I, like most guys, get comfortable with a certain pair of jeans or any other piece of clothing and tend to wear it over and over and over again. But this time it's getting a bit obsessive. For most of this month I've been wearing a printed t-shirt. The same printed t-shirt. Thank goodness I finally got 2 more last week so now I can alternate - although I still wear the same one for a few days before switching out.
So what gives? I don't even like graphic tees! Or do I? This all happened when I went to Allsaints and bought shirt number one. Then I went back for more. And more. This latest obsession is most likely a result of simple-dressing overload. Everything in my closet was so filtered down and simple that it started to feel like my sartorial statements were reaching critical boredom - plus everything I owned was solid colored. I needed to mix things up and take a risk. Prints other than plaid are hard to come by so graphic t-shirts were the logically step. But what struck me about these particular graphic t-shirts was that they were a bit more grown up. Sure, they have skulls, flowers, and mushrooms all over them but there is something intriguing, even beautiful, about these collages.
Admittedly, I find it very strange for me to suggest you buy a graphic t-shirt but I will. There's something different about it, more complex that just a plain shirt. It's like wearing a crossword puzzle. People want to know what's on your shirt. They're eyes try to adjust to see what's recognizable. They try to decipher what it says about you.
But here's the key. Where as, when we were 16 our slogan t-shirts said we were all a bunch of horny dimwits or our band t-shirts said we were desperately uncool, what should our t-shirts say about us now that we're adults? Especially now that we are cool and get laid on the regular.
In my opinion they shouldn't say anything. They should just be visually stimulating images that arouse interest or just plain "cool shirt" comments. Photographs, collages, original art, stencils, etc. If you want to get technical I'd say stick with muted colors (no bright ass orange or kelly green please) and keep the word count low. It also helps you look more grown up if it's a quality fabric. Other than that have at it and express your own style.
Geez, I really hope I don't regret having said that. Just in case, I'd say visit Allsaints Spitalfields or our friends at Uncle Pete's to insure you're on the right track.
[photo source]
Aug 3, 2010 at 3:00PM
There two things I know for sure: off the rack never fits just right and I hate when men's pants scrunch around their ankles. This, in turn, leaves us with only two options. You either have to cough up some dough for a tailor or cuff it up yourself. For dress pants and nicer denim (or excessive amounts of extra fabric) I will always recommend you make your way to your friendly tailor. However, when it comes to everyday jeans, casual pants, and shorts you just have to know a few simple cuff pointers to get yourself out the door while still looking style-smart and put together.