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

[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.

[perfectinpurple]

Wooohooo!! Success!!

Thanks for all the help you guys!

[nittanygirl]

Open Houses: Very casual, Recruitment TShirts



First Rounds: Casual, but still cute, nice flip flops or flats, jeans or shorts



Second Rounds: Casual sundresses or skirt




Preference: Nice, cocktail dress, heels



Bid Day: Casual, comfortable

[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.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by FleurGirl

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

There are a lot of "Huge recruitment no-nos" in this thread that have nothing to do with clothing.

[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.

[Alumiyum]

Originally Posted by FleurGirl

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

I should have been more specific...they certainly did NOT say that during the party. This was something I was told weeks later, after it was all said and done.

Originally Posted by epchick

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.

I've never said anything about membership selection. I said assumptions were made, which they have repeated, often in the context of "Oh Suzy, when you went through recruitment I thought you were going to be in my chapter because of your anchor necklace/XYZ for your four nights of pearls/XY for your mascot-print dress." Suzy says, "". I have no idea if that alone would have effected any bids or drops, though I can't imagine it ever would. I suspect the effect would've been what it was in my chapter...buoying hopes that a rush crush's love of "certainmascot/jewel" accessories meant we might be able to get them.

[violetpretty]

Originally Posted by WhiteDaisy128

On a Mac? Ctrl + click.

[Alumiyum]

Heads up if any PNM's are reading this...gap has some REALLY cute skirts on sale right now. My local store still had a good range of sizes, but the online store has them as well.

[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.

[beeish]

how high is too high?
I have a dress that I am in loooove with and i REALLY want to wear for preferance (provided I get asked back somewhere) but it's a dress which NEEDS black heels if you know what i mean.
the only black heels I own are patent leather, stilleto (I guess) like thin heeled - not too clued up on the names and black. But I don't think their trashy... their like classic black heels. I can walk in them, they are super comfortable but I don't know if their too high, their like 4 inches, maybe 3? they have a platform in the front. I'm short and they make my stubby legs look longer... which is why I own them... but not sure if they are approrpiate. I do have some black and grey shoes that would work that are maybe half an inch shorter and have thicker heels too but have a t-strap which doesn't look as good with this dress but they look okay.

[Alumiyum]

Originally Posted by beeish

how high is too high?
I have a dress that I am in loooove with and i REALLY want to wear for preferance (provided I get asked back somewhere) but it's a dress which NEEDS black heels if you know what i mean.
the only black heels I own are patent leather, stilleto (I guess) like thin heeled - not too clued up on the names and black. But I don't think their trashy... their like classic black heels. I can walk in them, they are super comfortable but I don't know if their too high, their like 4 inches, maybe 3? they have a platform in the front. I'm short and they make my stubby legs look longer... which is why I own them... but not sure if they are approrpiate. I do have some black and grey shoes that would work that are maybe half an inch shorter and have thicker heels too but have a t-strap which doesn't look as good with this dress but they look okay.

Personally, I think that's fine if the dress is conservative. I have a lot of heels that are that tall because I'm short, too and also think my legs look stubby without them...if the outfit is conservative (not super tight, low cut, very short, etc.), they just look like high heels. If the outfit is a little on the going-out-clubbing side, they look very different.

Here's my suggestion: Bring them in and ask your Recruitment Counselors if they would be appropriate. They'll be able to tell you what's ok on your campus. If they think the shoes aren't appropriate, wear your grey shoes. Or if you have time and a little extra cash see if there's a place like Target or TJMaxx in your area and find some different black heels for cheap.

[beeish]

its conservative, i don't wear "going out" clothes haha. It's got a ballerina like skirt that hits just above the knees and by ballerina I don't mean sticky out tutu but like the skirty-tulle thing if that makes sense.
But thanks for your advice I probably will do that!

[Alumiyum]

Originally Posted by beeish

its conservative, i don't wear "going out" clothes haha. It's got a ballerina like skirt that hits just above the knees and by ballerina I don't mean sticky out tutu but like the skirty-tulle thing if that makes sense.
But thanks for your advice I probably will do that!

Sounds cute...when in doubt ask the RC's. Ideally, they've already been prepped on how to help you with clothing questions, because you won't be the only one asking!