Outfit Ideas For Every Day Of Sorority Rush

Sorority rush is overwhelming, stressful, and crazy, but most of all, it’s incredibly fun. With the rounds getting increasingly more formal and decadent each day, you never know what to wear. For that exact reason, here’s a guide of outfit ideas for each day of sorority rush.

Before we dive in, just a general reminder and rule to stick to when you’re going through rush: keep it classy. First appearances matter, so I would recommend staying away from plunging necklines and super short bottoms or dresses. Show the sororities that you’re taking them seriously by dressing respectfully.

1. Day One: Getting-to-Know-You Round

This is the first day of sorority recruitment, it’s also the most casual. Most universities will give PNMs (you) a t-shirt to wear. If your university does give you a shirt to wear, you can pair it with cute jeans or shorts, it’s hard to show off your style when you’re given a t-shirt but there’s no harm in trying! Wearing some cute high-waisted jeans or shorts is a common good staple. Although you have to wear a t-shirt, you can show your personality through your jewelry, like monogrammed necklaces, fun earrings, or a unique belt, get creative!

If your university doesn’t provide you with a day one t-shirt, you should still stick to something casual. A sundress, jeans, and a cute top, or something along those lines will do the trick! Don’t go overboard on your first day, you’ll have plenty of time to get fancy later on. You can find outfit inspiration and a shop-the-look below.

Get the look:

2. Day Two: Philanthropy

The second day of sorority recruitment is all about philanthropy. Each sorority has a different philanthropy so make sure you’re listening (and remembering). A sorority’s philanthropy is important because it is what you will be dedicating many hours of fundraising and volunteering to, so make sure you pick one that speaks to you, and you can see yourself feeling passionate about it.

On day two you can dress a little nicer, a casual dress with a denim jacket and wedges will do nicely. You can up your game here and show off more of your own personal style, but make sure not to get too fancy, you’re still in the beginning stages of rush. I would recommend wearing what you would wear to a family barbecue, something nice and flattering, yet comfortable. You’re going to be doing a lot of walking and standing so please, for the love of God, don’t wear uncomfortable shoes. If you think you can make it through an entire day of sorority rush in heels, well then… props to you. (If you really want to wear shoes, bring a pair of sandals to walk around campus in, and a pair of flats as a backup.)

3. Day Three: Sisterhood

The third day of sorority rush focuses on sisterhood. This is your opportunity to really get to know the sisters in the sorority and their relationships. Sisterhood is obviously an important part of any sorority, but each one has different values so make sure you’re paying attention to them, and if they’re something you can get behind. Take this time to really get to know the girls and look at how they interact with each other, could you see yourself being a part of this group?

During the sisterhood round, you can amp up your dress-code to semi-formal. Emphases on the semi in semi-formal. Not quite a cocktail dress, not quite what you would wear to church, but something in between. I think of this as something you would wear to a family holiday party or a nice birthday party. Semi-formal outfits would include things like a structured dress, a cute romper, a pair of wide-legged pants, or a nice skirt. You can accent these with wedges and nice jewelry. You can find outfit inspiration and a shop-the-look below.

Get the look:

4. Day Four: Preference Round

Finally, the last day of rounds! During preference round, everything is a lot more formal. You’ll notice that the rooms will be decorated with flowers and lights, some sororities might give you a rose or flower to take around with you. This is also the first day that sororities might even have tables or chairs for you to sit at during rounds (that means that if you want, you can wear heels!). Preference round is often longer, allowing you to really connect with the girls. My one piece of advice to you during this round is to take this chance to look around you and look at the other girls who have made it to preference round. These girls will be your sisters not just for the next four years, but friends for life, can you see yourself growing and connecting with these girls?

During preference round, you’ll get to break out the cocktail wear! A dress with statement heels will be perfect for today. However, avoid super formal dresses such as floor-length dresses or sequins.

5. Bid Day!

Finally, you’ve made it to bid day! When you receive your bid from a sorority, you’ll also probably receive a shirt from the sorority. Follow the same guidelines you followed on the first day of rush, I would recommend wearing cute jeans or shorts so that no matter what shirt you’re given, you’re still looking cute! Some flare jeans are always fun! Most sororities will have a theme for their bid day celebration so make sure you’re wearing something comfortable and adaptable. Throw on some fun sneakers or boots so you’re ready to celebrate all night long. You can find outfit inspiration and a shop-the-look below.

Get the look:

Sorority rush is an extremely stressful and exciting time, but you’ll get through it and no matter what the outcome is, everything works out the way it’s supposed to! Hopefully, this guide takes some of the pressure off of deciding what to wear. Each university does the rush process differently if your university has something other than the four-day schedule, the general rule of thumb is still that as the days go on, your outfits generally get fancier. Just remember to wear things that you feel comfortable and confident in!