I didn’t go through recruitment until my sophomore year. I remember feeling amazed at how quickly many of my friends were to make assumptions about how Greek life was going to change me. More than anything else, comments anticipating my wardrobe change surprised me. They were, of course, referring to the sorority “uniform.” You know the one, big tee, norts, with Nikes or Converse. This struck me as strange because, well, I already did wear oversized tees and norts to class.

Texas A&M’s campus is casual, and I’ve taken advantage of that since day one! Later, when, yes, I did actually have the XL tee broadcasting my beloved letters, I was further confused by comments from classmates, and practical strangers on my clothing choices. People will say things to me like, “I just really don’t understand the big t-shirt trend,” while I am wearing a big t-shirt. Most people don’t tell someone wearing a blue shirt that they just don’t understand why people wear blue, right? What is it about the big sorority tee that makes people disregard common courtesy? I don't have an answer for that, but I do know why I will continue to add to my stacks of XL tees overflowing my dresser drawers. There's the comfort, the simplicity, and the versatility, but I actually think there might even be something better to love.

When it's time to log t-shirt sizes, comparison is completely eliminated. As young women, there are very few places, especially in the category of clothing, that size comparison is totally negligent. I mean seriously, what a beautiful thing. Then, yet another amazing capability your big t-shirt has is the way it can make even the worst of all mornings totally streamlined and stress-free. You might sleep through an alarm, need a shower but not have time for one, and/or have to skip your daily pot of coffee. However, you still have one thing going for you: you know what to wear. Think about how crazy great this is; not long ago women only could have dreamed of their outfit being the last thing on their minds on a busy morning.

Finally, the last greatness of the big tee is the plain fact that it brings out the true beauty of the girls who wear it. Some might call it a "uniform," but the honest truth is that even in the same tee, we definitely don't all look the same. I like to remember Coco Chanel, whose iconic fashion legacy was built entirely out of two simple things: necessity and comfort. I'm not saying it's the next great fashion statement, but sometimes it's okay to go back to the basics. Never apologize for your big tee, it deserves so much better than that!