Formals, formals everywhere!!

[AchtungBaby80]

I just had to jump in on this conversation, because I love getting dressed up! For this spring's formal (my last one ), I'm planning to wear the dress I wore to prom my junior year of high school...I've never been able to find another dress to top it, I think it's so gorgeous. My school is also having a campus formal on Valentine's Day, and I'm thinking of wearing my sister's old prom dress from about 1983...dare me?

Anyway, I have a suggestion for those looking for dresses--try the Salvation Army or consignment shops! I'm serious. My best friend goes used-clothing shopping all the time, and she recently found two very pretty formal dresses for about $10 each. One even still has the tags on it, and they're not scary outdated Madonna-looking things, either. I know people have probably suggested this before, but take it from me, you really can find cute things if you're willing to sift through piles and piles of clothes. Just an idea.

[annice22]

My sorority invite our alumni to all the events. However, most of them are not able to attend because of work and other engagements.

But for our formal this school year, hopefully a lot of alumni attend because it will be the celebration of our 15th anniversary at my university.

I don't know if you schools have this, but for Greek Week we are having an all greek formal. This will be one of the first. Hopefully everyone atttends.

[aephi alum]

Originally posted by annice22
I don't know if you schools have this, but for Greek Week we are having an all greek formal. This will be one of the first. Hopefully everyone atttends.

We used to do that - though I'm not sure if that's still true, since Greek Week's been restructured. You didn't have to be greek to go, but most independents didn't go unless it was with a date who was greek.

It was kind of crazy, though - we had fall formal rush as soon as freshmen arrived on campus, and Greek Week was about 2 weeks later, leaving people scrambling for dresses and dates (as if rush and the start of pledging isn't stressful enough )

Oh - if you're near a Filene's Basement, check them out. They often have beautiful dresses (as well as suits and more casual stuff) for not a lot of money. I shopped there quite a bit when I lived in Boston

[Peaches-n-Cream]

I bought my dresses at Macy's and other department stores. They aren't too expensive. Sometimes you can get lucky and find something on sale. Good luck!

[cherub]

We've always invited alum up for formal. In fact, it's one of the few events we actually get a half decent alum turn out for. Of course, we don't have a house and are the only women's fraternity on campus (and there's only one male GLO), which makes an open formal even more important.

Still, it's become a great tradition. This year we're having it in the Holiday Inn so that alum don't have to worry about finding accomodation. I've been alum for three years and would never think of missing formal. It's the only time I really get to dress up any more. Chapter presents awards, so I always like to see who won the awards I got when I was active, and they also present an alum award, so I like to see who gets that one too.

[nyrdrms]

For our formals we usually invite alum, and a few would end up coming. This year will mark the 15th anniversary of our chapter so we are sending personal invitations to ALL the alum from the chapter. I think it would be awesome if they came.

[sailorpiphi]

We just started having a greek gala in the fall, for all greek orgs to attend where they hand out awards to best chapter, most philathrope, etc.
i have had really good luck finding dresses. The last three dresses i bought were all 40 each. i found my formal dress last year in chicago in water tower place in marshall fields. The other two were for preference and i found them in macys in san fran in cali. Trick is watch for sales and if you are a small girl like me, shop in the junior dresss section and your dresses will be a lot cheaper!
hey how do you guys all shop for jewlery on ebay and know its good? do you do a search for weddign jewlery...... ebay is very new too me and i would appreciate it if anyone knew how we could find jewlery on there cause its a good idea!

[texas*princess]

Originally posted by sailorpiphi
hey how do you guys all shop for jewlery on ebay and know its good? do you do a search for weddign jewlery...... ebay is very new too me and i would appreciate it if anyone knew how we could find jewlery on there cause its a good idea!

This will be my second year buying jewelry on eBay for formal, and last year's set was especially gorgeous (everyone was asking "who's cinderella?" )

Usually what I do when looking for cute costume jewelry on eBay is use words the sellers use in the search. Many sellers [who sell great formal jewelry] use the words "bridal" "necklace" "set" "rhinestone" in their titles. (you can use these words for a basic search on ebay).

And how do you know if it's good quality i would HIGHLY reccommend reading their feedback. most sellers who sell these items do so for a living or as a side market from their regular brial shop. Click the number by their eBay name and read what customers have to say. Also click on the item number by the customer's feedback to see what kind of item they were talking about. wary of numerous negative feedbackd keep in mind if a seller has only one or two negative feedbacks, there is a possibility that it was retaliatory feedback (for example, the customer didn't pay, so the seller put negative feedback, so in turn the customer got mad their record was 'tarnished' and in turn gave the seller negative feedback.)

I hope that helped!

[sailorpiphi]

Thanks!!!!!!!

[chideltjen]

as an alumn, i am actually very excited for this semester's formal. Supposedly our social chair is trying to find a place big enough to hold over 100 in SANTA CRUZ! I about died when I heard where they wanted formal... I LOVE that city. So I figured since this will probably be my last opportunity as a student to attend a sorority formal (I am graduating in the spring) I have decided to go... just need a date... hmmmmmmmm.

but for the dress: I am currently in the process of making one. I am not into the whole boofy ball gown thing and have nothing against girls that like them... i just prefer the lil short dresses cuz long dresses tend to be toooooooo looooong and require a lot of extra work. so the dress i have been working on is a strapless lil red number in a short velvet with glitter in it (appropriately called 'glitter velvet'). I worked at the fabric store I got the fabric from so I got dibs on the remnant... I think I paid more for the lining material than the actual dress material.

As for jewelry: I made out like a bandit last spring when joanns decided to sell all of their clearance bridal jewels for a $1.00 each. I got a necklace, earrings, a bag, all kinds of stuff. I got pretty lucky I think, but I am sure brial stores clearance jewels around this time of year...

[texas*princess]

Sailorpiphi, no problem!

Just wondering... has anyone worn a tiara to your formal? I think that makes it a little bit more fun and .. well, formal, but some people might see it as going overboard. I found this really cute one and I like it soooooo much!!!

Here's the link:


Tell me what you think!Tiara

[annice22]

I'm going to wear a tiara for formals. I thought it would look so pretty with my dress and with my hair pinned up. I just have find the right one. I'm also looking for jewlery too. I want it to look just right. Hey, does anyone wear matching earrings and necklace/chockers? Does it look to matchy?

pretty tiara texas*princess

annice

[sugar and spice]

I wore a tiara to my formal this fall, and everybody thought it was really cute, so I'd tell you to go for it. I don't think anybody's going to care too much if it's "going overboard" -- formal's supposed to be fun, you should wear what you want to wear.

[annice22]

Hi

I was wondering, I am going to be wearing clear shoes with my dress, do I still need to wear stockings or hosiery(sp) or should I just go with out them? I'm also worried that I will slip out of my shoes if I wear them. Also, my shoes are really high.

What do you think?

annice
FSS

[japhir]

Alums are only allowed to go to events if the collegiates invite us. The only time they invite us to anything is for founders day celebrations and for initiation. I guess it never crosses their mind to think of us old-school people.