Dressing up shorts?

[DubaiSis]

I'm with hooty on this one. If the shirt works for you to tuck in and belt I'm all for that, but the big belt over an untucked t-shirt I think looks goofy and looks like you're trying too hard. Just my opinion. I think the idea is to take the pressure OFF your wardrobe, not make it worse. Clean, put together, composed, these are how you want to come off, not bedazzled. If the earrings are something you'd never otherwise wear with shorts and a t-shirt, now isn't the time to start. Same thing with any of the accessories. Yes, accessorize, no, don't accessorize for a cocktail dress when that's not what you're wearing. This isn't a "who can make a t-shirt look the fanciest" contest.

[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.

[Lady Pi]

Y'all bring up such excellent points, and now my hatred feels so much more justified and less shallow! It would be great if more groups that helped people help themselves and their own communities, and if those groups would get more publicity. There are a lot of great groups out there though!

Wearing TOMS for Recruitment? VOM.COM!!!!

[ChicC'estLaVie]

An ENTIRE CHAPTER wore them for recruitment! I died when I saw pictures. I was so worried my chapter was going to catch onto the fad and do it too. I would have raised hell, and bought a different brand of espadrilles. =]
That said, we're wearing dark skinny jeans with white wedges and its taking every effort in me not to raise hell about that!

Back on topic:
As for the Panhel shirt. I would treat it as you would treat your future letters. There will undoubtably be days where you will be expected to wear matching shirts with your future sisters and I'm betting most people wouldn't want to see you belting or otherwise changing up your chapter's shirt. keep the same mind set with the panhel shirt. of course its hard to coordinate things without knowing the design of the shirt so maybe keep a few options? its sort of the same dilemma as dressing up for bidday when you don't know what the shirt looks like.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by ChicC'estLaVie

An ENTIRE CHAPTER wore them for recruitment! I died when I saw pictures. I was so worried my chapter was going to catch onto the fad and do it too. I would have raised hell, and bought a different brand of espadrilles. =]
That said, we're wearing dark skinny jeans with white wedges and its taking every effort in me not to raise hell about that!

Just keep telling yourself "I really love our 80s theme!" (even if it's not). LOL

[RazorbackRush]

Wow, I didn't realize Toms were going to set off such emotion! They will be hidden away until after recruitment, I promise.

Thanks, Hooty Hoo for the local color on the Toms issue. Here in Colorado we went through Crocs and Uggs on a grand scale, both of which I strongly hate, so I totally get the people who hate Toms. This is such a fun website because everyone is soooo passionate!

I would never wear a belt over a t-shirt, so no worries there. I'm cracking myself up picturing some girl whipping out a bedazzler and adding rhinestones to her t-shirt for the dressiest t-shirt contest.

I'm not doing crazy earrings either. No dangles for me, just studs. I wear pearl earrings almost every day anyway, so I probably will since it's truly me. I'm hoping to find a home where I fit in just like I am. I'm not big on pretending to be someone else. I figure if I rush that way, I'd have to keep pretending for four years (if I got in) and that would be lame.

[FSUZeta]

wasn't there a thread about sorority rush violations where all the sororities were issued the same panhellenic t-shirt to wear and sorority A dramatically changed the appearance of their shirts by cutting off the sleeves and maybe using one of those scrunchies to cinch it up on one side that were popular in the 80's? razorbackrush and her bedazzler made me think of that-lol!

[hootyhoo]

Originally Posted by RazorbackRush

I'm not doing crazy earrings either. No dangles for me, just studs. I wear pearl earrings almost every day anyway, so I probably will since it's truly me. I'm hoping to find a home where I fit in just like I am. I'm not big on pretending to be someone else. I figure if I rush that way, I'd have to keep pretending for four years (if I got in) and that would be lame.

LOVE THIS. Your attitude will take you so far in Arkansas recruitment if you continue to think this way throughout the process.

[katydidKD]

If this was deferred recruitment (which it is not, so I know this is irrelevant to the OP) scarves are an awesome way to dress up your shirt without being ridiculous. I'm posting this for someone who will read this thread and can do that. Some sort of accessory that makes it easier for the sisters to identify you is awesome, and the scarves PNM's chose always looked good/not stupid for my school's winter recruitment.

[nolesgirl]

Just found out that there are two different shirts for each day - one is garnet, and one is gold. Idk if they are t-shirts or v-neck fitted shirts, but it sounded like they were going to be t-shirts. Hope this helps!!

[SweetCarolineXO]

Originally Posted by DDDlady

These are my summer staple, and I have seen many girls wear them during recruitment.

http://www.loft.com/loft/product/LOF...aultColor=8712

Old Navy has a lot of shorts like these on sale for $10 right now. I just bought these last night-- I was shocked they were on sale so much. (I don't know why it's not on sale online, but in the stores they are.) Just thought I would share in case there are other girls looking at this who would like to save some money.