CLassy Out-of-Season Fashion Finds

It may be cold now, but it’ll be summertime before you know it. If you’re like me– already thinking about the warm days on the beach–  there’s some  cute clothing trends you’ll want to try out for the warmer weather. Thinking ahead of the seasons is just another way to help you budget for fun in the sun!

1. Swimsuits

If you’re going to school/living in a warm place, you’ll always want to have a swimsuit at hand, and right now is the best time to buy them!

Victoria’s Secret

Venus Swimwear

Forever21

2. Tank Tops and Shorts

You can never have too many pairs of shorts. Whether you need in now, or in a few months, it’s always nice to have them on hand to wear under outerwear, or to dreamland!

GoJane

Aeropostale

Old Navy

Need a little black dress? How about a blue one? These stores may summer-oriented, but the sales and hot deals are all year around.

3. Dresses

Charlotte Russe

PacSun

Delia’s

4.Formals

With prom coming for the highschoolers, it’s almost time for dresses to go back in-season. But if all you need a cocktail dress for a wedding or a quick closet stretcher for a formal event, these stores have your back.

The Rose Dress

Formals Etc.

Pacific Plex

Shopping out of season is the best way to save money on new clothes and accessories. The stores listed here are always trying to get rid of old inventory to make room for new clothes, so take advantage of the great sales! I know it seems way too early to be thinking about what you’re going to wear to you’re cousin’s summer wedding, but if your strapped for cash, now’s a great time to start thinking ahead!

 

Martha-Raye Adjei is an environmental studies major with a concentration in Sustainable Apparel at the University of Delaware. She hopes to become a journalist and sustainable apparel designer. In her spare time she likes to read, swim and watch TV.

The Relationship Between Big and Little Sis

Out of all the hundreds of sisters you gain when you pledge a sorority, your “Big” becomes your closest friend and mentor. When you first join your sorority, you probably don’t know many people yet, and your Big can help you get to know her friends and other people in your Greek Family. Everyone in your pledge class will be fixed up with a Big Sis. Prior to the reveal of who your Big Sis is or around Initiation, you might receive gifts (handmade gifts, treats, letters) or little notes from your Big- it’s her job to be your support system and go-to girl!

Your Big Sis is someone you can tell anything to and guides you through all of your most important moments, such as I-Week.

Now that everyone is coming back from winter break, it’s important to catch up and spend quality time with your Big!

 

 

 

 

Activities you can do with your Big/Little Sis:

Go out to eat

Pedicures

Movie night

Crafting

Work out

Library dates during midterms/finals

Get coffee!

 

 

 

Make sure you plan some fun “family nights” too! Your Big’s Big is usually pretty similar to her and all of you can end up being great friends. It’s important to get to know more girls than just your pledge class, and this is a fantastic way to start!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Morgan DeBoest is an intern for College Lifestyles (TM), and is a freshman Magazine Journalism major at Drake University. She is a proud sister of Kappa Kappa Gamma and loves her friends, family, a good book, and traveling. Her Big is abroad this semester in Thailand but that won’t stop them from Skyping!

CL’s Guide to Winter Sorority Recruitment: Why Should I Sign Up?

Here’s to a new semester co-eds!  Winter break is officially over and now is the perfect time to change things up!  As you’re getting back into your classes and routine, Greek life is just getting started!  Winter Sorority Recruitment is right around the corner and for a lot of schools this is the last weekend to register.  If you’re on the edge about registering for recruitment or if you aren’t sure Greek life is for you, never fear!  Follow CL’s Guide to Winter Sorority Recruitment and find out why you should sign up!

Get Involved!

Joining a sorority is a great way to be active on campus.  Greek organizations offer a variety of events from socials and mixers to philanthropy fundraisers.  Going through recruitment will introduce you to countless opportunities to be a confident leader on your campus.

Discover Sisterhood!

Sisterhood is the reason I signed up for Formal Sorority Recruitment at Marquette University 2 years ago.  I’m an only child and always wanted the experience of having a sister.  After going through the recruitment process and accepting a bid from Alpha Chi Omega, I’m proud to say I have tons of fabulous sisters and could not be happier!  By signing up for recruitment you have the opportunity to find a group of classy ladies on your campus that share your same drive, passion, and interests.  Discovering the bond of sisterhood is an amazing consequence of signing up for recruitment.

Find Your Home!

Signing up for Winter Sorority Recruitment will introduce you to a lot of different groups and girls.  While the process can be overwhelming and confusing, if you go through it with an open mind you may find the ladies and house that become your second family and home on campus.  AXO is my home away from home on Marquette’s campus.  Going through recruitment has the potential to give you a strong support network that will last a lifetime!

 

 

 

Cassidy McAloon is pursuing a Bachelor in Arts Degree in Broadcast Journalism at Marquette University.  She is a fashion, sorority life, and apartment life writer at College Lifestyles.

What to Expect During Sorority Recruitment

If you are interested in joining a sorority at your school, you are going to first have to go through recruitment.  During the recruitment season, there are a few things to expect:

 

1)      Getting overwhelmed is ok and normal.  The events you attend are going to be overwhelming (in a good way).  Choosing which organization would be the match for you can be a tough decision.  Attending multiple events in one night or in a few days can seem like a lot to handle, but it hopefully will help you narrow down your choices.  I would encourage attending as many events as possible (from multiple organizations as well) because it will help you learn the most about each sorority, which can help you when you need to decide who you wish to join the most.  There are a lot of factors that go into this lifelong decision.

2)      You are going to meet a lot of new people.  You are going to meet a lot of new people in each organization.  Remembering names can be tricky, so really observe the women you talk to.  Don’t feel embarrassed if you have to ask her to refresh your memory.  Remember, they were once on your end too, so they can definitely relate to how you are feeling.  It’s ok if you become friends with an individual and do not wish to join her organization.  You can still be her friends, and rightfully should.  You are also going to get a lot of friend requests on Facebook.

3)      Hearing unfamiliar words, such as “Panhellenic,” “philanthropy,” “Bid Day,” and “PNM.”  The Panhellenic Council is the governing body of 26 recognized social sororities.  There is also “Pan-Hellenic,” which is equivalent to Panhellenic.  They each govern different social sororities.  A philanthropy is a service event that raises money for a specific cause.  For example, Alpha Sigma Tau’s national philanthropy is Pine Mountain Settlement School.  The various chapters of Alpha Sigma Tau hold different kinds of fundraisers and donate the proceeds to Pine Mountain.  Each sorority does multiple kinds of philanthropic work for a number of different philanthropies.  Bid Day is the day in which sororities can start handing out bids (bids are invitations to join a sorority).  You can receive a bid from multiple organizations, though you can only officially join one sorority.   “PNM” is a potential new member, which is what you are considered while going through recruitment.  A new member is someone who is a member of a sorority but has yet to be initiated.  Therefore, a potential new member is a person who is going through the recruitment process.

 

Though it is an overwhelming process, sorority recruitment is meant to be fun and enjoyable.

 

Four Unique Ways to Fundraise With Your Sorority Sisters!

After spending money on socials and parties for the holidays, donating money to charities and hosting various events on campus and in the community throughout 2011, your sorority may be in need of a fundraiser. If you want to add some extra money to your sorority’s account without doing the typical car wash or bake sale, you should present your sorority with these unique fundraising ideas:

 

• SWAMPBALL: A fun and exciting way of combining volleyball with mud. All you need is a volleyball net and lots of mud! You and your sorority can host a swampball tournament and have different organizations and individuals sign up to play. You can charge the participants to enter the tournament as well as charge people to watch. Most importantly this is an inexpensive event and a great way to get classy co-eds involved with other organizations on campus.
• Love Grams: Since Valentine’s Day is coming up, your sorority should definitely serve up the campus with some love grams! Love grams can consist of anybody who wants your sorority to deliver a card, candy cane (or other candy), stuffed animal, or even sing to their Valentine! You can raise money by charging to deliver these items. Also, your sorority can make more money by creating the cards and gifts that would be delivered and selling them at a profitable price. This fundraiser is wonderful for helping out college students who have trouble finding that special gift for their Valentine.
• Male Auction: This fundraiser would take a lot of planning, but would bring in tons of money. You can start by sending your sorority sisters on campus and in the community to have them recruit the hottest studs. Once that is done, the hard part begins: publicity! One of the key components of a successful auction is advertising, because the more people that show up the more money you are likely to raise. Make sure to give your sorority enough time to advertise efficiently and plan a possible theme for the auction. Since your sorority is in charge of the auction, they can start and stop the bid at whatever amount they would like. This would be a great fundraiser to have in the spring because it gives you the option of having it outside as well!
• Calendar: One of the more inventive fundraisers that will definitely get your sorority’s creative juices flowing is creating a calendar! Everybody needs a calendar, so why not create one that would illustrate your sorority in a positive light? Although I recommend you use your sorority as a theme for the calendar, you can step out of the box and do themes that you know would bring a lot of attention. Depending on how much money is in your budget, you can get really fancy and creative with the photographs used, artwork, how many months to include and other aspects of the calendar itself. Since the year has already begun I would suggest doing a school year calendar and fill it with all the events of the upcoming 2012-2013 year!

Whether its fall, winter, or spring you can be sure that one of these unique fundraising ideas will boost your budget for the year.

 

Sherelle Black is a junior at Louisiana Tech University majoring in journalism with a minor in marketing. She is president of her chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and likes to dance and hang with her sorority sisters in her spare time.

 

 

 

 

Here’s How to Throw Your First 2012 DIY Glitz Party!

Saying farewell to 2011 may have been difficult for some, but for you classy and optimistic CL readers, one digit change calls for a celebration! If sequins and glitter are some of your favorite things, get ready for a glimmer overload. When you arrive back to campus, round up your friends for a second new year celebration! 2012 is upon us–start the year off right with a few glamorous CL tips.

Decor

1. Balloons – Take a trip to your local Walmart or dollar store and you’re bound to find a pack of gold, silver, or black balloons. If not–and you’re really eager to have these matte-colored party accessories–anything, including balloons, can be ordered from online. Let’s hear it for Amazon.com!

2. Time For Shine - Since glitzy means turning up the notches on vibrancy, why not create a sequined tablecloth? Get a few yards of sequined fabric (or any kind of shimmery fabric for that matter) at a fabric store. It can be any color you’d like, but if you’re sticking with a gold, silver, and black theme, choose your color(s) wisely.  And try your best to not make a mess–this cloth should be saved for future reference!

3. Shimmery Leftovers – Don’t worry about getting a little carried away at the fabric store. The remaining sparkly material from step two can be used all over the rest of your apartment. Tack it up on your walls, cut out some holes and turn it into a shower curtain, or even fold it up horizontally and lay it along the top of your couch.

4. Come Prepared – Let your friends know that they’ll need to bring a champagne glass along with them. A tasty CL-tini can be poured into it later, but first, they’ll use a permanent marker to write any goals that they wish to accomplish this year. Inexpensive champagne glasses are sold at any dollar store, and permanent markers can be found at any store where art supplies are sold. To add some character to the glasses, stock up on some glitter glue and assorted craft materials such as feathers.

Dress Up

Put your most glittery heel forward at this glitzy party! Take a few style cues from the following classy ladies:

Need more DIY help? Read Debra’s article for more glitz party tips!

Tiana Blue is a Senior Writer for College Lifestyles™. This fourth semester sophomore at Penn State is a print journalism major with a penchant for food, stilettos, and the city that never sleeps.

Lilly Pulitzer: Voting Begins On Three New Sorority Prints!

Lilly Pulitzer knows you want to join her sisterhood. If your sorority didn’t get the chance to be part of Pulitzer’s Sorority Collection, fear not!  Voting has opened up today for the January 2012 class of custom prints. The first round will end Sunday, January 15, while remaining sororities will continue to a second round starting Monday, January 16.  The campaign is solely on Facebook, so you and your sisters are only a click away from lettered ID-wrislets and Murfettes scarves. Click here, to vote! The three winning sororities will be announced on Tuesday, January 24 on Facebook.

 

Ariana Romero is a senior entertainment and fashion writing intern for College Lifestyles! She can’t wait to find out who the winning prints are.  

CL’s Ideas for Fun and Rewarding Sisterhood Events

Sisterhood, to me, is one of the most important aspects of being in a sorority. Yes, the management of the organization and philanthropic, social and academic success are extremely important but without good sisterhood, your sorority will never excel to its fullest potential. As the first ever sisterhood chair of my chapter of Kappa Delta, 1-year-old Eta Phi, I understand how important it is, and difficult it can be, to plan organized, creative and fun events that sisters will want to attend. In the beginning, everyone was very excited to get to know one another and eager to attend sisterhood events. However, as the year progressed, school, work, extra-curriculars and other time commitments began to get in the way, and it became even more important for me to choose and plan events wisely, keeping the different interests of my sisters in mind always. I’ve outlined some of our past sisterhood events, with what worked and what could have been improved, that can help boost the sisterhood in any chapter across the country…

Sporting Events: I go to school in Boston and, here, the sports teams practically run the city. As one of our big sisterhood events of the semester, I bought a bunch of tickets to a Red Sox game in the beginning of September. The tickets were standing room only, which was kind of a bummer, but were only $25 each. We asked each girl to pay $10 of their ticket and we paid the rest and I had a huge turnout. It turned out to be a fun adventure running around Fenway Park to try and find seats and for a few girls, it was their first time at a game! Even if your city doesn’t have a major sports team, plan a sisterhood event at one of your school’s games – it’s exciting and a good way to show school pride!

Movie Marathons: We aren’t allowed to have houses at our school, so sometimes it’s hard to plan sisterhood events without a big place to call your own. But on a Saturday afternoon last semester, I rented a room on campus with a projector, ordered pizza, brought popcorn and lots of candy and asked girls to bring their favorite movies. We spent the afternoon lazily watching movies and munching on snacks and it was so much fun! If you have a chapter house, it’s even easier: invite all the girls to your family room for a lazy day of bonding.

Walks for Charity: During October, there was a big “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk” that took place right across the river from our school. Even though only 10 girls could take part in the actual walk, everyone chipped in and we ended up raising over $700 in only one week. It was a fun and healthy way to bond with your sisters while helping a really good cause! There are always different walks, 5k’s and marathons going on in your neighborhoods and every little bit counts.

Letter Decorating Party: Especially around big/little week and recruitment, a letter decorating or crafting party is a great way to pull everyone’s creative ideas together in a way that gives you some presents to keep! You can decorate paddles together, tie-dye t-shirts, decorate cups, etc.

 

 

Apple Picking/Pumpkin Picking: Although Fall has sadly flown by, it will come again, so take advantage of everything the season has to offer by going apple picking in the beginning of the year or picking up some pumpkins around Halloween. If you’re close enough in New England to Salem, like we are in Boston, I definitely suggest stopping by during the crazy month of October where you can drink apple cider, visit haunted houses and listen to ghost stories to get you in the true Halloween spirit!

Christmas Tree Lighting: Technically, my chapter hasn’t had this one yet, but jump on it before you miss it! This thursday, we are attending the big Boston Common Christmas Tree Lighting together as our final sisterhood event of the semester. Try to find one happening in your area, whether it’s on campus, in a local park or through a local church. It’s the perfect way to celebrate the Christmas season with your sisters before school and finals get too crazy.

Group Dinners: We have definitely utilized this idea many times throughout the past year…everyone’s got to eat right?! Whether it’s grabbing a bite together before Sunday chapter meetings, planning a fun night out at a local restaurant, or ordering pizza in with all of your sisters, it will be a huge hit each time.

Volunteering: Helping out others is a always a good thing for sororities to keep up with. Whether it’s volunteering at a convalescent hospital, children’s school or soup kitchen, planning a sisterhood event like this is equally as rewarding for you as it is for those you are helping. Knowing that you are making a difference by seeing where your hard work is going is something that your sisters will remember forever as the ultimate bonding experience.

 

Slumber Party: If you have a chapter house, this is a very fun and easy idea. My chapter has a sleepover for our retreat, where we rented out a big dance studio room and slept on the floor, so that is always an option for those without houses too. Rent some chick flicks, paint each other’s nails, do facials, play truth or dare – think back to your slumber party days when you were little! It is the perfect way to get to know the girls you don’t know as well and create a deeper sisterhood bond throughout your whole chapter.

Let us know some of your great sisterhood event ideas by leaving comments below!

 

                                                                                                                                               

Katie Maguire is a junior at Boston University, majoring in Public Relations with a minor in history. She is Sisterhood Chair of Kappa Delta Sorority and loves baking, working out and laughing with her friends!

5 Things to Think About During Fall Break

Don’t let your mind wander too far away while you’re drinking apple cider and spending quality time with the fam! Here’s some things to start thinking about in your spare time for a smooth remaining semester.

When and where should I study abroad? If you want to study abroad, it’s never too early to start planning. The best thing about studying abroad is getting to experience different cultures while earning credits toward your degree. If you’re concerned with the costs of studying abroad, look for scholarships, or consider volunteering abroad instead. The volunteer abroad trips are usually a lot cheaper, and it’s a great way to help those in need. To say the least, volunteering abroad looks fabulous on a resume!

Does my school offer a winter or summer session? If you have a major with a lot of perquisites, why not get them out of the way? Look to see if your University offers classes during the “off” seasons. Getting credits out of the way fast is totally worth it. You’ll have more time for internships or fun classes junior and senior year.

Do I have enough clothing for the winter? While you’re home, make sure you have enough clothes and toiletries to get you through the rest of the semester, especially if you can’t get everything you need when you’re at school. The holidays are the best time to shop-especially with all the sales going on! Looking for a cute winter coat? Try Delia’s or Target—they have the cutest seasonal selections. Check out our Cyber Monday Shopping List for more ideas. Ask Mom and Dad for a couple bucks, I’m sure they won’t mind.

Should I seek employment? It’s never too early to think about summer jobs, so start looking at places that hire seasonally. If your university has its own job listing, start looking at it, you never know what you might find! On-campus jobs are also a good option if your transportation is limited. Before you start looking for jobs, make sure you find a job that will work with your schedule. Make sure future employers understand that you are a college student, and that your schoolwork has to come first.

Where am I living next year? If you currently live on campus or plan to live on campus next year, make housing arrangements as early as possible. If you’ve never leased an apartment or stayed in a dorm, start researching places you would like to live. There are a lot of things to consider if you plan to live off-campus or in non-university affiliated housing. Make sure you pick good roommates and choose a location that isn’t too far away from campus.

This Classy list should keep your mind occupied over the break. Know what you want, and make moves to go after it. Early planning is the key to a successful college career.  If you plan early, you’ll have time to do everything you want to. (You’ll thank us later when you’re taking that Harry Potter Literature class or studying abroad in the Andes Mountains).

 

Martha-Raye Adjei is an environmental studies major with a concentration in Sustainable Apparel at the University of Delaware. She hopes to become a journalist and sustainable apparel designer. In her spare time she likes to read, swim and watch TV.

CL’s Top Ten Simple Sorority Fundraisers

Fundraisers are a great way for sisters to spend time and work together, to get your chapter’s name recognized on campus (especially right before registration for spring recruitment!), and to raise money for your causes and house. Here are CL’s top ten fundraising ideas for your chapter.

Yankee Candle. This is an especially good a idea right before the holidays, when people are looking for gifts for new friends and co-workers. Plus, your chapter will receive a large percentage of the profit (right now, 40 percent).

Taco Bell.If there is a Taco Bell anywhere near your campus, partner up with them tor a fundraiser. Station your table in the dorms between 12 and 3 a.m., and students studying late in the library for finals or returning from a long night of partying will have you selling it all (for $2 apiece) fast!

Dirt. This simple dessert is delicious and, priced at $1, will have people coming to your table all day.

 Buffalo Chicken Dip. Um, yum! This dip is always a big hit. Sell it for between $1 and $3 dollars with some chips.

Nachos and Cheese. Similar concept to the Buffalo Chicken Dip fundraiser, but much cheaper to make. Price for a plate is $1.50.

Cupcake Sale. Simple and sweet, frost them with your sorority’s colors, and people will definitely remember you. If the cupcakes are small, $0.50. If they are regular size, $1.

 

Full-fledged Bake Sale. Sell the cupcakes for the prices listed above. Take size into consideration for cookies as well. Brownies, $0.50. Cake, figure out how expensive the ingredients were and base the price off of that.

Coffee and Hot Chocolate. A real winner during the holiday and final seasons, keep some cream, sugar and whipped cream on standby. $1.00 per cup.

A Raffle. Most organizations are more than happy to give away a raffle item (it’s good PR for them). So, find out what students on campus are interested in, find a company that supports or provides that interest, write to them about your fundraising opportunity and bam – you have a fundraiser.

Chocolate. Terrific around Valentine’s Day. Find out who the student’s favorite local chocolate maker is (for us, it was Sarris Candies) and pair up with them

A Tip from Alpha Sigma Tau, Beta Delta Chapter’s Fundraising Chair Teresa Conde: If you need an amount raised by each girl, take the amount total amount of money raised during the fundraiser and divide it by how many girls worked that fundraiser. This turns it into a sort of “hourly wage.” For example, if you raised $25 and there were 8 girls working, each girl would earn $3 an hour.

Other tips:

Place your fundraising table in the dorms (especially the freshmen ones!), in the student union, and, if you are allowed, in the library.

Make sure your sign is large, colorful, and has the price in big, bold print.

Stay strong, even when things get slow. If you haven’t had a customer in over an hour, call your chair for a decision.

Be gracious and classy to all of your customers.

Have other fundraising ideas or tips? Let us know! Fill out a comment below.

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