AIs - do you wear letters?
 

AIs, how often do you wear your letters? What items do you own with your letters on them? What are others' reactions when they notice them?

I'm really excited to finally be home, but I hope when I do wear my letters out and about, people won't look at me funny and say, "Why is that old chick wearing Tri Delta letters? That's just silly!" :(

Also, I don't think Tri Delta has any sort of policy regarding wearing letters prior to initiation, but I am going to wait to wear anything with letters until after initiation, until I'm an "official" member and actually know what the letters mean!

What are your thoughts and experiences with this, as...ahem...somewhat older members?

:)

Maybe I am the exception, but I rarely wear actual letter shirts--the exception tends to be at Conventions and fun events for which I usually wear the event t-shirt. More often, I wear jewelry!! I have a ton of pins (of course!), two necklaces, and two bracelets....as well as a collection of pearl and amethyst jewelry.

I think that alumnae in general tend not to wear "letters" (thinking of the jersey t-shirts with block letters), but tend to show their affiliation in other ways- as mentioned, jewelery, event- shirts, maybe a hat or bag.

I haven't worn my block letters since I graduated. I gave most of mine away, except for our "house letters" (everyone had the same set), kept those for sentimental reasons.

I don't wear letters in the form of a t-shirt or sweatshirt. I do own two tees with Alpha Gamma Delta spelled out, as well as some jewellery (a ring, a necklace and my badge, of course)

I wear t-shirts with block letters when I work out or am making a quick trip to the grocery. Mostly as far as clothing goes, I wear event shirts like convention or State Day. I do have drop letters with a rose that I wear everyday. I also have earrings and bracelets.

When I pledged Zeta (a thousand years ago) we were told we could wear letters before initiation, but not the crown nor the coat of arms.

I still have my old Zeta t-shirts and stationary from waaay back then. (I still have my old pledge book too!)

As far as new items, I received some wonderful goodies from my new big sister (who adopted me from another state!).

I just bought a crown italian charm to add to my bracelet, and saw a gorgeous gold Zeta ring I'd like to buy. I have worn my ZTA letter lavelier I received when I pledged-- to work and have the Zeta creed on my desk in my office. No need to hide it-- I'm proud to be a Zeta. "Zeta is forever"-- no matter what your age!

Tri Delta's policy is once your receive a bid from them then you can start wearing letters. Tri Delta considers it hazing if new members are not allowed to wear letters. I would double check with the local alumnae chapter, because I am unfamilar with how Tri Delta does AI.

And btw, welcome to the sisterhood! :D

Most groups also have shirts that specifically say "Alumna" on them too. I wear letter t-shirts on weekends and stuff. That's how I find other Alpha Gams in that big world out there!

That would be me too. I have a lot of shirts with Gamma Phi Beta spelled out that I wear and I have jewelry and a couple of shirts with small letters on left chest but that's it.

I have a sweatshirt that I wear to and from the gym, but other than that I limit it to tasteful jewelry pieces. I've said it before - I'm too durned old to be walking around dressed like a college student. ;)

Shirts just for working out and running quick errands. I have a hoodie and sweatshirt for cold days.

Mostly I wear jewelery (lavalier or bracelet) or lanyard, which has my swipe card, override card and discount card. Since putting them on a lanyard, I haven't lost them (costly to replace)

I sport my letters in subtle ways...lavaliere, key chain, licence plate on my car, sticker on my car. I do have a tshirt that spells out my sorority's name in full, but the stitching is quite small and subtle.

I wear letters all the time...either jewelry to work (and my badge many days) or party or letter shirts on the rare times that I am casual at home.
Silver

I don't know y'all. I suppose I'd be considered an "AI" (though I know TNX does things a little differently). While wearing my line jacket, I've been approached by quite a few older men - LOTS of Alpha Phi Alphas...where are they coming from? :) - wearing full out letters. They usually want to know what organization I'm part of.

I've also seen an AKA and more than a few DSTs, all older women, out with husbands and/or kids at the mall and sporting letters. For the most part, the letters seem to be on sweatshirts.

And, recently, I saw an older woman wearing the letters of a local sorority around here - the name escapes me at the moment - but she was definitely past her collegiate years.

I LOVE to see older people with letters on like WHAT?????? They're always so proud!

For me it's not an issue of not wearing letters or not being proud -- I love being an Alpha Phi. I just prefer to wear our letters in a way that suits my personal style. As a rule, I rarely if ever wear t-shirts, sweatshirts, or any "sportswear" type clothing. If I do wear them, they're plain and unadorned. *shrug*

Different strokes for different folks, I guess.

I have a keychain that I'll use, I forgot to mention that! I don't normally wear jewelry, but will definitely make an exception when I can finally wear Tri Delta's beautiful badge.

Since guys dont wear much jewelry, I do have a College Ring with LXA on it, a money clip and key ring.

But maybe for the ladies, how about a polo type shirt with letters?

Not much of a t-shirt person myself, but a polo shirt can still be a bit semi-casual and look good.

I have two polo shirts that are put out by our Graduate, Alumnae and Professional (GAP) Affairs folks. They have the GAP logo on the left chest and they look really nice.

Because as they say in England....."They fancy you" ;)
Bwah ha ha ha...... :D :p

I'm not an AI but did initiate in to a collegiate chapter as a graduate student. I thought I'd put my two cents in since i initiated in my 30's.

I'm not much of a tshirt person so my tshirts with letters I tend to wear when I'm at Curves working out.

Sweatshirts with letters I wear quite a bit. My lavaliere or my Archon's Key (charm for necklace) I wear quite often too.

There are times when I think, wow what must people think of this 30something (now 37) year old wearing those greek letters. do they think "What is she trying to do, recapture her college days". But then I really start to think why should I feel ashamed for proudly displaying my affiliation, I joined Phi Sigma Sigma for life.

Also, I always see a lot of members of the NPHC who always proudly wear their letters no matter what their age. When our campus president was installed a few years ago, you should have seen all the NPHC women who came dressed to the nines proudly proclaiming their affiliation. I never ask what "does that woman think she's doing". Actually, i usually think there goes another fantastic Greek woman.

I often wonder what makes many NPC members feel like they shouldn't wear letters etc once they graduate and yet the NPHC members often do no matter how old they are. As I tell my sisters, Phi Sig is for life not just four years so remember to always proudly proclaim you are a Phi Sig (not was a Phi Sig).

I'm curious, when people say they work out in their letters, do you mean t-shirts from something or other that say your affiliation or are we talking big block letters?

In my chapter wearing your jersey letters to the gym would've been considered disrespectful and would be frowned upon.

I don't work out in my letters. I wear the (big block letter) sweatshirt while walking to and from the gym.

Both for me. I wear tshirts from events or tshirts with the block stiched letters on them. I don't wear my chapter letters, which is a sweatshirt, for workouts.

Carolyn

I have letters on my key chain, a small decal on car window, pins, black letter-bag and jewelry (badge/letters at convention /regional); wear hoodie around the house.