I’m not ashamed to admit that just like every other girl in Greek life on my campus, I too, sport the sorority uniform: big t-shirt, Nikes/leggings, Chacos/Birkenstocks.
When I was 13, my older sister bought her first Chacos and I was appalled by her fashion choice…now I have 2 pairs and 99% of the time I’m wearing them. My friends back home call them my “lesbian adventure shoes” but I love them so much, I accepted the ridicule a long time ago. I don’t know how or why Chacos became so fashionable but I do know they’re also extremely functional and those are two things I pride myself in being.
Let’s be real, Birkenstocks aren’t cute either unless you were born in the 60's, yet somehow when I look down at the feet of my sorority sisters, Birkenstocks fill the room. In a sorority, trends spread like wild fire. It only takes one of us to start it. I saw my friend wearing a scrunchy yesterday and you bet I went to Wal-Mart two hours later to buy scrunchies. We copy each other like crazy so it’s only natural that these things become so widely worn.
Nike shorts and leggings aren’t just a sorority girl thing anymore and I don’t blame anyone that chooses to wear either one because they. are. so. damn. comfortable. I honestly don’t know what people wore before these things were a thing and maybe that sounds dramatic but I can’t stand wearing jeans for more than a few hours and I have my whole life to dress up for work.
I cherish my size large t-shirts too. After bid day last year, I suddenly requested size large for every shirt opportunity I had. I’m fully aware sometimes it looks like I don’t have pants on and that despite popular belief my size large t-shirt does not actually make me look smaller. God bless the sorority girl that woke up one day and said good bye to the tshirts that fit her properly though. Big t-shirts have so many perks: the alcohol you drank on Thursday and the chicken fingers you ate on Friday aren’t going to be visible in your t-shirt. Did you sweat on your way to class? It’s okay because your big t-shirt allows air to circulate and cool you off. If a boy becomes interested in you while wearing your oversized shirt, you already know it has nothing to do with your body, curves or lack thereof.
I wish I could say that the list of ugly things stops there but in reality I could probably name a handful of more things that we have made notorious around campus. These ugly trends make me a better, happier human being because of comfort. The trends I’m guilty of whole heartedly supporting do not define me or any of my sisters. We may all look the same but we aren’t the same and I think that is important for people to understand. I will never abandon my big t-shirts and chacos (until graduation).
