When in doubt, monogram it.Want to label all those common sorority shirts where everyone can see? The monogram is your answer.

Preppy, precious and practical – monograms have become both a sorority staple and a stereotype. But why monogram? Why give in to the stereotype? Not only does putting your initials on something make it publically marked as yours, it adds a personal touch to a plain item.

Originally, monograms were use as a royal signature. Artists in the Middle Ages and Victorian period used them and then the upper class began using personal monograms to denote their place in society. Today, they are used with both genders from all classes on everything from personal stationary to shoes! Here are the traditional monogramming guidelines:

Women: first LAST middle (Rachel Karen Green – _RG_K).

Married women: first LAST maiden (Blair Waldorf Bass – _BB_w).

Men: FIRST MIDDLE LAST or first LAST middle (Fitzgerald Thomas Grant III – FTG or _FG_T).

Married couples: bride LAST groom (Nathan and Haley Scott – _HS_N.

Traditionally, linens are monogrammed with the initials of the lady of the house. There are hundreds of monogram styles, fonts and shapes. For women, the interlocking script is the most popular and widely used – it’s feminine, timeless and classy. For men, only block is acceptable and most common is the straight across style in the first-middle-last format. Often, menswear uses a diamond shaped monogram while women’s wear leans towards using the circle shape, but both shapes are interchangeable for each gender.

When choosing baby names, I hope couples consider how the child’s name will look in monogram form, especially boys, because their initials will never change. For example, giving a boy the name Brian Allen Daniels would mean his initials would be BAD, forever. For girls, it’s a little less stressful for the parent because there is a likelihood that the daughter’s last initial will change. This also means if they accidently give them bad initials there’s hope her monogram will regain its dignity one day. Unfortunately for every daughter, if one of our initials does change then everything we’ve collected for the first twenty or so years, with our original beloved monogram, is now incorrect.

Luckily for me, I don’t predict any of my initials changing any time soon. I’m no monogram fanatic, but I have more things monogrammed than most people I know. Monogramming is just such an easy way to scream, ‘I’m cute and preppy!’ without encasing yourself in Lilly Pulitzer.

I monogram things for two reasons, the first is to label things as my own so they don’t get lost in whatever communal area/house/room/friend group I find myself in. Sometimes, I even forgo the initials and upgrade to having my entire name embroidered on the back of my shirts so there is no confusion. The best part about that is, instead of just writing in the tag with a marker, I can see it myself. More than once I’ve realized my name is on the back of the shirt one of my friends is wearing. They can’t deny it’s mine!

The second reason is purely decorative; a plain cable knit sweater I found at a resale shop is much fancier after adding my interlocking monogram on the left chest in contrasting thread, tastefully of course. It can spice up a plain shirt or add class to a backpack. Even though we live in this awkward south/southwest/Midwest middle ground region, I promise you won't be teased.

If you’ve been considering getting anything monogrammed, recently, I highly recommend it. You can paint, sew or sticker your initials on virtually anything. Customization is very in right now, plus you’ll always know it’s yours. So get out there and get monogramming!