By Georgia Ong (26S03O)

Maybe you’ve noticed the same bracelet on two people’s wrists. Or perhaps you’ve scrolled through your Instagram stories to find a mutual friend’s friend group all decked out in identical Hello Kitty pants. Even more so, you’ve been told to wear a particular house shirt to match with your friends in school. 

Matching. When the term first comes to mind, anything and everything related to lovey-dovey couples who want anything and everything they have to be the same may pop into your head — but truly, matching is much more than that. It is an art, a craft honed over years of socialisation that reflects the beauty of friendship and community. 

It starts out with the most random things. As seen from the quote above, one example is a tree branch. There are no boundaries to matching — from tree branches to tissue paper packets — the possibilities are endless. 

Matching often arises with our innate nature to fit in — maybe you’ve noticed a few of your classmates wearing the MR house shirt every Friday while you stand out in your BW one — it’s a natural instinct for us to want to be part of a group. 

Have you ever ordered the same meal as your friends when eating out together? Maybe you were feeling indecisive that day, or your mind was all foggy from a long day of lessons. Sometimes, we match out of convenience. It is simply, simpler to do so.

But oftentimes, matching grows to act as a symbol of community and friendship. Getting matching items together with someone, planning to match an outfit theme to attend an event with others, I can’t think of anyone who’d willingly do these things with strangers. Choosing to consciously match with others is a step to growing closer with them. It’s that you want to solidify your friendship, that you want to make memories in your friendship; it’s that you want a mark on your friendship. 

The physical nature of matching items cements the friendship. An Eeyore on one person’s bag and a Piglet on the other’s? You wouldn’t think it’s a coincidence when you see the pair interact as friends.

Of course, the concept of matching isn’t always a reflection of transcendental closeness between friends. That’s not what matching is! Matching can be anything, be it matching because you want a symbol of your bonds with your friends, or just for the fun of it. 

Case in point: In a Whatsapp poll with my cell group on what to wear to watchnight service, the outfit theme of Frat Boys ended up with the highest vote amongst other tamer options. Going with democracy, all of us rocked up in our Frat Boy fits for other people to stare at us with a variety of expressions: incredulous horror, confusion (ranging from mild to extreme), or amused admiration. At the end of it, it was purely for another memory of laughs and the fun of doing things together. 

Matching also acts as a sign of solidarity. Think of all the orientation challenges where everyone has to do the exact same thing, like “Everyone in the OG tie pigtails (men included)” or “On Day 2 of Orientation, everyone in the OG must bring an alternative container to carry their items (in place of their bags)”. They exist to foster a sense of community in a group, providing everyone with the opportunity to bond over a common trait. At that moment of matching, people come to forget each other’s differences, immersing themselves in the feeling of shared camaraderie. As the song “We’re All In This Together” goes, “together’s where we belong”. 

And that’s the purpose of matching — to bring people together. 

Now, you may have been convinced to get matching items with your friends, but have no idea how to start. What if your friend doesn’t want matching items? Would it be weird? What items are even good to match? 

Quite frankly, you can match anything. Bracelets, stickers, profile pictures, clothes, the list goes on. Items can range from the most obnoxious of things, like bright pink Hello Kitty pants, to the most subtle of things that people may not even realise are meant to come in a set. For instance, I have a friend who bought two pairs of earplugs with the intention of matching with her boyfriend. Both with a star design, she took the pink earplugs and he took the blue ones. It was a subtle way for them to be reminded of each other without giving their relationship away. 

It’s also important to factor in how obvious your friend wants to be about your relationship. Be it a romantic relationship, friendship, or however you’re linked with each other, some people may prefer to keep their personal life private; a matching item puts their private relationships a bit too out there. In that case, it is important to consider how you approach suggesting to match: the object mustn’t be obvious, nor be the intention of a sweet symbol to showcase your relationship.  

However, the most important step in the art of matching is to take the leap of faith and ask. As the common saying goes, you miss all the shots you don’t take, and that applies for matching as well. If you never ask, you’ll never get the opportunity to potentially match with your friend! From personal experience, all you need is some shamelessness (in suggesting the most bizarre of matching items), determination (in following through with the plans), and a bit of trust that your friends will say yes. 

All in all, we just want to fit in. To wear our hearts on our sleeves, showing off people we love. That is the heart of matching. 

Photo Credits: https://pin.it/2hFYdfMko