Spring Into Style

It's been sunny in Tacoma, WA since February, but I know my sisters in the rest of the country haven't been so lucky. Now that it's March hopefully everyone is starting to get some sun. When the sun comes out so does Spring fashion. Nothing is better than a cute dress or a floral top after months of dreary grey skies. Here are a few outfits to boost your Spring wardrobe!

1. For class...
Boho is back! Rock this Spring trend with a pair of paisley printed pants. Let your pants shine with a simple white tee. Grab a boho-inspired feather necklace and some wedges and you're ready to go. This outfit is on trend, but also casual enough for everyday classes. You'll be turning heads in the library with this fresh attire.

Shirt - Pants - Necklace - Shoes

2. For those rainy days...
Don't let a little rain ruin your style. Embrace the rainy days with a cute pair of rain boots. These navy ones will look great with any outfit, especially these bright pink pants. Grab a light sweater and a scarf to keep you warm on those chilly early spring days.

Boots - Pants - Sweater - Scarf - Bag

3. For the weekend...
Florals are a classic Spring trend, but it can get boring. Mix it up with an edgy spin. This floral skort is popping with color. With a black crop top and some killer booties, your ready to dance the night away. Add a 90s chocker and some retro sunglasses to complete the look. This definitely isn't your grandma's floral.

Top - Skort - Necklace - Booties - Sunglasses

In Cold Weather For Recruitment? Here's How To Stay Looking Hot

We all see those Instagram pics of our older friends going through recrutiment at schools in Arizona, Florida, and California in the fall. The hot weather calls for adorable floral rompers, open-toed wedges, and sun-kissed tan legs. But for those of us in colder climates or who go through recruitment in the spring, we are thrown a bit of a curveball in our easy, breezy outfits.

Here's a few helpful hints to make the supreme outfit hunt go a bit more smoothly: 

Tip #1: If it's cold out, don't skip the sweater in an effort to look cute. Cold weather is the perfect time to rock that edgy leather jacket or the darling shearling collared coat you got for Christmas. As much as you may want to wear your cute brandy tank dress, you're not going to enjoy being the girl waiting outside the house freezing because you didn't want to wear warmer clothes. 

Tip #2: If it's raining out invest in a bubble umbrella. The shape of the umbrella will not only keep the rain off the top of your head, but will protect the entire front and back of your body from the windy rain. Wouldn't want to ruin that perfectly curled hair!

This one from Target is totally affordable and will keep you looking adorable. Trust me, you'll be the envy of every other rushee. 

Tip #3: Have one really great conversational piece. Wearing some funky polka dot tights (woohoo sale!), a rhinestone headband, or a daring lipstick color is a great way to break up an awkward conversation and it's a sure way for girls to remember you in the sea of hundreds of PNM's. 

Tip #4: Don't dress how you think they want you to, dress how YOU want to. Yes, there is the stereotypical sorority style: Kate Spade dress, Tory Burch bag, monogrammed necklace, pearl earrings, and Lilly planner. If this outfit is actually you're style, then rock it! But don't go spend money on clothes you're not going to feel comfortable in. Recruitment is the time where sororities get to know you, and your style is a wonderful reflection of your personality and interests. 

Editor's Note: This article was written by one of our new writers, Kendall. Please show her some love in the comments on behalf of her first post! 

Falling in Love with Your Whites

Your Facebook blows up with notifications from your chapter’s group as sisters post “want-ads” for a spare white dress. Texts begin to flood your phone, pleading for you to loan out your extra pair of white pumps. It can only mean one thing: a ritual ceremony is near.

In all the hustle and bustle, you begin to reflect on your own struggle to find your first pair of whites. As a new member, your sisters probably gave you maybe a week or two’s heads-up that you would be needing to find an appropriate white dress and shoes for your first ritual ceremony - which oh-so-inconveniently happened to be well after your Labor Day whites had already been put into storage, leaving you  to scavenge through TJ Maxx clearance bins and resort to resale shops. Somehow, your pledge class managed to show up in appropriate attire - some in mismatched, heeled sandals and cotton dresses from Easters past, while the more fortunate sisters still have their classy graduation attire to get them through this painful experience.

Luckily, you soon realized that maybe whites didn't have to be so bad - especially with more time to prepare. You found yourself scouring every Delia’s, Banana Republic, and Forever 21 sale for white dresses. A trip to Charlotte Russe turned into an endeavor to find the perfect pair of white heels, and pretty soon there was an entire section of your closet dedicated to your whites. You were thrilled - and felt oh-so-official - to own better whites that made you feel more comfortable and even excited to get dressed up for ritual. 

Sure, you've learned your whites can be a hassle, or sometimes a downright pain in the butt: your shoes are scuffed, you can’t find your favorite white dress the day of  initiation, you wore the wrong bra, etc. But when you think about it, there’s a reason why we dress like we’re on our way to our first communions - it’s tradition! To put in perspective, women in your sorority have been performing these same ceremonies for the past 70 or more years (150 in Phi Mu’s case)! Respecting your whites shows respect not only for your chapter and your sisters, but your sorority as a whole. By respecting ritual, you’re also honoring your founders and everything they stood for. Don’t you want to make them proud?

Now that you've settled into your sorority and have been a member for a few semesters, you've probably found your comfort zone and may actually even enjoy wearing your whites, along with your beautiful badge. And it seems as if your other sisters have found their perfect pair of whites, as well: there’s your classy sister in her Jackie Kennedy-worthy Kate Spade; another found ritual as an excuse to buy more Lilly Pulitzer; and yet another (your most fashion-forward sister) wears an elaborate dress complete with tulle and lace. Each sisters’ whites reflect a little bit of themselves and the contribution they make to your chapter, something you should be thankful for and remember each ritual ceremony.

Editor's Note: This piece was written by one of our newest writers, Cara. Leave her some love in the comments on her first post! 

Semi Formal Fashion

As we approach semi formal and winter formal season, we begin the ever constant struggle of finding the perfect dress. First of all, no matter how much you love the concept of a new dress for every event, shop your closet and closets of sisters before you go drop $100 on a new dress that you will wear for a few hours at the most.

This velvet green dress will not only keep you warm as you dance the night away but also won't break the bank at $15.90 from Forever 21. Style it with black booties and silver or gold accessories. 

This blue lace dress is fun, flirty and perfect to style up or down depending on how formal your semi is! For $29.95 from H&M, you get a lot of bang for your buck! Style it with some awesome pumps and big earrings.

This cute black dress is perfect for a less formal evening. Style it with some black tights to keep warm during a colder season, For $29.98 from Body Central, you can also save some money instead of dropping all your savings. Plus this is perfect to wear again! 

This classy little number is perfect for when you don't know what to expect at a Semi Formal event. If you know alumni will be there, this screams I can have fun but also can be a grown up. Reuse this dress for Christmas Eve with your grandparents! It's a little bit of a splurge for $58 from Francescas. 

Send us your semi formal pictures to show us what you end up wearing and we will feature you on Instagram! 

Cute and Fun Ways to Wear Your Letters

Being in a sorority it is inevitable that you will be wearing your letters the majority of your time. While it is comfy to throw on a t-shirt with a pair of norts and chacos and head to class, sometimes it is nice to dress up and show off your letters in a higher fashion way.

A cute casual way to show off your letters is with a pair of skinny jeans and boots. You will be just as comfortable as if you were wearing leggings or norts but will look 100% more put together.

If you live in an area where it isn't quite cool enough to commit to jeans and boots, you can simply grab a pair of cute shorts and tuck your letters in. Adding a belt will complete the look and you will look good while staying casual and comfy

For a slightly less casual look, add a sleek pair of skinny pants and pumps with your letters. By wearing black on black a simple t-shirt will look high class and fancy. 

A skirt, boots, and a belt are the perfect items to match with your letters if you are heading to a philanthropy concert or any outdoor event. You will look cute without going overboard and still be able to show off your sorority. 

Beyond the Leggings

No one warned me that joining a sorority would mean that my entire wardrobe would double from t-shirts alone. I have so many sorority t-shirts that I have to devote an entire drawer exclusively to them. The problem with having this many t-shirts, though, is that I tend to get into and leggings and t-shirt rut mid-way through the semester. It’s an easy go-to outfit and the shirts are just so cute I can’t bear to not wear them. If you’re anything like me, you’re dying to step up your wardrobe. Here are a few tips on how to wear your plethora of sorority t-shirts in a new way.

Add a skirt…

Skirts are just as easy to put on as a pair of leggings. By tucking your latest philanthropy shirt into a cute skirt, you are showing the entire world that you’re proud of your sorority and that you can actually look like a put together adult. As the weather gets colder, opt for wool skirts and/or tights. Pick a skirt that fits your style, whether that is a classic black skirt or a more funky floral skirt. If you’re really feeling ambitious, go ahead and add a statement necklace.

Funky Skirt

Layer under a jacket…

It’s easy to throw on a sweatshirt of a fleece, but why not elevate your style a little bit. Adding a cool leather jacket or a cozy sweater is the perfect wardrobe decision in the fall. Cardigans can class up your favorite new bid day shirt, especially when paired with a bright pair of pants or well-fitting jeans.

Cozy Sweater

Buy something new…

If you’re looking to buy some new sorority apparel, you’ll be surprised by how many unique options there are these days. Why buy another boring t-shirt when you can have a vest, a button down, or even a cute tote bag. You can add your letters to almost anything these days. Get creative! Watch heads turn when you walk into chapter with your brand new cardigan embroidered with your sorority crest.

Chic Vest

How to Dress For Your (First) Ritual

Despite the many differences between each sorority, one thing that I've found relatively similar is how we dress for our rituals. If you're a new member of a sorority or if you've just never really grasped the concept of ritual attire here are some tips on how to dress for your ritual.

White Dresses (or sometimes a white skirt and top are acceptable) are worn at rituals. The dress should not be tight or show too much cleavage. It should be modest. White Shoes are also required. In my experience I've found white closed-toed flats were the most comfortable and the safest bet when it comes to proper shoes. You wear white because the color white is a symbol of purity and you are supposed to come to rituals in your purest form. Which leads me to...

Minimal to No Make-up or Jewelry Again, you are supposed to be in your purest form, make-up and jewelry are not a part of that. If you are going to wear make-up, it must be very light and wedding/engagement rings are the only form of jewelry allowed to be worn.

When in doubt you could always google "Sorority Ritual Attire' and look at pictures of other sorority girls online in ritual attire or just ask a sister who has been through numerous rituals already. Here are some good examples: