Question about attire for recruitment

[sunnyhibiscus]

I have some questions about what to wear for rush.

1. Does it really matter where I get my attire from? I mean I usually get my clothes from JcPenney, Old Navy, and such. I really can't afford the "high end" apparel, like Ann Taylor. I have read your post about some of you not liking Target's clothing. I understand, but I'm intimidated by that. I'm trying to be on a budget with my clothes. Would an Old Navy dress work fine as long as it flatters me?

2. On Skit day, it said dressier than Video Day. Would a business suit work out?

[SmartBlondeGPhB]

A lot of it will depend on where you are going to school.

[ΑΓΔSquirrel10]

At my school, here was the attire for the week:
Open House: sundresses, casual slacks and tops, capris
Philanthropy night: recruitment t-shirt or short-sleeved t-shirt and shorts
Invitational Night: sundresses/casual dresses, skirts, pantsuits
Preference Night: the website says dresses, and most of the girls wear little black dresses.
I don't think brand names played a huge part in recruitment, but again it depends on your school. There might be a house or two that looks for those, but my sisters and I compare our fake Gucci handbags for fun

[kddani]

I can't really imagine a business suit being appropriate for rush.

[ΑΓΔSquirrel10]

Originally Posted by kddani

I can't really imagine a business suit being appropriate for rush.

Cosign. A business suit might be a little too uptight for rush.

[SWTXBelle]

A resale shop is a great place to get higher-end clothing for a fraction of its original price. You won't get cutting edge fashion, but you should be able to find nice clothes that reflect your real style and personality, which is what any GLO worth joining should be most interested in.
Whatever you get, make sure it fits, is well-made, and comfortable. HTH -

[KSUViolet06]

It doesn't matter where your clothes come from as long as they look good on you.

[ADPiLove]

For my school (West Coast), we say business casual, so something you would wear to an interview, but not a business suit. A nice top - with sleeves, no spagetti straps or strapless unless it's Pref night - and skirt or pants.

When I went through recruitment, I usually wore a sweater and either nice pants or a skirt, and always got compliments on my clothing (which I bought from places like JC Pennys-love them!- and Mervyns). As long as you look well put together and neat, you'll be fine.

[NUBlue&Blue]

The JCPenney near us currently has lots of cute sundresses--and a good thing about old Jacques de Penney (in my best French accent) is that a lot of people don't think to shop there anymore, so it's not like American Eagle/Abercrombie/Jcrew where everybody in the world has seen all the dresses they carried in the spring. I saw a bunch of red and black sundresses there, so I told a couple of friends whose daughters are going to UGA next year to pick them up for football games!

[GeekyPenguin]

Outlet malls can be your friend.

[emleepc]

When I was a Recruitment Counselor, we (the counselors) got together and took pictures of appropriate attire for each day. These pictures were included in a booklet about rush that was mailed out by the greek life office to incoming freshman, as well as kept in the GL office.

Check and see if you can find something like that from the school.

[SigmaPezY60]

Have none of you ever seen "The Look for Less" on the Style Network? They shop at Macy's, Sears, Forever21, wherever they can find...the look for less.

It doesn't matter where you buy your clothes. It matters is how it looks on you.

We're college students...so looking good on a budget should be considered a survival skill.

[susan314]

Originally Posted by NUBlue&Blue

I saw a bunch of red and black sundresses there, so I told a couple of friends whose daughters are going to UGA next year to pick them up for football games!

This whole idea of Southern schools wearing sundresses to football games is so foreign to me - I actually had never heard of it until a year or so ago, and when I did I was like ???

Regional differences are so funny. If someone wore a sundress to a football game at my university or any other schools near me, they would be looked at like they came from another planet. (Went to a Big 10 school.)

[susan314]

I would agree with the other ladies that its more important to make sure that your clothes are flattering and fit well, than to worry about the label.

Yes, there might be some chapters at some schools who are label conscious. However, as others have pointed out, would you want to spend the next 4 years going broke trying to keep up with them? I agree that looking good on a budget is an important skill for a college student, and many chapters would appreciate that quality in you.

[AChiOhSnap]

Originally Posted by susan314

Yes, there might be some chapters at some schools who are label conscious. However, as others have pointed out, would you want to spend the next 4 years going broke trying to keep up with them? I agree that looking good on a budget is an important skill for a college student, and many chapters would appreciate that quality in you.

There's being label conscious, and then there's the ability to update classic pieces with inexpensive trendy/fashionable touches in order to look youthful and put-together. Classic pieces include well-fitting turtleneck tops in nice fabrics and colors, well-tailored dress pants, nicely tailored dark jeans (boot cut or straight leg...skinny jeans are too trendy and usually expensive), a pair of black stilettos, ballet flats, a nice black leather/mock leather bag with metal hardware, and flattering black dresses.

Even at label conscious chapters (and whether or not these chapters have their priorities in order is a whole other thread...), a PNM with finesse in combining her classic staples with trendy accessories will ALWAYS look like a million bucks...and it's not like people can see the tags on your clothes, so even if you get a $9.99 top on double clearance at TJ Maxx, if it looks great on you, nobody will be the wiser.

Honestly, some women who are extremely label conscious have no idea how to put themselves together. They end up looking garish and tacky with an overload of super trendy items. I think it's so much better to just look well put together and you'll be able to use the classic pieces for years if you take good care of them.

While it's definitely easier if a PNM has a $1,000 recruitment wardrobe budget, a PNM with a good sense of style should have most of what she needs in her closet already.