Here in Gainesville, students are the "Pride of the Sunshine." We’re celebrated for being some of the most fast-paced, cultured, intelligent and diverse students in the country.
We’re also celebrated for our renowned greek system and, most especially, our fraternity brothers.
In spending the first few weeks of the new term in Gainesville, you might have noticed walls of them: girls who seem to blend into the next, guys who are carbon copies of one another. Why the dress code?
While the ladies went first in their August Rush Week, donning waves after waves of the late Lilly Pulitzer, slipping into their Jack Rodgers sandals and throwing a Longchamp over the shoulder, let’s focus on the men.
Rush week, which lasted from Sept. 8 through Sept. 12, was tough as they tried their best to impress the men who had once been in their shoes: loafers, of course.
Now that they’ve made into their pledge classes, the challenges lay ahead for Gainesville’s newest brothers. Many of the new pledges are diving headfirst into their brotherhoods: events, meetings, and social functions present daily opportunities for the newest Greeks to get involved. And while future prospects include leadership positions and intense networking, Fraternity Brothers must make it past the first few months of their new social life before they are officially initiated into their chapters.
What’s the secret to success? It may just start with how you dress: presenting yourself to your new Brothers, the Greek System, and the rest of your peers is the first step toward success not only in Greek life but also at UF. Don’t feel like you need to follow the ‘Code’: breakaway from the group and compliment your unique personality with a unique sense of style.
Here’s some tips to standout in your new fraternity:
1. Sunglasses: Living in the Sunshine State, it’s a necessity to have fly shades. However, if it’s after 8 p.m., please don’t feel the need to take the shades with you. Resist the urge to throw them on to complete your ‘outfit’. The amount of Ray Bans that make it into social events when there isn’t any sun is ridiculous. While shades may have a place for the occasional concert or pool event, they don’t have a place on the dark lawns of your new home. Furthermore, the last time I checked, eyes aren’t on the back of the neck...
2. Pastels and Neons: It’s amazing how fast the mint colored Vineyard Vines shirts sold out this year. While it may be safe to wear tinted Brook Brothers shirts, don’t succumb to the hordes of pastel colored tops that dominate Fraternity Row. And whoever told you that the neon pink Lacoste polo was cool didn’t know what was better for them. Try mixing things up with a solid hue or layering with a sweater before you go for the predictable Ralph Lauren button up.
3. Boat Shoes: Sperry’s Topsiders are the boring go-to choice for Greek Events, but boat shoes take a turn for the worse when there’s cheap leather involved from all sorts of brands. Not to mention that most pairs of boat shoes that stray from traditional leather are a disaster in itself. Try a pair of Oxford lace-ups (http://www.bedstu.com) or a nicer pair of kicks, such as Superga (http://www.superga-usa.com) or Creative Recreation (http://www.cr8rec.com).
4. Khaki Shorts: This season has proved the prep fit short has endless possibilities; from the knee length to the mid-thigh, khaki shorts are everywhere. Avoid the trend that has been dominating Fraternities for the past decade by opting for pants. A pair of full length khakis - any style or color - will help you stand out in a crowd. If you’re gutsy enough, you can even substitute the shorts for a well made pair of jeans (https://www.g-star.com/en_us/). Leave the deep red shorts for the golf course, not your next weekend event.
5. Pointless Accessories: In addition to sunglasses, there’s just some things that don’t mesh well when you’re trying to impress your new Brothers and fellow Greeks out in Gainesville. If you make the mistake of bringing out sunglasses after dark, please - for the love of God - do NOT throw a pair of Croakies around your neck. If you feel like your going to lose your sunglasses, then don’t bring them and certainly not the Croakies. The same goes for lanyards - if you’re going to lose your keys, putting them on a long loop and letting it hang out of your pocket is not going to help. If you use a belt, lose the obscene and large belt buckles to keep it simple. Let’s put it this way - minimal accessories are never too much, and a couple of pieces can complete an outfit much better than ten different things. Try minimalistic pieces from unique brands (http://www.jackthreads.com).
Remember to spice it up, gentlemen: just because it’s tradition doesn’t mean you shouldn’t break it.
