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Fashion tips for college sorority rush

Rush is a pretty big deal for incoming female college freshmen. It's when students get to check out various sororities and apply for membership. After a week, students learn which sororities have selected them.

Birmingham style coach Megan LaRussa of www.southernfemme.com recently gave high school seniors some tips on how to dress to impress for sorority rush. Her presentation was part of a Rushbiddies' sorority recruitment seminar presented at Saks Fifth Avenue . The workshop, created to help students and their mothers understand the process, also looked at how to do a resume, what to include in a rush packet and more.

Here are some of LaRussa's fashion tips:

*Know what to expect. Rush at several Southern colleges is usually split up into certain days. The first two days are usually known as "Open House" or "Ice Water Teas," which is when students can learn about the sororities. The third and fourth days are usually called, "Philanthropy Day," which is when students will receive a T-shirt to wear. The fifth day is known as "Skit Day," and the sixth day is known as "Pref Night," or the final night of rush. The seventh day is "Bid Day," which is when students find out which sororities have selected them.

*Ask sorority members at the schools what is appropriate to wear on certain days because some schools differ. For example, shorts and a cute top are OK for "Skit Day" at some schools, but a colorful dress would be more appropriate at other schools. At the University of Alabama, for example, inductees should avoid wearing white dresses on "Pref Night" because sorority members will be in white.

*Assemble your sorority rush wardrobe well before hitting campus. A lot will be going on by the time the rush process starts and students don't want to be caught up in what to wear every day. "It may sound stupid now, but I promise when you get down to rush, you will be so glad," LaRussa said.

*Wear lightweight fabric sundresses to beat the heat and comfortable shoes because a lot of walking on campus will take place during this time.

*Know which shoes to wear. Consider ballet flats, a pair of cute sandals, gladiator sandals or shoes with a back on them. Avoid flip-flops, sneakers, clogs, stilettos or Chacos.

*Wear new shoes a few weeks before wearing them to rush.