Flip-flops
 

I know that this isn't a very PC question but I feel like asking it anyway, and if anyone has a problem with it then feel free to ignore it or just tell me I shouldn't be asking things like this.

On a certain school's recruitment website, the following is a quote from the FAQ:
"I heard that XYZ Sorority releases women if they wear flip-flops instead of heels... is this true?
No. The type of shoes that you wear should have no effect on what sororities you visit. It is important to keep in mind that you will be on your feet all day long. Wear what you feel most comfortable in. If you feel flip-flops are the best choice, wear flip-flops. If you are more of a heels girl, wear heels. Some PNM’s even choose to wear flip-flops while walking between houses and changing into a different pair of shoes for the party. Just keep in mind that you will walk all day long, so whether you choose flats or heels, make sure you are comfortable!"

My question, then, is this...at certain highly-competitive (i.e. SEC) schools, within certain highly-competitive houses, couldn't a girl's attire potentially have a lot to do with whether she were cut? This is an honest question--I have never been through formal recruitment so I am just wondering whether the answer to the FAQ should be less sugar-coated and more...truthful? Is this way off-base?

Our recruitment wasn't super competitive, but if you showed up at 3rd round party in ripped jeans and a wrinkled t-shirt, you were not looked highly upon. Especially when all the other PNMs are dressed appropriately. Granted, sometimes we would have PNMs who may have come straight from work and they might be in their waitressing uniforms or something and that was completely not held against them.

Oh and we really did have a PNM come through in ripped jeans and a wrinkled grateful dead t-shirt to a 3rd round party. It didn't go over too well.

I'm sure we've all heard the rumors that at ABC chapter on Anywhere University campus a pnm will get cut if she isn't wearing certain designer labels, wears certain shoes (flip flops being the most common), wears another chapter's colors, etc. Honestly I've never seen nor heard any cases of it actually being true. I personally believe it's an urban myth designed to perpetrate the negative stereotypes that all or at least certain sororities are stuck up, snooty, shallow, materialistic, etc.

With that being said though appearance does matter. It's just like with a job interview. The clothes and shoes a person wears makes a statement about their personality. If a pnm shows up having obviously just rolled out of bed, no makeup, unkempt hair, sloppy clothes and rubber shower style flip flops, then one can assume this pnm doesn't have any pride in her appearance. We assume when someone decides to go through Recruitment she will be putting her best foot forward trying to impress the actives. So if a pnm shows up dressed like she doesn't care, the actives will ask themselves "Is this how she tries to impress people? Is this how she looks all the time? Is this the image we want representing our sorority on campus day in and day out?"

I admit I used to be firmly in the anti-flip flop for Recruitment camp. But I've come to accept that this is a fashion style that's here to stay. So IMHO if a pnm chooses to wear them just keep in mind that when selecting any shoe or clothing style it needs to be occasion (meaning each party round typically gets dressier) and outfit appropriate.

And to echo what the other posters have said, keep in mind that you'll be on your feet a lot and perhaps walking long distances. Flip flops don't provide much support.

From the White House to Rush! LOL

In all seriousness, those girls at the White House were a great example of what NOT to do - wear dressy dresses with flip-flops. It looks terrible. Your shoes should go with your outfit. Like AXiDGrl said, there's nothing wrong with wearing flip-flops if it's philanthropy day and you're wearing shorts & a t-shirt - you certainly wouldn't wear heels then!

But back to the original question...I've said the same thing...one of the more competitive rushes (I think it was U of Southern Cal) said in their materials that jeans could be worn the first round and multiple people who actually went there said jeans would NOT be OK for rush. Sometimes I think they're just trying to weed people out who don't know what the real scoop is.

From a comfort standpoint, flip flops don't offer any support - so I think they would not be good for standing around chatting all day.

Having seen numerous recruitment booklets over the year that siad to wear one thing but the truth was far from that, I agree with you.

PNMs, please try to find a sorority member from your school who will give you the real scoop.

The only thing I can come up with, as to why the guide says one thing, when it's actually another (besides weeding people out) is that the Greek Life person is an idealist, who thinks that "OK, this will be the year we put an end to people spending thousands of dollars on rush outfits and go casual"...and too many PNMs know the real deal from sisters/mothers/aunts/cousins/friends/etc.

My boss calls me the Flip-Flop Queen, and even I didn't wear flip-flops to my completely uncompetitive mid-west rush.

Your personal appearance is most certainly a factor for consideration when you are being considered for membership in an organization or for a job: if this is how she is how she represents herself as a prospective employee/member, how is she going to represent OUR brand?

It doesn't mean having to flaunt a designer label or gobs of makeup-- but it does mean looking clean, tidy and presentable.

As far as a recruitment web site advising you to wear jeans and local members saying, "No! No one does this!" it could be as simple as the school attempting to move toward a less formal recruitment by introducing casual clothing. When my own school moved to a no frills recruitment, it took about 3-4 years for the PNMs to actually start dressing in shorts and t-shirts for the earlier rounds because the expecation to wear dressy clothes and sundresses was so ingrained from years past.

I do think you should take the opinions of people who have been through the process before, however-- just because Panhellenic is moving toward a more casual recruitment doesn't mean the sororities are, regardless of how everyone has voted.

And if you are going somewhere to be interviewed for a spot at a job or membership in an organization or a sorority, meeting someone important, going to a place where conservative attire is best (like a church, courthouse, etc.) you don't wear flip flips unless you're hanging out at the pool. Once you're "in," it's a different story. Make a strong first impression: this includes looking put together.

So look neat and tidy and dress the part. You don't need to spend a small fortune or wear a designer label-- if you feel like a million bucks you will probably look like it, too.

Honestly, If it were me, I would be safe and go with Heels or flats. Some girls can't wear heels for various reasons, so of course flats are acceptable in that case. However, I think a flip flop style degrades the elegant factor. Thats just my opinion of course.

I agree- go get some cute Ballet Flats that are comfy, have support, and are more dressy. If you find cute ones that you think don't have enough support for a full day of walking, then go buy those gel insole things. They do work.

I've always wondered why girls wear flip flops during recruitment at a competitive school. The only acceptable way to wear them, in my mind, would be if the recruitment had a shorts-and-t-shirt round (like Auburn or Bama). Flip flops look good with shorts. Flip flops do not look good with sundresses. Really, do cute flats feel any different? I wore comfy flats for my recruitment, but they were still cute and definitely not flip flops. Why wear flip flops when there is a less casual, yet still comfy, alternative.

Mind you, I've never thought "Uh-oh, she's wearing flip flops. What's her name? Polly? She's OUT." But I can see someone doing it, especially on our alma mater's campus, MinDyG.

That's part of the point of my question. How is that in any way fair? I came from a really small town and knew NOTHING about Greek Life before I went through (informal) recruitment...but had I been one of the PNMs who just read the FAQ on the website and didn't know any better, I may have gotten cut from every house! How can a campus Panhellenic rationalize letting awesome girls slip through the cracks like that just because they want to keep their website PC? Why not just put a disclaimer that says something along the lines of, "Chapters may cut girls for any number of reasons, among those may be appearance, etc."? I just don't see what harm that would do.

Gamma Phis . . .
 

When you see this thread name, do you start singing . . (and doing the hand motions - flip flop!)

We are the Gamma Phi Betas
We'd like to tell you
We are so glad you're here.
We're sisters ever true (flip flop!)
Friendships for me and for you (flip flop!)
We'd like to take this time (flip flop)
to welcome you here!
Gam-ma Phi Beta, Gam-ma Phi Beta, Gam-ma Phi Beta girls!

1) By certain schools/chapters criteria you're not awesome unless you were born and bred to be in a sorority. So you would already know what to wear.

2) If a school put that kind of disclaimer in print the chapters would get mad that they were being put in a negative/superficial light. Even if it can be true at times.