What Do I Wear? Sorority Recruitment Edition

By Amanda Cohen on September 19, 2015

Sorority recruitment encompasses a time in which freshmen and sophomores agonize over who their future sisters will be.

While rushing last year, I experienced trepidation over a variety of aspects of recruitment. However, the one thing that had me calling my mom and sister 30 times a day was outfit choice. As tedious as it sounds, selecting the perfect outfit is an issue that has been present in our lives since the day we could tie our own shoes.

If you are like me and the thousands of girls who are currently going through recruitment, who have gone through recruitment, or who will go through recruitment, keep on reading for some outfit tips that will lessen your stress levels.

First Rounds

First rounds (also known as mixers) are the very beginning of your journey through sorority recruitment. This is the round where you will be asked about your hometown, your major, your favorite restaurants, and the amount of siblings you have.

How are you supposed to dress for something so casual, yet at the same time, so crucial to your future position in Greek life? Read below to find out!

Colored pants and a blouse

Colored pants are extremely trendy and are a perfect way to make a memorable impression without being too formal. Do you think that anyone will forget about the girl in bright orange pants? The answer is no. To match this adorable fashion statement, you can move in one of two directions: white shirt or a color-blocking top.

White blouses are the perfect way to compensate for an extremely bright pair of pants; white is cute, classy, and matches with everything. On the other hand, if you are wearing more of a pastel-colored pair of jeans, you might want to add some more color with a bright-colored top. A great combination is pastel-green cuffed pants with a royal blue blouse!

Casual romper or dress

Rompers and dresses are an amazing addition to your rush attire because they can be dressed up or dressed down. So many girls own the Brandy Melville open back, spaghetti strapped, loose-fitting dress (or some variation of this dress). This dress exhibits both trendiness and comfort. If you are worried about wearing something open-backed, pair this dress with a cropped jean jacket or a loose cardigan.

Rompers are the perfect combination of a loose fitting dress that covers your body enough so that you do not have to worry about how you are sitting. If you do not want to wear a cardigan with the romper, you can always opt for a long-sleeved or quarter-sleeved romper.

Any variation of a casual romper or dress is perfect!

Closed-toe shoes

When you have a long day of walking from house to house, it is hard to find a balance between style and comfort. Vans, Supergas, and Converse are the perfect shoes that satisfy both the comfort and style “criterion.” Not only are these shoes adorable (especially with cuffed colored jeans and/or a dress/romper, but they feel like you are walking in workout shoes.

As long as the shoes aren’t stained with dirt from the most recent tailgate, then they are perfect to wear for first rounds! The best part is, you won’t have to worry as much about tripping when you are running from one house to another!

Second Rounds

Second rounds are very similar to first rounds when it comes to style and attire. Second rounds is only a little different because you have gotten to know the girls in the houses a little better, therefore you might want to update your look a bit.

The outfits suggested above are great for second rounds, but to jazz up your look a bit I have accessory recommendations.

Watches

Watches are not only trendy, but also make any outfit look super classy and professional. Essentially, when you go to house from house, you are basically being interviewed. Watches give off a professional vibe while also making a fashion statement.

When you sit down and keep your hands on your lap, your cute watch will draw attention to your unbelievable accessory choices.

Bracelets

Stacking is in … and no, I am not talking about stacking avocado on top of bacon to complete the perfect breakfast sandwich. I am talking about stacking jewelry on your wrists!

Chunky bracelets are the perfect addition to your wristwatch; however, do not go overboard with the bracelets; one or two bracelets is perfect depending on their sizes.

Rings

Rings are everyone’s new obsession. I used to think it was strange when I saw Phoebe Buffay on “Friends” with bling on her hands, but now I know that rings are making a major comeback! Rings are a fun way to either compensate for not having perfectly-manicured nails or to draw attention to your brand new French manicure!

The best part about rings is that there are so many different routes you can take. You can go for the fancier ring that you maybe got for your high school graduation. Or, you could even wear that $5 ring that you saw on Tobi! I would say that two rings are enough (if you want to wear a third, put it on the opposite hand).

Photo via: theoptimisticannesofie.tumblr.com 

Third Rounds

Third rounds … you can literally see the finish line of recruitment. Third rounds is meant to be a little more upscale; now, I am not saying to buy a prom dress, but definitely wear something that you would wear on a special holiday with your family.

Dress/Romper

Dresses and rompers are appropriate for third rounds; however I would opt for a dress/romper that is not too revealing and one that is made from nicer material. The Brandy Melville dress, although extremely cute, is not nice enough to wear to third rounds. Rather, go for a romper made from silkier material, or for a dress that you would feel comfortable wearing to a nice restaurant.

Skirt

Skirts are a fun way to get the illusion of a dress, while also adding your own personal flare by choosing your own blouse. I recommend a flouncy skater skirt that is semi-high-waisted. Pair the skirt with a blouse that you can tuck into the skirt (one that will not show your stomach).

I wouldn’t wear a camisole top because you want to dress up the skirt a little bit. If you have a simpler blouse on, maybe wear a cardigan or a kimono that has a fun pattern that will really draw attention to your trendy style.

Gladiator sandals

Gladiators are fun, cute, and comfortable. With practically bare legs, wearing gladiators will complete your outfit, allowing you to say that you are truly exhibiting style from head to toe. Go for a more neutral color sandal that has either beaded accents or thick leather bands that wrap around your feet. Gladiators may not be as comfortable as closed-toed shoes, but they definitely make more of a statement.

Photo via: spellandthegypsycollective.tumblr.com

Preference Parties

Preference parties, or better known as prefs, are your final chance to make a lasting impression on the sororities that you visit. Prefs are called parties for a reason, therefore you should dress as you would if you were going to a party-like event like a homecoming.

Here are my last three pieces of clothing advice for your very last round of recruitment.

Dress

In previous rounds casual dresses are highly encouraged. However, prefs is a time where you get into the most personal conversations with the sorority girls, therefore it is the most formal event. Your dress should be nice enough to wear to a cocktail party, but not as nice as a dress that you would wear to your senior prom.

Don’t go for a super tight dress because not only is it extremely uncomfortable, but it is not appropriate to show up to a sorority event that took weeks to plan in a tight, revealing, body-con dress. Wear something classy, trendy, and representative of your personal style.

Heels

If you are wearing a nice dress, you need to wear shoes that go along with your outfit “theme.” Since you are dressing for a party, your shoes should not have laces on them. Rather, go for wedges or strappy heels that are cohesive with the tone of your outfit and the tone of the party.

Patent leather is always a safe bet when wearing a nice dress, and nude heels match beautifully with pastel colors. If you are wearing a dress that is on the darker side, black shoes are always a winner.

Jewelry

I, like many other people, love jewelry. Statement pieces are something that I live for. However, for prefs, keep your jewelry more modest. Silver or gold bracelets are obviously beautiful, but do not stack five bracelets up each of your arms.

Small hoops, dangles, or studs are great to add a little bit of sparkle to your ears, and a necklace that is not too “loud” is a perfect complement to your cocktail party-like attire.

Photo via. Chelsea Widerlite

Now, I know these tips might seem a bit overwhelming, but do not fret. The purpose of this article is not to scare you into going to the mall and buying an entirely new wardrobe, but rather to give you some guidance so you don’t go into recruitment stressed out.

In the end, stay true to your personal style and stay true to yourself because no matter what you decide to wear you will light up the room when you step through the doors!

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