Dressing fashionably for greek events can be a challenge for new members — many events, both formal and informal, may call for specific attire.

Whether a student belongs to a sorority or fraternity, the chapter pins and greek letters are encouraged. Alec DiLorenzo, from Sigma Alpha Epsilon, said some chapters give letter shirts to their new members, as a pledge class shirt. 

“Their letters are definitely encouraged, not to segregate by any means — just meant to show the greek pride in general,” said Josh Hill, president of FarmHouse.

To the more social events such as WatermelonFest, Homecoming and Greek Week, members wear either their pairing shirts or letter shirts. Pairing shirts have the letters of the sorority, big fraternity and little fraternity.

Formal attire for fraternities typically consists of khakis, button-down shirts, ties, blazers or suits. Sorority members often wear dresses, such as cocktail or sundresses, to their formal events. Claire Sincox, of Pi Beta Phi, described the spring formal events for sororities as being more like high school homecoming rather than prom.

Sorority chapters will give guidelines for certain events in which the members have to dress alike, but they don’t have the exact same outfits. “Each chapter has a different dress code for each day of formal recruitment,” said Caitlin Higgins, of Delta Zeta.

Greek members can shop just almost anywhere for apparel. Kohl’s and JCPenney are popular places in Ames to go for dresses and blazers. Lyla’s Boutique and Ayden Lee in Ames are locally popular places for sorority members to shop. Greek letter apparel can be purchased online or through the chapter itself.

If new members are unsure about what to wear, they can ask their mentors or any upperclassman in the house. House managers can help new members find what they need.