Sorority Fashion Rules

[elrohwen]

I'm embarrassed to admit that this is my alma mater

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/beauty/mean-girl-fashion-and-beauty-rules-at-cornell-sorority-no-mustaches-or-muffin-tops-636982/

An excerpt:
The document, which is meant to be followed by all Pi Phi pledges and was recently leaked to several online outlets, reveals the kind of oppressive, elitist fashion advice that's your basic "Mean Girls" nightmare. It includes restrictions on everything from types of brands ("No American Apparel leggings") and price points, to rules about heel height and pants length ("No cropped pants. Ugh.") There are also loads of grooming demands, makeup requirements, and a non-negotiable set of laws about accessories, which every girl in Pi Phi "must" wear.



Why would any girl want to be a part of a group like this? I don't get it.

 

[Lauren8211]

I read this earlier! I don''t get it either!

I will wear satin if I wanna!

 

[somethingshiny]

It''s sad and disgusting, but if the girls are signing up for it, it''s their problem.

Woe be to the girl who weights 132 when she puts on her satin dress! And, Betsey Johnson is okay no matter what?? lol


I also find it funny that blush is required. I didn''t even wear blush until I was approaching 30! Prior to that I had beautiful color in my cheeks at all times! And, freshly colored hair?? Yeah, I didn''t do any highlights or anything until my color had dimmed.

 

[Shoopy]

I'm probably going to get "flamed" for this but I don't see the issue.

When you are in a corporate setting, you are handed a dress code with specific rules. When you work at a restaurant, you are told no facial jewelry, only one earring per ear lobe, only a wedding band, no visible tatoos (obviously depending on the restaurant). Almost every job outside of office enviornment require a specific uniform with restrictions on shoes.

I think that the organization probably wants to project a certain image. The same thing with my company. They want to project a certain image when news reporters or outside guests visit so they give us a set of rules on what is allowed and not allowed to be worn at the office (there's even a dress code for casual fridays specifically).

The only things that would bother me is if they restricted your weight forcing girls to eat unhealthy/crash diet in order to acheive that weight and/or make you do something that you aren't comfortable doing based on your personality, religion, race, culture, etc. That is unhealthy.

But saying you have a dress code to be part of our organization is something you'll hear pretty much everywhere.

ETA: Oh and the restrictions on the brand also bothers me. At this point you're asking girls to spend more money than they may or may not be willing to/can spend. But these are also college students. I would hope once you get to college you realize you can say No to peer pressure and back away.

 

[elrohwen]

Date: 2/11/2010 11:19:22 AM
Author: fiery
I'm probably going to get 'flamed' for this but I don't see the issue.

When you are in a corporate setting, you are handed a dress code with specific rules. When you work at a restaurant, you are told no facial jewelry, only one earring per ear lobe, only a wedding band, no visible tatoos (obviously depending on the restaurant). Almost every job outside of office enviornment require a specific uniform with restrictions on shoes.

I think that the organization probably wants to project a certain image. The same thing with my company. They want to project a certain image when news reporters or outside guests visit so they give us a set of rules on what is allowed and not allowed to be worn at the office (there's even a dress code for casual fridays specifically).

The only things that would bother me is if they restricted your weight forcing girls to eat unhealthy/crash diet in order to acheive that weight and/or make you do something that you aren't comfortable doing based on your personality, religion, race, culture, etc. That is unhealthy.

But saying you have a dress code to be part of our organization is something you'll hear pretty much everywhere.

ETA: Oh and the restrictions on the brand also bothers me. At this point you're asking girls to spend more money than they may or may not be willing to/can spend. But these are also college students. I would hope once you get to college you realize you can say No to peer pressure and back away.

I do agree with you to some extent - I think for me, what is particularly annoying, is that girls try as hard as they can to join organizations like this that make them feel bad (price restrictions, brand resctrictions, a certain weight where you can wear satin?). I guess I don't see why a college girl would want to put herself through this. It's fine for the group to make up those rules if they want, but I feel bad for the girls who cannot say no to peer pressure and get sucked in. I don't think it's as easy for most girls to walk away as we'd like to think.

eta: Also, while business dress codes are made so that people look professional, I feel that this list is more or less to make the creators feel good about themselves. It's not as if the Pi Phi national chapter sat down and came up with guidelines - this is a list a few girls at one school created to exclude girls who can't live up to a particular lifestyle.

 

[elle_chris]

Doesn''t bother me at all. No one''s forced to join. This isn''t high school where peer pressure can be extremely tough. By the time you get to college, you should have learned how to handle it. If not, you have bigger issues.

 

[Shoopy]

Date: 2/11/2010 11:28:59 AM
Author: elrohwen

eta: Also, while business dress codes are made so that people look professional, I feel that this list is more or less to make the creators feel good about themselves. It''s not as if the Pi Phi national chapter sat down and came up with guidelines - this is a list a few girls at one school created to exclude girls who can''t live up to a particular lifestyle.

That I agree with. I think a more appropriate solution would be to have the national chapter figure out what they feel is the proper dress code (that''s assuming they feel that they need a dress code).

 

[waterlilly]

Date: 2/11/2010 11:51:59 AM
Author: elle_chris
Doesn''t bother me at all. No one''s forced to join. This isn''t high school where peer pressure can be extremely tough. By the time you get to college, you should have learned how to handle it. If not, you have bigger issues.

Yep. I agree. They are allowed to make whatever rules they want and if people object, they won''t join. Simple as that.

 

[upgrade]

I think it''s great. It''s a way of letting people know up front just what kind of person you are. If I were in attendance at Cornell I would be very grateful to know upfront that I can just go right ahead and steer clear of these people!

While I think the dress code is shallow and snobby, I''d be more concerned about the girls who want to be part of a group like this than the fact that the dress code exists at all.

 

[elrohwen]

Date: 2/11/2010 12:37:29 PM
Author: upgrade
I think it''s great. It''s a way of letting people know up front just what kind of person you are. If I were in attendance at Cornell I would be very grateful to know upfront that I can just go right ahead and steer clear of these people!

While I think the dress code is shallow and snobby, I''d be more concerned about the girls who want to be part of a group like this than the fact that the dress code exists at all.

Agreed.

 

[Novel]

Its my alma mater, too. And I actually rushed (my dad made me), but only for three days. The rules don''t surprise me at all. I was the only girl in my rush group who didn''t straighten her hair and people were shocked by it.

I agree with Elrohwen completely. Those rules are meant to make people feel elite, not only to outsiders but also among themselves. The thing is, I don''t get how anyone rushing doesn''t see what this is like. Herds of girls walking around in two feet of snow wearing skirts or dresses and heels with their hair done? This is what it was about, to me. I''m sure there are girls in houses who did it for the sisterhood or the sense of having a community, but I was not at all surprised by this.

Still saddened, though, by the people who want this.

 

[elrohwen]

Date: 2/11/2010 1:41:33 PM
Author: Novel
Its my alma mater, too. And I actually rushed (my dad made me), but only for three days. The rules don't surprise me at all. I was the only girl in my rush group who didn't straighten her hair and people were shocked by it.

I agree with Elrohwen completely. Those rules are meant to make people feel elite, not only to outsiders but also among themselves. The thing is, I don't get how anyone rushing doesn't see what this is like. Herds of girls walking around in two feet of snow wearing skirts or dresses and heels with their hair done? This is what it was about, to me. I'm sure there are girls in houses who did it for the sisterhood or the sense of having a community, but I was not at all surprised by this.

Still saddened, though, by the people who want this.

I think it's clear from what you described and many of us have seen, that college girls aren't always capable of going against peer pressure and walking away if something seems ridiculous.

I'm not saying the sorority has to get rid of the rules, because they are free to make whatever rules they want (assuming the national chapter allows it), I just think it's sad that girls put up with it in order to feel like they belong to something.

eta: This also isn't a blast at all sororities as I do know girls who have had wonderful experiences with very nice groups of girls.

 

[Novel]

Date: 2/11/2010 1:52:43 PM
Author: elrohwen

Date: 2/11/2010 1:41:33 PM

Author: Novel

Its my alma mater, too. And I actually rushed (my dad made me), but only for three days. The rules don''t surprise me at all. I was the only girl in my rush group who didn''t straighten her hair and people were shocked by it.


I agree with Elrohwen completely. Those rules are meant to make people feel elite, not only to outsiders but also among themselves. The thing is, I don''t get how anyone rushing doesn''t see what this is like. Herds of girls walking around in two feet of snow wearing skirts or dresses and heels with their hair done? This is what it was about, to me. I''m sure there are girls in houses who did it for the sisterhood or the sense of having a community, but I was not at all surprised by this.


Still saddened, though, by the people who want this.

I think it''s clear from what you described and many of us have seen, that college girls aren''t always capable of going against peer pressure and walking away if something seems ridiculous.


I''m not saying the sorority has to get rid of the rules, because they are free to make whatever rules they want (assuming the national chapter allows it), I just think it''s sad that girls put up with it in order to feel like they belong to something.


eta: This also isn''t a blast at all sororities as I do know girls who have had wonderful experiences with very nice groups of girls.

Ditto to what you''re saying about many others'' experiences.

I felt like so many of the girls in my rush group just wanted to find a place to belong, a group they could trust, a way to get the most out of college. And I understand that - we all want that. But yes, exactly, that these girls are still young and many put up with far too much in the name of acceptance and belonging. Then again, by the time so many got to be on the other end, like the ones making those rules, they seemed to enjoy the power of being the ones to choose who to accept, etc, and to enforce rules. Which is a not a good thing to create in a community..

 

[purrfectpear]

Actually it''s pretty spot on advice IMO.

Satin IS tacky (unless it''s a wedding gown). Sorry. True.

The only thing I find sad is that young women actually NEED this advice to know how to dress. Unfortunately, having seen a few too many cheap shoes, giant hoop earrings, and American Apparel "hipsters", they do need it.

 

[monarch64]

I don''t see what the big deal is. This is what exclusive organizations are all about: conformity. If they want to specify a dress code, it''s their world, they can do what they want. If people choose to be a part of that world they get to either endure it or embrace it. "Oppressive?" "Elitist?" Nah. I won''t buy into the backlash arguments against this type of thing. I mean, who''s being oppressed here? You either want to be a part of that or you don''t.

 

[sunnyd]

I read the document they sent out, apparently it was only for rush? They had different categories for different events - casual, business casual, classy brunch (say what?) and it got dressier as the day went on. It sounded like a challenge to find a good costume to me!

If they''re trying to weed out people, they will. I don''t see anything wrong with it, per se, but it is odd.

 

[MissMina]

My mom was a Tri Delta so I was a legacy. But the sorority life wasn''t for me.
I know what a mustache is, but what is a "muffin top?"

 

[elrohwen]

Date: 2/11/2010 2:45:20 PM
Author: sunnyd
I read the document they sent out, apparently it was only for rush? They had different categories for different events - casual, business casual, classy brunch (say what?) and it got dressier as the day went on. It sounded like a challenge to find a good costume to me!

If they''re trying to weed out people, they will. I don''t see anything wrong with it, per se, but it is odd.

Interesting. That makes me see it as a little less obnoxious I guess.



I did want to say kudos to the school officials for their stance. As ridiculous as I think this document is, I think the school is totally right to say it is freedom of speech. The school shouldn''t have any part in this - but is it too much to ask that the girls invovled act a little more mature??

 

[elrohwen]

Date: 2/11/2010 2:53:25 PM
Author: MissMina
My mom was a Tri Delta so I was a legacy. But the sorority life wasn''t for me.
I know what a mustache is, but what is a ''muffin top?''

It''s when your tummy bulges out over the top of your pants

Frankly, no muffin tops should be a general rule for life, not just sorority attire.

 

[dragonfly411]

I just think it''s funny

 

[MissMina]

elrohwen**************Thanks for the visual

That is definitely a fashion don''t.

 

[monarch64]

Ok, I just searched for, found, and read the guidelines in entirety. The whole thing was sort of tongue-in-cheek and honestly sounded more like advice and suggestions rather than some mean-girl b.s. Much ado about nothing, as I suspected.

 

[elrohwen]

Date: 2/11/2010 5:02:49 PM
Author: monarch64
Ok, I just searched for, found, and read the guidelines in entirety. The whole thing was sort of tongue-in-cheek and honestly sounded more like advice and suggestions rather than some mean-girl b.s. Much ado about nothing, as I suspected.

Good call. Boo Yahoo news for making such a big deal out of something intended to be silly.

 

[princesss]

Date: 2/11/2010 5:02:49 PM
Author: monarch64
Ok, I just searched for, found, and read the guidelines in entirety. The whole thing was sort of tongue-in-cheek and honestly sounded more like advice and suggestions rather than some mean-girl b.s. Much ado about nothing, as I suspected.

Agreed. The list is actually kind of funny. Plus, isn''t the point of rushing that you''re being judged? She''s just giving a clear rubric ahead of time.

 

[monarch64]

Date: 2/11/2010 5:05:35 PM
Author: elrohwen

Date: 2/11/2010 5:02:49 PM
Author: monarch64
Ok, I just searched for, found, and read the guidelines in entirety. The whole thing was sort of tongue-in-cheek and honestly sounded more like advice and suggestions rather than some mean-girl b.s. Much ado about nothing, as I suspected.

Good call. Boo Yahoo news for making such a big deal out of something intended to be silly.

The funniest parts were the misspellings and grammar mistakes. Also, it sounded like it was written by LC or Whitney of "The Hills." Trying too hard.
Another favorite, that the Yahoo article did not mention, was that "''denim'' leggings are ok, but no camel toe." Ok, that had me ROFL.

I checked out the Pi Beta Phi NY chapter homepage as well. Cute girls, but I wasn''t really WOW''d by their collective look. Clean, collegiate, they look nice. Cohesive. Conformist. Nothing wrong with that...many people need to feel like they are part of a group, a very special group in their minds (and others) and they will do whatever it takes to maintain that sense of belonging. The gal in charge of the rush wardrobe guidelines is in essence, directing a fashion show of sorts, she''s just making sure all the models look like they''re part of the same show.

 

[somethingshiny]

okay, it actually gets really funny when you look into it (Thanks, Monnie for the heads-up on more info!)

I agree that muffin-top should be outlawed on every street in America, additionally outlawed should be: camel toe, moose knuckle, butt cleavage, anything so low in the front that hairs pop out, anything so short that hairs pop out (aka: smuggling chewbacca) and sports bras as shirts (unless you''re at the gym).


Every time I hear the word "mustache" I think of a guy who does the Civil War reenactments and has one of those long waxed staches!!

 

[monarch64]

SS--you forgot to put "coin slot" on your list! (Aka plumber''s butt.)

 

[somethingshiny]

Monnie~ I didn''t forget the coin slot. It''s hot, let ''em have it!

I also didn''t "forget" to put back hair that sways in the breeze from around shirt sleeves or collars.

 

[elrohwen]

Date: 2/11/2010 5:28:54 PM
Author: somethingshiny
okay, it actually gets really funny when you look into it (Thanks, Monnie for the heads-up on more info!)

I agree that muffin-top should be outlawed on every street in America, additionally outlawed should be: camel toe, moose knuckle, butt cleavage, anything so low in the front that hairs pop out, anything so short that hairs pop out (aka: smuggling chewbacca) and sports bras as shirts (unless you''re at the gym).


Every time I hear the word ''mustache'' I think of a guy who does the Civil War reenactments and has one of those long waxed staches!!

LOL

 

[Brown.Eyed.Girl]

Date: 2/11/2010 5:28:54 PM
Author: somethingshiny
okay, it actually gets really funny when you look into it (Thanks, Monnie for the heads-up on more info!)


I agree that muffin-top should be outlawed on every street in America, additionally outlawed should be: camel toe, moose knuckle, butt cleavage, anything so low in the front that hairs pop out, anything so short that hairs pop out (aka: smuggling chewbacca) and sports bras as shirts (unless you''re at the gym).




Every time I hear the word ''mustache'' I think of a guy who does the Civil War reenactments and has one of those long waxed staches!!

LOL "smuggling Chewbacca"?!! I''ve never heard of some of those - they''re awesome.

Yeah, it doesn''t seem that big a deal to me, unless the sorority goes all Mean Girls trying to enforce it. No one''s forced to join, after all.