Hello-Hello and welcome to a weekend. Was this one a long time arriving for anyone else…?
We are brief today, just two tidbits to ponder, beginning with one we shared on Facebook (apologies for the repetition) earlier this week. A story in The Times this Monday piqued our interest: “Pledge Prep” examines the growing industry getting girls ready for rush week.
In the South, where sororities have long been a momentous rite of passage, the road to sisterhood is long and not so clearly marked.
Abigail Sullivan Moore’s story introduces us to Rushbiddies, a service put together by two savvy women capitalizing on the concerns of those wanting to do well during recruitment. Or perhaps their mothers. Or both. At any rate, more from the piece:
About 50 mothers and their “chicks,” as the Biddies affectionately call them, attended one of their two-day workshops in April ($100 a couple), complete with mock rush party, wardrobe hints and paperwork prep.
And there is a mound of it. The smart rushee, the Biddies advise, will have a résumé stressing community service, leadership, academics and teamwork, letters of recommendation from alumnae of each chapter, preferably on the campus in question, and reference letters.
Below, members of Alpha Delta Pi at freshman orientation at George Washington University.
Luke Sharrett for The New York Times
We liked this description of rush week from another consultant cited in the story.
“Sorority recruitment is like no other experience that you will ever have for the rest of your life,” says Sunday Tollefson, author of “Rush Right: Reveal Your Best You During Sorority Recruitment.” “It’s like speed dating meets interviewing meets beauty pageant meets upscale academic summer camp, complete with a counselor.”
The Greek presence at the private women’s college yours truly attended was almost non-existent, it played almost no part in student life. However, TQM (The Queen Mother) was a founding member of the ΔΔΔ chapter at a Great Midwestern University, and oodles of friends did attend schools where this is critical, so we know a teeny bit about the apprehension and anxiety, the stress and strain surrounding recruitment.
But is is so bad this is necessary? Back to the Times story:
Ms. von Sperling offers a Friday-to-Sunday intensive, for $8,000. One day is devoted to carrying yourself properly and the art of conversation. Treat rush, she says, as you would a job interview. Avoid politics and religion. “I teach them how to make interesting small talk: what you saw at the cinema, a trip to Europe. I don’t know too many 20-year-olds who are having a debate about economics.” Another day is for getting physically ready — hair, makeup and wardrobe. Ms. von Sperling organizes “outfits down to accessories, completely strategized.” Just in case a client forgets, outfits are photographed and placed in a style file.
$8000?!? Paying someone to keep track of your clothing…? Methinks not. Harrumph.
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Also today, a topic that is perilously close to the “we don’t go there” zone. But because we have long written about uniforms worn by Team USA at the Olympics, we thought we had an obligation to follow up on our original post showing the Opening Ceremony styles team members will be wearing in London a week from today, Friday the 27th. (Official start time is 4pm EDT, but I don’t believe NBC starts until 7 or 7:30pm EDT, it’s a classic “check your local listings” situation.)
Courtesy Photo
There has been plenty of controversy surrounding the styles, understandably so.
The biggest to-do surrounded the fact the Ralph Lauren uniforms were made in China, not the USA. To be honest, I don’t believe Ralph Lauren has manufactured its Olympic apparel in the USA since at least the 2002 Games. I am unclear as to why this has touched a nerve in 2012 but wasn’t an issue in 2010, 2008, etc., those were also election years. (I am not defending the practice, far from it, merely mystified as to why the hullabaloo this go-round.)
Courtesy Photo
After the immense hue and cry was was resolved with pledge from the company garments will be US-made for the 2014 Winter Games, focus moved to the other issue. That would be the size of the Polo logo on the pieces.
Christina Binkley covers fashion at the Wall Street Journal, she shared some of her thoughts in the paper’s Speakeasy blog:
Let’s start with the Big Pony logo. This oversized version of the Polo Ralph Lauren logo is emblazoned on the left breasts of the just-revealed London Olympic uniforms for our U.S. athletes. A mite commercial, anyone?
In fact, the Big Pony dwarfs the American flag and Olympic rings that are emblazoned on the right breast. That is one giant pony.
Except those huge logos—a Big-Gulp-sized version of the demur small Polo pony—void all claims to classicism or elegance.
A quick Google reveals that Giorgio Armani’s uniforms for Italy’s athletes, and Stella McCartney’s designs for Britain’s are not awash in commercial logos. Our Big Ponies, though, will outshine the stars and stripes. Oh say can you see?
Below, a closer look at one of the Ceremony Blazers.
Polo Ralph Lauren
Here is perspective from a trade publication serving an entirely different industry, Media Post’s TV Blog:
With Ralph Lauren defusing some of the issue with the 2014 promise, hopefully there will be an uprising over a less important, but unfortunately too visible matter: Ralph Lauren’s Olympic designs. The over-commercialization of the Olympics continues and it’s hard not to look at Ralph Lauren as a personification.
The size of its iconic Polo logo on the U.S. uniforms – and other clothing to be worn at the Games, some of which was shown first on the “Today” show months ago — is gaudy.
Peter Kramer/NBC Today Show & Polo Ralph Lauren
From The Daily:
Oh, say can you see … the giant Ralph Lauren logo on Team USA’s uniforms?
And then there’s the issue of the Ralph Lauren “Polo Pony” logo, which is prominent throughout the collection, at times larger than the American flag and or Team USA crest. Polo isn’t even an Olympic event.
Of course, things can always be worse, we could be wearing the styles Spain will sport.
TIME
One company taking the high road is NBC, their on-camera looks for men are being done by classic clothier Hickey Freeman. (Some of the NBC women are wearing Doncaster, we hope to have more on that later.) This is what we’ll see on Bob Costas, Matt Lauer and the rest of the gentlemen; the pieces were made in the USA at the firm’s Rochester, N.Y. factory.
Courtesy Photos via WWD
Our favorite part? The understated “HF” and NBC Peacock logos in the crest, both smaller than either the UK or American flags. There’s a lesson in that for David Lauren.
This is all, all of it, too sorrowful and appalling. Boo to rush coaching. Boo to Big Pony. I’m going to go find my old khakis and a white tee and grub around in my rose bushes and get smudged. Hooray for weekends.
Hmm, both interesting topics. The $8000 seminar seems to be a bit over the top for me…but I guess that is because I did not attend a University where that was a big deal.
As for the Olympic Uniforms made in China…it is sad on so many levels, the least of which is that a company that in many ways represents Americana is almost completely made overseas. Secondly, we are facing the worst economy since the depression, and we need to have companies, especially American companies manufacturing their goods in America. Yes, it is more expensive but that is because you have to pay a decent wage here and offer insurance. You cannot get away with paying a person $10.00 a week or less and have them work in substandard conditions.
I will not rant but lets face it, it is a sad day in America when we cannot even manufacture our Olympic uniforms in the USA. Election year or not, global economy or not…it just seems wrong.
Have a great day, I always enjoy your blog.
Elizabeth
For me, it’s simply that the USA is stressed and the subject/pain of outsourcing, loss of an entire manufacturing sector in the fashion district of New York, is fresh and painful. Ralph Lauren and so many “American” designers have left manufacturing here for China and third world countries and the advent of twitter makes information so much more accessible and easy to respond to than an old-time news print story.
It’s a lot of chagrin for a billionaire American (quotes imagined) designer to both commercialize and make it here.
Climates and sentiment change and personally I am very annoyed.
I am a sorority alumna from the University of Alabama, now cited as the most difficult “rush” in the country. We are all shocked that $8,000 classes is what it takes to get in. My, how times have changed!
I attended a small liberal arts college in Maryland where 1/3 of the school was “greek”. However, we had a Spring rush and it was very underwhelming. Then I moved to Austin where I was, at different times, Chapter Advisor and Rush Advisor for my sorority’s chapter at The University of Texas. I was completely shocked by the preparation required for rush not only by the chapter members and the freshman rushees, but also by moms and other alumnae who worked all summer to get multiple recommendations for girls they knew to each of the houses on campus and to network the rising freshmen with sorority girls. Then there was the money spent by the chapter on the week of rush events and how distressed we were when the University sought to impose a $25,000 limit for the week, fretting about whether we could accomplish everything on that tight of a budget. As rush week arrived, presents started arriving to the house from family members of rushees, floral bouquets, cupcakes with the rushee’s name written on them, etc. There were the phone calls I received as an advisor from family members and friends of families of rushees pleading with me to include their girl’s name on the invitation list for the next round of parties or inquiring because it just must have been an oversight that their girl did not receive an invitation to return, or a bid. And finally, after rush, classes would start and there were always a few girls who transferred to another school because they did not receive a bid from their house of choice.
After seeing two very different processes, I can also see where both have their merits. Sorority rush at a big school is really the first time this young lady is doing something all on her own, granted with a support system, but she’s not living at home, likely not even in the same city as her family. There is something to be said for preparing a girl to handle those situations, how to engage in small talk, dress properly and, generally, be a lady. I agree it is outrageous that this business can charge $8000 for their services, but I think it also says something about today’s society that there is a perceived need, and perhaps even a real need, for someone to teach these college freshman these qualities that will serve them very well later in life.
I’ve never liked the big pony…it’s not very prep now is it? But we are pretty much the only country without govt. support (funding) for our Olympic team– and while I’m sure Ralph Lauren is not doing this for free, I’m guessing the USOC is getting a good deal. So foreign made and “free advertising” it is…*sigh* It shouldn’t be a big deal, but it is. Now Ralph, get rid of the giant pony. Please.
P.S.–I didn’t go Greek eons ago because I couldnt afford it and pay for college too. Good god, $8,000 to prep for rush? I’m mystified.
It has only been about 12 years since I pledged a sorority and oh my how things have changed! It is unfortunate to hear that there are so many schools where there would not be an available position for so many young women looking to join an organization. Thank you for sharing the story; I quite enjoyed reading the entire article!
I was never in a sorority, but $8,000 to prep for rush seems a little excessive…
It’s a hullabaloo this year because of the still-huge unemployment picture in the U.S., and the fact jobs just are not being created to match the available talent. Millions are unemployed or under-employed or have given up, and millions also have no health coverage due to lack of employment coupled with an inability to qualify for or afford individual policies (or both).
Shame they couldn’t have left the logo smaller and in a complemenary shade rather than constrasting.
I went through rush in uni, but to my poor mother’s dismay, sorority life just wasn’t for me. I saw many enjoy it a great deal, though.
I said it in the last US Olympic post and I’ll say it again. The US is probably the only Olympic team that is funded by individual donations and not government funds. I donate to the USOC. If they can get cheaper uniforms made in China, that means more of my dollar(s) is left for the athletes, training, travel, etc. If people aren’t happy that our Olympic team is wearing uniforms made in China, I challenge them to put their money where their mouth is and donate to the USOC. The more moany they have at their disposal, the more they can pay for pricier US-made uniforms. And even if our Olympic team was government funded, our uniforms would probably still be made in China.
As for the Big Polo Pony logo, it’s probably no longer or wider than the Nike swooshes on the competition wear. It’s just more noticeable.
And where is the Nike Olympic competition wear made? Why isn’t there an uproar about that?
Goodness, thank you for that Hickey Freeman palate cleanser – aren’t those just right? – after the $8K rush consultants & Giant Pony (bigger than the American flag?!) .
I credit social media with the spread of the “made in China” Ralph Lauren story, in addition to the state of the economy, etc. I’m not entirely sure how I feel about the practice itself, though I do like the idea of Lauren’s challenge above to donate to USOC.
Fascinated reading the comments about rush here. Having never rushed myself but having ties to two big Greek schools (USC & UT), I’m so intrigued by the seemingly Byzantine process.