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

[Alumiyum]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

Really no one's going to notice that you wear pearls every day unless you have some huge strings or your pearl earrings are the size of gumballs. And if they noticed, they wouldn't think that you were trying to be an XYZ.

I've witnessed it happen on my campus. Little things get blown out of proportion when a bunch of 18-22 year old girls are stressed out, overly sensitive, and are running on very little sleep. I do suggest changing it up a little, which can be done with another classic-diamond (or, of course, cubic zircona/diamond cut glass) earrings or colored pearls. If sticking with pearls every day, making sure to show sincere interest in all chapters is a good way to let the actives know the choice of jewel isn't related to a sorority.

(On that note I would avoid wearing sorority symbols during recruitment. For instance the anchor is very popular right now. Wearing a dress with an anchor print all over when there is a Delta Gamma chapter on campus might be interpreted wrongly, unless you want to convey that your favorite is DG. Of course it would be too difficult to avoid all mascots/symbols/jewels, just don't go nuts with them, and again, show sincere interest in all chapters so that actives know your clothing/jewelry choice is about what you think is cute and not about sending a message. Do that and you'll be perfectly fine.)

ETA: When I was a PNM, I happened to have picked (weeks beforehand) a dress for pref night that was the same color as the dresses actives of a certain chapter on campus wore during pref night. Of course because I picked it in advance it was in no way related to a sorority. But I was told by the other chapter that I preffed that they thought I was sending them a message. It happens, go figure. Again, just showing sincere interest will dispel any such assumptions.

[FleurGirl]

Originally Posted by Alumiyum

ETA: When I was a PNM, I happened to have picked (weeks beforehand) a dress for pref night that was the same color as the dresses actives of a certain chapter on campus wore during pref night. Of course because I picked it in advance it was in no way related to a sorority. But I was told by the other chapter that I preffed that they thought I was sending them a message. It happens, go figure. Again, just showing sincere interest will dispel any such assumptions.

Wouldn't that be seriously encroaching on telling you about membership selection? I feel like that would be a HUGE recruitment no-no.

[epchick]

Originally Posted by Alumiyum

I've witnessed it happen on my campus.

How can you "witness" it happen? Unless you are privy to the other chapters membership selection, you wouldn't know that they thought Suzie PNM only wanted DG or XYZ based on their jewelry. If you've witnessed it happen, it's because YOUR chapter does it. But just because your chapter might do it doesn't mean every chapter does. If a girl walked into my party wearing the forever21 owl necklace, I wouldn't ever think she wanted Chi O.

I would say this thread has gotten ridiculous, but it's way past that already.

[AXOrushadvisor]

Such cute stuff here (except for my gross what not to wear stuff). I want to photo the PNM's while walking in and put bars over their faces to conceal their identities (JK). I'm going to pay attention this year and report back on what this girls are wearing in the desert PAC 10 style.

[FleurGirl]

I had so much fun with my "what to wear" outfits I thought I'd do a set of what NOT to wear!

Open House:

Why it's bad: The boots are too high, the booty shorts are too short and too casual, the top is shredded and tacky, and the jewelry screams "middle school"!

Philanthropy:

Why it's bad: The jeans are sleazy and too casual, the top is pretty much NOT a top, the hoodie is way too informal, and the plastic cherry theme just SCREAMS "pop my cherry please"! Not a good message.

Skit Night:

Why it's bad: The sequin red mini is club-attire and totally inappropriate. Remember that you're dressing for other girls, not boys! The heels are waaaaay too much and over the top, and the owl and key jewelry is basically a middle finger to any other group that invited you to a party (and will probably freak out the group whose symbols you're wearing)!

Pref:

Why it's bad: Ladies, this is NOT the time to bust out your long formal prom dress! The jewelry and shoes are tacky and mis-matched and totally inappropriate for an occasion like pref.

Hope you all enjoyed this! I had fun with it.

[krrrristen]

Oh my goodness that owl necklace is the cutest! I'm an owl fan through my grandma-- she was addicted to owls! I'd totally wear it, but I know better than to wear it to a recruitment event =P

Thanks for the tip. I had planned on at least bringing the flip flops, but I wasn't sure exactly what to wear to the parties. I'm so glad I found GC. I'd be completely lost without it!

[beeish]

I'm in love with that polyvore site now.
If I could just go shopping for rush i would LOOVE this outfit.



Our first round is in the afternoon/evening and although the temperatures soar throughout the day it gets a little cooler at night, hence the cardigan. Not sure if its appropriate though. It actually kinda resembles the outfit I am planning on wearing for that day, except with sandals instead of flats.

[Alumiyum]

Originally Posted by beeish

I'm in love with that polyvore site now.
If I could just go shopping for rush i would LOOVE this outfit.



Our first round is in the afternoon/evening and although the temperatures soar throughout the day it gets a little cooler at night, hence the cardigan. Not sure if its appropriate though. It actually kinda resembles the outfit I am planning on wearing for that day, except with sandals instead of flats.

A cardigan is a great idea if it gets cool at night (and because air conditioners run full blast all day so some houses will probably be ice boxes by evening.) It looks very appropriate. You can always leave it with your RC's during parties if you discover you don't need it after all.

PS: You might want to use jewelry to add a little color, but if you don't some lip gloss with a little tint and some blush (if you wear make up ordinarily...trying something you aren't used to for big events can end up making you feel weird and uncomfortable) will brighten you up the same way.

[Alumiyum]

I picked a few "What not to Wears" based on outfits I've actually seen during recruitment. I didn't come up with one for pref, because the only one I could think of was the prom dress, and that was well covered earlier.

Open House:

As many people have said, it's important to impress girls, not guys. It's also important to dress for the occasion. A corset or a micro mini skirt, and certainly the combination isn't appropriate for recruitment. That's club/show wear. Even on campuses where knee-length is a little dowdy, you need to keep your butt cheeks covered. Sit down in the outfit to make sure you can do so without flashing.


Casual Night:

Where is this outfit appropriate? The pool, the beach, hanging out with friends in the summer time. It's not ok for recruitment. Avoid the super-distressed look on your denim, and the itty bitty shorty shorts. Also, if a tank top/tee is appropriate for your campus's recruitment don't pick one with a slogan. Why? Because then your clothing is talking for you. You don't get the chance to send a message about who you are when your shirt does it for you. "Don't hate" is asking for someone to hate, so a recruitment party isn't the best place for it. (Other offenders have included "I'm hot" and "Your boyfriend wants me".)

Theme:

Two problems. The first is that a dress that is shrinkwrapped isn't appropriate for recruitment (or work, school...). Nor is a super super short dress. The second is that you don't want to be ALL one color. You'll be remembered as "the blueberry girl" or the "pink girl" or the "green girl" instead of "the really funny girl that ran track in high school and likes to sing"...you get the point. Everything doesn't have to match, it has to go. If you want to keep it simple, go with something like a black dress and black shoes with an accessory in a color, or pearls.


ETA: An outfit can be cute and not be appropriate for certain places/occasions. The casual night combo is an example. Fine at the beach, mall, pool. Not at work, recruitment, job interviews. And though it is very important to look well groomed and appropriate, it's also important that you worry far more about meeting actives than about your clothing. If you're self conscious, you won't be able to enjoy yourself and it will show. Be comfortable, yourself, and appropriate and then be confident.

[perfectinpurple]

Ok, I hope these pictures show up! (I'm not very techno-savvy)



The first 2 days we had to wear the panhellenic t shirt. I chose cute flats, and walking shorts (no tears or rips either).



For first invite (sisterhood day) I chose a cute summery dress and again flats.



For second invite (philanthropy day) I chose a slightly more dressy, but still summery dress. I still went with flats for this round because at this point in the game you can still be doing a lot of walking.



For preference I chose a fairly plain dress and somewhat subtle jewelry.



Bid Day!!!! I went casual (but still looking nice for all those pictures! ) I went with just a plain tank because all the chapters give out bid day shirts and I want to wear mine.

[Alumiyum]

Originally Posted by perfectinpurple

Ok, I hope these pictures show up! (I'm not very techno-savvy)



The first 2 days we had to wear the panhellenic t shirt. I chose cute flats, and walking shorts (no tears or rips either).



For first invite (sisterhood day) I chose a cute summery dress and again flats.



For second invite (philanthropy day) I chose a slightly more dressy, but still summery dress. I still went with flats for this round because at this point in the game you can still be doing a lot of walking.



For preference I chose a fairly plain dress and somewhat subtle jewelry.



Bid Day!!!! I went casual (but still looking nice for all those pictures! ) I went with just a plain tank because all the chapters give out bid day shirts and I want to wear mine.

Not showing up

[perfectinpurple]

Ok, attempt #2:




The first 2 days we had to wear the panhellenic t shirt. I chose cute flats, and walking shorts (no tears or rips either).




For first invite (sisterhood day) I chose a cute summery dress and again flats.




For second invite (philanthropy day) I chose a slightly more dressy, but still summery dress. I still went with flats for this round because at this point in the game you can still be doing a lot of walking.




For preference I chose a fairly plain dress and somewhat subtle jewelry.



Bid Day!!!! I went casual (but still looking nice for all those pictures! ) I went with just a plain tank because all the chapters give out bid day shirts and I want to wear mine.

[AXOrushadvisor]

Originally Posted by Alumiyum

I picked a few "What not to Wears" based on outfits I've actually seen during recruitment. I didn't come up with one for pref, because the only one I could think of was the prom dress, and that was well covered earlier.

Open House:

As many people have said, it's important to impress girls, not guys. It's also important to dress for the occasion. A corset or a micro mini skirt, and certainly the combination isn't appropriate for recruitment. That's club/show wear. Even on campuses where knee-length is a little dowdy, you need to keep your butt cheeks covered. Sit down in the outfit to make sure you can do so without flashing.


Casual Night:

Where is this outfit appropriate? The pool, the beach, hanging out with friends in the summer time. It's not ok for recruitment. Avoid the super-distressed look on your denim, and the itty bitty shorty shorts. Also, if a tank top/tee is appropriate for your campus's recruitment don't pick one with a slogan. Why? Because then your clothing is talking for you. You don't get the chance to send a message about who you are when your shirt does it for you. "Don't hate" is asking for someone to hate, so a recruitment party isn't the best place for it. (Other offenders have included "I'm hot" and "Your boyfriend wants me".)

Theme:

Two problems. The first is that a dress that is shrinkwrapped isn't appropriate for recruitment (or work, school...). Nor is a super super short dress. The second is that you don't want to be ALL one color. You'll be remembered as "the blueberry girl" or the "pink girl" or the "green girl" instead of "the really funny girl that ran track in high school and likes to sing"...you get the point. Everything doesn't have to match, it has to go. If you want to keep it simple, go with something like a black dress and black shoes with an accessory in a color, or pearls.


ETA: An outfit can be cute and not be appropriate for certain places/occasions. The casual night combo is an example. Fine at the beach, mall, pool. Not at work, recruitment, job interviews. And though it is very important to look well groomed and appropriate, it's also important that you worry far more about meeting actives than about your clothing. If you're self conscious, you won't be able to enjoy yourself and it will show. Be comfortable, yourself, and appropriate and then be confident.

I secretly love the don't hate me tank top! ha ha!!

[Alumiyum]

Originally Posted by AXOrushadvisor

I secretly love the don't hate me tank top! ha ha!!

Haha...I always think it's a bad idea to wear statement tees to something like recruitment, because I'm willing to bet no matter what comes out of the PNM's mouths, it's whatever phrase that's written on the shirt doing the talking. But day to day? Sometimes it's fun.

[perfectinpurple]

I know! I'm so sad

I thought I followed the "how to", but technology hates me.