Whether you are a freshman, sophomore, junior or senior, recruitment is coming up in early January and we are already thinking of what to wear. As a disclaimer for Potential New Members, recruitment should be a time where conversations with women of each chapter are the most important aspect of your experience. This is a time to find out which group of women you feel the most welcome and in-tune with, so clothing should really not be the be-all, end-all to your recruitment experience. With that being said, recruitment is a very stressful time for women on both sides, and there’s nothing quite as shaking as arriving to an event dressed in the completely wrong thing. So here are some tips on helping you figure out what to wear during recruitment.
Set 1 (Thursday and Friday)
Everyone will be wearing their recruitment shirts with nice jeans or a skirt, but everyone can definitely customize the rest of the outfit to be their own. I would stay away from your Lulu Lemon leggings because it’s a little too informal for recruitment. But nice, non-athletic leggings could work great too. For shoes, it might not be time to break out the L.L. Bean or Sorel snow boots, so try it with flats, booties or riding boots. Depending on your style, a statement necklace matched with a cardigan would be good to wear with your recruitment shirt, or if you’re edgier, wearing your favorite jean or leather jacket with a choker would be great too. Whatever makes you feel YOU! Also, because you’re going to be talking to different people in different houses, you can totally wear the same outfit for both days and no one (except your RC and RC gals) would notice or care.
Set 2: Philanthropy (Saturday) and Set 3: Sisterhood (Sunday)
Now that you’re free from having to wear your recruitment shirts, you can use these two days to wear what feels best for you! This doesn’t mean sweat pants, and once again, I’d stay away from athletic leggings. Try to think of something cute you’d wear to brunch with your friends – something casual that shows off your flare. As a sorority woman who talked to many girls during recruitment last year, it’s really cool to see the different styles each girl had. There is no one way to dress for these two days. Clothing is a great way to express yourself, so use this as an opportunity to show the sorority women who you are!
Set 4: Preference Night (Monday)
Now it’s time to crank up the ~formality~ of formal recruitment. Pref night is the night where the sorority women will all be dressed up, and so should you. Most people wear heels, but boots or flats work as well. When I was going through recruitment, there was a crazy snowstorm, so I wore my snow boots to walk to different houses, switched into my heels in the 60 seconds before the doors opened for each party and ditched my boots in a bush. Some sororities may allow you to leave your change of shoes in the coat rack area, but it may be best to carry a bag you don’t mind throwing them into when you walk into the house. Dress wise, most people wear nice black dresses (nothing too cocktail-y) but something you’d wear to a nice family dinner.
The most important thing is to be comfortable with what you’re wearing, because if you’re not comfortable with your outfit choice, then you’ll feel awkward at your parties, which should not happen because of your clothes! Dress like yourself and focus on having some great conversations recruitment week!