Recruitment Shopping

[Ocalagirl]

Your advice made a lot of sense. I know I spent over a $1000 dollars on everything and it totally wasn't worth it. As much as I thought it would give me confidence a bigger boost, I think only a couple new pieces for the last two rounds would have been just fine. I think my budget this year will be less than three hundred for everything. My mom will be so much happier lol

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by Ocalagirl

Your advice made a lot of sense. I know I spent over a $1000 dollars on everything.

Wow.

My advice to PNMs about clothes:

*Make sure you are comfortable. Discomfort is not a good look. Don't wear anything that you will constantly be fidgeting with.

*New does not equal better. If you don't OWN a sundress, then go buy a new one. But if you already have one that you like, it's just not necessary.

[FSUZeta]

clothes that you have had for a while will be new to everyone you meet at college(assuming you are a new student).

if you feel inclined to wear a strapless dress, please PLEASE, walk around for at least 5 or 10 minutes in the dress-if you find yourself hoisting it up constantly, do not wear it to a recruitment party(or anywhere for that matter!). it is extremely unattractive to be constantly adjusting yourself just to be a slave to fashion.

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by FSUZeta

clothes that you have had for a while will be new to everyone you meet at college(assuming you are a new student).

if you feel inclined to wear a strapless dress, please PLEASE, walk around for at least 5 or 10 minutes in the dress-if you find yourself hoisting it up constantly, do not wear it to a recruitment party(or anywhere for that matter!). it is extremely unattractive to be constantly adjusting yourself just to be a slave to fashion.

Ditto on shoes. Never, ever even think about wearing brand new shoes to Recruitment parties! Your discomfort will show on your face, whether you realize it or not.

Please wear something that you are extremely comfortable in! When I went Recruitment shopping, we saw nothing that compared to a dress I had worn to Homecoming the year before. It was classic, comfortable, and something I felt wonderful wearing. If you don't feel wonderful while wearing something, it's not the right one.

[KSUViolet06]

As far as stores go, I'd check out your local department stores (Kohl's, Macy's, Nordstrom, etc). They all have pretty good deals this time of year, especially on things like sundresses, capris, etc.

I wouldn't go spending a ton of money on clothing for recruitment, just because you may/may not get a bid and you don't want to be kicking yourself for spending a ton.

[Lilxcutie88]

american eagle has great clothes i personally think for sorority girls. were actually have a HUGE sale, and were about to get new stuff for the fall, so everything right now is about60% off u might want to check it out. I work there and its funny most the girls there are in sororities

[FSUZeta]

check out ann taylor-in person or on line-there is a sale going on and i saw lots of dresses that would be appropriate for recruitment-depending on what school you attend.

banana republic is also having a sale, but i did not pop in there.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Lilxcutie88

american eagle has great clothes i personally think for sorority girls. were actually have a HUGE sale, and were about to get new stuff for the fall, so everything right now is about60% off u might want to check it out. I work there and its funny most the girls there are in sororities

Maybe at some places some of the clothes would be ok for first or second rounds, but in general, most of the stuff there is far too casual for formal rush.

[UGAalum94]

Going with the "don't wear anything that you are uncomfortable in" that both KSUViolet and AGDSquirrelGirl (and FSUZeta) rightly mention, if you don't already own a sundress AND your campus really does suggest other possible outfits for that round, find out from members on that campus if you can appropriately wear something else more like what you would usually wear to a similarly dressy event.

Although you want to be appropriately dressed for your campus, there's probably a lot less of a sorority girl costume that everyone will be wearing than you might imagine. If you can figure out a way to wear appropriate clothes that you already feel comfortable in and know look good, why risk a certain kind of outfit you feel weird in? And I completely second FSUZeta's comment on the strapless deal.

[Ocalagirl]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

Wow.

well I told my mom that number not thinking she would go for it, but she said ok. With that money though I also bought a couple of new shirts, pants/jeans, and some shoes for school and recruitment. This year I am not getting anything I can't wear over again and my pref dress is being taken in. It comes in handy when your grandmother is a professional seamstress.

But being the "bright" person I am found an adorable pair of shoes on this shopping trip. They were platform sandals with really cute beading on top and had teal beads that matched my shirt for the first round. I had worn them a couple times before recruitment, but never as long as that day. By the end of the day, those cute beads had cut into my feet and for the second day I had big scabs on my feet. I was thinking though and brought comfy flip flops to wear between houses or I don't think I could have made it through the day. Thank god that my sandals for the second day covered them up and I coming to my senses wore some cute Reef flipflops that were comfortable and I got compliments on them.

I will say this too...Our Rho Gammas had told us not to bring anything that wouldn't fit into a small sandwich bag because they wouldn't be responsible for it. I didn't listen and thank god I didn't. I packed a bag with my shoes, an umbrella, makeup to touch up, mirror, brush, breathmints(I read the advice on gum making your breath actually stink worse),water, granola bar, and a tide pen (which came in handy when one of the girls dropped a strawberry on herself and we got most of it out...I guess it was a good thing because she went ZTA anyway I cannot tell you how many girls asked to borrow my mirror and try to touch themselves up. The next day I definitely saw more people doing it. I only brought stuff that I didn't care if it got stolen and I wouldn't be lost without it.

[AlphaFrog]

If you're rushing anywhere south of the Mason-Dixon, Lilly is always a good choice.

[violetpretty]

I don't know why you are asking for recommendations of stores. Check your campus or ask your Rho Gamma how dressy each event is, and wear something to that effect that is your style. If a chapter only likes you because you have a Lilly dress, is that chapter actually a good fit for you? Not to pick on Lilly, because if that is your style, then you should wear it. Do you want to feel like you have to constantly keep up with certain labels and stores in order to fit in with a group of women who will be your sisters?

I will agree with previous posters that your outfits should be tasteful and flattering, but I don't think you should buy clothes from a store that you normally wouldn't for a similarly dressy event.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by violetpretty

I don't know why you are asking for recommendations of stores. Check your campus or ask your Rho Gamma how dressy each event is, and wear something to that effect that is your style. If a chapter only likes you because you have a Lilly dress, is that chapter actually a good fit for you? Not to pick on Lilly, because if that is your style, then you should wear it. Do you want to feel like you have to constantly keep up with certain labels and stores in order to fit in with a group of women who will be your sisters?

I will agree with previous posters that your outfits should be tasteful and flattering, but I don't think you should buy clothes from a store that you normally wouldn't for a similarly dressy event.

I agree so far as you can actually get away with it and still join if joining is your goal.

But you'd be so much better off taking the advice of people currently in groups at your campus rather than GCers, who although we've got the best of intentions and love looking at pictures of cute rush clothes, only really know things within our direct experience for the most part.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by violetpretty

I will agree with previous posters that your outfits should be tasteful and flattering, but I don't think you should buy clothes from a store that you normally wouldn't for a similarly dressy event.

I would agree, except if you are rushing in a different part of the country than where you're from.

[ClassicBeauty]

Originally Posted by violetpretty

I don't know why you are asking for recommendations of stores. Check your campus or ask your Rho Gamma how dressy each event is, and wear something to that effect that is your style. If a chapter only likes you because you have a Lilly dress, is that chapter actually a good fit for you? Not to pick on Lilly, because if that is your style, then you should wear it. Do you want to feel like you have to constantly keep up with certain labels and stores in order to fit in with a group of women who will be your sisters?

I will agree with previous posters that your outfits should be tasteful and flattering, but I don't think you should buy clothes from a store that you normally wouldn't for a similarly dressy event.

I was asking for recs of stores just so I can get an idea of where to shop. My head went blank when I was starting to think of places to start looking online for outfits. I wish I could ask my Rho Gamma, but I dont get to meet her until the night of the first party haha.

I'm going to a pretty competitive school in the south (well, I think it's considered the south). I just wanted to know if I should go out of my way to buy nicer sundresses. I think I already have my pref dress, but I'm not sure if the color is eyecatching enough. I know it's recommended to buy a dress with color to it.

Oh, and for the first day of rush, they recommend wearing shorts instead of a skirt because of the whole flashing issue. I have these nice navy ralph lauren shorts, but what if they don't match the recruitment shirt I'm given? Should I buy a pair of khaki shorts too, just to be safe? (I dont really like denim).