"I really don't understand why there are four charges of $15.50, and six charges of $14.50 on your card. Why do you need so many t-shirts?"
If you have heard this line from your parents, you may be in a sorority. As the old saying goes, "From the outside looking in you will never understand it, and from the inside looking out you can never explain it." This certainly applies to t-shirts. Why do you need every t-shirt your sorority or favorite fraternity puts out? You don't know, but you just do. Heck, even in the summer time when school is out you are still caught purchasing t-shirts from the t-shirt exchange groups.
Just what is it about an over-sized, faded, comfort colors, pocket tee that appeals to sorority girls so much? It all comes down to three simple reasons: comfort, convenience, and memories.
Comfort. It's in the name, ya'll: Comfort Colors. They are the most comfortable t-shirts you will ever get your hands on. I challenge you to find me a more comfortable t-shirt in the world than an over-sized comfort colors tee.
Convenience. The pocket on the front makes it very convenient to store your keys and cell phone in when you don't have pockets in your outfit, due to the fact that you are most likely also wearing Nike shorts (norts). Also convenient is the fact that you don't have to put any effort into getting ready in the morning. A girl in my Abnormal Psychology class once asked my big and me (when we happened to be wearing the same t-shirt), "So is that like a uniform you have to wear?" At the time I was annoyed; obviously, sororities don't have uniforms. Looking back, I should have just said, yep, and left it at that. Gone are the days of walking awkwardly behind a sister because you don't know if it is them or not, and being too socially awkward to say hi for fear that it is not them and you'll get a really weird look from a stranger. Now you tell by their t-shirt if it is, in fact, your sister. Super convenient.
Memories. We have to have all the shirts, because every shirt is different. We aren't buying 20 of the same t-shirts; we are buying a t-shirt from the date night, a t-shirt from our Woodstock social, a t-shirt from formal, and a t-shirt from our philanthropy event. They are different, they are themed, and they hold sentimental value. When you look at your t-shirt from the Gatsby social, you remember what a good time you had with your sisters or any funny memories that might have happened. It is sort of like taking a playbill home from a play you went to, or a ticket stub from a movie. Is it just a piece of paper? No, it's a memory. Didn't you ever buy a t-shirt from a place you visited on vacation? I was asked by a non-Greek peer, "so what are you going to do when you get out of college -- still wear t-shirts forever?" Two words: t-shirt blanket. Not only are t-shirt blankets extremely comfortable, it's also a way to hold your memories dear after college.
Sorry, Mom and Dad for spending so much money on t-shirts. Also, sorry for spending food money on t-shirts. You may need to check me into t-shirt rehab, if that is a thing.
