sorry. couldn't resist.
a few tips on dressing frat from http://www.fratty.net... deemed by margaret as "rather lengthy, but worth the effort to read".
The basic frat ensemble is simple: khaki pants or shorts, sandals, boots or tennis shoes, with a polo, button down, or frat/sorority T-shirt. However, there is much more to the look than one would assume. Khakis are a must, but should usually have pleats. Cuffs will slide I guess, but I prefer not to have them. Polos should be Polo, Lacoste, Patagonia, etc. Common sense here should rule out Tommy Hilfiger, though he gets by on occasion. Dressing like you would to go to the bar when going to class is a total frat move as well. Put on some khakis and a polo and you'll be best dressed in that class for sure. Now, when attempting to go above and beyond in the frat world, linen is your best friend. You can NEVER have too much linen. Seersucker is also fratty during the summer, especially at the beach or lake.
Note to girls: You can do nothing more fratty than own a pair of white linen pants. This is like the 1st Commandment of the frat fashion world, the 2nd being to own many short white skirts, and the 3rd being to wear the horse as much, if not more, than your boyfriend or fraternity counterparts.
Shoes
Shoes are critical to making an outfit. Tennis shoes should be your best friend most of the year. New Balances are an obvious choice, but Asics are the new frat. You should own at least one pair of boots. If you don't, get with the program. Sandals are clutch on the rare occasion that you show up to class. If you haven't been blessed by Rainbows yet, spend the fifty bucks and you'll never wish you hadn't. Reefs work if you're strapped for cash. Arguably the most important footwear to a true fratdad are the topsiders (docksiders, boat shoes). If you have two pair of these, then you are on the right track.
Accessories
Sunglasses and croakies are a must. If you are unsure of what brand to get, just go get Ray Bans, you can't miss there. Costas and Bolles are also fairly safe bets. Sunglasses are to be worn at all times when any amount of sun can be seen, especially on campus. If you see someone walking by in a polo sporting croakies, and you aren't, chances are he's cooler than you. Keep jewelry to a minimum (except theme parties).
Fratty Color Combos
Pastels are fratty, yes everyone knows this, but color coordination is key.
Navy Blue/White: This is one of the all-time frattiest color combinations, but must be planned out correctly to be pulled off. If the pants are to be white, they must be WHITE khakis, not the normal tan khaki color. The blue should not be too faded, as it is the stark contrast that provides this combo its fratty allure.
Light Blue/Dark Blue: Here again, it is the contrast that makes the difference. The light blue should normally be shorts, with the dark, or navy blue, being the shirt.
Pink/Light Blue: One of the best pastel combos possible, as they are two of the frattiest pastel colors available.
What not to wear
I was told, as were many of you, from my infancy as a pledge, that there are a few strict "don'ts" in the wardrobe department. The one unacceptable item being the dreaded jean shorts. Never fails, you will still to this day see these during rush. Another don't, which is a bit more arguable, are visors. There is, in my opinion, a time and a place. If it's as a joke, then it's a total frat move. If it's worn on a regular basis as a fashion statement, then we're gonna have problems. I know in some parts of this country it's considered "in", but Von Dutch trucker hats are considered "in" there too. Golfing is an instance where the visor rule can be broken. On the same note, visors from golfing events such as the Masters can be pulled off at times. Contrastingly, if a girl wears a visor in "country club" environments (for lack of a better word), then she is given bonus frat points. Double-ups are also not cool.
Collars Up...
The single greatest thing to come out in the 80's besides George Michael is the "collar up" method of wearing a polo. While not invented in the 80's, it was brought back and truly revolutionized then. There isn't much about the 80's that isn't frat (which explains how every sorority has an 80's party at least once a year), but the "collar up" is by far the greatest. But you can't just go prancing around town with your collar up every day, you have to do it correctly. Here are some easy to follow guidelines for popping your collar.
new school method:
This new method is a sure way to combat the GDI infestation that is plaguing America today. They might have ruined the collar pop, they might currently be ruining Lacoste by buying it's 12 dollar soiled versions from thrift shops everywhere, but we've still got the horse, and we can now pop it like we're better than they are.
1). The main point of this method is to pop the collar without appearing to have even known that it is popped. To do this, one will not pop in the traditional method, but rather this new, improved method.
2.) To gain the look of having just thrown on your light pink polo, we recommend popping one side of the collar, while leaving the other side down. This enhances the look of "I don't give a [censored]" that only a true fratty knows how to pull off.
3.) The one flaw with this method is that unknowing randoms will naturally come to you and say, "oh let me fix your collar." Since you were going for this look, the natural response is to say, "no, that's how I'm wearing it." But this will blow your cover, and you might as well just put on a frat T for the rest of the night. Since we are going for the "whatever, I don't care" look, we must politely thank them for fixing it, take a bathroom break (you should be double-fisting at all times, so you should have to go to the bathroom anyhow) then fix the collar correctly, and return to the party, and kick out a random to make you feel better.
old school method:
This is still an acceptable method, but if a random of GDI is displaying this look wherever you happen to be, it is advisable that you either go collar down, or choose the new school method.
1). Pop the collar only on a two or three button polo...button down shirts just don't work, as much as you might want them to. Other pieces of attire can be substituted from time to time, such as the fleece, but can only be ruled on in a case by case basis, so pop at your own discretion, or those of a brother with better fashion sense than you. Multiple polos worn in layers must have both collars popped at all times.
2). Popping the collar causes you to look cool, but do NOT act as if you think you are cool- you will be trying too hard. Act as if you frat on a daily basis.
3). Do not pop the collar at any event in which you don't know at least 5-10 people. You run the risk of being ostracized, and must have multiple other fratties to back you up, in style or physically.
4). When popping the collar, do not button the top button. This produces the look of a dog halo, and is very unappealing.
5). When popping the collar, you must walk around with a completely lost look on your face, as if you are really hammered, even when you're not. This is frat.
The basic frat ensemble is simple: khaki pants or shorts, sandals, boots or tennis shoes, with a polo, button down, or frat/sorority T-shirt. However, there is much more to the look than one would assume. Khakis are a must, but should usually have pleats. Cuffs will slide I guess, but I prefer not to have them. Polos should be Polo, Lacoste, Patagonia, etc. Common sense here should rule out Tommy Hilfiger, though he gets by on occasion. Dressing like you would to go to the bar when going to class is a total frat move as well. Put on some khakis and a polo and you'll be best dressed in that class for sure. Now, when attempting to go above and beyond in the frat world, linen is your best friend. You can NEVER have too much linen. Seersucker is also fratty during the summer, especially at the beach or lake.
Note to girls: You can do nothing more fratty than own a pair of white linen pants. This is like the 1st Commandment of the frat fashion world, the 2nd being to own many short white skirts, and the 3rd being to wear the horse as much, if not more, than your boyfriend or fraternity counterparts.
Shoes
Shoes are critical to making an outfit. Tennis shoes should be your best friend most of the year. New Balances are an obvious choice, but Asics are the new frat. You should own at least one pair of boots. If you don't, get with the program. Sandals are clutch on the rare occasion that you show up to class. If you haven't been blessed by Rainbows yet, spend the fifty bucks and you'll never wish you hadn't. Reefs work if you're strapped for cash. Arguably the most important footwear to a true fratdad are the topsiders (docksiders, boat shoes). If you have two pair of these, then you are on the right track.
Accessories
Sunglasses and croakies are a must. If you are unsure of what brand to get, just go get Ray Bans, you can't miss there. Costas and Bolles are also fairly safe bets. Sunglasses are to be worn at all times when any amount of sun can be seen, especially on campus. If you see someone walking by in a polo sporting croakies, and you aren't, chances are he's cooler than you. Keep jewelry to a minimum (except theme parties).
Fratty Color Combos
Pastels are fratty, yes everyone knows this, but color coordination is key.
Navy Blue/White: This is one of the all-time frattiest color combinations, but must be planned out correctly to be pulled off. If the pants are to be white, they must be WHITE khakis, not the normal tan khaki color. The blue should not be too faded, as it is the stark contrast that provides this combo its fratty allure.
Light Blue/Dark Blue: Here again, it is the contrast that makes the difference. The light blue should normally be shorts, with the dark, or navy blue, being the shirt.
Pink/Light Blue: One of the best pastel combos possible, as they are two of the frattiest pastel colors available.
What not to wear
I was told, as were many of you, from my infancy as a pledge, that there are a few strict "don'ts" in the wardrobe department. The one unacceptable item being the dreaded jean shorts. Never fails, you will still to this day see these during rush. Another don't, which is a bit more arguable, are visors. There is, in my opinion, a time and a place. If it's as a joke, then it's a total frat move. If it's worn on a regular basis as a fashion statement, then we're gonna have problems. I know in some parts of this country it's considered "in", but Von Dutch trucker hats are considered "in" there too. Golfing is an instance where the visor rule can be broken. On the same note, visors from golfing events such as the Masters can be pulled off at times. Contrastingly, if a girl wears a visor in "country club" environments (for lack of a better word), then she is given bonus frat points. Double-ups are also not cool.
Collars Up...
The single greatest thing to come out in the 80's besides George Michael is the "collar up" method of wearing a polo. While not invented in the 80's, it was brought back and truly revolutionized then. There isn't much about the 80's that isn't frat (which explains how every sorority has an 80's party at least once a year), but the "collar up" is by far the greatest. But you can't just go prancing around town with your collar up every day, you have to do it correctly. Here are some easy to follow guidelines for popping your collar.
new school method:
This new method is a sure way to combat the GDI infestation that is plaguing America today. They might have ruined the collar pop, they might currently be ruining Lacoste by buying it's 12 dollar soiled versions from thrift shops everywhere, but we've still got the horse, and we can now pop it like we're better than they are.
1). The main point of this method is to pop the collar without appearing to have even known that it is popped. To do this, one will not pop in the traditional method, but rather this new, improved method.
2.) To gain the look of having just thrown on your light pink polo, we recommend popping one side of the collar, while leaving the other side down. This enhances the look of "I don't give a [censored]" that only a true fratty knows how to pull off.
3.) The one flaw with this method is that unknowing randoms will naturally come to you and say, "oh let me fix your collar." Since you were going for this look, the natural response is to say, "no, that's how I'm wearing it." But this will blow your cover, and you might as well just put on a frat T for the rest of the night. Since we are going for the "whatever, I don't care" look, we must politely thank them for fixing it, take a bathroom break (you should be double-fisting at all times, so you should have to go to the bathroom anyhow) then fix the collar correctly, and return to the party, and kick out a random to make you feel better.
old school method:
This is still an acceptable method, but if a random of GDI is displaying this look wherever you happen to be, it is advisable that you either go collar down, or choose the new school method.
1). Pop the collar only on a two or three button polo...button down shirts just don't work, as much as you might want them to. Other pieces of attire can be substituted from time to time, such as the fleece, but can only be ruled on in a case by case basis, so pop at your own discretion, or those of a brother with better fashion sense than you. Multiple polos worn in layers must have both collars popped at all times.
2). Popping the collar causes you to look cool, but do NOT act as if you think you are cool- you will be trying too hard. Act as if you frat on a daily basis.
3). Do not pop the collar at any event in which you don't know at least 5-10 people. You run the risk of being ostracized, and must have multiple other fratties to back you up, in style or physically.
4). When popping the collar, do not button the top button. This produces the look of a dog halo, and is very unappealing.
5). When popping the collar, you must walk around with a completely lost look on your face, as if you are really hammered, even when you're not. This is frat.