The recent and more rigid change to the dress code––forbidding leggings, tights, and jeggings unless worn with a top that reaches the knee––have me begging for uniforms. Even though only one word was altered in the handbook, this new rule cuts many outfits out of the closets of us lady Red Knights, so uniforms are the best solution.

While requiring tops that go a few inches further down our thighs may not seem to make much of a difference, anyone who has shopped for a dress in the last few years knows that unless the dress is floor-length, it just doesn’t make it down to our knees. Taller ladies definitely have a hard time. I will admit that dresses and skirts aren’t the only thing in my closet, but they are expected on mass days and are definitely more comfortable than jeans on hot days. The new rule also cut out all of my combinations of leggings and giant sweaters, my favorite wardrobe choices for the long winter months.

If I’m going to have trouble getting dressed with the clothes in my own closet, uniforms are the best option. Planning outfits everyday gets tiring. I miss the middle school days when I could wake up in the morning, half asleep, and just grab a uniform out of my closet without a second thought.

I also miss the equality that came along with matching outfits. Uniforms promote impartiality between socioeconomic classes––no more judging others based on what they wear. Everyone is wearing the same thing, so no one knows who shops at J. Crew or who shops at Target. Some may say that uniforms are too expensive, especially for those who are struggling economically, when in truth, they are much less expensive than filling the holes that the new dress code has punched in our closets.

Although much of the talk about dress code revolves around restrictions for the girls, boys (or at least their style) would also be positively affected by creating a uniform. Their daily, unkempt look in sweatpants and t-shirts gets tiring. Uniforms would get our sloppy boys looking put-together.

While some may not want to return to the wardrobe of our middle school days, I would be more than excited to head back to plaid skirts and collared shirts. They promote equality, are effortless, and are easy on the eye.