Though most Greek parties do not enforce an ironclad dress code, dressing nicely will make you feel more comfortable and ensure that you have a good time. Whether your outfit revolves around a party theme or comes from some color combination you’ve been dying to try, a little planning is all you need to make a fashion splash at your next Greek party on campus.
Purpose
Greek parties serve two main purposes on the college campus: socializing and recruiting new members. During the rush or recruiting period, potential pledges attend many parties, which gives current and future members a chance to get to know each other. Showing up well-dressed to Greek parties gives a good impression and helps with easing in to the group.
Fashion Coordination
If you attend a Greek party with friends, try coordinating your outfits. For example, if it is an 80s party, try dressing as a celebrity from that time period. Your friends will give you solid feedback on your costume ideas, and you don’t have to worry about being the only one to show up in a costume.
Theme Parties
Greek toga parties were immortalized in the 1978 movie National Lampoon's Animal House. The basic toga costume consists of wrapping a bed sheet tightly around your waist and tucking it in snugly at your hip. Then take the excess sheet and drape it diagonally across your chest and over you shoulder from front to back while tucking the rest in at the small or your back. White sheets are the norm, but if you want to jazz it up a little, use colored sheets or a heavier fabric. Find simple brown sandals and make your own laurel wreath to top off the look.
Formal Parties
Unlike casual theme parties, Greek formal parties are more like the traditional social functions of generations past. The men wear tuxedos and bow ties while the ladies show up in cocktail dresses or evening dresses, depending on the occasion’s level of formality. Most formals are held in urban settings, but some fraternities and sororities get creative and go to beach houses or resorts, which may affect what you choose to wear. Just be sure to dress in a way that will keep you comfortable wherever you go. Also, some formals are overnighters, so be sure to pack an extra change of clothes.