Dressing up shorts?

[RazorbackRush]

My school is doing issued T-shirts with either pants, skirt, or shorts every day of recruitment except for preference. I am planning to wear shorts because it's hot and I heard you may be sitting on the floor (more difficult in a skirt). The standardized shirt thing is taking a lot of the stress and expense out of recruitment for me, so I don't mind. I am planning on longer shorts that are very classic in neutrals since I don't know the color of the T-shirts. I would not do denim because I think that is too casual. For shoes I was considering Sperrys or Toms, but are they too casual for the South? I want to be comfortable, but I also have dressier sandals I could wear. I know this is a trival issue, so thanks for humoring me.

[nolesgirl]

Originally Posted by RazorbackRush

My school is doing issued T-shirts with either pants, skirt, or shorts every day of recruitment except for preference. I am planning to wear shorts because it's hot and I heard you may be sitting on the floor (more difficult in a skirt). The standardized shirt thing is taking a lot of the stress and expense out of recruitment for me, so I don't mind. I am planning on longer shorts that are very classic in neutrals since I don't know the color of the T-shirts. I would not do denim because I think that is too casual. For shoes I was considering Sperrys or Toms, but are they too casual for the South? I want to be comfortable, but I also have dressier sandals I could wear. I know this is a trival issue, so thanks for humoring me.

I go to school in Florida, and we have typical southern rush. I remember going to an informal recruitment meeting in January, and even though the Greek Life office stressed casual, warm clothes, most girls were wearing nice clothes and heels, etc. Not saying you should wear heels necessarily, but in my experience (as a pnm) it never hurts to err on the side of dressier

[Lady Pi]

Originally Posted by RazorbackRush

My school is doing issued T-shirts with either pants, skirt, or shorts every day of recruitment except for preference. I am planning to wear shorts because it's hot and I heard you may be sitting on the floor (more difficult in a skirt). The standardized shirt thing is taking a lot of the stress and expense out of recruitment for me, so I don't mind. I am planning on longer shorts that are very classic in neutrals since I don't know the color of the T-shirts. I would not do denim because I think that is too casual. For shoes I was considering Sperrys or Toms, but are they too casual for the South? I want to be comfortable, but I also have dressier sandals I could wear. I know this is a trival issue, so thanks for humoring me.

Sperrys are great, Toms not so much. If you have sandals with a low wedge for the later rounds that would be good, and save the high high heels until pref since you will be walking so much. Jack Rogers are perfect now, and the wedged ones look great with a sundress and skirts.

Personally, I wore high heels every night of recruitment except for House Tours, because I am a heel girl and that is very much a part of my personality, lol! It was not that bad because we only had 5 sororities on my campus at the time, but the rounds were pretty far apart. I brought flip flops to wear in between for the walking and it worked out fine! So, if you really really want to wear heels and are as stubborn as I was, go for it!

[33girl]

Originally Posted by RazorbackRush

For shoes I was considering Sperrys or Toms, but are they too casual for the South?

SPERRYS. People tend to feel one extreme or the other about Toms (either they absolutely love them or think they're megafug).

[Lady Pi]

Originally Posted by 33girl

SPERRYS. People tend to feel one extreme or the other about Toms (either they absolutely love them or think they're megafug).

Hahaha, this is so true! I think that they are ugly as sin, but everyone else seems to love them. I think that they make people look like they have mummy feet all wrapped up in bandages! But they are for a good cause, I guess, since the company donates shoes to people who really need them. Although I think even poor people should get cute shoes. Now I have a cute philanthropy event idea in my head!

To the OP- Definitely go for the longer ones, better safe than sorry! As long as they are a good few inches above the knee you won't look like a granny!

[hootyhoo]

Originally Posted by RazorbackRush

My school is doing issued T-shirts with either pants, skirt, or shorts every day of recruitment except for preference. I am planning to wear shorts because it's hot and I heard you may be sitting on the floor (more difficult in a skirt). The standardized shirt thing is taking a lot of the stress and expense out of recruitment for me, so I don't mind. I am planning on longer shorts that are very classic in neutrals since I don't know the color of the T-shirts. I would not do denim because I think that is too casual. For shoes I was considering Sperrys or Toms, but are they too casual for the South? I want to be comfortable, but I also have dressier sandals I could wear. I know this is a trival issue, so thanks for humoring me.

You can get away with Toms at Arkansas. Some chapters are caught up in the fancy shmancy girls, but several are not. Arkansas is a little different I feel like from the rest of the SEC schools. During the first two rounds we really stress feeling comfortable, so whatever makes you feel the best wear that. Of course its important to be clean and neat, but it has been in the 100s and you spend a lot of time walking/waiting outside, so everyone is gross by the end of the day (including the actives inside). You will see girls in a broad spectrum of different choices, from wedges to Chacos. I honestly love the girls who come in natural and low maintenance. Please do NOT belt your tshirts. I honestly would rather see a girl come in in comfortable clothes, than overdone with a belt over a tshirt. Our gamma chis actually put on skits about overdoing the tshirts during recruitment. PNMs think it helps them standout, when in reality most of the actives this it is quite silly looking. Go in neat and clean and you'll be fine. JCrew/Gap has nicer looking shorts so you don't go in looking sloppy.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by hootyhoo

You can get away with Toms at Arkansas. Some chapters are caught up in the fancy shmancy girls, but several are not. Arkansas is a little different I feel like from the rest of the SEC schools. During the first two rounds we really stress feeling comfortable, so whatever makes you feel the best wear that. Of course its important to be clean and neat, but it has been in the 100s and you spend a lot of time walking/waiting outside, so everyone is gross by the end of the day (including the actives inside). You will see girls in a broad spectrum of different choices, from wedges to Chacos. I honestly love the girls who come in natural and low maintenance. Please do NOT belt your tshirts. I honestly would rather see a girl come in in comfortable clothes, than overdone with a belt over a tshirt. Our gamma chis actually put on skits about overdoing the tshirts during recruitment. PNMs think it helps them standout, when in reality most of the actives this it is quite silly looking. Go in neat and clean and you'll be fine. JCrew/Gap has nicer looking shorts so you don't go in looking sloppy.

Are the t shirts a regular cut or French cut? Because if they're French cut you need to do shorts that will give you a sleeker line.

[ChicC'estLaVie]

The thing about toms, is that some people will like that you wear shoes that 'care for a cause', others will be disgusted with how ugly they are, because face it: you can donate the money you saved on not buying fug shoes and do jut as much (actually way more) good, and some people may think you haven't taken the time to think for yourself about the outcome of your toms purchase and that you are instead 'drinking the koolaid'.

There is a toms counter movement, called a day without dignity that makes several very valid points about how Toms are hurting not just the economies of the impoverished countries on the receiving end of the fee shoes, but also the culture where people forgo buying shoes for their children because they know the 'white people' have brought free shoes to their village before. Toms is in the for profit business (nothing wrong with that) but their sales are based entirely off of a marketing ploy that leads us to feel good about our purchase as if we are making a donation to a non profit.

Sorry I know that was a big lane swerve, but I just keep thinking about how one of the chapters on my campus wore toms for philanthropy night last year and how much it turned me off. I'm not sure if a PNM wearing toms would turn me off, but it certainly wouldn't lead me to think 'oh i must have this girl, she cares about africa' Just my .02


(and yes I finally got a user name just to post about the toms shoes)

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by ChicC'estLaVie

The thing about toms, is that some people will like that you wear shoes that 'care for a cause', others will be disgusted with how ugly they are, because face it: you can donate the money you saved on not buying fug shoes and do jut as much (actually way more) good, and some people may think you haven't taken the time to think for yourself about the outcome of your toms purchase and that you are instead 'drinking the koolaid'.

There is a toms counter movement, called a day without dignity that makes several very valid points about how Toms are hurting not just the economies of the impoverished countries on the receiving end of the fee shoes, but also the culture where people forgo buying shoes for their children because they know the 'white people' have brought free shoes to their village before. Toms is in the for profit business (nothing wrong with that) but their sales are based entirely off of a marketing ploy that leads us to feel good about our purchase as if we are making a donation to a non profit.

Sorry I know that was a big lane swerve, but I just keep thinking about how one of the chapters on my campus wore toms for philanthropy night last year and how much it turned me off. I'm not sure if a PNM wearing toms would turn me off, but it certainly wouldn't lead me to think 'oh i must have this girl, she cares about africa' Just my .02


(and yes I finally got a user name just to post about the toms shoes)

Totally agree. Also, what about the shoemakers and salesmen in Africa (or other poor regions) who are put out of business by these charitable orgs that give away free shoes? Same for charities giving away old t-shirts, etc in third world countries.