say what's good to...PI PHI x CORNELL

[bane of my existence]

who: Pi Beta Phi

what: Panhelenic Sorority

where: Cornell University

when: 2/4/10

why you should care:

Recently, the rush chair for the Cornell chapter of Pi Phi issued a seven-page memo regulating what sisters can and can’t wear during recruitment. While it’s not new for distinct groups to align themselves with certain brands, what's really interesting are which labels the rush chair uses to signify just how “casually chic” Pi Phi is in hopes of gaining campus-wide acceptance. [disclaimer: I am P-I-B-E-T-A-P-H-I of the University of Virginia Epsilon chapter and am well aware of rush dress codes. Ours just wasn't as desperate.]

Anyway, Anthropologist, Grant McCracken theorizes that distinct groups of people, or flocks, adopt trends based on a risk-safety ratio. Trends trickle down from small chaotic pockets and grow based on their commercial appeal for the masses.

Now, the Pi Phi sisters, with their choice of Tory Burch flats, solely dark or black skinny jeans and mid-height chunky Kate Spade shoes, would fit into the "Flock 3" group of people. While this portion of the consumer market enjoys nice things, risky (read: fashion forward) items (ripped boyfriend jeans! khakis!) aren’t part of the repertoire.

And while it might seem like I'm looking down on these girls because they endorse shoes I can't stand, the real issue I have is the lack of creativity that a dress code like this stifles. Yes, the tome gives great advice( NO CAMEL TOES) but really, no satin unless it's D&G? That just seems a little bit forced, wouldn't you agree?

Check out the full memo at Pattern Pulp (where I'm a new contributor!)