black diamond ball

First, congratulations to Erin Raymond on winning the GoGreek app! I'll be emailing you with details. :)

I know it's still a little ways away, but since the Social Chair is mentioning every chance she gets, I figure it's OK to go ahead and post about it. For those of you who are not ADPi's, we have this tradition called Black Diamond Ball, which is a fancy name for something you all know and cherish:

FORMAL.

What differentiates Black Diamond Ball (hereforth to be abbreviated BDB) from regular formal, however, is the dress code. At BDB, you can only wear black or white. NO color whatsoever. Now, I don't know about you, but I love color, so this is going to be a little hard for me. Shoes have to be black, white, nude, or metallic, and jewelry can't be colorful, either (think silver, gold, black, and white). I'm feeling a little...restricted, honestly. If you're feeling the same, not to worry - I have some great ideas for how to add color to the otherwise grayscale BDB.

First things first, though: Here are some pretty dresses that are black or white that are BDB-appropriate.

Black

Dillards - $53.40 (Sale!)

Macys - $194.99 (Sale!)

Macys - $69.99 (Sale!)

David's Bridal - $69.50 (Sale!)

White

JCPenney - $59.99 (Sale!)

Dillards - $69

David's Bridal - $129

Windsor - $119.90

Both! (Yes, both is allowed!)

ModCloth - $97.99

Macys - $209

Dillards - $77.40 (Sale!)

David's Bridal - $149

Some great sites to find even more BDB dresses are Macys, Dillards, JCPenney, Windsor, and David's Bridal. Or, if you're feeling fancy, you can rent a dress from Rent the Runway. I'm actually wearing the dress I wore to formal freshman year, which I found at White House Black Market.

Now for accessories. I suggest first picking what shoes you're going to wear - black, white, nude, or metallic. This will determine which jewelry will look best. Here are some good pairings for reference:

Black dress - black shoes - gold jewelry

Black dress - black shoes - silver jewelry

Black dress - black shoes - rose gold jewelry

Black dress - black shoes - pearls (with silver or gold metal)

Black dress - black shoes - rhinestones

Black dress - nude shoes - pearls

Black dress - silver shoes - silver jewelry

Black dress - silver shoes - rhinestones

White dress - white shoes - gold jewelry

White dress - white shoes - rose gold jewelry

White dress - nude shoes - pearls

White dress - silver shoes - silver jewelry

White dress - silver shoes - rhinestones

White dress - gold shoes - gold jewelry

Black and white dress - black shoes - silver jewelry

Black and white dress - black shoes - rhinestones

Black and white dress - silver shoes - silver jewelry

Black and white dress - silver shoes - rhinestones

As you can see, a black dress with black shoes has the most versatility. It's kind of hard to find gold shoes so I didn't include it except for white. Also, pay attention to the detailing on your dress - silver detailing equals silver jewelry, for example. I personally wouldn't put black shoes with a white dress and vice versa, but that's up to you. It might even be fun to find black and white shoes!

Now for the fun part - makeup! THIS is how you're going to be able to add color to the otherwise black and white ensemble. Here are some fun, colorful makeup ideas to try:

Personally, I'm a HUGE fan of the bold lip. I love subtle/neutral eyes paired with bright lipstick. Be careful not to overdo it by doing a super colorful eye with a bold lip, as it will make you look clownish. If you're having trouble, feel free to ask a makeup consultant at MAC or Ulta what they think (or you could just ask me...ya know...)

I hope this gives all of you ADPi's a better idea of what you're going to wear to Black Diamond Ball. And if you're not an ADPi, maybe you got a good dress or makeup idea out of this. If you have any questions or need help finding a dress/picking out accessories/doing your makeup, let me know!

And if in doubt, you could always take a bedsheet and a couple of belts and pull a Jennifer Lawrence a la the Golden Globes.

Just kidding, I love JLaw.

guest post - A Greek Concept

When I was approached week or so ago by a representative from A Greek Concept to write a guest post about recruitment clothes, I was like, "Of course!" Many of my lovely readers are planning on going Greek, so this is a great post about what to wear and not to wear. I definitely wish I had this guide when I was going through recruitment! If you're going through recruitment this spring or fall, be sure to read this awesome post. Also, be sure to check out A Greek Concept - they have a lot of really awesome sorority and fraternity stuff!

What to Wear and What Not to Wear to Sorority Recruitment/Bid Day

What you wear says a lot about who you are and what group you belong to. No other week in the year screams this reality as brightly as sorority recruitment! Whether Panhellenic recruitment falls in autumn, or your school is more of a spring fling kind of group, we’ve got the “musts” and the “please don’ts” for all you soon-to-be sorority sisters.

The single, literally, absolutely, hey, listen to me most important thing during the recruitment process is to be yourself. Although you’re attempting to fit into a historical lifestyle and a major values-based organization, the worst thing you can do to yourself and your dress is to not be yourself. Don’t pretend to be someone you’re not – and likewise, don’t dress to play a part! Trust your instincts [which in sorority life really means, add your own personal flair to the set of guidelines laid out by the sororities].

With that out of the way, let’s get started! Before you enter recruitment it is vitally important that you check out your college’s website for the Panhellenic Association. The awareness you’ll gain from the website will save you from a lot of this:

Who wants that? Another way to figure out what specific requirements might be attached to your school’s recruitment week is to ask your recruitment counselor. Every potential new member (PNM) is assigned a recruitment counselor who has made the decision to temporarily step away from her sorority in order to help all the newbies [they’re really the best].

First Event Rundown – A MIXER or OPENING DAY:

Two “dos” –

•

Wear something you feel comfortable in because you will only show your nervous side if you’re not wearing something you love! It’s a casual night filled with lots of traveling walking, so don’t overextend your latest and greatest. We definitely recommend you don’t wear heels [unless you really like not feeling your feet much for the next couple of days]

•

Wear something that expresses your personality. This is initial “notice me” time. You don’t want to stick out like sore thumb, but you definitely want to let any potential chapter what you like to wear, and looking the most YOU!

A “don’t” –

•

Be very cautious in going against the rules! If your school says no denim or only black pants [hint: follow the rule!] it is of the upmost importance that you don’t break this just to stand out! Additionally [and on the record], casual does not mean ripped jeans. The only thing ripped jeans let’s them know is that you don’t look put together.

Second Set Events – SEEING THE HOUSES:

A “do” –

•

This is definitely a more than casual kind of day! You’ll want to make sure you’ve picked out some cute dress for this day. Whether it’s a sundress…

or a sweater dress...

You can totally come up with something really stellar yet 100% within the rules.

A “don’t” –

•

Refrain from denim! Whether you just ordered the cutest pair of dark skinnies anyone has ever laid eyes on, or you have a light-wash denim romper… NOW is the time to wear a dress!

Philanthropy Day – RECRUITMENT TEE TIME:

A “do” –

•

Wear a solid pair of shorts for fall recruiters OR a solid pair of pants for winter recruiters.

For this portion of the experience you’ll likely be given a t-shirt to wear and other fun recruitment gifts! Choose comfy flats and a very matchable pair of pants. You’ll be walking [again] to most of the houses, so make sure you are comfy!

Impression Night – MAKING IT LAST:

A “do” –

•

Dressy but not overdone is the theme of this night! You want to look put together, well thought out, and 100% ready to make an impression. Don’t let this night slip through your grasp.

A “don’t” –

•

Don’t be scandalous. That’s a pretty simple summary of what to avoid on this night in particular, but really for any sorority rush event. Never try to make a statement with a neckline or dress length. Stay classy, soon-to-be sorority sister!

The End of It All – DUN, DUN, DUNNNN…. BID DAY!

You’ve made it to the end, and now you’re ready to be chosen. If you’ve gotten this far you don’t need a “don’t” anymore. Instead – soak bid day in as you eagerly await to hear what house has chosen you in return. Wear denim [if association approved] or solid bottoms – your new home will give you a bid day shirt to welcome you in!

​

About the Author:

Amy Furrow is the owner of A Greek Concept an online retailer of licensed Greek merchandise. She’s got drive, heart, and passion – something Greek life is all about. From Sorority picture frames, tote bags, and jewelry, as well as Fraternity coolers, glassware, and travel accessories; A Greek Concept is filled to the brim with options for every Sorority sister or Fraternity brother. 

what to wear to a mixer

Mixers might be the scariest thing a sorority girl does. You show up to a place and are tasked with meeting new guys, hopefully befriending one or two of them, in order to secure dates for all other date functions. Eek. I don't know about y'all, but I'm pretty terrible at meeting guys, so I feel like there's a lot of pressure to be impressive. But I have to remind myself that impressing guys really isn't that hard. Because the point of the mixer is to meet guys, it's important to look cute and put your best foot forward. Here are my tips for looking your best to give yourself the most confidence.

Clothes

There's a saying that I firmly believe: "Girls dress for other girls." When we get up in the morning, we usually don't say to ourselves, "Hmmm, will guys notice me in this?" We usually think, "Will other girls think this is a cute outfit? Will I possibly get compliments on this?" It's sad but true, and we usually do it subconsciously. Now that you're thinking about this, it's important to change your mindset and think instead, "Will a guy think I'm attractive in this?"

Now, this doesn't mean you need to show a ton of skin and wear heavy makeup. Surveys indicate that most guys find white v-neck shirts, skinny jeans, and heels are the most attractive outfit a girl can wear. That being said, don't all go out and wear the same outfit. But be mindful that guys are simple creatures with simple tastes. Wear a shirt that is comfortable but not baggy, if you know what I mean, skinny jeans, and shoes with heels (boots, pumps, or wedges work).

My favorite outfit, courtesy of Pinterest

Accessories

Keep jewelry simple. I know statement jewelry is really popular right now, but it can be a little distracting. Stick with a pretty pair of earrings, a small necklace, a delicate bracelet, etc. Simple and pretty is the key.

Gold Date Night Jewelry by girlmeetspearls featuring a snake ring

Silver Date Night Jewelry by girlmeetspearls featuring tear drop earrings

Hair

For hair, guys like long, shiny, curled tresses. If your hair is long, bust out your curling irons and wands and get some pretty curls going. Be sure to use protectant so that you don't end up frying your ends. But if your hair is short, like mine, never fear! Guys love hair that looks soft and touchable, so try a deep conditioner and some smoothing serum to get hair extra soft and shiny. For both long and short hair, you can't go wrong with volume, softness, and shine!

Makeup

As for makeup, guys like it "natural, like Kim Kardashian." Translation: go for natural colors while still making it obvious you're wearing makeup. Flawless-looking skin, a pretty, glowy flush, and a subtle smoky eye in neutral colors are going to be the best to achieve this (so bust out your Naked palettes, ladies). For the lips, go with a "there but not there" shade of lipstick or some gloss and you're set.

Nails

Now here's a bonus: For some strange reason, guys prefer "french dipped" nails (aka, french manicure) over colors. There are varying theorries for this, some of which aren't very appropriate, but that seems to be the consensus. Like I said before, guys are simple creatures with simple tastes. They pretty much like "enhanced naturality," hence why they like natural makeup, french nails, and skinny jeans - they enhance what is natural about you. 

French meets ombre

Confidence

This might be the most important thing, because no matter what you wear, if you don't have confidence, you're going to be lacking. One of the things I like to do to have confidence is to wear cute/sexy underwear. No guys is going to see it, but I know it's there, and that makes me feel 100x more confident. Wear your favorite, well-fitting pushup bra and your sexiest undies (whether it be a thong or boyshorts) in order to feel as sexy as you want to look.

Annie said, "You're never fullly dressed without a smile," and it's so true. Before you leave or in the car on the way, listen to your favorite happy songs. Sing along loudly or dance around like no one is watching in order to boost endorphins and your mood. Also, don't forget to brush your teeth before you leave to ensure a bright smile free of plaque. 

This is a special message for you taken ladies: you have a boyfriend. Some of your sisters do not. It is your job to play wing woman at this thing. Like I said before, mixers are there to help your single sisters find dates. You already have a date for every single event, so you need to be there for your sisters. If she's nervous about talking to a cute guy, go up with her and help her start a conversation with him. If you see a sister standing alone, talk to her and maybe help her find someone new to meet. You have an important job! And YOU have the most confidence because you already have a boyfriend - lucky you. So be sure to help your sisters have confidence, too. 

I know that mixers seem intimidating. But when it comes down to it, the only pressure that exists is the pressure you put on yourself. So look cute, take a deep breath, put a smile on, and have fun! Because THAT'S really the point. And if a guy sees you're having fun, he'll want to have fun with you. Mission acccomplished. ;)

Do you have any tips for what to wear/how to be confident for a mixer? Leave a comment!

outfit of the day - SEC classy

First, I would like to offer my sincerest apologies for being absent for so long. I have been so overwhelmed with recruitment and getting back into the swing of school and my sorority again, I haven't even had time to think about blogging, let alone chug out a post (I'm actually beginning this post as I sit on a judo mat waiting for my self-defense class to start). But I'm back and ready to blog again!

Last week, my sorority had a Continuous Open Recruitment (COR) event open to all women who didn't go through Formal Recruitment the week before but were still interested in possibly joining a sorority. It was held at the Diamond Club at Blue Bell Park (A&M's baseball stadium) with President Loftin, SBP Reid Joseph, and the Junior Yell Leaders as special guests. 

The theme was "SEC Classy," so I donned my classiest Aggie outfit and paired it with a berry lip to add a little more maroon to the mix. 

Grand-Little - Katy!

Junior Yell Leaders!

SBP Reid Joseph!

Me and Alyssa!

Scarf: Old Navy (old)
Top: Target (old) (seen here)

Jeans: Sixty Nine Jeans

Shoes: Antonio Melani (old)

Earrings: Forever 21 (old)

Lip color: NYC Smooch Proof 16h Lip Stain in Champagne Stain and Laqa & Co Lil' Lip Duo in Fuschia

friday fav: chevron

You may not know this about me, but I am in love with chevron. I am still a believer in "too much of a good thing is bad," but I toe that line with chevron. If there were any more chevron in my room, people would get dizzy. It's just the perfect pattern - it's more interesting than stripes and more adult than polka dots, but it is not too crazy. And it's super flattering to wear. Here are a few chevron things I already have, as well as a few I'm wanting!

Chevron Dress

My bedding

Monogram background

Adorable nails

Trinket Tray

Clutch

Even though I am in love with chevron, that doesn't mean I'm going to go overboard with it. But it is still a fun addition to my room, wardrobe, and life! 

What pattern are you obsessed with? Leave a comment!

Target Cartwheel - shopping savior or sketchy saver?

Just when you thought Target couldn't get any more perfect, it did. Introducing Cartwheel, a new couponing system that allows the user to browse available coupons for certain brands and products and select the ones they want. Your Cartwheel holds up to 10 coupons ranging from 5-25% off, and then you use them when you go shopping next. You can earn more coupon spaces by unlocking badges when using Cartwheel. To use the coupons, simply have the cashier scan a barcode either on paper or on your phone and the savings will automatically be deducted.

This new system has pros and cons, as most things do, so here're mine:

Pros:

• Makes finding coupons easy
• Coupons you'll actually use
• Wide variety of products and brands

Cons:

• Uses Facebook to sign up (blech)
• Only so many coupon spaces in Cartwheel
• Coupons have expiration dates
• Only available in stores

But here's the real question: How much can you actually save using Cartwheel?

To test this out, I decided to sample shop using real Cartwheel coupons and seeing how much I actually save using them. These are all coupons I would legitimately use on my next trip to Target.

1. Threshold Bathroom Towels 

Product chosen: Chunky Modern Bath Towel

Price: $12.99

Savings: 10%

New price: $11.69

Saved: $1.30

2. Method Handwash

Product chosen: Foaming Handwash in Vanilla Chai

Price: $2.99

Savings: 5%

New price: $2.84

Saved: $0.15

3. Method Cleaning Spray

Product chosen: All-Purpose Natural Surface Cleaner in Pink Grapefruit

Price: $2.99

Savings: 5%

New price: $2.84

Saved: $0.15

4. Sonia Kashuk Organizer

Product chosen: Yarn Print Soft Cosmetic Case

Price: $6.99

Savings: 5%

New price: $6.64

Saved: $0.35

5. Sonia Kashuk Face

Product chosen: Bare Illuminating Bronzer in Goddess 40

Price: $12.99

Savings: 5%

New price: $12.34

Saved: $0.65

6. Nate Berkus Bath and Accessories

Product chosen: Color Block Shower Curtain in Mint

Price: $24.99

Savings: 15%

New price: $21.24

Saved: $3.75

7. Merona Women's Shoes
Product chosen: Emilia Tall Wedge Espadrille in Khaki
Price: $29.99
Savings: 10%
New price: $26.99
Saved: $3.00

8. Merona Women's Shorts
Product chosen: 5" Chino Shorts in White
Price: $17.99
Savings: 10%
New price: $16.19
Saved: $1.80

9. Goody Bobby Pins/Contour Clips
Product chosen: Bobby Pins 50 pack in Brown
Price: $3.49
Savings: 10%
New price: $3.14
Saved: $0.35

10. C9 by Champion Sports Bras
Product chosen: Reversible Racerback Bra
Price: $14.99
Savings:  25%
New price: $11.24
Saved: $3.75

Total spent without savings: $130.40
Total spent with savings: $115.15
Money saved: $15.25

Conclusion:

Although this seems like a really awesome idea, it can either be really great or really crappy. For one thing, some of the prices were significantly cheaper online than with the savings in stores (namely, the wedges - $18 online!). Also, in the cases of the items that were 5% off, you really only saved cents, and the savings tended to feel more significant the cheaper the item was. But for some items, like the sports bra and the shower curtain, I saved a few bucks, which is always good. Overall, I would say that this is a good concept when used wisely. Good luck on all your shopping exploits!

Much love,
Sydney

Target haul

The other day, I gave into weakness: I went shopping.

I know this isn't a deadly sin or anything, but I really enjoy shopping, almost a little too much. So going to Target with no plan and no budget is kind of a dangerous thing for me. But thankfully, I was really smart about my purchases and got some very versatile things.

Item 1: peplum shirt

To buy: $22.99 (on sale in stores for 16.08)

I have been envying my sisters' peplum shirts for a while, so I was thrilled when I found a cute one on sale. While peplum shirts are a current trend that will eventually fade out, a white blouse will never go out of style! And this one is dressy enough for meeting and casual enough for date night.

Item 2: lace shirt

To buy: $19.99

This is another top that is in style but still classic. Yes, it's also white, but I have a white shirt fetish, so whatever. White shirts go with everything, and this one is no exception. It can be dressed up or down and can even be worn with cowboy boots.

Item 3: light sweater

To buy: $22.99 (on sale in stores for $16.08)

Although spring in Texas is coming to a close (already?), nights can still be cool. This sweater is soft and very light-weight, making it perfect to wear through the spring, summer, and fall. Pair it with shorts, jeans, sundresses, or skirts for a casual look.

Item 4: skinny jeans

To buy: $27.99

Because I'm not a stick figure, I always thought skinny jeans were not for me - they sat low on my hips and flattened my butt and were either too long or too short. But then I tried on a pair of the mid-rise skinny jeans from Denizen for Target, and I'm convinced these are magic. They sit higher up and make my butt look awesome! Plus, even though they're stretchy, they're super comfortable. And in a not too light, not too dark wash, they will literally go with anything.

Although I spent more than I was expecting, I got some quality pieces that can be worn with many things in many different seasons and for many different occasions. This is super important for college sorority women, because we have to dress for class, meetings, dates, football games, and going out. Any piece of clothing that can be worn in three or four out of those five situations is a God-send. I'm very happy with my haul!

Much love,
Sydney