Sorority recruitment can be stressful, especially if you’re a sustainable shopper or on a strict budget (or both). Finding clothing that fit the often strict requirements for recruitment can be tough, but it isn’t impossible. This year for recruitment I made a conscious effort to only buy secondhand or sustainably made clothing and cut costs wherever possible. Continue reading to learn how I managed to shop completely sustainably for recruitment and spend less than $50!

Recruitment Outfits By The Day:

Open House: Tee (provided by my chapter), Skirt (secondhand, already owned), Sandals (TOMS, already owned)

Sisterhood: Pink Top (secondhand via Poshmark: $14), Skirt (secondhand from a friend, already owned), Sandals (TOMS, already owned)

Involvement: Blue Dress (secondhand via Poshmark: $15), Sandals (TOMS, already owned)

Preference: Black Dress (secondhand via Poshmark: $8), Heels (Steve Madden, already owned)

Total spent on recruitment-specific clothing items: $37

Look in your closet first.

This may seem obvious, but looking through what you already have is key for putting together outfits for recruitment. I was honestly surprised by how many items I already had in my closet, even though we had different color requirements this year compared to previous recruitments. The white skirt I wore on day two was already in my closet before recruitment even began. So was my denim skirt, and so were both pairs of shoes that I wore throughout the four days of recruitment. Had I not fully looked through my closet I probably would have overlooked what was already in my possession and would have been quick to buy something that fit what was needed. Make sure you look through your closet first before looking into buying anything specifically for recruitment!

Shop Secondhand. 

Every item of clothing for recruitment (other than the required tee shirts that are provided by my chapter) I purchased secondhand. And that doesn’t mean what I got wasn’t brand new! I purchased my black preference dress on Poshmark. It’s from Lulu’s and still had the original tags attached. Instead of purchasing it from a fast-fashion company for $30+, I got it for $9 on Poshmark. I also got my pink top on Poshmark; it also had the Zara tags still attached, but I bought it for $14.

Shopping secondhand can be tricky if you need to match a color exactly. Thankfully I lucked out with buying both my pink top and my blue dress on Poshmark. If you need to match a certain color, find brands that sell items that match the color, and then look for those brands secondhand. For example, I knew a number of girls in my house found blue dresses and pink items in the right shade from Zara, so I looked specifically for blue Zara dresses and pink Zara items on Poshmark. It definitely was a risk, because if the color doesn’t match you cannot return an item on Poshmark, but it can save you a lot of money by shopping secondhand so I was willing to take the risk. Going thrifting or vintage shopping in person is also a great alternative to shopping online! This gives you a better chance that the color with actually match what you’re looking for, and also guarantees a better fit.

Invest in quality shoes. 

There were only two pairs of shoes that we needed for recruitment this year – brown/tan sandals and black heels. I bought these black heels from Steve Madden last winter and they have become my go-to black heels. They fit like a glove, are great for almost any occasion, and the thick heel makes them perfectly comfortable for any event where you’re on your feet for long periods of time (aka recruitment). I bought these sandals over the summer during my internship with TOMS and they have also become a staple in my wardrobe. They are comfortable, a perfect balance between casual and dressy, and the color is incredibly versatile.

Both pairs of these shoes fit the yearly recruitment shoe requirements, but I did not buy them solely for recruitment purposes. Shoes can be a big investment, so it’s important to get the right shoes when investing in a new pair. I’m not saying you need to think about recruitment year round, but if you know you need plain brown sandals each year, think twice about buying brown sandals with a color accent or with distinctive details. This will save you time and money in the long run!

Always invest in basics in the off-season. 

I purchased my white skirt last year from my roommate when she was clearing out her closet. I don’t wear white skirts all that often, but I knew that the two years I’ve gone through recruitment on the sisterhood side we’ve needed white bottoms. If there is a color you wear every year for recruitment, keep an eye out for it during the year during friends’ closet clear outs, while thrift shopping, and when shopping from your favorite sustainable/ethical brands. Shoes are another great example of things you can look for in the off-season. Know that you need black heels every year? Or nude sandals? Keep an eye out for them throughout the year. Shopping on a time crunch can often lead to spending more money than necessary, and can lead you away from your shopping morals! My first time going through recruitment on the sisterhood side I became so frustrated that I caved and purchased two dresses from Forever 21. Planning ahead and investing in basics during the recruitment off-season has really helped in sticking to my senses.

Overall, I was thrilled to have been able to get all of my recruitment gear sustainably and for a very reasonable price. Have recruitment shopping tips of your own? Share them in the comments!