Many of us collegiate ladies are experiencing a similar struggle – paying for school and our dues, and not having a ton of spending money left over. It can be difficult being part of a chapter of fabulously dressed girls if you don’t have the same kind of money to spend on your wardrobe, or for those events that seem to require new clothing like recruitment or formals. Here are some of my best secrets to having the wardrobe you want on the budget you have!
Our letters – we love them. We wear them every chance we get, and the second we see a cute new shirt with our letters on it, we HAVE to have it! This can grow to be a really expensive habit, but there are ways to shop for new letters without going broke. The first stop you should make is Etsy.com. Etsy has a ton of affordable sorority shirts and accessories, you just have to be willing to search for them. If you’re more of a crafty do-it-yourself type of girl, try searching eBay for iron-on Greek letters. They are often sold for $2-$4 each, but they don’t stay on well with just ironing, so I recommend stitching the edges as well. Another option is to join a shirt swap group on Facebook. There are hundreds of these groups, and often times girls who have graduated will sell their letters super cheap, or girls will start shirt orders for the group and the more girls who commit to buying, the cheaper the shirts will be.
Formals are a blast! What sorority girl doesn’t love getting all dolled up and dancing all night? Well with two formals a year, eventually you will feel like you want a new dress. The best advice I have here? Find some girls in your house that wear the same size you do, and ask if you can shop around each other’s closets for the night!Your dress options just automatically doubled or tripled!
Recruitment outfits are important because whether we like it or not, the first thing a potential new member will notice besides your house, is what you’re wearing (followed immediately by the warm welcome you give them, of course!) I’m sure by now you’ve received the “What to Wear” email from your recruitment chair, and have made a mental list of what you need and how much it will cost. Don’t worry! It doesn’t have to break the bank. If you’re ordering matching outfits as a group, talk to your recruitment chair about price concerns. She may be able to help. If you’re just supposed to find certain items (such as a red dress, or nude heels) then shop around! Always watch for sales, and don’t buy all of your items at once because you may be able to get a better deal.
Trends. Regardless of where you go to school, I guarantee your sorority has trends. If you’re in the south, maybe all the girls wear Lilly Pulitzer dresses to class. I go to the University of Wyoming, and for us it’s quilted vests, leggings, and boots. Whatever it is, wherever you are, chances are the go-to brands are a little expensive. It doesn’t mean you can’t have them! Once again, check out eBay. You can find almost any brand name much cheaper on eBay and it may be new or gently used. Another good one is Poshmark.com! They have a ton of cute stuff for sale that is gently used and brand name!
See, you don’t have to go broke to have the wardrobe that you want! If you’re willing to spend a little more time looking, you can snag some great finds at a cheaper price – and look just as fabulous!
