Is this semi formal enough for pref night?
 

I'm going through rush this weekend and I was told in my recruitment packet that it's formal wear...so semi formal dresses. And I realized that I don't really have semi-formal dresses besides my homecoming dresses but I really don't want to wear that all day...So I'm in the search of a new dress, and I was wondering if this dress was semi formal enough or is it out of the question and totally inappropriate?

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/lush-ope...resultback=633

I'd wear it with black peep toe heels and some silver jewelry.

It is a cute dress but depending on the school might not be dressy enough

I would not recommend wearing that to pref night. It's too informal and too juvenile looking. I'd look at dresses more like this:

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/adrianna...esultback=3847

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/adrianna...esultback=5529

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/calvin-k...esultback=4577

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/eliza-j-...y&resultback=0

Something like this would be more appropriate. And still would work with your budget, heels, and jewelry... not sure of your body type, but it looked like Nordstrom's was having a good sale.

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/soprano-...resultback=631

ETA: I like this in the Navy. :) But it depends on your coloring.

I would try looking at dresses not in the Juniors section

I don't get semi-formal from it at all. More like something I'd wear in the summer to work if it was longer and the back wasn't as exposed.

Honestly it depends on your school, so it is hard to give you more accurate advice and opinions.

I cruised www.macys.com and there are some more appropriate items that fall in my idea of semi-formal that are on sale, maybe something will catch your fancy.

I wouldn't limit yourself to juniors since a lot of it is going to be too short or too high school looking, venture into the departments with even sizes, usually called misses and see what you can find there.

I love this one!

Gosh, that seems short. But I'm old, so my 'short' is probably way different than the younger crowd's 'short'.

This.

I'm a conservative 28, and I'm on the bubble about this one being too short. It would depend on how tall the girl was (remember it will be longer on someone average height, unlike the model), and how that person carried herself. You could definitely go hooch it up clubbing in this dress, but I think if you carried yourself properly, no eyebrows would be raised, nor pearls clutched.

I loved the 2nd and 4th ones White Daisy showed. Wasn't a big fan of the Calvin Klein. The one shoulder is too short on the model, but on a regular person it would probably be fine. Look at her arms! I bet she's 6'2". And she also has goofy posture which is making the dress look funny. If it does look this short on you, it's too short.

Good luck! Remember, they're pledging you, not the dress. You want to look your best but don't kill yourself over it.

I own this dress in the fuchsia color, and I just met a girl in another sorority because she was wearing it in navy! We both got a ton of compliments, it's ultra-comfortable and I highly recommend it.

ETA: length concerns-I'm about 5'4 and I have no issue with the length-it's just right above my knee. The other girl is about 5'11, I'm guessing, and it wasn't particularly short on her, either.

I have no idea where the OP is going to school. I can say (again) that what is "short" somewhere is truly acceptable here on the west coast. The dress as shown, with nice legs (Please) would be lovely and for some even a bit conservative.

What about this one? It's a little longer:

http://www1.macys.com/catalog/produc...D1%26spc%3D122

or this black one:
http://www1.macys.com/catalog/produc...D1%26spc%3D122

Ummm...yes, please! And for $37, you can't go wrong!

I actually went to orientation today and they had a fashion show. The model Rho Gamma in for pref night was actually just wearing a blouse and some bermuda shorts/slacks (those dressy shorts...don't remember the exact name) and a pair of wedges. So I'm guessing that my recruitment isn't too strict? I ended up checking the one I showed you guys at the store but the bottom half was so clingy that you can see all the lines. So I opted for my dress I had in my closet from my senior awards night from high school.

I'm still 18...where do you expect me to shop?

Juniors always makes me think "about 16" - is there not a "misses" department, or heaven forbid you cross the line into being a "woman".

You are 18, you are an adult and occasionally you may have to dress like one

No, there is no misses department in the malls in the city I go to college. There's the juniors' which I still find old women perusing through and there's the section which consists of clothing made for women twice, three times my age. I'm quite aware that I'm 18 and an adult, and I think it's my reservation on where I want to shop. If you decide to tell me that I should search through the "misses" section, tell it to the elderly women that are flipping through the racks at Forever 21.

the elderly ladies flipping through the racks at Forever 21 are not shopping for preference dresses

you asked for opinions, in my opinion (and following your link) there were more appropriate dresses for preference under the "womens" section than under the "junior" section.

you can shop wherever you like the rest of the time - knock yourself out

All of the dresses are beautiful.

I respect your opinion, but what's online isn't necessarily at the stores. Finding preferences dresses in a city like this is like finding a needle in the haystack. I kind of have to make do with what I have. In the city I live in, there's only three tiers of clothing stores: you have your department stores like Forever 21 and Macy's, the high end department stores like Nordstrom and Sak's Fifth Avenue, and the high end boutiques like Chanel and YSL. There really isn't a middle section. Or any choice selection for that matter, for college kids.

I COMPLETELY understand where you are coming from. My town is this way too. I have to do a lot of shopping around when it comes to finding a semi-formal/formal dress and a lot of driving to other cities and malls. If you have a car and the time, you might take a little trip to a really good mall a few towns away. You might have better luck there.

A few towns away would be a small town that people don't really frequent to...I'd have to take a 5 hour road trip to go to somewhere decent...Literally, there's nothing but dirt if you were to drive out! So I'm talking to my Rho Gam tomorrow on the first day since it's just casual and discussing how exact of a semi-formal dress they want. I've seen past pictures from my older friends in sororities now, they wore sun dresses, some girl wore a floral maxi dress, and someone wore a blouse and a pencil skirt.

Sorry to say, but you DO have LOTS of options for finding dresses at the stores you mention. You just have to actually look at what is available. "Juniors" versus "Misses" is about sizes, not always style. You are lucky to have the types of stores you mention - I have to drive across the state to find stores anything close to what you are mentioning (3-4 hours each way). If you are so concerned with 'age appropriate' styles and none being available to you, learn to sew and make you own!! Or, start not looking at actual dresses and go for the mix and match of two-piece outfits. A nice blouse and a skirt goes a long way. . . But then again, I'm old and am out of touch with the 'younger kids' despite working in retail (clothing) for quite a long time - as well as sewing my own vintage clothes (yes from patterns from the 1930s, 40s, and 50s).

Actually, really I don't. The main mall I frequent to here is also the tourist-y mall, which caters to many of their tourist-y needs. And it's not very conservative...I'd go into detail but I'd rather not give away the college I attend. And no, I'm not really lucky to have stores like Dior, Chanel, Hermes, or Tom Ford...That'll be a sight to see a college kid walk in and shop there...

And I was not at all refering to the high-end retail boutiques. Go for classic styles, not trends. Trends you find in the junior department. Classic is typically found in the misses department of MOST retail establishments. You can't tell me you can't find a nice blouse and a skirt in ANY store, whether you are in a tourist destination or not?! I can find that in my town, in my local walmart! From your description of the 'fashion show' semi-formal equates to a nice go-to-a-wedding outfit. If you have an outfit from an awards ceremony from the past spring, why not reuse it? Or find a LBD that is just above your knee - that is classic and you can wear it for years, unless your size changes. But then again, I'm old and go for classic styles which can be worn for more than a year or two rather than trendy.

And I would get over calling yourself and your classmates 'kids' (college or otherwise). You are adults, will be treated like them, and should act like them. 'Kids' are in elemetary and middle school.

It's what I'm planning on doing. I have a dress from my high school senior awards night and I have my other dress from graduation which I'll consider the options on which works best. Thank you for you opinions. And for the reference on kids, I was merely pointing out on what people refer to college students in the most common way. That's what I've been called since I've started college, I've heard that when my older sister was in college and it simply sticks. Seldom do you hear the phrase "college adults." I certainly don't feel the need of getting over myself in using the phrase because it's used so often and it doesn't necessarily depict the image of elementary and middle school...the proper word would be 'children.'

Again, maybe it is the generational difference. I refer to those in college as 'College students' or 'Undergrads' - to differentiate graduate or postgraduate students. 'Kids' is pre-teen and younger. Teen or high school students are pretty self-explanatory too. For me, to refer to anyone older than 12 as a 'kid' is derogatory - and I will use it that way, usually based on behaviour. Jokingly I use the term in such phrases as 'kids these days' (to mimic what my grandparents' generation used) or 'if it weren't for those meddling kids'. . .or referring to my younger brothers (or much younger co-workers I get on well with) as 'kiddo'. And, for the English/Anthropology lesson of the day, 'kids' is the slang version of the term 'children'. They are used interchangeably in most English-speaking cultures.

OP, when I went through rush many years ago, our pref parties didn't require cocktail dresses. I wore the dress that I wore to high school graduation. It was fine.

Talk to your Rho Chi. She'll know what to do.

Good luck!

Yeah, I was going to say, at my college we would have KILLED to have that many things available!! We had KMart, Fashion Bug, a regional department store w/ very little selection, and the overpriced stores in town. It was pretty common to go to a party and see 15 girls in the same Fashion Bug top in different colors.

peacelovegreek - I'm 40+ and not afraid of the junior department, I just know how to pick what's appropriate and what's not. It goes both ways. Don't be afraid of the misses department - you might be surprised what you find there. INC at Macy's always has nice things. Personally, I'm tall, so I've been pretty much cross-shopping juniors and misses since I got to be this height around age 14.

Although I am not doubting you about the possibility of a suck Macy's, my friend and I went in one (Century 3, yinzers) and there were like 2 dozen pairs of shoes total, most of them for 65 year olds taking their daily walk.

I think you meant prerogative not reservation. Anyway, wear your dress if you want to. No one can make you shop for a new one. You're the one that asked for advice. BTW, Forever 21 is not a department store. Macy's has departments, like shoes, menswear, silver, hosery, etc. Forever 21 is a cheap clothing store.

Saks is a great place place to find a pref dress, and if you shop the clearance racks, you can find some real bargains. Both dresses I'm wearing in this post were from the Jrs dept at Saks and around $17 (50% off clearance sale, ended up about 90% original price) and probably pref appropriate: http://mywalkonwater.blogspot.com/20...nal-style.html

Yeah I do feel fortunate to have all the options, but given the circumstances there's really no win with what there is. But I'm definitely trying to make some of the dresses I have now work, without having to make another trip to the mall once again...This weekend alone in my city is drawing about 20,000 people into town for some big event.

Oh haha we call our "Rho Chi" or advisors, Rho Gammas. and that's what I'm going to do in a couple of hours (:

I'm sorry for my grammatical error. I know I have asked for advice, and I appreciate it immensely, however I don't necessarily have to agree with everything. And no, if you took a look at the size of the Forever 21 in the town I live in, you'd be lost! It's not the usual tiny ones found across most malls. It's the size of a Macy's.

Again I wasn't literal on the notion that I was calling myself a kid. It certainly is a generational difference.

IF you appreciate the advice, then please take or ignore it with respect and grace. Please don't be pissy with the women here who are trying to help answer your questions. Just because someone gives an opinion, you don't have to agree with it. Just say "thank you" and move on.

Forever21 still isn't a department store. It is a trendy low price clothing store targeting a particular age group.** The size of the Forever21 doesn't make it a department store.

**Older women are able to CAREFULLY find some items there just as they are at juniors departments of department stores. I advise older women to pick neutral items that do not scream Forever21 or juniors department when you wear them.

@Beryana: I completely agree. Across generations, college students are most often called "kids" because they are seen as being immature; wet behind the ears; and without the ability to think beyond the fun moment. That is also how I feel when I read and hear women using "girls" for women ages 18-100. There are contexts where using "girls" for grown women can work because there is a certain tone of the message, i.e. "girl's night out." But, constantly using "girls" as though it is synonymous with woman has always bothered me and it is also gendered.

Why exactly are you still here arguing that there are no other places to buy a dress in your town? Okay. Woah is you. Wear your dang dress. I bet ten bucks that any of us in this thread could find you a more appropriate dress in your town in one afternoon, but we aren't the ones who have to wear the dress. In the end, it probably doesn't matter. You aren't going through recruitment at a competitive school, the dress you wear likely won't matter. If you don't get a bid because of the dress you wear for prefs, c'est la vie.

BTW, wrong word choice is not grammar. Reservation doesn't mean what you think it means, but prerogative was the word you meant. Grammar is using proper rules of English not picking words with the correct meaning. Use smaller words to make your point if you don't know the right bigger word.