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Welcome to the Fall 2026 Primary Recruitment Lookbook! This is meant to serve as an outfit guide for Potential New Members. You will be given descriptions of expected attire for each round, as well as clothing pieces to help inspire you!
This lookbook merely serves as inspiration. While planning outfits can be fun, we want to remind you that Primary Recruitment is not about wearing fancy brands or buying an entirely new wardrobe. Your outfit is simply another way to express your personality.
The best outfit you can wear is the one that makes you feel comfortable, confident, and authentically yourself. When you feel like yourself, it shows, and that's the person our chapters are so excited to get to know!
PNM (Potential New Member) Orientation
PNM Orientation will be held on Thursday, August 29. It is your first event as a Potential New Member (PNM) and will be a night where you will learn more about the process of Primary Recruitment and meet your Recruitment Counselors. There is no dress code for this event. You are not meeting any chapter members besides the Panhellenic Executive Board and your Recruitment Counselors. Wear what makes you comfortable, like what you might wear to class! It takes place in the evening, so make sure you dress according to the weather. Again, there is no dress code - so wear whatever you may wear on a typical day!
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Open House Round
You will be provided with two t-shirts from Illinois Panhellenic at PNM Orientation that you are required to wear for both the Open House Round and Philanthropy Round. There will be different colored shirts provided should you choose two different colors. During Open House, you will be walking to eighteen chapters spread across campus in the span of two days. Please wear comfortable bottoms that will not cause irritation. It is going to be hot, and you are going to be doing LOTS of walking and movement! Your comfortablity is what’s most important to your Recruitment Counselors, as well as the chapter members you will be meeting. Athletic shorts, skorts, skirts, biker shorts, etc. are recommended, as well as shoes made for traveling long distances.
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Philanthropy Round
During this round, you will be returning to a maximum of thirteen chapters over the span of one day to learn more about their philanthropies. You will have your own, unique schedule of chapters that may require you to walk far distances across campus. You will wear your Panhellenic T-Shirt, with bottoms, shoes, and accessories of your choice! Again, there will be lots of walking and temperatures are going to be high, so we strongly encourage PNM's to wear walking shoes and bottoms that are comfortable to move in! Some PNMs may choose to wear dressier bottoms, but we encourage PNMs to dress in whatever way makes them feel their most authentic!
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These are the shirts PNM's will be wearing for Open House and Philanthropy!
Sisterhood Round
This is the first round where you will NOT be wearing a Panhellenic provided t-shirt. Because this round is more intimate and formal than the previous rounds, PNM’s typically wear dresses, rompers, blouses with skirts, and attire one would wear to a nice event. Again, this is a chance to completely express yourself in your outfit, and we want you to feel comfortable and confident! Because the attire is more formal, PNM’s typically wear a low heeled shoe, sandals, or flats. However, there is a still a chance of having a far walk between visiting chapters, so we recommend packing a change of slides or comfortable shoes to wear between events. Wear whatever color and style that makes you feel authentic!
Preference Round
Preference is the final round of Primary Recruitment, and therefore the most formal. PNM’s are encouraged to wear formal dresses, pantsuits, or other types of formal attire. Heels and sandals are typically worn, and while there may not be as long of walks, as you are only visiting a maximum of two chapters, we still encourage you to wear comfortable shoes in between rounds if need be. This is the round that you will see chapters at their most emotional, so dress as your truest, most authentic self. Confidence and comfortabilty are always encouraged, so wear any style, length, and color that makes you feel like YOU!
Bid Day!
This is the day you have been waiting for! Upon RUNNING to your forever home, (wear tennis shoes!) you will be provided a top to wear that goes with your chapter’s Bid Day theme! Wear a top that another one can easily go over or changed out of, as well as athletic bottoms! There will be lots of excitement, and we want you to be as comfortable as possible!
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