Rush runway: How fashion shapes UGA sorority recruitment

Every August, Milledge Avenue fills up with thousands of potential new members seeking a spot in one of the 20 Panhellenic sororities at the University of Georgia. Even in the midst of the chaos, there is a sense of uniformity between the PNMs all dressed in a particular “rush fashion” with bits and pieces of their own style sprinkled in.

“[PNMs] are trying to ride that line of timeless, but trendy, but still standing out to a certain degree,” Anna Cox, a senior fashion merchandising major with an emphasis in brand management and a minor in business, said.

Dressing for each round

The UGA Panhellenic Pointer outlines each round of recruitment, what to expect and what PNMs should wear. Although there is no technical dress code, the guide gives suggestions so PNMs can feel more comfortable with an understanding of what most people wear.

Keely Hallinan, a senior public relations major and the vice president of recruitment and marketing at Kappa Delta at UGA, feels the uniformity and professionalism allows the potential new members, also known as PNMs, to feel comfortable amongst each other and with the active members, since everyone is dressed in a similar way.

“I think it really just unites everybody, because everyone can look around and be like, ‘Ok, everyone cares just as much about this process as I do,’” Hallinan said.

Rhyan Brown, a senior advertising and art history major and the president of Gamma Phi Beta, and Hallinan both felt that the PNMs were able to bond with each other through their choices in dress.

“Sometimes that [fashion] can lead into conversations like ‘Where are you from? How does your personal style speak to you?’,” Brown said.

UGA Panhellenic Recruitment, also known as “rush,” took place over the third week of August, with a break for classes in between round three and the preference round.

Round two of rush is the only day all the PNMs can choose every aspect of their outfit. The guidebook outlines casual skirts or dresses as appropriate outfits and advises to keep in mind the Georgia heat.

PNMs were required to wear the Panhellenic shirt with their choice of bottoms for round three and for the preference round, most PNMs, although it is not required, wear a black dress. Finally for Bid Day, new this year, PNMs were required to wear a white t-shirt or tank and their choice of athletic shorts or skirts.

Southern Style

Sorority recruitment at Southeastern Conference schools can look different compared to some other schools, especially with the added formality that Southern fashion can bring. Cox likes to call the style of dress “summer cocktail.”

Hallinan, who grew up on the west coast, has a unique perspective on fashion from both her hometown and the South.

“I had to kind of shift what I thought was fashionable, take on a new sense of fashion, being that Southern fashion is so different from Southern California fashion,” Hallinan, a San Diego native, said.

A staple for rush fashion, dresses are an easy way to throw on one item and still look classy and cute. Many PNMs opted for a dress with some breezy fabrics to keep cool while walking around in the heat.

Bright colors are a recurring theme with rush fashion with many PNMs wearing a mix of blues, reds and oranges, according to Hallinan. Keeping with the Southern style, there were a lot of sightings of ruffles, big sleeves and flowy bottoms amongst the outfits.

A trend that saw its rise this summer was a drop waist. Popularized in the 1920s, this trend features a waistline that sits lower towards the hips, which usually sees itself in longer dresses.

It seems like the length of skirts have been going up and down with the trend cycle every few years, and this year is no different. Some PNMs decided to go for a midi or maxi length skirt to pair with their Panhellenic shirt on round three. Since the Panhellenic shirt was white, the skirts were mostly brightly colored to add a little pop to their outfit.

Something Brown noticed was some of the differences between the rush fashion this year and from when she was rushing her freshman year.

For example, Brown remembered everyone wearing heels for each round of her recruitment whereas this year, many PNMs opted for a more casual kick like Adidas Sambas, Golas and Golden Goose sneakers. Accessories are timeless, but this year there were more sights of statement necklaces and bows – in the hair but also on skirts and dresses.

“It’s so cool to see these young girls come into their own throughout this process and show who they are because I feel like, Panhellenic, we just try to have everyone find their place, their people and their home,” Brown said. “When these girls are able to express themselves through more than just their worth, but through their fashion, it can help them find their place easier in that community.”