Top 5 Favorite Things of a Southern Sorority Girl

Meet Kate, she's an adorable Southern gal from Dallas, Texas.  She's a Kappa Kappa Gamma at UT Austin and is a Public Relations Major that became mildly obsessed with blogging after creating a blog for a school project.  We sat down with Kate to find out the ins and out of being a Southern girl and what she loves about fashion, blogging, and all things Southern!

Her Instagram account is filled with bright colors, bows, and her Southern Style.  Kate decided to share with us the Top 5 Favorite Things of a Southern Sorority Girl along with her TSS Interview!  Make sure to follow Kate's blog, A Lonestar State of Southern and follow her on Instagram!

1. Oversized Shirts

AKA my college uniform. I am a little bit confused as to how wearing tshirts the size of trashbags counts as socially acceptable, and I’m ALL for it.

2. Caffeine

I used to pride myself on not being one of those “coffee addicts.” This 5’2” girl wasn’t going to risk stunted growth, and it’s obviously way healthier to stick to water, right? Whelp, that mentality lasted all of two months, and now it’s part of my daily routine! No coffee, no talky. For real.

3. Rent the Runway

With date functions and formals always around the corner, Rent the Runway is my lifesaver. I love the huge selection of gorgeous gowns that are in price range and conveniently delivered to your doorstep. Three cheers for whomever came up with that fabulous idea!

4. Lilly Pulitzer Planner

Oh yes, I am that girl. And if my large planner in “Lulu” wasn’t colorful enough, the month views are an explosion of highlighter and colored markers reminding me of tests, functions, and babysitting commitments. 

            

5. Student Discounts

I can’t believe that I didn’t know about the wealth of stores that offer hefty student discounts until this semester! Jcrew, Madewell, Ann Taylor LOFT, Topshop, Urban Outfitters, and Pizza Hut (oops… how did that slip in there?) offer anywhere from 10-25% off. As if I needed more of an excuse to go shop!

1. What or who inspired you to start your blog?

"It all started last spring as an assignment for one of my public relations classes. We were told to create a temporary blog about whatever we fancied. Once I started writing about my love for Texan culture and Southern style, I couldn’t stop! This past summer, Lonestar State of Southern quickly become one of my favorite hobbies. Who would have thought school work could turn into something so fun?!"

2. Who is your celebrity style crush?  

"Reese Witherspoon. I have such respect for her classic style, and how she doesn’t feel the need to wear two feet of clothing in order to make a statement. Her quote, 'If it’s not moving, monogram it!' says it all."

3. So you're a Southern Belle- tell us what your favorite part about living in the South!

"My favorite part? There’s no way to narrow it down to just one! So I’ll cheat… My favorite part is that the stereotype of the South is completely true. Everyone here says 'y’all', cowboy boots are accepted dress shoes, and boys learn to open doors as toddlers. The culture here is warm and loving, the sky is huge and beautiful, and tea comes in 'sweet' and 'un'. What’s not to love?"

4. What's your favorite part about being in a sorority?

"Prepare yourself for the cookie-cutter response, but my favorite part is the relationships I’ve made through Kappa. College is such a unique experience, and having a group of ladies to figure it all out with has made a vibrant one We are all so different, and thank goodness for that! We bring different talents and interests to the table, balance each other out, and always have too much fun together!"

5. How does your sorority sisters support you and your blog?

"Everyone has a kind, encouraging word, and no one makes a big deal about it. That is what I love about Kappa. Everyone is supported in their interests here. whether that’s biking to Alaska to raise money for cancer victims, putting together $40,000 to build a school in Uganda, or writing a light hearted blog about life and fashion. There’s a shared joy in everyone’s different accomplishments, and that underlying theme is something I treasure the most about this group of girls."

6. What are 3 things that you always carry in your purse?

 "Warby Parker glasses (I’m under the age of 75 and have cataracts. Like, what?), my Lilly Pulitzer agenda, and a little slip of paper from freshman year. My freshman year of college, a stranger found my phone that I had left in the library and took the time to and turn it in and place a note where I had left it. It says “If you lost your phone, I turned it into the front desk downstairs! Have a great day!” in pink writing. I will never forget how moved I was by that seemingly small act of kindness. It’s my favorite reminder to take the time to love others!"

7. Who's your 3 favorite fashion bloggers that you religiously follow?

"1. Caitlin of Southern Curls and Pearls. We’re best friends. She is gorgeous, southern, and unpretentious. She has a fuzzy cat, flawless taste, and the ideal closet of a modern southern belle. Ok I should clarify the best friend thing… She actually doesn’t know that… so maybe don’t pass that on?

 2.  Molly of Bridget’s Own Diary. All jokes aside, I actually am super lucky to know this pretty lady (and fellow Kappa!) in real life. Her blog has style, soul, depth, and so much feel-goodness it’s hard to handle. She’s also the cutest thing to walk this earth, and one of the most thoughtful girls I know.

 3. Sarah of Classy Girls Wear Pearls. No explanation needed, right? Has anyone figured out yet if she and the Kiel James Patrick group are actually real?"

8. Southern Gentlemen- fact or myth?

"Fact! To anyone doubting their existence, take heart! I met mine in Seaside, Florida the summer before my freshman year of college. He wears Vineyard Vines, loves Jesus with his whole heart, and two years later still opens every door I come across. It’s tricky to find them on your typical college campus, but they’re out there I swear!"

9. How do you balance everything between school, sorority, and blogging?  Do you have any other things you are involved in?

"I wouldn’t be able to without my faith. Because of my faith- school, sorority, and blogging are all just icing on the cake! Those three parts of my life become joys instead of things that need to be juggled when I remind myself that I am loved unconditionally, and that nothing I’ve ever done or will do in the future can change that."

10. What's your 3 go-to stores?

"Eighty percent of the dresses in my closet come from Zara. That is one store that fits perfectly and without fail. Madewell always has the best sale items, and… wait I only have one left? Can LillyPulitzerJCrewStBernardsSportsH&MCWonder count as one? :)"

Isn't she just so stinkin' cute?  Now we know what it's like to be a Southern Sorority girl, live in the South, and date Southern boys!  Thank you, Kate- we loved having you on TSS! 

Greek Licensing 101: why it's cool, and why we love it!

You have seen the seal before... the Official Licensed Product seal.  Lucky for us Greeks, this seal can be found on all kinds of amazing products that we love to use; from stationery, to jewelry, to custom apparel.  These items show off our Greek pride, with style.  When shopping for our favorite sorority items, we always try to keep an eye out for the Greek Licensed seal.  But... what does it all really mean, and why is it important to us Greeks?  Well, we sat down with our friends at Affinity Marketing Consultants (the company behind the Official Licensed Product seal) for the inside scoop!

The team over at Affinity Marketing Consultants (AMC) has been so helpful in explaining the licensing process to us.  Protecting the Greek brands (oh yes, each organization is a brand... just like Starbucks!) and purchasing top-quality product sure sounds great to us!  AMC explains more, and answers all of our questions.

TSS: Explain to us, what exactly is licensing?
AMC: Licensing is the process by which an intellectual property owner can ensure the protection and growth of their intellectual property rights.  Sororities and fraternities own various trademarks (a type of intellectual property) such as; the organization’s name, nicknames, Greek letters, crest/coat-of-arms, badge, and symbols.  A trademark license is a written legal contract through which a trademark owner grants a vendor permission to use the marks.    

TSS:  Why are licensing programs so important?
AMC: Terrific question!  Trademarks are a fundamental part of fraternity and sorority brands, just like the Nike “Swoosh”, Starbucks’ mermaid, or the company name “Nordstrom”.  In the case of sororities and fraternities, these marks represent each organization’s history, heritage, mission, and values.   The ways in which the marks are used have an important impact on the organization’s reputation.  Licensing programs are a way to help Greek organizations protect their marks (and reputation) through quality control and appropriate usage.  Fraternities and sororities can ensure their marks continue to serve as accurate representations of their mission and values, by monitoring the kinds of products their marks are used on.

A great way to think about licensing programs is like a recruitment process for products and services.  Recruitment is all about finding individuals who embody and reflect the organization’s fundamental virtues.  For vendors interested in the Greek market, the application process is much like the recruitment process; the products or services are evaluated for quality.  Beyond that, the license agreement terms are much like the chapter or organization bylaws; this ensures that the products are continually serving as a noble representation of the organization.  Chapters only offer and accept bids when the fit is right- and products are no different!

TSS:  How does licensing help my sorority?
AMC: As mentioned before, licensing is a way of monitoring the quality of products representing your organization.  Your organization’s ability to maintain ownership of its valuable marks and continue to provide meaningful opportunities for generations of women to come relies on a well established licensing program.  If anyone can use the marks without following certain standards, your organization risks losing ownership of the marks.  And, licensed products help generate revenue for your organization through royalties that vendors pay in exchange for the use of the marks.  Your organization uses this revenue to further support the organization’s vision and member experience.

TSS: How does having a licensed product protect the Greek community's brand?
AMC: For those within the Greek community, the differences and subtleties from group to group are well known and celebrated.  Each organization has a unique heritage and set of core principles that guide their members and link men and women geographically and across generations.  To those outside of the community, the Greek community is often viewed as more of a group of organizations that are unfortunately, largely misunderstood.  The quality control aspect of licensing is just one way the Greek community can work together to try and shift these misconceptions and benefit the community as a whole.  Quality products that contain approved images, designs, and messages can help to project a more positive image of the Greek community as a whole.

TSS:  If we find something that is cute, but the company is not licensed, what should we do?
AMC: Encourage them to become licensed!   Let them know that you really love their product, but you have a responsibility to your organization to only purchase licensed products.  You can also forward their information directly to your organization’s headquarters (or Affinity Consultants if your organization is one of our clients), and we would be happy to reach out to them and guide them through the process.    It is our interest and the interest of various Greek organizations to have products within the Greek market that meet the wants and needs of members throughout their lifetime.  The best way individual members and chapters can help is by holding each other and vendors accountable.  GreekLicensing.com is a great resource for companies to learn about the licensing process and for you to find a variety of quality licensed products and services!

There you have it... and now, we have some shopping to do with some of our favorite Greek Licensed products!  Special thank you to Selby, Dan, and the AMC team for helping put together this interview!