Formal Recruitment Outfit Opinions

[KDCat]

Originally Posted by Titchou

And am not trying to be snarky, but please iron them.

They need to go the dry cleaners, really. A good dry cleaner can make anything look new or newish.

Of the 4 dresses you've shown us, I would choose the yellow one and then wear one of the floral strapless dresses (the green one or the Lily, your choice). I would get a different, solid colored dress for pref.

[SouthernPhiMu]

I'm mostly a lurker, but I'm a recent graduate from a similar school. I personally overdid it with the florals/lilly during rush, and recommend that you rethink your options! If pref is supposed to be daytime dress, I probably wouldn't wear similar dresses the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th days.

This may sound a little harsh, but I just want to be honest with you: you're better off either buying new Lilly or not wearing Lilly at all. Your Lilly is cute, but honestly a lot of women will be wearing dresses from more recent seasons, and you don't want to stand out in a bad way (especially in the South, and in Charleston of all places... they will know). I really like your yellow dress and think it would be great for Day 3! I think the Pref dress is a little too conservative, and maybe a little busy. I would say either choose a similar cut or a similar print, but not both. A skirt/top combo may be more appropriate for Day 2, and would be a great way to slip some Lilly in (with a skirt), without being the girl that wears too many florals.

[Hartofsec]

Originally Posted by MaryPoppins

Soomie, I saw that you mentioned a school on another thread. Here's a link that might help.

What To Wear

Whew! Hope the craft on Philanthropy Day involves making some pants for the girl in the yellow dress!

I'm surprised that is an example -- not a good idea to wear a dress that short at any point in recruitment. Just my mom opinion.

[Soomie]

Originally Posted by SouthernPhiMu

I'm mostly a lurker, but I'm a recent graduate from a similar school. I personally overdid it with the florals/lilly during rush, and recommend that you rethink your options! If pref is supposed to be daytime dress, I probably wouldn't wear similar dresses the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th days.

This may sound a little harsh, but I just want to be honest with you: you're better off either buying new Lilly or not wearing Lilly at all. Your Lilly is cute, but honestly a lot of women will be wearing dresses from more recent seasons, and you don't want to stand out in a bad way (especially in the South, and in Charleston of all places... they will know). I really like your yellow dress and think it would be great for Day 3! I think the Pref dress is a little too conservative, and maybe a little busy. I would say either choose a similar cut or a similar print, but not both. A skirt/top combo may be more appropriate for Day 2, and would be a great way to slip some Lilly in (with a skirt), without being the girl that wears too many florals.

The more I think about it, the more I'm leaning towards the yellow solid for day two over the Lilly. You kind of sealed the deal for me. I think it is too busy with the other dresses that I have picked. I do have a nice shirt/skirt combo that I could exchange for day two and move the yellow to day three. I can post a pic of that combo just to make sure it would be okay. Before going out and buying anything else new I'm going to wait and have my Pi Chi come over and see what I have that would be doable.

[DubaiSis]

One guideline I've read here that I think is a good rule of thumb is to take their suggestions and go 1 step higher. It's good that they try to tone it all down, but reality says the girls will probably be more dressed than in most of those pictures.

You seem like you're in the ballpark! Good luck.

[maconmagnolia]

Originally Posted by MaryPoppins

The "What To Wear" link says not to overdress for Pref.

Oops! Ignore my comment then. I didn't look at the link.

[barbino]

The Preference outfits/dresses that are shown are really casual & laid-back. This is unusual and seems to be just for this campus; most campuses dress quite a bit more formally for Preference. If it's this casual, the last floral dress should be fine; and it even seems like you could wear flats or nice sandals with it if you wanted to.

[adpiucf]

love the yellow dress for Day 2, and the dress right next to it for day 3. Or the dress you've earmarked for prefs for Day 3. I'd find a new prefs dress. Cute dresses all around You can wear the green on bid day!

[Hartofsec]

Originally Posted by Soomie

The more I think about it, the more I'm leaning towards the yellow solid for day two over the Lilly. You kind of sealed the deal for me. I think it is too busy with the other dresses that I have picked. I do have a nice shirt/skirt combo that I could exchange for day two and move the yellow to day three. I can post a pic of that combo just to make sure it would be okay. Before going out and buying anything else new I'm going to wait and have my Pi Chi come over and see what I have that would be doable.

I think ^that is a good idea -- I like the yellow dress for either day 2 or 3, and I like the idea of working in a cute shirt/skirt on either day 2 or 3. Judging from the examples, I even think you could wear the pref dress you selected for pref (your campus seems a lot more casual for pref than many of us are accustomed to seeing) -- especially if it fits you beautifully -- you would look stunning. But perhaps still a good idea to run it by your Pi Chi.

Which dresses do you feel most confident in? I think this is really important to factor in --

You have a lot of cute choices there. You will look adorable whatever you decide in the end. Good luck to you!

***Once you have gathered the opinions you need on this thread -- delete your pics asap -- best to prevent someone from your campus potentially tripping across the thread later (PNM or active) and recognizing your dresses during recruitment.

[Soomie]

Originally Posted by Hartofsec

I think ^that is a good idea -- I like the yellow dress for either day 2 or 3, and I like the idea of working in a cute shirt/skirt on either day 2 or 3. Judging from the examples, I even think you could wear the pref dress you selected for pref (your campus seems a lot more casual for pref than many of us are accustomed to seeing) -- especially if it fits you beautifully -- you would look stunning. But perhaps still a good idea to run it by your Pi Chi.

Which dresses do you feel most confident in? I think this is really important to factor in --

You have a lot of cute choices there. You will look adorable whatever you decide in the end. Good luck to you!

***Once you have gathered the opinions you need on this thread -- delete your pics asap -- best to prevent someone from your campus potentially tripping across the thread later (PNM or active) and recognizing your dresses during recruitment.

Thanks for the photo delete suggestion! I went ahead and did that since I have a lot of advice and opinions to base my decision on now. I definitely felt most comfortable in the dress I had picked for preference day. I felt stunning and glamourous in it, and thought that it suited me really well. I think I look really good in the yellow dress as well. The green dress looks great on me, but I probably feel the least comfortable in it. It's not that I feel uncomfortable in it, it's just that it's one of those dresses where it feels a little short even though it covers you well.

[scgoldengirl]

Originally Posted by Hartofsec

Whew! Hope the craft on Philanthropy Day involves making some pants for the girl in the yellow dress!

I'm surprised that is an example -- not a good idea to wear a dress that short at any point in recruitment. Just my mom opinion.

Whoa!!! Check out that top on the right for Sisterhood Day. It's a cute top, but it is cut awfully low around the area that it's meant to cover.

I realize that Charleston is hot & balmy, but please, ladies, use some common sense when deciding on what to wear for rush. These are just some ideas thrown out there to you by the sororities. It never hurts to dress a little modestly. Show some personality in your choices but don't attend a rush party in an outfit that you're not able to move freely in without something falling out.

[FSUZeta]

Originally Posted by Soomie

Thanks for the photo delete suggestion! I went ahead and did that since I have a lot of advice and opinions to base my decision on now. I definitely felt most comfortable in the dress I had picked for preference day. I felt stunning and glamourous in it, and thought that it suited me really well. I think I look really good in the yellow dress as well. The green dress looks great on me, but I probably feel the least comfortable in it. It's not that I feel uncomfortable in it, it's just that it's one of those dresses where it feels a little short even though it covers you well.

It sounds like you have put a lot of thought into your outfits. Do go with the dresses/skirts that make you feel the most comfortable-then your personality and confidence can shine through!

[amIblue?]

Originally Posted by Soomie

Thanks for the photo delete suggestion! I went ahead and did that since I have a lot of advice and opinions to base my decision on now. I definitely felt most comfortable in the dress I had picked for preference day. I felt stunning and glamourous in it, and thought that it suited me really well. I think I look really good in the yellow dress as well. The green dress looks great on me, but I probably feel the least comfortable in it. It's not that I feel uncomfortable in it, it's just that it's one of those dresses where it feels a little short even though it covers you well.

If it feels short, don't wear it. It will make you self conscious and it may lead to tugging and fidgeting with your dress. Not a good idea.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by barbino

The Preference outfits/dresses that are shown are really casual & laid-back. This is unusual and seems to be just for this campus; most campuses dress quite a bit more formally for Preference. If it's this casual, the last floral dress should be fine; and it even seems like you could wear flats or nice sandals with it if you wanted to.

This is the problem with just seeing pics online. The dark blue and aqua/chartreuse dresses are probably silk or silky and much dressier looking in person and perfect for pref. That girl in the blue striped thing in the middle, I think she photobombed the picture.

[Sciencewoman]

Originally Posted by 33girl

That girl in the blue striped thing in the middle, I think she photobombed the picture.

LOL...I've never gotten this trend. Words you'll never hear: "You know what would be perfect to wear for that event/time-of-day/function? A maxi dress!"