2014 White Dress Sightings
 

Please post your white dress sightings so that the 2014/2015 PNMs have an easier time finding that sometimes elusive white dress for rituals. Please post dresses that would comply with the majority of NPC ritual standards, i.e. modest (hem not too short, neckline not too low, dress not too tight, etc.) and pure white(not ivory, cream, eggshell, or ecru, etc.). If there is trim, it must be white.

I have heard that some sororities want their members' dresses to have some sort of sleeve. If that is the case, and your dress is sleeveless, a white shrug or white sweater might suffice, but it would be the determination of the officer in charge if you dress passes muster or not.

PNMs: even if you will not be rushing until Spring semester 2015, it will be a lot easier to find a white dress now than in the dead of winter. If you are a 2014 Fall PNM, start looking NOW!! As time draws nearer your fall recruitment date, it will become harder to find that all white dress! At some colleges the New Members wear their white dresses to bid day celebrations. Even if that doesn't happen at your school, pledge ceremonies usually happen quickly after bid day, and there may be no time (or no white dresses in the stores) if you arrive at school without a white dress and have to look locally.

There are a few sororities that do not wear white for their rituals, but since you have NO WAY of knowing which sorority you will receive a bid from, I would recommend arriving to campus prepared with a white dress.

Here is a cute dress from J.Crew Factory Outlet Online:

http://factory.jcrew.com/womens-clot...4133/A4133.jsp

I'm online shopping for some dresses to wear to work this summer and came across a bunch:

http://www.modcloth.com/shop/dresses...dress-in-white
http://www.modcloth.com/shop/dresses...-beaches-dress
http://www.modcloth.com/shop/dresses...dress-in-white
http://www.modcloth.com/shop/dresses...dress-in-white
http://www.modcloth.com/shop/dresses...-playful-dress
http://www.modcloth.com/shop/dresses...-evening-dress
http://www.modcloth.com/shop/dresses/suite-escape-dress
http://www.modcloth.com/shop/dresses...-daisies-dress
http://www.modcloth.com/shop/dresses...birthday-dress

I think 7/9 of them are great...I'd avoid spaghetti straps and the one with no straps/sleeves at all.

I agree. If a PNM went for #s 4 or 6, they should bring an all white sweater with them, just in case. #9 looks fine on the dress maker's form, but I scrolled down thru the customer reviews and one customer had posted two photos of herself in the dress. YIKES!! Dress #9 is not for the shapely, and it would probably be best avoided by the PNMs.

BUT ...they are all true pure white dresses, with no color trim, and that is the color that the PNMs should aim for!

Some from the junior's section of Kohls. All of them would need a sweater or shrug.
http://www.kohls.com/catalog/juniors...462+4294719810

I think some of them might be a little on the short side for a taller girl.

Some more modest options from Kohls ladies section:

http://www.kohls.com/product/prd-158...eath-dress.jsp
http://www.kohls.com/product/prd-167...ess-womens.jsp
http://www.kohls.com/product/prd-167...ess-womens.jsp
http://www.kohls.com/product/prd-168...ess-womens.jsp

I saw a number on Zulily not long ago when I was looking - our new initiates were complaining how hard it was to find a white dress - I found 11 on Zulily in 30 seconds.

Zappos has lots of sleeveless options:

http://www.zappos.com/tommy-bahama-t...ty-dress-white

http://www.zappos.com/vince-camuto-f...rd-dress-ivory

http://www.zappos.com/french-connect...t-winter-white

This one has sleeves and is different:

http://www.zappos.com/pendleton-pali...rt-dress-white

New York and Company (TONS!), Old Navy, JC Penney, and Ann Taylor LOFT had loads of white dresses within the last week.

white Lilly Pulitzer dresses on sale at RueLaLa for the next three days:

http://www.ruelala.com/event/product...1909/0/DEFAULT

http://www.ruelala.com/event/product...0071/0/DEFAULT

http://www.ruelala.com/event/product...8058/0/DEFAULT

I love the first one posted, that actually looks like my white dress. Mine is a Carmen Marc Valvo that I bought on ebay for $35 or so. I had to have it taken in a bit which cost about $20, but it's really nice and fits like a dream.

I should point the girls in the one chapter I advise to this thread, some of them need help with their whites.

From J. Crew - really cute.
https://www.jcrew.com/womens_categor...4898/A4898.jsp
https://www.jcrew.com/womens_categor...4090/A4090.jsp

Please don't judge me for this post from 1998, but...

Delia's still exists apparently, and they TOTALLY have a great selection of white dresses!
http://store.delias.com/category/dre...incmpid=HPMod1

Pardon me while I find my JNCOs, tattoo choker and rainbow ringer tee.

For bigger pnms, I've seen lots of white dresses at Ashley Stewart that have cap sleeves. Also seen some at Macy's too by Guess, Calvin Klein, etc.

I just ordered 7 white dresses from Nordstrom for my dd to try on for preff. A lot were on sale too.

Macys has some cute plus sized dresses:

Cap sleeve:
http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/t...2%26slotId%3D9

Ruched eyelet:
http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/s...LinkType=PDPZ1

Lace boho dress with 3/4 quarter sleeve:
http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/i...watchColor=Off White#fn=sp%3D1%26spc%3D660%26ruleId%3D65%26slotId %3D11

Sheath dress:
http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/l...%26slotId%3D28

Some cute options from Francesca's:
http://www.francescas.com/product/we...ks&from=Search

This might need a cardigan:
http://www.francescas.com/product/za...ks&from=Search

The second one is cute, but it would definitely need a cardigan for use by a KD. Our straps have to be at least 3 inches wide.

Having trouble posting the link but for plus size alumnae looking for Initiation whites, try this and go to Dresses, Jacket Dresses, the Bubble Sleeve Fit & Flare Jacket Dress.

http://www.onestopplus.com/Plus-Size...x?DeptId=15338

Just a reminder to PNMs: the white dress is NOT to impress guys! When you consider a white dress, think of something you'd wear to your house of worship.

I've seen some terrible dresses used for whites as a chapter advisor.

Things that are not suitable for ritual whites:

bodycon dresses
dresses that show lots of boob
dresses that are cut really low in the back
dresses that are too far above your knee

You're going for "classy," not "sexy."

Oh, I've seen all this as an adviser too! My jaw dropped the first time I saw everyone in their whites, a majority of of the girls were acceptable, but some of them.. oy! One girl's dress barely cleared her crotch, I swear.

So many of these dresses are cute, but the models are usually wearing nude/beige sandals or heels. When I picture them worn with white, closed-toed shoes, they don't seem as cute.

Modcloth now has an entire section devoted solely to white dresses. Their definition of "white" is pretty broad but there are some really great options.

http://www.modcloth.com/shop/white-d...,107841,107914

^^^ There are some cute ones there! I predict this one will be on clearance for a great price, very soon. However, it's not appropriate for new sorority members, or anyone else who isn't in the milkmaid profession:

http://productshots3.modcloth.net/pr...jpg?1398107911

LOL have not seen this, but have to remind them plain nude or white undergarments please! It may look fine in the mirror in your dorm but then it shows up in the photographs.

I love the classic sheath shape. It always looks so elegant and classy. Some of the other shapes look so juvenile in comparison!

No links but I've seen lots of nice, appropriate white dresses at Old Navy. I got a boat neck white eyelet dress for $16 yesterday.

If a skirt and top are acceptable, LL Bean has a cute white eyelet skirt: http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/82415...n-skirt-eyelet

I might be slightly obsessed with Boden at the moment.

http://www.bodenusa.com/en-US/Womens...s?NavGroupID=4
(I love this) http://www.bodenusa.com/en-US/Womens...s?NavGroupID=4
http://www.bodenusa.com/en-US/Womens...s?NavGroupID=4
http://www.bodenusa.com/en-US/Womens...s?NavGroupID=4
http://www.bodenusa.com/en-US/Womens...s?NavGroupID=4

Spotted some "skater" style dresses (tank + flared short skirt) at H&M and Target today.

Confused
 

I'm confused by the white dress. Several people at my daughters school said she won't need one, she just needs a white "slip". Is this just certain sororities? Would it be best to be prepared and have a simple white dress? Also I noticed the shoe comment a few posts back - does she need closed toe white shoes?:confused:

Well, it is going to vary by school - but at several of the southern schools or at schools with really big chapter totals - girls will need a white dress at some point either for rituals or for recruitment. They are a lot easier to find in summer than in October or November when initiations usually occur, so a lot of people like to take one just in case. Might as well find one you like. Most of the recommendations I have seen also include no strapless dresses or wear a white shrug or a sweater if you choose a dress with no sleeves.

Some more conservative groups also prefer the close toed shoes - or again in winter, you wouldn't want to be wearing black shoes and a white dress nor would you want to be wearing sandals.

It'll vary chapter to chapter for sure. Your daughter may want to peruse the chapter websites for any photos of the girls in white to gauge the requirements.

There are groups that don't wear white at all. Even with that, I'd recommend picking up a white dress now, if you find one. 1) Last minute scramble is no fun and you may end up with something that's "good enough" but she doesn't like. 2) If she doesn't need it for sorority functions she can loan it out or give it away.


My sorority wears white for pinning and initiation. Chapters can set their own requirements but nationally the rule is "WHITE dress, WHITE shoes", no other details. These are the rules enforced at Convention. But, I've seen chapters that dictate the length, the sleeve length, neck line, etc. Even chapters where everyone had the same custom dress.

forever 21 is having a white dress sale

http://www.forever21.com/Product/Cat...mo-dress-white

Not only does the requirement to wear white vary by organization, but note that the conservatism of the white varies as well. In some groups, a strapless white minidress with a gold zipper up the back might be fine. But in other groups -- including my own -- the requirement is for a conservative uninterrupted white (no colored buttons or zippers or trims or belts) skirted ensemble with sleeves. I can wear a white sweater and skirt, but not a spaghetti-strap dress (and a cap sleeve is pushing it). Another group might not be okay with a sweater and skirt and might require a dress.

But everyone is likely to be fine with a conservative all-white dress.

It would be wise to err on the side of finding something that is likely to work with a more conservative standard, since you don't know where your daughter will end up.

Thank you for your advice.

This might be a good time to post some more white dress links!

Pick your favorite department store and narrow the choices in your size range to "dresses" and then "white."
Here's Macy's: http://www1.macys.com/shop/juniors-c...le-white-dress

BCBG You can search dresses by color. They also have less formal wedding dresses.
http://www.bcbg.com/DRESSES/dresses,...t&prefv1=White

H&M
 

Here are some dresses from H&M (It's hard to tell if they are pure white or not, but at least its worth a try to look in the store.) Might need a shrug/sweater with them as well...

http://www.hm.com/us/product/31520?article=31520-A
http://www.hm.com/us/product/29733?article=29733-D
http://www.hm.com/us/product/29835?article=29835-A
http://www.hm.com/us/product/28770?article=28770-A

I don't miss these days! It's better to look now than to look in the dead of February! :rolleyes: