Pref dress help?
 

I am rushing at a pretty competitive SEC school this fall and I was hoping for some feedback on my pref dress.

http://i25.tinypic.com/1zmc6xi.jpg

That's the dress I am considering.. without the jacket. The top is detailed lace and sleeveless. The dress is shorter on the model - I am not that tall, it falls about two inches above my knee.

The thing is, everyone says not to wear black because you'll blend in.. I mean is this dress too likely to blend in since it's black/gray and such? It looks really classy in person and I really like the way it looks... I'm just worried it won't go over well or hurt my chances of a bid. I have a lighter complexion but at the same time my coloring isn't "pale" (hard to explain... kind of peachy-ish) but I also have really deep emerald green eyes. I honestly look best in black or darker colors/neutrals and have trouble pulling off super bright/in-your-face colors -- my dresses for the open house/skit days are floral print but have darker accents to compensate -- So basically I want feedback on the dress? Maybe I could match it with cute bright shoes? I really do like this dress, but if it's totally wrong I am not opposed to finding something else.

What is your hair color? Your eyes sound fabulous, please accent them. There are some beautiful jewel tone dresses that will emphasize the eyes (aubergine, deep greens, navy).

ellebud - My hair color is blonde, but kind of ash - not super light. I am going to perhaps lighten it a bit before rush though. It's the weirdest thing how many colors just look off on me. I bought a bright pink dress online that I loved and it just looked awful with my skin tone and eyes. Same with a coral and peach dress that my mom said made me look like a washed out disaster... hahah. I am thinking navy, though, and love your color suggestions! I just usually always wear blacks and neutrals so am tentative to expand outside of that.

KSUViolet - No one related to my school has told me not to wear black - I've only read about it being a bad idea on here. I was worried that people might think it was a "night out" dress so thanks for that. It is a little more dressy/classy than the picture displays, but I see what you're saying. Outside opinions are good for that - I would tend to be biased obviously ;) Thank you for the link.. I did a search but I didn't see that thread somehow.. those are some great examples!

Also was maybe thinking this dress -- http://www.dillards.com/webapp/wcs/s...007&R=03368362

Two things: (As a mom who told her kids never to color their hair themselves, I would pay to have it done. And, never change your hair color prior to a big event when you can't change it back.) The best thing to do with hair color is to high light (subtle) around your eyes.

Believe or not, one way to determine if a color will look well on you is to imagine it as a duvet color: peach with mustard yellow...maybe not...peach with grey/blue/green the duvet would look nice.

Navy with blond hair and green eyes? Gorgeous.

..........I love shopping, can you tell?

Yes ma'am, I am getting it professionally done (one home-coloring disaster the day before junior year started... never again!) and only highlights. Nothing drastic, just what I usually get done to lighten the ash color.

the second Dillard's dress is absolutely gorgeous! go with that one. oh and good luck with rush! :)

I definitely like the Dillard dress better than the first one (which really doesn't look like a "pref" dress to me.

I think with your coloring description, I'd look for a navy, forest green, or dark purple (eggplant) colored dress.

I definitely agree with the majority here, based on your description of yourself...jewel tones would be faboosh, but navy would be both safe and super flattering with your complexion. I would say, think evening wedding. Cocktail, conservative, classy.

The first one is way too low cut for hanging out with women.

^ I'm with KDDani.

The fabrics are also sort of casual for a pref event. I'd go for something in the vein of the second Dillards dress if it were me. I'm a sucker for a fun neckline though!

Keep in mind if you go for something a little conservative, you can always have fun shoes.

Dress One: I've seen that color combination exectued well (design), and carried off very successfully by women with your coloring. This particular dress - not so much.

You want to avoid "color-sucking" pale palettes, especially close to your face. While I like Dress Two, that ivory bodice might not provide the contrast with your eyes and hair. Do agree w/ everyone else about the neckline issue.

Pay attention to ellebud's advice and recommendations. She is in great demand around these parts.

While I might not know as much as others about fashion, I do understand style and I am passionate about color. Go from there in terms of choosing a wardrobe. Only buy what you love, and you'll never go wrong.

And, if you do settle on a dress, and are so inclined, post it, please do so. We'd love to see it. All this virtual shopping is fun, and easy on my budget!

does your panhellenic site have photos of suggested attire for each round of parties? that would be a good reference point and as we say often, just kick their suggestion up a notch.

agree with everyones opinion -the first dress is a ho hum. the 2nd dress is cute-just make sure that that ivory top does not wash you out.

Does the greek website say anything in particular about color options for pref? Like FSUZeta said, often times the suggested outfits are a little on the casual side compared to what the PNMs actually wear. And as for the color, at some SEC schools the PNMs where black dresses. If thats the case you would want to stick with an all black LBD or else you'll stick out like a sore thumb.

If you know girls who rushed last year then talk to them and they can help you figure out what might work best for pref night

I was virtual shopping for you. I also love shopping I think these would look good with your skin tone and you don't want to wear black.

http://www.dillards.com/webapp/wcs/s...894&R=03368315
http://www.dillards.com/webapp/wcs/s...894&R=03349792

I love the second one!

These are some I would've worn to pref ranked in order from lowest price to highest. I tried to find a range of prices and looks (safe to daring and very dressy to sort of dressy).

Colorblock Satin Dress, Forever21, $22.80
Pleats to Meet You Dress, Forever21, $24.80
Poised Sheen Shoulder Dress, $29.80
Pleated Rosette Dress, Forever21, $32.80
Rosette One Shoulder Dress, Forever21, $32.80
Grape Expectations Dress, Modcloth.com, $59.99
Bow Business Dress, Modcloth.com, $61.99
Scene of the Crimson Dress, Modcloth.com, $77.99
Nanette Lepore Glass Heart Sheath, Saks, $138.99
Milly Asymmetric Ruffle Dress, Saks, $141.99
Little Navy Tea Dress, Anthropologie, $188.00
Strapless Colorblocked Dress, BCBGMAXAZRIA, $298.00

Generally the cheap dresses (like Forever21) aren't as well made and don't fit as well, but if you order now you have time to try them on and tailor them if you need to. Forever21 can be very slow with shipping, also. Modcloth has flat rate $7 shipping and free returns, but because they use a huge variety of designers you HAVE to measure yourself and use the measuring guide on each garment to make sure you'll order the right size, and again, order early enough to tailor if need be. That last dress, by the way, I tried on for a spring formal and LOVED it. It's expensive, but you'll look like a million bucks in it and you'll be able to use it for other events later (that's true of most of these dresses). By the way if you have a Target near you it's a great place to find shoes.

I looooooovvvveeeeee online shopping, even if it's not for me. :)

You ladies are amazing!!! I took a look at some of the things you researched and I think some of the things are AMAZING. Please note: the continuity of color helps to lengthen you body. Please note: I am not saying that you need to be thin(er). You mentioned that you're not tall. LOVE the Nanette Lepore and the Milly (although the color may not be strong enough for the OP). Caution about satiny dresses and inexpensive fabric: they can look too shiny.

Actually......I think I am going to Saks.com...The red dress is stunning.

And you ladies rock...seriously.

That's what put the kibosh on the first one for me. The skirt looks like it's jersey/sweatshirt material. Comfy but not pref-like.

Also, big WHOO HOOS for suggesting Modcloth!!! They are based out of Pittsburgh.

Lovelovelove Modcloth. A sorority sister sent me to their site and I've been buying from there constantly ever since.

I want that red dress so badly and have no excuse whatsoever to buy it...rawr.

"When one buys a fabulous dress, even without a specific occasion at which to wear it, some occasion will come up. That is the magic of a good wardrobe."

Ellebud

I would strongly urge you to not wear something that's mostly black or white.

Does that same concept work with buying a dress a couple sizes smaller? I'm thinking not.

I'm still waiting for an occasion to come up for my latest fab buy. Going to a meat market bar at Station Square was NOT it. Or do Target dresses not count?

Target dresses count. Target dresses on sale, however, do not. =)

Hi tacitum! I'm rushing this year at a competitive SEC school as well & like you, haven't found the *perfect* outfit to wear for pref night. (Although I do have all my other outfits planned & ready to go!) :] And I know that I'm not in any position to give out Greek Life advice so I'm in no way saying "yes, that would be perfect!" or "no, don't wear that!"
But all things aside, I thought the second dress that you posted was really cute!

Good luck finding your pref dress & good luck rushing!! :]

If you love the dress/outfit it counts. Price is not the object, enjoying the dress/feeling special in the dress is what is importent. As for several sizes too small...I guess it counts if you fit into it. If all the dress provides is fustration and disappointment in oneself...NO.

If you're looking for a red dress...
Too cute & on sale too! ;) Except I would do gold heels instead of the weird black ones in the picture.
http://www.whitehouseblackmarket.com...&maxPg=2&size=


Whatever you chose, rock it with confidence & knock 'em dead!

I'm just going to leave this link here. Betsey Johnson dresses are always winners, in my opinion (although they can be quite pricy).

http://www.betseyjohnson.com/Women_D...pl/c/1101.html

I'm pretty sure this dress will be my crush for a while: http://www.betseyjohnson.com/store/p...d=9434&np=1101

In my own *personal* opinion, Forever21 is generally not appropriate for Pref...or really anything except the bar/club. They're kind of in the same category to me as Wet Slu...I mean Seal.

I do like the Nanette Lepore Glass Heart Sheath, and I LOOOVE Saks. We have an Off Fifth Saks here, and they constantly have 50% off clearance sales and FABULOUS deals. I just got this one from Chetta B (orig. $335) for $17.50:
http://www3.images.coolspotters.com/...c__profile.jpg

Too heavy for Pref, but the style is more what I would look for. Remember, you're trying to impress GIRLS, not GUYS.


(Alumiyum, nothing against your choice - like I said, I'm personally more conservative :) ).

This dress could be a dressier version of your original choice. Also a plus side of an all-neutral color dress is that you could really have fun with the colors of your accessories.

Betsey Johnson is a bit loud for pref IMO.

Agreed. Freaking love Betsey Johnson and I don't have super conservative tastes even for major events, but Miz Johnson can be a little out there for something like pref. But totally fun for a semiformal!

Well it depends on what you buy. I stay away from cheap dresses (for major events...I love them when I'm going out and it doesn't matter) whenever possible because they almost never fit right and I have definitely had embroidery come undone at an event or a seam start unraveling, but on the plus side if you find the right one, it looks appropriate, and it doesn't last for more than pref, who cares? It's only $30. That being said, the ones I posted were the only ones I thought were appropriate out of pages and pages of "party" dresses. So...yeah. You do have to be careful.

I'm so quoting this back to my mom the next time she asks me why I waste my money on really incredible dresses (only she calls them completely unnecessary purchases.)

And I am a mom...and I so get this concept. Perhaps this is why salespeople know my name wherever I go shopping.

Now that I spend my own money on "unnecessary purchases" we no longer fight over them, but it doesn't stop her from reminding me to be more practical. (Which is fair...but I love clothes. So much.)

Wow this board exploded!
Well I went shopping again today and had an similarly awful time finding anything I liked for pref :\ Got shoes for the other days and am pretty much set for every day but pref. I think I'm going to order the Dillards one and see what happens/if I like it when it gets here. I'm also making my way through all the links posted.. loving what everyone is putting, ya'll are so great! Admittedly, some of it is WAY out of my budget.. but fun to look at :)

My greek handbook had people wearing what I personally consider "nice sundresses" instead of something more classy/cocktail.. but I suppose that's where the whole "kick it up a notch" comes into play. There is no specifications regarding color. I know a few girls that rushed last year and each had a different color pref dress.

Don't mind me if I just jump in here to get a critical opinion on the dress I'm considering for Prefs.

From my school's Greek Life facebook page, this is what they posted for Preference Round 'What to Wear', with the caption of "semi-formal attire is generally appropriate. Women tend to wear semi-formal dresses and skirts, similar to what one might wear to a wedding or reception."

I am considering this dress. Is the dress/ any tea length too conservative? Would it be prudent to have a cardigan as well?

ETA: I will be rushing at SLU

I like your dress a LOT more than what the girls in the picture are wearing. (Yellow dress w/ black shoes, bleah!! Even if you're a Steelers fan!!)

I don't think you'd need a cardigan unless it's for warmth purposes. The neckline/sleeves are fine. Better to be too conservative than look ho-like. I'm not sure which looks dressier in person, the dupioni or the peau de soie, but I would go w/ the less dressy of the two. I also wouldn't go super dressy w/ the jewelry.

Would I be remiss to wear anything other than heels?

Wear a high enough heel to balance the hem, but don't wear something that's so high you'll be miserable.

That yellow dress would look a million times better with nude shoes...not black. :confused: The dress you've picked is IMO cuter than theirs...and better safe than sorry. I think it's extremely cute and if you are afraid of looking bland get some kickass shoes. (And skip the cardigan.)
Assuming you're buying it in black...
Escher
In the red, nude, or black croc.
Jesenia
This would look pretty awesome with the black dress in the red they offer.
Masquerade
In the "pink multi"...my personal favorite, but not everyone's cup of tea I'm sure.
BooBoo
In nude...very classy.

Or if you want to stick with all black:
Baby
Kirsi

If you go with a flashy shoe pick some understated earrings (small pearls, small diamonds, etc.) and if you go with black you have leeway to pick some that have some color or flash (like these or these, maybe).

And for my favorite source for cheap accessories and shoes...
Versie
Isabella
Black Peep Toe
Velisha

And earrings for black shoes:
These or these

Sorry for the essay...just having fun doing this!