hair and makeup for rush
 

Well, reading all these threads has been very interesting!
It's so nice that there's such a large number of people willing to help out and answer questions. I think that if anyone has a negative image of Greeks, they should be shown this site.
All that gushing out of the way :) , I have a question:

I've seen a lot of info concerning clothes during rush, but what about hair and makeup? Personally, I'm a ponytail-lipgloss girl on an everyday basis. Is this appropriate? Or is it a better idea to put on makeup and do your hair (obviously not in any sort of attempt to change your look solely for rush...just in a dress-up sort of way)?

I know that to a certain extent, a formal or informal process will dictate which is better, but I know plenty of girls who manage to be totally done-up even in t-shirts and khakis. What do y'all think?

Thanks!
--Molly*

Molly, it totally depends on where you go to school. Southern schools (and other schools that are very competive Greek-wise) probably require more pampering. I go to a Michigan school where it's a lot more laid back. The important thing is to look like yourself. Don't show up dressed like you just came back from a shopping spree and a make-over if you're the "pony-tail/lip gloss type."

Hi I go to a southern school. I personally think you should go as you feel comfortable. Of course that does not nessicarly mean in sweats :rolleyes: I personally am a lip gloss ponytail kinda of a girl. Go for a natural look- especially if you are rushing in the early fall semester ( before labor day) since it will be warmer and makeup just doesn't last all day. Whether you wear your hair up or down it should look nice with out all the crazy wispies basically you should look polished and your best. I am sure you can do that in jeans and a tee with minmal styling products!!;)

I went to a school in the Northeast where rush was fairly laid back. If you're the ponytail/lip gloss type, I'd go with that for all parties up to pref. For pref, you will probably want to go with nice makeup (foundation, lipstick, eyeliner) and a good hairdo (no need to go to a beauty parlor, just brush it out, some hairspray, etc).

Ask your rho chi what the norm is - then go one step up the "dressy" scale for hair and makeup.

Also, it might depend on where you are doing the Recruitment parties. For example, at UGA, you would be walking from house to house, but at West Georgia (I think Rec. is Labor Day weekend), the parties are held in the 1 sorority dorm/1 class building for Pref so you are just walking from hall to hall..of course, that doesn't count waiting outside in the heat/rain waiting to get in, lol!

Just be yourself and wear what you will be comfortable in..especially shoes! It's hard to keep smiling if your feet are killing you! ;) :D

Your Rho Chi will be the best person(s) to ask..they've done it before on your campus!

Be yourself! That said, you want to be your "best" self ... like a job interview. Like you might go to class one day rolled out of bed in a giant sweatshirt with your hair hidden under a hat, and the next day in a trendy t-shirt with a cute ponytail holder and a funky bracelet ... you'd wear the latter to rush.

Keep in mind that rush does get more formal as the parties move on. Like at my school, jeans were typical for rushees at first party, something like khakis at the second, probably a skirt at the third, and something more dressy at pref. It will vary from school to school, but if you do what one rushee did - wore jeans to third party and announced that "sororities weren't worth dressing up for and we couldn't expect her to do it if she joined" obviously that won't look good. (Not that you sound likely to do that.) You hair, at least, should match your clothes - if you're all dolled up for pref, your hair shouldn't look like you're playing soccer.

As long as your face/hair are neat and clean, I wouldn't worry too much about the style or quantity of makeup. However, if you're like me and prone to oily/shiny skin, do wear a little powder - rush can be so nerve-wracking that you'll get even shinier than usual! (And powder is quick and easy to apply.)

Also, consider the weather for the week of rush. Better to go in with no makeup and a simple hairdo than to work really hard on your hair and makeup only to have it all spoiled by humidity.

I don't know where you're going to school, but since you're from Atlanta and have heard about UGA and West Georgia I'll tell you about Georgia Southern...

Recruitment will probably be in the union since not all groups have houses, except for pref which will be held on Greek row. Those without houses will "borrow" a fraternity house. Each day gets progressively dressier. I would suggest you start with cute khakis, move into the cute sundresses, and have a nice elegant black dress for pref. Ponytail and Lipgloss is probably fine for the first couple of days, but I would move into hair down and blow dried with light makeup for the later parties. If you don't normally wear a lot of makeup don't just for rush but maybe try foundation, powder, mascara, and lip gloss you'd be amazed what it will do ;) This coming from someone who wears ponytails and no makeup even to work :D

Just remember if you are going to school in the south and rush is after labor day: white is a no no....

Just a note on the "shouldn't look like you're playing soccer" thing, one of our sisters (who was going through formal rush at the time) was dressed like an absolute scrub with a t-shirt, shorts, tennis shoes, and a baseball cap on. She was paired up with me and another sister (I was still a new member at the time, I went through informal the previous spring), and she had these two huge bags with her. I was trying to be polite and asked if I could set it down for her, and she says, "NOOO!!!" Turns out it had her tennis equipment in it - she had just come from a match since she was on the team and didn't have time to shower or change, otherwise she would've missed our party, so she figured at least by carrying that around, people would know that she just came from somewhere and didn't look like that on purpose. :) Anyway, the moral of this story is to be yourself but also be the best you can be at the same time. Present yourself well, but you shouldn't have to be something you're not, so if you just go a few steps more dressy than normal (similar to a nice business party, for example - nice makeup, not glamour shots) for the nicer parties, you should be fine. It's what you have on the inside that counts, so let your personality shine through. Good luck with rush!!! :D

Liz

As pointed out above, usually Southern schools require you to be a little bit more dressed-up than other schools. At my school, most girls wore khakis and a nice shirt (like button-down w/collar) on the first night, a casual skirt or dress pants on the second night, a sundress or dressy skirt outfit on the third night, and a cocktail-type dress on pref night. I don't think I saw anyone wearing jeans the entire time. Even though it would've been "okay" for someone to wear jeans, everyone dressed up a little more than suggested for all nights. I didn't see anyone wearing jeans or regular t-shirts.

I would suggest wearing light makeup the first two or three nights (lip gloss, mascara, powder), and the last night you might want to wear eyeshadow, etc. (although make sure your mascara & eyeliner are water proof as you might end up crying over the beautiful ceremonies on pref night!)

As far as hair goes... it would be *alright* to wear a ponytail the first night, but after that you might want to wear it down, even if it's not anything fancy, just have it brushed out. The last night you may want to fix your hair a little more nicely (curl it under & blow-dry or something). You don't have to go all-out, because the #1 thing these girls are looking for in you is a great personality. However, you should still look presentable.

Ask Carnation!
 

You should ask carnation..she is a smart lady, from Georgia and has many years of Sorority experience. She would be the definitive person to ask! :)

I agree with being yourself, but I would dress to impress. Meaning if you had a big job interview, or a first date, or giving a speech in front of your class, you would dress a little differently than the normal. Not to say you should get all decked out and be something you arent...but I see Rush as something you would want to look your best for and put a little time into your look. I dont care what people say - first impressions are important :D

I think that you should dress and look nicer than average when going through rush. Lose the ponytail and lip gloss. Cut and style your hair if you need it, and put on some makeup. My reason is it won't hurt and it might help. I'm not suggesting that you look like you are going to the prom. Just make a little more effort than your normal everyday look. When you get to the parties, you can and should be yourself and let yourself shine. :) Good luck!

Just like meeting the parents
 

I always like the idea of how much make up would you wear to meet your boyfriend's parents?