Recruitment Wardrobe Do's!

With recruitment just around the corner, a lot of you may be asking yourself “what do I wear?!” Keep calm; we are here to help! While sorority recruitment is so much more than the volume of your hair or what designer you are wearing, it is still important to care about your appearance and be confident, because a first impression can be a lasting impression. I have come up with some tips to help you put your best self forward and stand out in a crowd. 

Your outfit can say a lot about your personality. In any situation where you do not know what to expect, or you are meeting hundreds of people for the first time, it is best to keep it classy with higher necklines and longer hems. This Laundry dress is classic and colorful. The jersey material is soft and comfortable, and won’t wrinkle so you stay looking put together all day!

You know that gorgeous statement necklace or cute headband that you always get complimented on? Accessorize! Adding a pop or color or statement piece to your outfit is a great way to make yourself stand apart and be unique. It can also be a great conversation starter because everyone will want to know where you got it! This aqua statement necklace or pink Tory Burch flats are sure to be remembered.

Although recruitment is so much fun, it is also a very long and exhausting process. We have all had those nights where our new heels are killing us and we are asking everyone we know if they have a band-aid for our blisters; comfy footwear is key! Heels are great, but make sure that you can walk and stand in them all day! A wedge can provide more support and adding Dr. Scholl’s Foot Cushions to any high heels can be life changing. I would recommend breaking new heels in around the house!

It’s always better to be overdressed than underdressed. Don’t be afraid to get dressed up, especially for the last day of recruitment! Think like you're meeting your boyfriend’s parents or going to a job interview. That special outfit or your favorite cocktail dress? Wear it! I love this fun and flirty Parker dress. It is elegant and classy, but still unique and memorable.

The most important thing to keep in mind is to be yourself and make sure that you are comfortable in any outfit before walking out the door. When you are comfortable, you are confident!

Wishing you all the best of luck in recruitment!

How to Wear Neon

Skirt: H&M (old, similar here). Tank: Brandy Melville. Denim Vest: Paper Crane (old, similar here). Lips: Sephora. Heels: Forever 21 (old, similar here).

There is just something about wearing neon that has not phased out for us! Neon has been the greatest addition to our closets and adds a level of happiness and flare to anyone's wardrobe. One of our readers, Zenia, asked us the best way to rock neon so it looks more high fashion and less like a walking highlighter {haha}. It Girl, Victoria, is a true neon fashionista. Neon from head to toe is just too much for the eyes, so we suggest contrasting your neon outfit with some neutral colors such as black, ivory, or white like Victoria did in the above outfit. The contrast between neon and neutral colors makes for a more fresh, modern, visually appealing look. Not ready to go full force neon? Then add a pop of neon color to your outfit with a bright shade of lipstick. Neon lips against a soft makeup look like Victoria's let's your face shine with little work (a nice smile like Victoria's always helps too!). Wearing neon is bold, so don't be afraid to be seen and rock what you've got!

What neon ensembles are you loving right now? Hashtag #tssneon to show us your favorite neon look!

Back To School 2013: Free Spirit

Dress: Forever 21 (similar here).  Boots: Tory Burch (here & here). Purse: Prada.

Life is but a bohemian dream, and we're loving It Girl Allie's free-spirited ensemble.  Paisley (an ancient pattern that became popular in contemporary fashion during the 1960's & 1970's... fun fact!) is the perfect print for a flowy boho-inspired dress.  The vintage pattern captures the bohemian mood, and the deeper colors feel fall-season appropriate.  The burgundy lace headband ties together the boho vibe, and those adorable equestrian-inspired Tory Burch boots add a modern touch to the whole outfit.  Adding your own modern take with a boho outfit is always a great idea; it makes it feel current, plus makes it more wearable for daily life (unless you're at a music festival, we wouldn't want to feel like we're wearing a costume).  Plus, we love the rich cognac brown color of the boots; so perfect for fall!

What looks are you excited to try for the fall back to school season?

Colorful shorts that'll {BRIGHTEN} everyone's day!

ASOS, J.Crew, Banana Republic, Gap, Anthropologie, Free People, Alice & Olivia, Express

Summer's not over yet, so now is the time to wear all of your bright colored shorts!  If you didn't get to shop for bright colored shorts in the beginning of Summer, don't you fret, because they're all on sale now! (woop woop!)  We compiled our favorite bright color shorts, so you can brighten everyone's day! 

It Girl Trend Report: Graphic Tee

I am sure you have discovered before that we have an obsession with graphic tees. Graphic Tees are a fashion piece that are timeless; they never go out of style! Our It Girls agreed too so we were curious what their go-to graphic tees were. If there is any store we can count on to have some awesome graphic tees it is Forever 21 and that is where Avery found her super cute, flower-crowned woman graphic tee. Avery said, "I usually pair it with a jean jacket, some white converse, and a fun statement necklace if I'm feelin fancy! It's really easy to just throw it on and go! And it's soft and comfy too!" Another place that sells some really trendy graphic tees is Urban Outfitters! Their "Day of the Dead" inspired graphic tees always catch our eye, and they caught It Girl, Cristina's eye too! Graphic tees are also fun to wear when the graphic is a word. Marisa's favorite graphic tee has a special meaning to it because it represents a part of her heritage. "My brother bought me this shirt when he went to Florence because he said that all the Italian men say "ciao Bella" when an American girl walks by!"--we love it! There is nothing like a cute graphic tee with images and words imprinted on them. Just ask Victoria and Allie with their graphic tee choices! Victoria absolutely loves her graphic tee from Zara sharing that, "The dolman shape of the tee with the tie front makes it dressy enough to pair up with a cute flowy skirt, or tone down for a night on the town with teal high waisted skinnies and black patent heels. Plus, the shirt gives off a mature vibe so you still look put together and not childish. The texture and colors are such a plus, too!"--we agree! Allie's graphic tee comes from an online company we hadn't even heard of called Necessary Clothing. Allie said, "They have really cute affordable stuff that's different from the stores!"--we love new store finds so we'll have to check it out! Our last favorite graphic tee style is sporting a famous person on your front. This has remained a popular fad and Serena just loves her Bob Dylan tank from Brandy Melville. She explained, "I love my Bob Dylan graphic from Brandy Melville! Not only am I a huge fan of John Galt graphics, but Bob Dylan is also one of my favorite artists of all time! I love this tank because I can wear it tucked into shorts in the summer or pair it with leggings and a light weight sweater when it's cooler out".

Are you a fan of graphic tees too? Where are your favorite places to shop for graphic tees? 

It Girl Trend Report: Favorite Summer Sandals

As much as we love boots in the fall and a nice pair of UGGs in the winter, we look forward to hanging those up and giving our feet a breather in some cute summer sandals. There are always so many sandal styles to choose from that we asked our It Girls to share with us their summer go-to sandals for this week's Trend Report. One thing is for sure, wearing sandals is the perfect excuse to show off your fabulous pedicure. Victoria loves to show off her painted toes in her Nine West glitter sandals. As a true sorority girl, crafting and glitter runs in her veins, so when she saw these sandals it was love at first sight. Victoria added,  "They're great paired with a flirty summer dress, or even some casual colored shorts, and what girl isn't a sucker for gold glitter?!" Avery and Marisa prefer to wear sandals that are classic and can go with anything. Avery loves her gold sandals from Francescas by the brand called Report. These sandals are so cute and well priced too which is always a bonus! We laughed when Avery admitted, "My two best friends even had to get them...now we always have to call each other before we go out wearing the same shoes". Marisa goes for the gladiator look with her super fab gold Vincent Camuto sandals that she wears with everything during the summer season since she says, "they match with pretty much any summery color". There are always certain brands you can count on for some awesome pair of sandals. Cristina knows she can never go wrong with sandals from Steve Madden. We just love how trendy Steve Madden sandals are- they really are comfortable, fashionable, and can also go with anything. Serena couldn't decide between Lilly Pulitzer and Jack Rogers for her favorite summer sandals so she chose both! "I love both of these sandals because they're pretty and versatile, they can be dressed up or down depending on the outfit. Plus, they go with almost everything". A little embellishment makes all the difference too, so we absolutely loved Allie's favorite summer sandals pick from Chanel. The cute flower embellishments add a perfect summery touch to your feet.

Got a favorite pair of summer sandals? We want to see it! Hashtag them on Instagram or Twitter with #tssummerlook! Don't have Twitter or Instagram? Then leave a comment or send us your summer sandal secret at secret@thesororitysecrets.com!

Summer Style: Orange Crush

Dress: Forever 21 (similar here).  Shoes: Forever 21 (similar here).  Purse: Louis Vuitton.

We're currently crushing on orange this summer, and It Girl Allie shows us how to wear the color in style.  Feminine touches such as bows and a flared skirt make this dress as cute as can be.  Her shoes tie the look together, incorporating both orange and another warm hue-- hot pink.  Hot pink and orange pair nicely to add a color blocked effect to the look.  We love how Allie paired the ensemble with a nude handbag, complimenting the colors in a subtle way.  It's a perfect look for the weekend... date night, brunch with the girls, you name it.  Have a happy Friday, everyone!

It Girl Trend Report: Celebrity Style Crush

"Fashions fade, style is eternal".- Yves Saint Laurent

Usually, our styles are determined by the latest fashion trends seen on our favorite celebs. For example, Ali can always count on fashion inspiration from her style celeb crush, Rachel Zoe. We were curious what celebrity's style influenced our It Girls' wardrobe so this week they shared with us their celeb style crush. Like Karen, It Girl Avery's style celeb crush is Kourtney Kardashian. Her favorite style piece she is always on the lookout for from Kourtney Kardashian are her different, big stylish shades she always has on. For Marisa, Victoria, and Cristina their styles resemble a more classy and modern look similar to Sakura. Marisa has a huge style crush on Lauren Conrad "because she keeps it classy with solid and timeless pieces and always accessorizes to make it modern and dressy". Victoria loves to mix and match the personalities and character of what she's wearing to how she is feeling that morning, or tailored to something she'll be doing that day. Victoria refers to her style as eclectic meets boho hipster so for those reasons, Blake Lively is most aligned with her style. Cristina has an obsession with both the looks of Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen, but she identifies with Ashley Olsen's diverse, fashion forward style more. Allie opps for a more modern royalty look with her celeb style crush, Kate Middleton. Serena loves the classic, sophisticated look of a style icon: Audrey Hepburn. "I picked Audrey Hepburn for obvious reasons-she's classy, demure, beautiful, and she knew that being a woman was about more than looks and measurements".

Who is your celebrity style crush?! Leave us a comment sharing your style icon - we would love to hear!

Festival Fashion

Flower headband: H&M (old), similar here. Lace Kimono Cover: Zara (old), similar here. Necklace: Forever 21. 
Top: Brandy Melville. Shorts: Vintage, similar here. Shoes: Vans.

Warped Tour. Bumbershoot. Outside Lands. Lollapalooza. Sasquatch. Bonnaroo. Yep, you guessed it-summer festival season is upon us! In just a few short weeks, we cannot wait for all of the feel-good music that will be taking over some of the greatest cities in the country. Summer festivals are our favorite because we can let our hair down and be a free spirit as we enjoy our favorite tunes, people, and of course the awesome festival food. Festivals are not complete without the perfect festival outfit so we were excited when It Girl Intern, Victoria, showed us her favorite outfit to wear during a summer festival. Casual jean shorts and a top with some statement accessories like a headband and/or necklace are the perfect pieces to make your summer festival look complete. Since you will be walking (and hopefully dancing) throughout the festival, hang up your heels for the day and rock some simple, yet cute sneakers. We totally love Victoria's strawberry patterned Vans! Going Au-naturale is the way to go when it comes to getting dolled up for a summer festival. After all, it is the summer time so you will more than likely be breaking a sweat, therefore, there is no need to pile on the makeup. A light amount of mascara and eyeliner with a soft cheek is perfect!

Are you attending any summer festivals this year? If so, leave a comment letting us know which one-we'd love to know! Also, if you're looking for where you can find this year's best festivals, Seat Geek has the full list on their site so check it out.

It Girl Interns Trend Report: Patriotic

It may be June, but we're counting down the days until we can celebrate one of our favorite holidays: The 4th of July! With this patriotic holiday just around the corner, we asked our It Girl Interns what patriotic pieces inspired them and we couldn't get enough of their red, white, and blue choices. Marisa's favorite patriotic piece of clothing is her American Eagle Outfitters "Hope and Peace" shirt. Pair that with some cute jean shorts and a Swanky Doll Couture red, white, and blue bow and you have Serena's favorite patriotic look. For Victoria, she opts for the red, white, and blue color scheme in her patriotic wardrobe as she pairs a beautiful blue dress from TJ Maxx with a nice red belt and the good old American flag. Cristina loves to rock the stars in her star-spangled banner swimsuit. What's patriotism without some homemade American apple pie?! Avery's favorite way to show her patriotic spirit is by baking a delicious homemade American apple pie... yum!

What red, white, and blue pieces inspire you for this 4th of July?

They Have Student Discounts?!

We love a good deal!  Simply by being a student, there lots of "secret" deals available from some of our favorite stores.  With a valid student ID, there are so many great discounts that you can take advantage of!  We picked some of our favorite deals above from retail stores.  While out shopping, present your student ID at the register and see if the store offers a student discount.  Hey, it doesn't hurt to ask!  Be sure to always keep your valid student ID card handy, and put it to good use.

Know of any other fabulous student discounts?  Share your secret with us below!

It Girl Interns Trend Report: Statement Pieces

Colored jeans. Amrita Singh bangle. Tory Burch wristlet.

Be bold. Stand out. Make a statement. This week's It Girl Trend Report features our It Girls showing off their favorite statement pieces. A statement piece is unique to you; it could be a pop of color with your jeans, a bright handbag, a spunky nail polish design, or a piece of eclectic jewelry. A statement piece stands on its own. One of the best ways to make a statement is through the use of color in your wardrobe. Our It Girl Victoria shared, "I love mixing a bold color with an essential yet classic counterpart. It keeps symmetry within the outfit and is more aesthetically appealing and fashionable!" Whichever way you decide to make a statement this spring and summer, rock it!

What is your favorite statement piece? Show us on Instagram by hash-tagging #thesororitysecrets and #statementpiece.

Graduation Pictures 101

Graduation season is here and it's time to put on our caps & gowns and take those pictures that we send to all of our relatives!  We have done quite a few photo shoots for TSS and some of us have also shot graduation pictures for others so we decided to compile our favorite photo shoot tips so you have a list of guidelines to refer to when you take your graduation pictures!

1. The Less Outfit, the Better: Typically you pay a photographer per hour/photo edits which means that even if you shoot in 10 different outfits, you will probably only get about 3 photos with different outfits on.  Pick your absolutely favorite outfits so you get more pictures in those outfits rather than other outfits that you don't care for as much!

2. K.I.S.S. Keep it Solid & Simple- Solid colored outfits turn out cleaner in photos than a patterned outfit.  Don't choose an outfit that is going to take the attention away from you, the grad. 

3. Simple Jewelry, too!- Along with Tip #2, keep your jewelry simple as well.  Don't be gaudy and wear chunky jewelry- remember the subject of the photo is Y O U.

4. Check Out the Photog's Previous Work- Different photographers have different style.  The angles, filters, and edits- these are all things that can change the appearance of your graduation pictures.  If you like a certain look and style, make sure your photographer has the same!

5. Freelancers>Studio- This is just TSS' personal opinion but we prefer freelancers over studio photographers.  Freelancers tend to take more time and effort into making your photographs extra perfect.  Freelancers are also not as busy as studio photographers so changes and accommodations are a lot easier.

6. Natural Make Up- People tend to say to wear more make up when taking photographs, but don't get that mistaken with an extra line of eyeliner or go for the "smokey eye" look all of a sudden.  Keep it natural, wear your make up how you typically would wear it.  People are going to want to recognize you in your graduation pictures- not mistake you from a heavy shadowed high couture runway model.

7. Bring Powder & Blush- Pretty self-explanatory. If you're going to bring touch-up make up, don't you dare forget your pretty pink blush and powder!

8. Get a Fresh Mani & Pedi- You might think your nail polish doesn't matter, but well... they do!  You use your hands a lot when modeling and if you have chipped nail polish- shame on you! A perfectly coated nail polish will stand out less than a chipped nail polish so make sure to have a fresh mani & pedi!

9. Bring Someone with You-  Your photographer's opinion might be different than your girlfriends'.  If your hair is messed up, your photographer isn't going to know any better how you typically wear your hair- so that's when a best friend comes in handy!  Bring a friend or two to help out with the shoot but also throw out some opinions and to make sure that you look your very best and make you feel comfortable!

10. Take Pictures Early in the Morning or Later Afternoon- These are typically the perfect time because it's starting to get bright or it's about to get dark.  Too much sunshine could ruin a picture because of the harsh lighting so you want it when it's a bit bright.

These pictures are going to be with your relatives and family forever so make sure that you use these tips when you take your graduation pictures to have it extra perfect!  Mention us on Instagram so we can see your graduation pictures!  @thesororitysecrets

Congrats, Graduates!

Top Picks: Graduation Dress Special

From Top: Vince Camuto, Maggy London, Maggy London, Jessica Simpson, BCBG Maxazria, Eliza J.

It's that time of the year... time to send off our seniors!  With graduation right around the corner, we know what's on all of our seniors' minds (well, besides landing the dream job), and it's what to wear to celebrate your graduation in style.  Think lots of pictures, lots of family, and many dear friends.  You want to look and feel like the classy, post-college young woman that you are, ready to take on the world.  Such a grown-up young lady that you have become (as our parents would say)!

That being said, we hand-picked some of our favorite selections for you.  Mom & Dad will love seeing you in a sophisticated style, with a conservative touch.  A more conservative dress does not mean that you have to sacrifice style, as our selections show.  Bright colors and feminine details are everywhere in our picks.  Oh and did we mention- they're all under $200!  After all, you just graduated college, there's no need to break the bank.  These dresses are versatile enough that you could even re-wear one later on as well.  Hello, summer parties and weddings!

Class of 2013, you did it!  May the beginning of your career as a college graduate kick off in tip-top TSS style!

Premiere Shopping Event- STYLEFIXX (psst.. we're giving away 20 tickets!)

A night out with your girlfriends to shop, have some cocktails, and get pampered is the perfect way to end your day after a long day in class or at the office.  STYLEFIXX is a premier shopping event that is held a couple of times a year throughout major cities in the US that consists of everything a girl loves, wants, and needs!  One of our readers shared this amazing event with us and we got right in contact with the Stylefixx Team.

Do you live near the Boston area?  The Sorority Secrets & the STYLEFIXX team would like to giveaway 20 VIP tickets to the Boston event on May 1st & 2nd.  STYLEFIXX will also be in other cities so make sure to check out their website to see when they will be in a city near you!

These tickets will be valid for both nights and will also include:
   -Deluxe Swag Bags (tons of goodies and surprises inside!)
   -Four Complimentary Drinks (sip, sip, sip!)
   -Free Manicure (yay for pretty nails!)
   -Other Spa Services (foot rub please!)

To win the VIP tickets to the Boston STYLEFIXX event:

1. "Like" The Sorority Secrets on Facebook (click here to like!)
2. "Like" STYLEFIXX on Facebook (click here to like!)
3. Share the Facebook post on your wall
4. E-mail us at info@thesororitysecrets.com with SUBJ: ILOVESTYLEFIXX to redeem!

Easy as that!  

We would also like to take this time and let our Boston readers know that you are all in our hearts!  Thank you to STYLEFIXX and their amazing team!

Hey Sailor

Photography: aMaes Photography
{On Ali} Blazer: Forever 21 (similar here).  Tank: Forever 21, old.  Shorts: Urban Outfitters.  Necklace: Forever 21 (similar here).  Hat: Amazon.  Sunglasses: Ray Ban.  {On Sakura} Dress: H&M (similar here).  Shoes: Sperry.  {On Karen} Jacket: Forever 21.  Tank: H&M (similar here).  Shoes: Sperry.  Lips: Make Up Forever.  Sunglasses: Jimmy Choo.

Hey there, sailor.  This week, we're getting back to the nautical basics: classic prep, classic Americana.  We're feeling the red, white & blue spirit, topped off with some gold touches and bold stripes.  While we were at it, we decided to have some fun playing up the look with accessories.  Sakura picked an oversized hair bow, and Ali wore her captain hat (yes, she wore it for Halloween one year-- but why not).  Shorts pair nicely with tailored jackets, and short hemlines pair nicely with... Sperrys!  Yes, both Karen & Sakura showed up to our photo shoot rocking the exact same pair of metallic boating shoes.  Great minds think alike!  Another thing we all agree on?  You can't go wrong with all-American preppy style.

Foxy 'Fits

On Sakura: Show Me Your Mumu Mary Mullet Dress. On Darby: Mint To Be Dress. On Abbi: Marilyn Dress. On Karen: Tt Collection Vreeland Dress. On Ali: For Love & Lemons Day Tripper Dress.

A couple of weeks ago we did a segment on Fox 10 News highlighting some fun spring fashion trends for this year. We had so much fun picking outfits out from one of our favorite online stores: Boutique To You. Floral patterns, color blocking, high-low hems, geometric designs, white, and mint are just some of the latest spring fashion trends we highlighted. For the full news clip, check out the video above or click here. 

Want to purchase the outfits you see? Go to Boutique To You's online store and use promo code TSS15 for 15% off your order!

It Girl Trend Report: Mint

There's just something about the color mint that everyone loves.  For this week's It Girl Intern Trend Report, we had our It Girls send us a picture of their favorite mint colored items!  If you didn't get a chance to meet our It Girl Interns, make sure you do!

Do you have a favorite mint colored item? Instagram it this week and mention us to get a repost!
Have a minty week!

It Girl Trend Report: Floral

Shoes: TOMS. Flowers: Pike Place Public Market. Thermal Mug: Lilly Pulitzer. Agenda: Lilly Pulitzer. Shirt: Forever 21.

*prices subject to change

We are so excited to be introducing our first It Girl Trend Report for the week. Every week, our It Girl Interns will be showing us their favorite items according to what is trending. This week, we were absolutely in love with the floral patterns we have been seeing as you saw in our post earlier in the week, that we had each It Girl send us their most inspiring floral images. 

Have a cute floral image worth sharing? Hashtag #thesororitysecrets & #floral so we can see what floral  things inspire you this season!