Sequins and beads

[AOIIalum]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

Yup, and I know of more than one instance where the outfit she showed up in on rush day was NOT the outfit that passed dress checks.

Originally Posted by Alphagamuga

Really? Why would someone do that? If you already had the approved outfit what would make someone change?

Because they think they can get away with it. Needless to say, usually it only causes more drama (and in the worst case, a nice helping of fines!)

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by AOIIalum

Because they think they can get away with it. Needless to say, usually it only causes more drama (and in the worst case, a nice helping of fines!)

They think their own taste is that much better than what the chapter asked them to wear?

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by Alphagamuga

They think their own taste is that much better than what the chapter asked them to wear?

Sometimes it's that. Then there are some sisters who think it's "unfair" that the recruitment team tells them what to wear (they're usually younger girls or girls who didn't go through formal), so instead of a purple, white, or black polo, they show up in a pink one, because "pink looks better on them."

Then there are sisters who like to dress "differently" who put up a big fuss about being told what to wear because their "individuality is being compromised." They don't understand that there is probably no sorority on earth (at least not that I've heard of) that participates in formal recruitment and tell its sisters "wear whatever you feel comfortable in for recruitment." It just doesn't work that way.

[susan314]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

Then there are sisters who like to dress "differently" who put up a big fuss about being told what to wear because their "individuality is being compromised." They don't understand that there is probably no sorority on earth (at least not that I've heard of) that participates in formal recruitment and tell its sisters "wear whatever you feel comfortable in for recruitment." It just doesn't work that way.

I think sisters with that attitude generally don't consider the fact that the PNMs are going to be walking into a big group of women that they don't know. The coordinated outfits help the PNMs to visually distinguish between chapter members and other PNMs.

Of course it would be offensive if you were being dictated what to wear every day of the school year. But how difficult is it to suck it up for a week (or less) of formal recruitment?

[dgdramadawg]

Originally Posted by susan314

Of course it would be offensive if you were being dictated what to wear every day of the school year. But how difficult is it to suck it up for a week (or less) of formal recruitment?

And - new thought - if you see the group dressed alike for recruitment and then pledge, do you expect it to change?

[SWTXBelle]

Imagine my situation - second day of recruitment as a PNM, I can't figure out why all the groups are looking at me funny. Then I go into Gamma Phi - they have red dresses with blue polka dots (hey, it was the 80s) and I have THE EXACT SAME DRESS, only blue with red polka dots. Good thing I pledged Gamma Phi!

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by susan314

But how difficult is it to suck it up for a week (or less) of formal recruitment?

It's not. When I was on the recruitment team, I always approached it as "The other days of the year you are free to wear whatever you please, but when it comes to formal recruitment, that's just 4 days out of your life where you are given strict guidelines as to what to wear. Deal with it."

I also brought up the point of, "When you went through recruitment and couldn't remember which group was DG or DZ at the end of the day, how did you figure it out?" The answer was usually "Well DZ had pink or green polos with khakis & DG had the pink shirts with black pants." Which proves that we need to distinguish ourselves from other groups by dressing distinctively similar.

[audrey5366]

Whenever we have girls complaining about wearing the same clothes someone always brings up the point that 'yes, it is wonderful that you have your own personal style, but wouldn't you rather the PNM get to know you for your spunky personality rather than the outfit you decide to wear?' Dressing similarly, oddly enough, actually makes people concentrate less on what you look like and focus more on you.

Plus I agree with what KSUViolet said-- when you need to remember a group, you would do it based on what they wore that day..

[NUBlue&Blue]

I have no problem with dressing alike--it does help you remember which group is which, especially in a large greek system. In fact, I am queen of matchy-matchy and I actually like school uniforms. I think the most striking memory I have from rush back in the day was walking into AOPi house to a sea of red dresses on girls arranged artfully up and down the staircase! 25+ years later, I can see it as clearly in my mind as if it was yesterday. I don't think 99.9% of girls on the other side of rush have a problem with dressing alike, it's just the shopping that is getting to me. I don't have time for it, my daughter really doesn't have time for it, and it's frustrating.