Formal Recruitment Attire (For Actives, not PNMs)

[Zillini]

Originally Posted by Alumiyum

Day 4-Red dresses, pearls, badge.

I imagine a red Pref is very striking.

[VandalSquirrel]

Originally Posted by Zillini

I imagine a red Pref is very striking.

It is, I love the pictures my sisters take before preference on a historical campus staircase.

[agzg]

Originally Posted by VandalSquirrel

It is, I love the pictures my sisters take before preference on a historical campus staircase.

We used to do a certain number of girls would wear red, a certain number would wear yellow or buff (depending on what they could find) and a certain number wearing green.

The red dresses for pref were a welcome change - we could buy one dress and it'd be great for other occasions, and we REALLY stood out from other chapters and other preference ceremonies. Although when I was a recent alum I seem to remember loaning my red dress to an active and I don't remember getting it back!

[littleowl33]

Originally Posted by Zillini

I imagine a red Pref is very striking.

We almost went with girls in blue dresses for Pref last year, but got scared that it would look messy with too many shades of blue (like turquoise, etc). If it worked for red, though, it could work for blue...

All the groups on my campus have sisters wear black for Pref, usually with pearls. A change could make us stand out more, but black is so easy. It's flattering on anyone and makes you look instantly classy. Eh.

[Zillini]

Originally Posted by littleowl33

We almost went with girls in blue dresses for Pref last year, but got scared that it would look messy with too many shades of blue (like turquoise, etc). If it worked for red, though, it could work for blue...

We do all blue dresses for 1st round. When we first started everyone had the same concerns you did, but it really looks great. There is variety in color shades and style to show individualism, yet it still looks cohesive. The best thing is it very memorable for overwhelmed PNMs. "Oh yeah, those girls in blue. I remember them!"

We tell the members what we want back in early spring so they have plenty of time to shop. No navy, prints, or sparkles/sequins, just a nice sun dress in a shade of medium blue. We have a few girls do a mini fashion show to provide examples. Also, the Recruitment team searches some of the more popular stores internet catalogs to give an easy way to buy exactly what we're looking for if they can't find one or don't want to take the time to look. Plus, since we've done the same style/theme for many years now, an active can use the same dress year after year.

[Alumiyum]

Originally Posted by littleowl33

We almost went with girls in blue dresses for Pref last year, but got scared that it would look messy with too many shades of blue (like turquoise, etc). If it worked for red, though, it could work for blue...

All the groups on my campus have sisters wear black for Pref, usually with pearls. A change could make us stand out more, but black is so easy. It's flattering on anyone and makes you look instantly classy. Eh.

What we do is require everyone to find a Crayola red dress...and they are approved before Pref to make sure. It isn't easy to find, but since all the other chapters on campus use white or black for pref we aren't likely to ever change it (it stands out) so members can wear their dress every year. I had mine made for me because for whatever reason my first year on the other side of recruitment was a dry spell for bright red (because they must also be badge dress it can be hard to find a dress). It does make us easy to remember on pref night.

Originally Posted by VandalSquirrel

It is, I love the pictures my sisters take before preference on a historical campus staircase.

We do that too! (Take a picture on a historical campus staircase).

[AnchorAlumna]

Back in the dark ages, we did a sort of sky blue for pref.

Each girl chose a dress pattern to suit herself, and all the dresses were made up in the same material, which was ordered in bulk. You could have your dress made, or have your mom make it, and some of us made our own.

Sounds weird, but it turned out very well!

[OneHeartOneWay]

One of the chapters I advise switched to purple dresses for preference this year. (Dark, deep jewel-type purples, not lavendar or lilac purples.) It looked great! And, purple was a huge color last year, so it was pretty easy to find! I think they are going to stick with it.