What to Wear

The most popular question leading up to Formal Recruitment week would undoubtedly have to be 'What do I wear?!' As women, we like to be dressed to impress. And this is the same for sorority recruitment! The sincerest tip we can give regarding dress is to be comfortable and be yourself. There are guidelines, but there is no actual dress code during recruitment week and at any given event you will see quite a range of outfits. Dress to your personal style because if you're not comfortable it will show, and you won't have as pleasant of an experience. Finally it is absolutely not necessary for you to purchase a new wardrobe in order to participate in the sorority recruitment process.

Tip #1: PLEASE wear comfortable shoes! We strongly advise you not to wear a brand new pair of shoes. You will be doing a lot of walking, sitting, and standing; therefore, you will want to be comfortable. Bring a pair of flip flops to walk in-between the sorority chapters if you are at all worried your shoes are going to give you trouble.

Tip #2: Seattle weather can be unpredictable in autumn; keep this in mind when deciding what to wear. An umbrella is always a good idea! 

Tip #3: You may bring a bag or purse, these will be left outside of the chapter house when you are inside for events and will be looked after by the recruitment counselors.

To give you a better sense of what to expect, a few of the Panhellenic Executive Board officers have outlined some of the types of outfits we generally see throughout recruitment week...

Orientation is casual and comfortable.

Panhellenic Days, or Open House Days will involve a lot of walking, so you will want to wear something comfortable. Clothing worn during this round is usually casual, such as nice jeans or shorts, which will complement the all-Panhellenic T-shirt you will be given at orientation. We understand that you may want to personalize the t-shirts provided for you. If you choose to do so, make sure the shirt is still appropriate!

House Tour Days are business casual. A dress, skirt or nice pants with a blouse will work well. Please keep in mind the length of your skirt or dress, you will potentially be walking up a lot of stairs. If you plan on wearing heals or wedges, which aren't advised for this round, be sure to bring comfortable walking shoes or flip flops for walking between events.

Philanthropy Day is slightly more formal, and a dress or nice skirt outfit would be a good choice. Many outfits at this round are those that would be worn to a luncheon or church service. If you plan on wearing heals or wedges, be sure to bring comfortable walking shoes or flip flops for walking between events.

Preference Day is the most formal event of the week with both potential members and sorority women dressing up. Typically, women wear a nice evening or cocktail dress; however, rhinestones, sequins, or formal gowns are not appropriate. If you plan on wearing heels or wedges, be sure to bring comfortable walking shoes or flip flops for walking between events.

Have a great time picking your outfits, but remember that at the end of the day it's not about what you are wearing, it is about the conversations that you have with the sorority women and the connections that you make. Enjoy the experience, and hopefully this info will help you come dressed with a boost of confidence!