

I'm leaning toward a cute classically cut dress from Nordstrom. :]

Thank you for your advice.

Pref night at my school is usually a cocktail dress.

Mine was like this: http://www.camillelavie.com/c-produc...g&gid=15&cid=1

...I just had a different color.

I would recommend you buy something simple and nothing too short for taste.

That is so gorgeous! It looks similar to the one I am leaning towards. :]

Mine was a sundress but our recruitment was low on frills and that was the only day that that level of dressiness was expected.

This is the only day that any sort of formalness is expected at my school as well. I think I'll try to contact someone in the Greek office and ask them.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone, I had been wondering the same thing! However, I've heard that it is better NOT to wear black because most of the sisters wear black, and a PNM would be more likely to stand out. I'm posting a few links, please tell me which one (if any) would be the most appropriate. (Semi-competitive ACC school).

http://www.dillards.com/webapp/wcs/s...925&R=03301251

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3113301/...bo=6020250&P=6

http://www.dillards.com/webapp/wcs/s...098&R=03292181

Also, would a pink Lilly Pulitzer Carly dress (the one that was in-store only) with ruffles and the white beading be formal enough? Or should I wear that to skit night (night before bid night). Or a less formal Lilly?

I like the purple Maggy London dress the best. And not just because my favorite color is purple. It looks the most grown-up, but it is still fun!

Another vote for the purple. The one shouldered teal one looks like a bar dress and the strapless one is pretty but it looks like even girlfriend in the picture is having some trouble keeping it up. :D

The pink Lily might be better for another night than Pref - pref is a serious night and your dress should reflect that.

this is the dress I wore for pref, which I had also worn for graduation. It was super comfortable in the hot August weather, too!

http://i1025.photobucket.com/albums/...refdress-1.jpg

On my campus it ranged from sundresses to cocktail dresses. Mine was a deep red and had wide straps and an empire waist. Evening wedding, cocktail party. But a lot of girls wore dresses more casual than that. I would suggest finding a dress like that because it CAN be formal, but it isn't too formal. You look classy, but not overdressed.

A black dress might not stand out a lot, it's true, but it's always safe. My biggest tip would be to avoid cleavage, minidresses, or super tight dresses. Personally I think shiny fabric would be a little much, but it depends on your campus. Would it be possible to post the pictures they offered? That way you could give an example without revealing your school.

the reason I said black was because on some campuses wearing black to pref round has become sort of a tradition. So, at these schools if you don't wear black you stand out like a sore thumb...but if your school isn't one of those then don't worry about it and wear whatever you feel most confident in.

and I like the purple best too.

At least one chapter on my campus still wears black on pref night I think and I know in the past PNM's haven't exactly stood out on pref night when wearing black...but on the other hand, they mostly looked classy and nice. It's safe.

^^yeah it just depends on the campus. One of my friends goes to a school where literally every PNM is in black and a lot of the chapters have their members in black too. But it definitely varies!

the purple is pretty.
i kind of want it... a lot... :D

HAHA Yes! Me too.. I may get it for my pref night :p

How about something like these?:

http://www.dillards.com/webapp/wcs/s...007&R=03223744

http://www.dillards.com/webapp/wcs/s...168&R=03288734

http://www.dillards.com/webapp/wcs/s...168&R=03283266

http://www.dillards.com/webapp/wcs/s...167&R=03231156

http://www.dillards.com/webapp/wcs/s...925&R=03297327

FWIW, don't wear plain black or plain white without that splash of color you mentioned. Many of the GLOs wear all black or all white for Pref, and you want to look as if you would fit in nicely, but not presumptuous. Good luck to you!

Me too, except I need purple dresses like I need a hole in my head.

I want it too and I don't usually even wear purple! This thread is not good for my bank account.

I like the black one with the white band a lot. The others IMO are either too bare on top or too short (or both).

x2 for the one with the white band. The fourth one down is waaaaay too short.

lizzybee, love the purple one shoulder dress.

aerylle, keep on looking.

Agreed with the white band. The pink/black one is modest enough and appropriate for most schools' pref, but I just think the white band one is cuter.

This is really pathetic, but I can't figure out how to cut the picture out of the brochure and paste it here, help?

I'll just describe:
There are 4 different dresses shown for pref night, the suggestion says "Suggestions: Dress or formal dinner attire, sandals
or dress shoes."

The first dress is a babydoll dress, with a TACKY design and black bust. Eww.

One is a dark teal shift dress with some sort of odd black design on it.

The next one looks like a dressy sundress, but it may be a printed homecoming-ish dress I'm not really sure. It has the old bright pastel flower-looking things on it.

The last dress is navy blue with cream flowers near the neck (spaghetti strap) and near the lower hem.

Aerylle- black with white band out of those five, but I'm not partial to any of them really.

LizzieBee- I wish I could help, but I don't know how to do it.

I go to a school that is no frills and most people buy cute dresses from forever 21 to wear to pref night.

I love the black one with white band. My second choice is the black/pink one. I think you could wear either again.

Are these from the juniors dept? If so, try to search in the misses department. The dresses there will have more appropriate hemlines and fabrics. I noted a lot of "spandex" in those dresses, and my personal opinion would be to stay away from that. Again, you want to aim for classy.

The style of the white sash is the best of the lot, however the fabric looks like it could appear "cheap" in person. As someone has already stated- just invest in a nice, classy, mature LBD. You will have many, many opportunities to wear it again.

Good for you starting your search early!