What to Wear to Sorority Recruitment

One of the blogs I follow is Great Lakes Prep, which covers preppy fashion and life in the Midwest.  Nick, the grand pubah of the blog, wrote a fantastic piece on how young gentlemen should dress for fraternity recruitment. I decided to follow his lead and advise what young ladies should wear through recruitment.  Yes, it used to be called Rush, but that's considered a dirty word now due to "political incorrectness" or something like that.

Warning: This post is going to be harsh.  As shallow as it sounds, you will be partly judged on your appearance and I'm not going to sugarcoat the fact.  You will have a better chance into getting into the sorority of your dreams by wearing last year's well-fitting clothes from Target than a too tight dress with stripper heels fresh from the Gucci boutique.  Sororities, at first appearance, are old-fashioned entities.  While the sorority members may dressed like hookers, dressing like you're accompanying your grandma to a church tea social will win you points in recruitment.

Recruitment is a week-long process, and most schools follow the model I'll describe below.  Most schools also now will tell you what you need to wear, this is just a visual to help guide you.



Typically when you register for recruitment, you'll get a tee to wear for the open house round (I used WVU tees as stand-ins).  This round is where you go to all the sorority houses (or rooms if they don't have houses), and meet the sisters.  With the tees you'll usually get the option of wearing shorts or jeans with it.  I pulled some examples here to show you what you need to look for.  Make sure your jeans aren't hole-y or overly distressed, make sure they fit, no muffin tops, and no coin slots or whale tails showing.  If you opt for shorts, repeat after me: NO BOOTY SHORTS.  The inseam should be as long as your middle finger.  If your shorts don't cover any cellulite you may have, they're too short.  Wear shoes that are cute and comfortable and consider investing in some runner's block, which is a waxy substance that runners use to avoid blisters on their feet.  Don't try to wear heels.  You're going to be spending most of the night on your feet and heels will just make your feet ache.

For jewelry, makeup, and hair, keep it simple and something you're comfortable with.  Now is not the time to try a sock bun or a smokey eye.  Make sure you give yourself a mani/pedi.  You can have some fun with your polish colors and a mani in your school colors would be a great choice.  However if you're going to use more than one color, make sure it doesn't match any of the groups' colors, as that tends weird them out (it reeks of desperation).



After the open house rounds you start to narrow the sororities down to ones you like, and the sororities do the same.  This is the round where schools vary the most and they'll let you know what you need to wear.  Some schools will have a philanthropy night, and for example, you make help the sisters make cards for a local hospital unit.  Others may have presentations that go more in-depth in the group's history, philanthropy, etc.  If you're going the craft route, you'll wear something similar to that of the open house round.  If you're in the presentation route, you'll want something dressier.  A sundress is perfect for this round, but a nice pair or pants or capris--no denim allowed--will work, too.  I don't recommend wearing strapless dresses for this round, as I said earlier, sororities tend to skew old-fashioned during recruitment.  Wear cute sandals or flats while avoiding heels.  You can be a bit more daring with your makeup/hair/nails in this round but as I said earlier, don't try new things.  If you try something new you may not be on your best foot and that is exactly where you want to be during recruitment.



After the invitational rounds comes Preference, or more commonly known as pref night.  This is where the sororities make their last impression on you and why you should join their house.  This is typically an emotional night for the sororities, and you may cry along, too.  This is a dressy occasion, which again means no jeans or khakis.  A lot of schools require black dresses for this night, but others will let you wear another dress of choice. Strapless dresses are okay for this night.  These are clothes you would wear to a fancy dinner party, a simple cotton dress from J. Crew isn't really recommended.  You can wear heels this night, but keep them under 3" high and don't wear your everyday black flats.  Tasteful jewelry and makeup is your best bet.

And now here's a pictorial of what not to wear:

1. NO BOOTY SHORTS.  Booty shorts make you look cheap, and sororities don't want cheap-looking members.

2. Avoid jeans with any rips, holes, or major distressing.  Now is not the time to scream your love of Hollister.

3. The heels on these shoes are simply way too high.

4. This dress is just too much.  If you'd wear it to a club, you should not wear it to a sorority function.

5. No rubber flip-flops.  Leather ones like Rainbows are fine, but leave the rubber for the beach or pool.

6. Avoid old trends like Ed Hardy, Von Dutch, sublimation prints, those crinkly blouses from Fashion Bug, or anything the cast of the Jersey Shore would wear.

7. This dress would be a fantastic pick for a sorority formal, it's too formal for recruitment.

The Tyranny of Prep School Uniforms

I attended a Catholic prep school from the time I was in Kindergarten all the way through my senior year of high school.  For most of those years, I had to wear a uniform.  It was your typical prep school uniform; tartan plaid skirts complete with Peter Pan collared blouses.  Thankfully in high school it switched to khakis and a polo shirt with the school logo.

Prep schools aren't the only schools who have uniforms, many public schools are making the switch as well.  There's the old arguement that uniforms can stifle a kid's creativity.  I never have bought into that idea, because even with the most stringent of uniforms there is some style wiggle room, which I'll show you in a minute.

Before I go on, please make sure to read over and make sure you know your school's dress code.  If you're not sure about something, ASK.  That way you don't waste money on clothes you can't wear, and you're not stuck in the principal's office trying to give a half-assed arguement over some wording in the student handbook.

(Polyvore set here)

Most uniforms that I'm familiar with you have a uniform skirt or pants that you have to pair with a white blouse.  If that's the case, here are some ideas for blouses that can give your outfit some punch.  I know some of them have no sleeves, but Polyvore doesn't always have exactly what I'm looking for.  So save those blouses to wear with cardigan or blazer.  These all have collars with no prints or logos (another big no-no).  The lace shirt can add texture, the tuxedo shirt can add hint of formalness, and the peplum shirt just because I love it.  These can also all tuck in, with the exception of the peplum shirt, so again, make sure that's allowed before buying.

(Polyvore set here)

Many schools also have a blazer requirement, or will allow you to wear a sweater in the school colors.  I chose navy, since that seems t be the most popular option.  You can choose from a varsity-inspired cardigan, to a blazer with draped lapels.  The last sweater on the right is a dolman-sleeved sweater from Gap.  I think this would look incredible over a long-sleeved shirt with whatever else you have to wear on the bottom.  I think this isn't probably a true navy blue, but it might be close enough to pass.

(Polyvore set here)

I don't remember the exact rule for shoes at my school, except no open toes/backs and they had to be neutral colored.  These shoes all are neutrals, but also have an element of style than just some plain brown loafer.

The real challenge in trying to show style in a uniform is with accessories.  If you're allowed to wear backpacks or carry a purse, look for something in a fun color or print.  An armful of bangles, a statement necklace, knee socks, there's all sorts of great ways to jazz up your look.

 

Back to School: Old Navy

And finally, Back to School Week 2011 comes to a close.  I apologize it took longer than a week, but between some Wordpress problems that were the result of my own stupidity and working two jobs, nothing seemed to get done.  But that's life.  Now on to some clothes!

I took this set in a different way than most of my other sets after one of my clients told me a story of when her daughter started college.  Her daughter was a business major, and shortly before the start of the school year, she received a letter in the mail informing her that all business majors were required to dress professionally for all their business classes.  When I was an education the first semester of my freshman year, I was required to dress professionally for my job shadowing.  If you're in a similar position of needing something professional, or just like to dress up, this set is for you.

Polyvore set here. 

 I started off with a pair of herringbone pants.  Herringbone isn't a print, it's actually a pattern made due to the weaving of the fabric.  Don't worry, herringbone is very business appropriate and is common, not to mention great for fall and winter because it's a heavier fabric.  I then added a fantastic ruffled tank to add some femininity, and then threw on a military-inspired black cardigan.  You can use a black blazer if you desire.  A basic black bag and shoes finish the outfit.  I'm not crazy about either, but they're what Old Navy had to offer.  I'd add the black Simply Vera heels from the Kohl's Study Date set, and the Longchamp bag from earlier in the week. 

Some tips on professional wear:
-Don't buy 100% polyester pants.  This means avoiding the "dress" pants at Charlotte Russe/Wet Seal/Deb/etc.  They haven't changed since I was a teenager: a wide leg with huge cuffs and usually a crease down the leg.  Buy instead from Old Navy, Macy's, Talbot's, etc.  Yes, they'll cost more, but the clothes will be of better quality, and therefore you will look better.  
-When you pants, look to see if there is a crease on the legs.  As much as you may hate ironing, if there's a crease, they're going to need to retain the crease.  This goes back to the designing on the pants, they're designed and cut to hang with the crease in them.  Ironing the crease out will make them fit funny.
-Skirts shouldn't be more than 4 inches above your knee, and I know some will say that's too short.  Real life is not Ally McBeal. 
-You can't always throw a cardigan over a dress and call it a day.  If it's a dress you would wear out to a club or out with the girls, it's not work appropriate. 

Since you put some work into looking professional earlier in the day, I made the Study Date simple:

Polyvore set here. 

A simple yet stylish dress, with some simple flats and sparkly earrings.  A quick, slightly messy updo and a swipe of gloss is all you need, and you're good to go. 

I'd like to thank you for sticking around for what actually turned out to be Back to School Week and a Half!  As always, if you have any questions, need a clarification, etc, don't hesitate to email me at wvfashionologist [at] gmail.com.

Back to School: Kohl's

Since Kohl's is a department store and carries more than one brand, I thought I would have almost unlimited selection to choose from.   However, after a trip to my local Kohl's and pursuing the Kohl's website, I found the selection...depressing.  There wasn't much at all I liked.  While Kohl's isn't my favorite place to shop, I have found really nice stuff there, and I know many of my friends and coworkers love to shop there. 

Anywho, while my local store doesn't carry much of the LC by Lauren Conrad line, the website does.  I was somewhat surprised by how nice it looks.  Is it original? No, but again, it looks nice.  So in keeping with my sister's plea for more casual, I pulled together this outfit:

Polyvore set here.

Here I paired a basic pair of navy striped shorts with a great ruffled cranberry shirt.  Again, I went for items that would mix and match with items you already have in your wardrobe.  Instead of going for flats or sandals, I chose this pair of  oxfords to add interest.  I've been seeing lots of oxfords in stores right now so you may want to look into picking up a pair.  You can wear oxfords much like you would flats, just make sure to keep the soles flat, not like brogues, which look similar but have a heavier sole (think Doc Martins).  I added some bangles with cute bow accents. 

I'm going to be honest: there wasn't a single bag I liked on the Kohl's website.  While I like the style of this bag, when I looked at it in store, the materials make it look cheap.  However, I thought it gave the outfit a hint of Katherine Hepburn (my namesake!) between the purse and the oxfords.

I fared much better when choosing a study date outfit:

Polyvore set here.

While I did the back to class set with the LC by Lauren Conrad line, I decided to go more sophisticated and use Simply Vera by Vera Wang for the study date outfit.  While my overall opinion of this line is one of disappointment--this line had so much potential but ended up being some badly cut polyester blouses--there occasionally is a knock-out piece, like this skirt.  This skirt has jaw-dropping drama that I haven't seen in an outfit at this low of a price.  Since there is so much detail in the skirt, I chose a shirt with matching details on the sleeves.  Tuck the shirt in so you can show off the detail on the skirt.  For an outfit like this, go with simple hair, makeup, and accessories.  Were this just a plain gray skirt and black shirt I'd add some colored shoes or bag, but again, that would distract from the beautiful architecture. 

Back To School: American Eagle Outfitters

When I was in high school up through my junior year of college, American Eagle was my store.  I was a major AE brand whore, a godly amount of my clothes were from there, the whole nine yards.  And then, I got tired of it.  Maybe it was just my style was changing.  I do remember about that time the clothing seemed to change somehow.  Like it didn't have the character, style, and originality that it used to.  I used to get the cutest graphic tees there, and then all of a sudden the only graphic shirts offered only had some for of "AE" "AEO" "American Eagle" etc printed on it.  I'm not a big fan of wearing logos on my shirts, as I've mentioned before.  So it's been quite a while since I've really looked at American Eagle.  Recently, I sat down and browsed the website, and I'm impressed.  It's like the original old stuff I loved so much are coming back, and that makes me excited.

Polyvore set here.

I had my little sister look over all the sets I've done here for back to school week, and while she really liked them, she said that she wanted something much more casual.  As she puts it, 12 years of Catholic school forced her to wear skirts almost every day, so now that she's in college it's jeans time.  In this set, I paired a basic pair of flare jeans (huge this fall), and a great tank.  To really turn this outfit from "ok but bland" to "that's great" I added a red infinity scarf and some adorable sandals.  Seriously, aren't those sandals wonderful?  If you don't want a scarf, go for a chunky or a long necklace and add some bangle brackets. 

Polyvore set here.

I kept the tone casual again for the study date outfit.  Yes, you can wear white after Labor Day, just be sure to not make the outfit too summery.  The wedge sandals can be worn into fall as well, the textures on them are very Earthy, and can remind a lot of people of the textures found outside in autumn.  I added the peacock feather necklace as a way to add some pops of color.  And now for the 10th time this week: tights and flat boots for colder weather. 

Back to School: Target

When I first went off to college so many years ago (okay 2003, and it does seem that long ago), just about everything I bought to head off came from Target.  The Target had just opened up on Rt. 60 in Barboursville, so  I was rather excited about it.  Most of my clothes, all of dorm stuff (which I actually still have...), all came from the giant red bull's eye in the sky. 

I'm still a fan of Target, and I feel it's one of the places where you can get the most bang for your buck.  They usually have a designer collaboration going on, such as this summer's Calypso St. Barth which I was in love with, and Missioni coming up here in September.  Trust me, there will be more on that later. 

But before I get even further off track, here are the sets for Target:

Polyvore set here.

When I first saw this skirt, all I could think of was how perfect it would be for fall.  I added cute red flats (which would go great with the J. Crew shirt from yesterday), a simple brown bag, and a red scarf.  Even though the scarf, shoes, and skirt aren't all the same shade of red, they're in the same family, which will allow you to get away with wearing them all together.  I added a simple teal tee to keep everything too matchy-matchy.  It's a bit unexpected, and teal is hot for this fall.  Had I paired this skirt with a neutral shirt, I probably would have taken away the scarf as it would have been too much red.  But adding this shirt in a complementary color, you can go further with accessories.  A purple shirt would also work, as would yellow or a bright colbalt blue.

Polyvore set here.

Also hot this fall? Colorblocking.  I chose this great colorblocked dress as it's not only on trend, but is also a basic classic dress.  I love the pink and dark green for the fall.  A simple woven wedge and tortishell jewelry just make this so simple and wearable for a lot of people.  Like the skirt from yesterday, this will also be great with tights and a flat boot. 

The Perfect School Bag

Longchamp Le Pliage, $125-145, depending on size

I had one of these bags (until my puppy chewed it up), and I carried it everywhere.  Depending on the size, you can fit several textbooks in one of the larger sizes.  They come in all colors of the rainbow, and even some limited edition prints.  If you're thinking the price is a bit high for what is a basic bag, let me assure you you're getting your money's worth.  A Longchamp bag will last you a lifetime, no matter how badly you abuse it.  They're easy to take care of (a soapy cloth will get them clean), and it will go with all but the most formal of wear. I carried my Le Pliage (RIP) and messenger bag all throughout college, and still use the messenger bag often.  The messenger bag isn't as big as the Le Pliage, but is still quite sizeable.  I can carry several Tom Clancy paperback novels (don't ask) in the messenger.

A Longchamp bag also makes a good baby bag for those who don't want something that looks too much like a baby bag.  I had a friend who purchased a Le Pliage in red (same bag I had), because, as she puts it, "it didn't insult her intelligence."  She spent months looking for something that wasn't a large black box, a cutesy duck print, or a pink and green paisley explosion.  A Longchamp fit her bill perfectly. 

There are a fair number of Longchamp knockoffs being sold, especially online.  They're nowhere as near prevalent as Coach knockoffs, but they're there.  A Longchamp bag is made in France, never in China.  If you're looking at buying one from Ebay, don't buy any that come from China or Hong Kong, as they're not authentic.  Also make sure that the Ebay listing clearly states them to be "authentic." 

Guess who is a big fan of Longchamp bags?  One of my new style icons, Kate Middleton:

<img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-477" title=" on June 30, 2011 in Ottawa, Canada." src="http://wvfashion.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/larger_km_longchamp1.jpg?w=300" alt="" width="300" height="186" />

This picture is from Kate and William's recent July trip to Canada/United States.  I had the same bag Kate does in this picture, except mine had long handles. 

She also carried one to her college graduation. 

As the Duchess of Cambridge has proven, how many other purses out there that you will not only buy different colors of, but will use for several years to come?

Longchamp can be bought locally at Yarid's, which has several stores throughout West Virginia including in Charleston and Lewisberg.  Visit their website for more store information.  I bought mine through Nordstrom's and the online store Magnum's, which has excellent customer service. 

 

Back to School: J. Crew

For J. Crew's back to school look, I went with a preppy theme (and no, J. Crew isn't a preppy brand no matter what people tell you).  While J. Crew is the most expensive of all my sets this week, I've seen very similar items in many a store, so don't fret. 

Polyvore set here.

 I paired a classic plaid button down with a military green button down skirt (very '80s).  I swear the skirt isn't as bright as in real life, I looked at it about two weeks ago at the J. Crew in Easton Town Center.  Tuck the shirt into the skirt, because leaving it untucked will pull attention away from the cute details on the skirt.  A classic canvas bag and adorable loafer heels complete the outfit. All of these pieces will also mix easily with others.  Subtract the skirts, add a classic pair of corduroys.  Take away the plaid shirt and add a sweater.  The possibilities are endless, which will be thankful for those mornings when you've partied a bit too much the night before.

Polyvore set here.

I chose a simple yet pretty dress for a study date.  I'm probably going to buy these glitter sandals next paycheck as I love them that much.  They're simple, and yet they add the perfect dash of glitz to any outfit.  The necklace is simple and understated.  I also may buy this dress.  I chose this dress for the sole reason that you can wear it year round.  Now, you can wear it with sandals, and when it gets colder, pair it with some flat boots and tights. 

Tomorrow's Back to School Brand: Target

Fall Fashion When We Don't Have a Fall

I'm trying to stick to my rule of not discussing fall fashion until it's actually, like, fall.  And by fall, I mean leaves turning pretty colors and I can wear pretty sweaters without jackets.  However, at least here in southern WV, there hasn't been an honest-to-goodness fall.  I mean, there's like two weeks of pretty weather around the middle of October (and in time for Bridge Day at the New River Gorge!), but last year I swear it was in the 80s through November.  When I would go shopping, there are all these beautiful sweaters and corduroy pants, and it's just too hot to wear them. 

It's really confusing, and I'm not sure how to discuss fall fashion if it's going to be 90 degrees.  Or like this past spring, where it rained for over two months without letup. 

Here's what I'm thinking:

-What pieces to keep out when packing up your summer wardrobe
-What pieces to pick up that won't be too hot, yet will keep you warm (yes, this sounds weird, but in my head it makes sense)
-Accessories are key
-Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!

I am planning to do a back to school week next week.  I'll be covering back to school outfits from a variety of stores such as J. Crew, Target, Old Navy, and Kohl's.  I'm also going to include an outfit for a study date or a party, because you can't wear jeans all the time.

I'll figure something out.  Meanwhile, if you have any questions about late summer/fall clothing/accessories/style/etc., ask me in the comments or email me at wvfashionologist [at] gmail.com.