Our Panhellenic Council Forbids Matching Outfits?!-Anybody Else?

[BellaBerlee]

When I read this I was like... Jocelyn has been around for a while.. So then I looked at the date and was like OHHHH.. haha

[ZTAngel]

Originally posted by adpiucf
We weren't allowed all matching.

Was this your chapter's rule or panhellenic's rule? We never wore all matching outfits although we would all have the same theme on. (ie- UCF shirts with khakis, jerseys, bright color shirts, etc) I didn't know that we did that because we couldn't have matching outfits!

[rhochi2002]

We had a rule kind of like that when I was at school. but our recrutment VP always got around it. We were told to wear v neck shirts in pastel colors one year. and some times we would get our list and it would say something like wear shoes that look like rainbows.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally posted by AlphaFrog
Hey JocelynC - "I'm a new member"....brings back memories, doesn't it?

I smirked when I read that part of my post. That was 2 years ago!

[adpiucf]

Originally posted by ZTAngel
Was this your chapter's rule or panhellenic's rule? We never wore all matching outfits although we would all have the same theme on. (ie- UCF shirts with khakis, jerseys, bright color shirts, etc) I didn't know that we did that because we couldn't have matching outfits!

Hmm.... I really don't remember-- but I am fairly certain it was a Pan rule because none of the chapters did matching. In the past we were allowed to wear jerseys on the first day, but never matching and we mixed it up with O-Team, CEL and other campus organization polos/jerseys. Then they switched the day's theme from "Ice Water" to "UCF Spirit Day"-- so we couldn't wear jerseys anymore. I think this made things a little more confusing for PNM's because every chapter wore UCF apparel for this round!

In my chapter, the individuals were responsible for procuring their own clothing according to standards set by the recruitment committee. For example, if on philanthropy day we were to wear chinos, brown open toed sandals and belt (matching) and one of three colors of polo shirt (red, white blue), you would be told over the summer which color you were supposed to wear. But it was entirely up to you to decide whether to get your polo shirt from Ralph Lauren or buy it at Target. So long as it was flattering on your frame and passed "inspection" during dress check, you were fine.


I was so suprised at UCLA when there was all this talk of ordering the recruitment clothing and going shopping with the recruitment adviser and the officers to try on options and decide what to order for the entire chapter! (Members paid for their own clothes, but it was all pre-ordered as a matching lot. The adviser had a family connection with a department store, so the chapter was able to get what they needed.)

[AGDee]

I don't know what the intent of that is, but I know it would have made me crazy as an undergraduate. It was much easier to describe someone as "The one with the fuschia sweater", etc. than to say "You know, that girl with the big brown hair"(which was almost everybody back in the 80's) when trying to remember who was who. Although, we never got pictures of PNMs and I imagine at Arkansas they do.

[33girl]

Originally posted by exlurker
Here’s what looks like a twist on the “matching outfits” discussion; evidently at the U. of Arkansas, for NPC recruitment the potential new members are given standard shirts for each day of recruitment, except for Pref.

Quote from the college Panhellenic site, with link / URL below that:

“What to Wear

Potential New Members will be provided with 4 shirts to wear on designated days (Open House Parties, Five Party, and Four Party). These may be worn with shorts, jeans, slacks, or casual skirts. Please remember to wear comfortable shoes for walking and to bring an umbrella in case of rain!

Potential New Members are only responsible for providing their own outfit for Preference Round Parties. As noted below, these should be cocktail - type dresses, not full-length formals. Again, please remember to dress comfortably due to the extensive walking and bring an umbrella in case of rain!”

http://uagreeks.uark.edu/109.htm

Is this intended to cut down on the fear, anxiety, or obsession that some PNMs can feel when they think about what they should wear? And if that's the intent, does it work?

Are these t-shirts, blouses, what? I think it would be OK to wear a t-shirt one day for philanthropy when you're doing crafty things, but I would feel a bit frumpish if forced to wear them every day of rush. Not only that - what if the sizing's wonky and they don't fit properly?

[SigKapCoug]

Ours forbids matching clothes from the waist down, and forbids hats and the like.

And while I'm on that, all the clothes I have to buy (pants/shorts/skirts) have to be new, with tags on when we arrive for work week. We even have to wear certain colors of bras (white or skin color only, black is okay for dress day )

[naraht]

At what point in this conversation are guy's heads supposed to explode?

Randy

[AlphaFrog]

Originally posted by naraht
At what point in this conversation are guy's heads supposed to explode?

Randy

About here:

Originally posted by JocelynC
Hi all!

I'm a new member, but I'll be active before fall recruitment.

[FSUZeta]

well randy, i have to ask you why you would be interested in reading this thread in the first place?

[naraht]

Originally posted by AlphaFrog
About here:

Thank you. That was about it.

[naraht]

Originally posted by FSUZeta
well randy, i have to ask you why you would be interested in reading this thread in the first place?

Saw one of the entries in the main page where it shows some of the recent topics and postings. Couldn't figure it out, so went and read the entire thread. Still have no clue.

[AUAZD2001]

Last year I attended recruitment as an alumna (I had graduated last May), and my chapter had the most frills in the 5 years I have participatede in recruitment (1 as a PNM, 3 as an active and 1 as an alumna). Some of the clothes and accessories were provided by the sorority. A $75 recruitment clothing fee was charged to each member to cover the cost of these clothes and accessories. Here is what we all wore:

Round One- Ice Water Teas (2 Days)

Top:
Caribbean Blue AZD Panhellenic Tshirt (AZD Letters and logo on front pocket, Auburn Panshellenic logo on back- each sorority choose a different color of tshirt and different logo to go on the front pocket, usually a mascot or symbol). This was provided by the sorority. (A college student can't have too many tshits- everybody wears these shirts after recruitment)

Bottom:
Black capri pants- member's choice of style, but no low-riders, weird cuffs, etc. (I didn't have any so I went to chadwicks.com and bought some for less than $30, and i wear them all the time.)

Shoes:
Black flipflops with AZD in rhinestone studs on them- Provided by the sorority. (These were the most uncomfortable shoes I think I have ever worn in my life. It felt like I had 2 bricks strapped to the bottom of my feet. They allso did not hold up well. Many straps broke quite easily. Cute idea, but we learned that not all flopflops are created equal.

Accessories:
Member's Choice- Diamonds and/or pearls stud earrings (one per ear).
Lavalere (everybody got one as a "gift" when they were initiated. (I say "gift" because the cost came out of each initiate's initiation fee- not really a gift if you buy it yourself).
AZD rhinestone studed slide bracelet- Provided buy sorority. Very cute, but not something you would really wear besides recruitment.

Round 2- Philanthropy Day (2 Days)

Top:
Red 3/4 length sleeve tshirt with "ALPHA XI DELTA" spelled out in rhinestone studs across the chest. Provided by the sorority. (Not really somehting I would wear accept for recriutment... or maybe Greek Sing.)

Bottom:
Black, knee-length, A-line skirt. (I had to buy this one, but I lucked out and found it at Ross Dress-for-Less (a discount store like Marshalls or TJ Maxx) for only $5.)

Shoes:
Same as Round One

Accessories:
Same as Round One, but no lavalere.

Round Three- Skit Day (1 Day)

Top:
Black 3/4 length sleeve, boatneck knit shirt from Chadwicks.com- Everyone was sent an email with a link to the specific shirt and "commanded" to order the shirt. I thought it was reasonable priced and in fact ordered it in several colors. it is one of my favorite tops.

Bottom:
Black Pants- nice, professional-looking. The kind you would wear to a job interview. No low-riders, not too tight.

Shoes:
Black closed-toe heels.

Accessories:
Pearl earrings, pearl necklace, pearl braclet. Golden sash/belt- provided by sorority.

Round Four- Preference Day (1 Day)

Dress:
Black dress either with sleeves or a cardigan.

Shoes:
Black closed-toe heels.

Accessories:
AZD Quills, pearl earrings, pearl necklace, pearl bracelet, flesh color pantyhose.

Bid Day (1 Day)

Dress:
Yellow/Blue/White solid/print sundress (if strapless/spagetti strap/halter must have MATCHING cardigan.

Shoes:
Matching Sandal heels

Accessories:
Matching accessories.

Items provided by Sorority:
Panhellenic Tshits
AZD Flipflops
AZD bracelet
Red AZD shirt
Golden Sash/belt

Specific item purchase:
Chadwicks knit top.

This was also the very first year we had a "Charms Council." Exec selected one fashion-conscious, mature, respected and tactful sister from each new member class (sophomore, junior, senior). They were responsible for seeing everyone in their outfits to determine if they looked appropriate. Charms Council was held at the very beginning of pre-recruitment to allow for adequate time for sisters to get replacement clothing if they needed. Each sister was evaluated seperately to help protect her privacy.

If you can believe it, this was the smoothest, most drama-free recruitment I have been a part of. I think some of it had to do with the fact that everybody had very specific expectations going in as to what to wear. No bitchfests about buying an expensive outfit that is not appropriate. And Charms Council helped take the burden off of the recruitment chair, advisors, other officers, and day heads. They had enough to think about and be responsible for without having to worry about what everyone was wearing.

[AOQTII]

We have the same kinda rules here at University of South Florida....we're not as technical as it sounds at your school. They have a no 6-6 matching. Meaning no six girls can have the same 6 dresses. One way we get around that is for pref day for example we're just a little more leniant on dresses. We'll just leave it open style wise and say black dresses, no tube-tops or something like that. The only day people can match is phil. day we all have the same shirt that says alpha omicron pi on it. Theres lots of ways to get around it but it is kinda petty sorry if some girl doesnt want to join a sorority b/c people ended up buying the same style shirt for recruitment!