How to Dress for Winter Sorority Recruitment (Rush)

Last fall, I gave advice on what to wear through fall sorority recruitment, which used to be known as rush back in the day. When I set out to make my boards for this post, I had to really think about what’s appropriate and attractive and wouldn’t cause frostbite. A lot of outfits I put together I’d later deem frumpy, which is easily done in winter. Even though every college is different, most schools who conduct recruitment in the Spring semester are less formal than Fall rushes. This allows for some breathing room so you probably don’t have to run out and buy an entirely new wardrobe. The women in the houses are going to know it’s only 15 degrees outside, they’re not going to expect you in a sundress.

A bit of a rant: I’ve been reading a few blogs run by other 20-something women who are also giving advice on what to wear through recruitment. However, these women were not members of a sorority. I’m pretty sure they mean well (or at least I hope they mean well), but I find it utterly wrong to give advice on something you don’t know.

I’m going to be blunt: DO NOT wear dark jeans, a sweater, flat boots, and a black peacoat. You’re going to blend in with all the other women going through recruitment. It’s like wearing a Lilly Pulitzer sundress through Fall recruitment, everyone else is wearing the same thing. The left side of this board shows more casual outfits, while the three outfits on the right are for dressier recruitment events. Your recruitment counselor will be able to give you a breakdown on what to wear each day.
What to take from this board: Don’t be afraid of color! Color will help you stand out. Patterns such as the tweed pants are also great attention grabbers. Luxe fabrics like velvet or herringbone are also eye-grabbers. A little bit of sparkle can also go a long way.

You can still wear skirts and dresses, just be sure to wear tights. As a general rule, match your tights to either your skirt or your shoes to add the illusion of a longer leg. The skirts I put on this board have a lot of memorable detail, and the dresses have a lot going on for them. Each of these dresses is a knockout, and would great in your wardrobe even if you’re not in college. The black and white dress is very graphic and could be accessorized in so many ways. The cable knit dress has lots of texture, and the gray dolman dress has the most amazing shape. This is the second time I’ve featured this dress and I’m hoping it goes on sale soon so I can snag it.

Ok, I said to avoid flat boots, but I put them on here anyways because they may have to be an option. If there’s snow and ice on the ground, I would choose safety over style and would reach for them myself. But avoid them if you can. When choosing shoes, think about the weather before you think about the outfit. I’m a huge stickler for safety and I don’t want you to get hurt because running around in heels in an ice storm is a really bad move. If it’s just going to be cold, you should be able to get away with any shoe, so long as it’s not sandals.
Hint: carry a travel size package of baby wipes to wipe salt off your shoes. You can also buy leather wipes to wipe salt off leather shoes.

Coats are a tricky thing when it comes to winter recruitment. Some houses may have coat racks, others you may be holding if not still wearing your coat. This is the reason I’m telling you to avoid black peacoats. Each one of these has stand-out details, but a brightly colored peacoat from Old Navy work just as well. Make sure to have your coat cleaned before recruitment, or at least try to take a Shout wipe to your dirty white puffy coat. A dirty coat = huge no-no. If a friend has a great looking coat, ask if you may borrow it. Your local vintage/thrift/consignment shop may also have some amazing coats so give those a try. Are you stuck with your black/brown/navy peacoat? Make sure your accessories are top-notch.

Like any other recruitment, my advice is always find an accessory to help you stand out. It could be a brightly colored scarf, detailed gloves, or a great hat. My biggest recommendation is find knock-out jewelry. Sparkly and colorful earrings will really help you stand out (they’re going to be looking at your face), or a collar necklace. Another suggestion? A brooch. You can pin this on your coat, but can take it off in a blink and pin it to your clothes. Your grandmother probably has some you could borrow or you can buy one at any Goodwill for a song.

And as always, a list of what you should not wear:

Clockwise from the Uggs:

• Uggs: EVERYBODY is going to be wearing them. Your goal is to stand out, not blend in
• Uggs with a button: No Uggs in any style, shape, form, or material
• Body conscious dress: Bodycon is best left to the club, not sorority recruitment. If you would wear it to the club, don’t wear it to sorority recruitment
• Tube top: Tube tops and/or anything strapless shouldn’t be worn. It gives the impression you don’t know how to dress for occasions, which is one of those things sororities are picky about
• Shorts: I shouldn’t have to explain this. It’s just too cold to wear them
• Sandals: Again, not season appropriate
• Stilettos: Again, best left for the club and not recruitment
• Boatshoes: You could probably get away with these at very casual rush events, but unless they’re clean avoid them. Wear flats instead.
• Leggings: No. Just no. Even for a very casual recruitment, step up your style game a notch. Even if all the sorority sisters in the house are wearing leggings to watch The Bachelor and eat ice cream remember you’re a guest, not a sister.

When it comes to hair and makeup, again look at the weather. In the winter, my hair turns static-y and limp even with the best of products, so I’d probably wear my hair up. I’d also take care to exfoliate and moisturize so my skin doesn’t look flaky. Don’t forget to wear blush/bronzer and lipstick. A lot of people get really pasty in the winter, and a little color will go a long way. Notice I said lipstick, not lipgloss. It looks really weird to be running around with super shiny lips in the winter, it’s like inviting chapped lips. This is also not the time to try the latest in hair styles/make up looks/nail art from Pinterest.

At the end of the day, don’t forget to be yourself. The best wardrobe will rarely cover up the complete lack of personality.

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.