Greek Life Rush Attire: Your Ultimate Style Guide for College

It's your first semester at college and you have so many decisions to make as a freshman: what classes should you take? How should you organize your schedule, and how on earth are you going to get along with your new roommate, who is a total stranger? All of these choices are tough ones, but one decision that will impact a great deal of your four years at college is what fraternity or sorority you will join and what kind of Greek clothes will help you look the part. Deciding to rush one of these organizations will allow you to make friends all over campus, give you a feeling of pride and community, and you will make memories with your brothers and sisters that will last a lifetime. Belonging to a fraternity also looks great on a job application, and if the manager happens to be a member of that same house, you will have a slight edge over the competition because like you, he will remember those times when belonging to a fraternity made college so much more enjoyable. When rush time comes around, wearing the right kind of Greek apparel will make you stand out from the crowd. There are many different sororities and fraternities out there, and all of them stand for different core values and beliefs. Some of them focus on academics while others focus on cultural similarities, such as ethnicity, race, or even sexual orientation. No matter which houses you choose to pledge, knowing how to dress for a rush party is important. You don't want to overstate your look, but you don't want to blend in so much that you're invisible. Knowing what kind of affair you're dressing for is also key"you don't want to show up in a hoodie and jeans if it's a formal affair, and a suit or tie isn't appropriate for a weekend rush beach party. While you want to look your best, showing support for your chosen house will make you stand out without making you look like you're trying too hard. If it's an informal affair, wearing a hat or having a keychain with the house letters on it might get you noticed, and magnets or bumper stickers for your car will let house members know that you're serious about joining them. There are also certain kinds of clothing that you never want to wear to a rush party. You want to be noticed, but you also want it to be for the right reasons. Loud colors, outrageous hats or sneakers, pants or jeans that are extremely loose-fitting or so tight that they leave nothing to the imagination, or wearing too much clunky or glittery jewelry can spell instant rejection for any hopeful pledge. When it comes to cologne or perfume, always remember that less is more! Knowing what to wear for a rush party and having a few pieces of Greek apparel will give you the advantage over the other pledges and increase your chances of being accepted by your dream fraternity or sorority.