If you could do it again...RE: Clothing

[goldsilverbronz]

OK, I decided to just go ahead and do it. Hope y'all enjoy!

WHAT NOT TO WEAR FOR RECRUITMENT
I'll talk about the problems with each outfit--maybe it will serve as a caution to PNMs--and they can avoid the mistakes that some of us made (I personally did not wear animal print, or feathers, or ridiculous amounts of bling...but you never know!)

First we have Round One--Ice Water Teas/Open House (Casual)

Issues: Animal print. Too much of it! It's okay to be color-coordinated, but there is too much pink and black here, the rubber bracelets are pretty tacky, the shorts don't quite go with the rest of the outfit, and those heels? Not casual, or good for walking!

Round Two--House Tours (Casual)

Issues: Feathers. That skirt looks like a dead bird and is NOT recruitment appropriate. Paired with a tank top that is partly made of leather=not a good look at all. The shoes are cute...for a night out on the town! Not for a casual round of recruitment, or for lots and lots of walking. The necklace is nice, but paired with the big earrings and clunky shoes, it's too much gold and black and feels overdone.

Round Three--Skit/Philanthropy (Business Casual)

Issues: Business casual does not=business suit. Especially not one with unflattering horizontal stripes. The jewelry is classy, but it's a whole lot of diamonds and it ends up looking like an outfit for a day at the office.

Round Four--Preference (Cocktail)

Issues: Where to begin? The dress is too short, too sequined, and a strapless dress will need to be hiked up all night long unless it has some serious structure. Assuming the wearer is attending preference at more than one chapter, it is very unwise to wear the symbol of one sorority, even if "your heart is already set on it", because you risk making the other chapter think you're not interested in them. There is WAY too much sparkle in this outfit. The shoes are very high and the silver and diamonds will just make you look like some kind of glittery party favor.

Bid Day (Tank Tops and Jeans)

Issues: Destroyed+patched jeans are not classy, and are not going to look good or put-together in photographs. If you're spending the money for designer jeans, get some that don't look like they're falling apart! A tank top does NOT equal this cropped number with the huge bow--how are you supposed to layer a bid day jersey on top? The heavy gold jewelry is more suited for a night out than a bid day, and doesn't coordinate with the outfit.

[jennyj87]

Originally Posted by goldsilverbronz

Round Three--Skit/Philanthropy (Business Casual)

Issues: Business casual does not=business suit. Especially not one with unflattering horizontal stripes. The jewelry is classy, but it's a whole lot of diamonds and it ends up looking like an outfit for a day at the office.
.

Not going to lie I was just skimming this and I saw this for the third round and i'm like "WHAT IS THIS GIRL THINKINKG"

Then I realized it was a "what not to wear"

[violetpretty]

Maryland has formal recruitment in January-February.
[Nice] Jeans are definitely acceptable and common during round 1.

Round 2 really runs the gamut. PNMs will wear nice jeans, dress pants, skirts, casual dresses, etc.

All of the outfits up to this point, except the jeans in round 1, are interchangeable for the first three rounds. Round 3 is pretty varied, except there are far fewer PNMs wearing jeans.

I couldn't decide on the shoes or the dress or the earrings. Oh well, the collage looks pretty.

Obviously, I know where I am going.


What I actually wore in Spring 2004 (the first two rounds were combined due to snow):
Tours/Philanthropy, night 1: fuchsia 3/4 sleeve button-up shirt with black dress pants and black wedge boots
Tours/Philanthropy, night 2: black 3/4 sleeve wrap shirt with medium wash jeans and black wedge boots
Skit (8): bright indigo 3/4 sleeve button-up shirt with black dress pants and black wedge boots
Preference (3): 3/4 sleeve knee length print wrap dress in shades of blue, camel, red, ivory, and black with red mary jane heels

My actual outfits were mostly appropriate, just not very imaginative, which is really weird for me. I don't know why I didn't think about what to wear more. Wearing medium wash jeans for the 2nd night of Tours/Philanthropy was maybe not a good idea at the time, but more and more PNMs have been wearing jeans (though mostly dark) in recent years. It just made me wonder, since we visited 7 chapters each night; the first night I was invited back to 6 of 7 chapters, and the second night I was invited back to 2 of 7 chapters.

[FSUZeta]

Originally Posted by goldsilverbronz

OK, I decided to just go ahead and do it. Hope y'all enjoy! I'll talk about the problems with each outfit--maybe it will serve as a caution to PNMs--and they can avoid the mistakes that some of us made (I personally did not wear animal print, or feathers, or ridiculous amounts of bling...but you never know!)

First we have Round One--Ice Water Teas/Open House (Casual)

Issues: Animal print. Too much of it! It's okay to be color-coordinated, but there is too much pink and black here, the rubber bracelets are pretty tacky, the shorts don't quite go with the rest of the outfit, and those heels? Not casual, or good for walking!

Round Two--House Tours (Casual)

Issues: Feathers. That skirt looks like a dead bird and is NOT recruitment appropriate. Paired with a tank top that is partly made of leather=not a good look at all. The shoes are cute...for a night out on the town! Not for a casual round of recruitment, or for lots and lots of walking. The necklace is nice, but paired with the big earrings and clunky shoes, it's too much gold and black and feels overdone.

Round Three--Skit/Philanthropy (Business Casual)

Issues: Business casual does not=business suit. Especially not one with unflattering horizontal stripes. The jewelry is classy, but it's a whole lot of diamonds and it ends up looking like an outfit for a day at the office.

Round Four--Preference (Cocktail)

Issues: Where to begin? The dress is too short, too sequined, and a strapless dress will need to be hiked up all night long unless it has some serious structure. Assuming the wearer is attending preference at more than one chapter, it is very unwise to wear the symbol of one sorority, even if "your heart is already set on it", because you risk making the other chapter think you're not interested in them. There is WAY too much sparkle in this outfit. The shoes are very high and the silver and diamonds will just make you look like some kind of glittery party favor.

Bid Day (Tank Tops and Jeans)

Issues: Destroyed+patched jeans are not classy, and are not going to look good or put-together in photographs. If you're spending the money for designer jeans, get some that don't look like they're falling apart! A tank top does NOT equal this cropped number with the huge bow--how are you supposed to layer a bid day jersey on top? The heavy gold jewelry is more suited for a night out than a bid day, and doesn't coordinate with the outfit.

very good advice-i am afraid that some may miss that this is WHAT NOT TO WEAR. common sense should will out, but you never know.

would you mind either making a bold title for this particular post, or perhaps making an entirely different thread entitled "WHAT NOT TO WEAR" ?

[fluffcakes]

Originally Posted by goldsilverbronz

Round Three--Skit/Philanthropy (Business Casual)

Issues: Business casual does not=business suit. Especially not one with unflattering horizontal stripes. The jewelry is classy, but it's a whole lot of diamonds and it ends up looking like an outfit for a day at the office.

Ah! I have a question! I bought this dress (in black) for the business casual day... is this too business-y or formal?

[Alumiyum]

Originally Posted by fluffcakes

Ah! I have a question! I bought this dress (in black) for the business casual day... is this too business-y or formal?

I think it's fine...if it were me I'd pick some classy but unexpected shoes to go with it to make it a little less serious. Think a color like red or maybe some black wedges with cute details.

[fluffcakes]

Originally Posted by Alumiyum

I think it's fine...if it were me I'd pick some classy but unexpected shoes to go with it to make it a little less serious. Think a color like red or maybe some black wedges with cute details.

Oh, thats a good idea! Thanks!

[Alumiyum]

Originally Posted by fluffcakes

Oh, thats a good idea! Thanks!

Good luck with recruitment, and have fun!

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by goldsilverbronz

Round Three--Skit/Philanthropy (Business Casual)

Issues: Business casual does not=business suit. Especially not one with unflattering horizontal stripes. The jewelry is classy, but it's a whole lot of diamonds and it ends up looking like an outfit for a day at the office.

I know this is an old post, but this looks really matronly to me. At 30, I don't think I'd wear anything like this to the office so I'd be a little weirded out seeing it on a teenager--like she was going to talk about virtue and try to correct my etiquette.

[perfectinpurple]

Ok maybe I spoke to soon lol....

I wouldn't necessarily put those specific outfits together, but I do love most of the individual pieces.

I'm starting to wonder how I ever got into a sorority with my sense of style :P

[goldsilverbronz]

Originally Posted by perfectinpurple

Ok maybe I spoke to soon lol....

I wouldn't necessarily put those specific outfits together, but I do love most of the individual pieces.

I'm starting to wonder how I ever got into a sorority with my sense of style :P

I also would wear a lot of the individual pieces, but not the outfits, or not necessarily the outfits for the rounds of recruitment they're placed in (or recruitment at all, maybe). I looked for tutus and sequin hose but they don't have it on Polyvore...very curious.

[perfectinpurple]

No sequined hose?! I'm shocked!!

[southbymidwest]

LOVE this thread!!! Since DD's school has deferred recruitment, I would love to see more cold weather ensembles, thanks violetpretty!

[violetpretty]

Originally Posted by southbymidwest

LOVE this thread!!! Since DD's school has deferred recruitment, I would love to see more cold weather ensembles, thanks violetpretty!

I can only vouch for Maryland...

[southbymidwest]

Sorry I meant my remarks to mean that I appreciate violetpretty's coming up with a cold weather/deferred recruitment set, not asking for more ensembles from her.