When I was a freshman in college, the only schema I'd had for the basis of a sorority was the movie "The House Bunny." As entertaining as it was to watch actress Anna Farris prance around while portraying a Playboy bunny turned sorority house mother, the premise of that movie did little to explain to me the reason why all those awkward girls her character had given bombshell Cinderella makeovers, were all gathered together in their sorority house in the first place. What made them sisters? What was Rush? Why the importance on image and parties and supreme social interaction in a place like a university where you were supposed to be focused on school work and your future? It made no sense to me, until I attended my own private university and rushed for the one surviving local sorority on campus.
There were about 17 existing active girls at the time, in comparison to the typical average of 30-50 girls in most sororities, both national and local. They had no house, as the university considered it a liability and the cost would have been too expensive for the girls to manage themselves with the small numbers. They were barely even recognized as entities of Greek life, constantly being called a "fraternity" by members of the school's highly non-traditional student population that didn't know any better.
I pledged to join my sorority when it was at its most obscure and disorganized peak, but I stuck around and became fascinated with the new world I was being introduced to and the bonds I could have with just a dozen other girls, let alone the standard 50 that came with groups like these. My sorority is still climbing mountains to get proper recognition at our university, but we have learned and developed tricks and lifestyle methods that I would very much have liked to know about as a pledge, or even a new active member to make my experience more enjoyable.
This blog will serve as a tool for my love of the aesthetics of the sorority lifestyle, and ways to make living as a sorority girl at any stage in any type of organization, just a little easier and possibly more indulgent. In this post, I'm going to give a check list of 3 basic things I believe are a must have if you plan to begin investing in a personal “sorority life survival kit.”
1. At Least One Little Black Dress
Let's start with one of the fun aspects of a sorority, the wardrobe! This first item is a classic fashion staple that goes beyond sorority event uniformity, and transcends into something you are going to want to utilize in your wardrobe in all stages of life. At this time though, there are plenty of places the classic little black dress can be worn and admired, and will make you look as good as it is practical. The style isn't as important as long as it suits your personality, however the versatile nature of the dress in different social events is what's going to make it a good investment. My little black dress, for example, is fitted and strapless. It is just shy of cock tail length as the hem line hits to the knee and the material is simple, similar to what a classic suit skirt may be made of and I can dress it up or down depending on the situation.
Cocktail party-esc formal event for the sorority? No problem! I can just wear the dress as is with a pair of basic black heels, tasteful jewelry, bold lips, and a hair style I save when I want to look fabulous. Going somewhere with a business oriented atmosphere? This dress saves the day yet again! I can layer it with a cardigan or blazer, don my sorority pearls and professional pumps, and pin my hair back to give the look a polished and professional air. From formals to funerals and crush parties to club nights, you really can't go wrong with something like this waiting to be worn in the back of your wardrobe.
2. A Day Planner
If there is no other item I can stress you obtaining, it would be one of these little doomsday books in order to keep your daily life straight. Being in a sorority means you have a packed calendar, and if there is nowhere for you to keep track of your social, charity, academic, and even romantic schedule dates, your time management skills may begin to leave a lot to be desired. People nowadays tend to rely on typing their lives away electronically into their phones, but I believe there is a classic convenience to having a book where I can physically write down and organize the most important events of my life. Having a one page business calendar with neat blank squares instead of cluttered Facebook invitations and birthday reminders, seems a bit more professional to me in the long run as well.
3. That One Best Friend Outside of Your Sister Circle
While the other items support the battles you will wage with image and time management, this may be the most important for your mental wellbeing while being involved in a sorority. Whether you live in a national sorority house with up to 70 girls or meet every week with your small local group on campus, the bond of sorority sisters is something unique that tends to encompass the life of a true sister, almost to the point of dominating it. It can be emotionally draining to be surrounded by nothing but the mutual stress of your sisters at some point, so it is important to have at least one person who is a safe haven away from the sorority in which you can call upon for a good old fashioned ranting session. I personally find those to be the most therapeutic remedies to any emotional exhaustion, and coming to an outside third party about any decision you may find yourself conflicted about can help give you a perspective you may not have had otherwise. Make sure it's someone that you trust to give you genuine advice, but also someone who understands that the secrecy you share with your sisters on certain levels must be respected. You can never replace those sisterhood bonds, but a productive "shrink session" with a lifelong best friend, significant other, or even close family member may be just the thing you need to come back to them refreshed instead of at the breaking point.
