The Modern Materialist : t-shirts

NY Loves Me

Diana Vilibert — Mon, 11 May 2009 21:52:00 GMT

Do you love New York...or is it the other way around?

I love New York and I love this t-shirt...but I would think about wearing it in New York.

[€39.90, Local Celebrity]

Shirt of the Day: Swine Flu and Your Mother

Diana Vilibert — Mon, 04 May 2009 21:37:00 GMT

Last week, Laureen asked, is it too early for Swine Flu jokes? I say no:

If you're going to be offensive, you might as well go all out, right?

[$23, Skreened]

Shirt of the Day: Snuggies Finally T-Shirt-Worthy

Steph Auteri — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 18:22:00 GMT

In the preceding weeks and months, the Snuggie Wars have gone viral. While the conflict originally encompassed a turf war between the Snuggie and the Slanket, new products, such as the Blankoat and, um, the thing above, started popping up everywhere.

But the true sign of something gone viral has nothing to do with blog posts, traffic, or copycat products. No. The real question is: Is it T-shirt-worthy?

[$16.95, NoiseBot]

Half of a Conversation

Laureen Mahler — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 20:43:00 GMT

I'm a sucker for anything with a good story behind it, which is why I'm so smitten with these custom t-shirts from UK company Half a Conversation. Here's how it works: customers send in their story and what they want their shirt to say, Half a Conversation chooses the very best, prints them up typewriter-style, and sells them to whoever wants to buy. The Half a Conversation site is a little like PostSecret; click on a shirt, and the background story will pop up, occasionally with personal photos included. More shirt designs and stories after the jump:

Maybe it's that I know far too many people in bands, but this hairbear totally cracked me up.

Ah, the jobless child of a revolutionary. To be honest, getting fired from every job you've ever had might indicate a problem that goes beyond family history.

Many, many more shirts can be found at Half a Conversation, though be warned: once you start clicking on background stories, you'll never go back...

[$32 - $44, Half a Conversation]

[via Holycool]

Making Iron-On Transfers Cool Again

Shaun Seneviratne — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 18:30:00 GMT

When I was in elementary school, my mom would make me shirts with iron-on fabric transfers and trace the designs with puff paint. If you look closely in the picture above I am wearing one with a tiger on it. Needless to say, I was the coolest kid in fourth grade. . .

Thankfully with computers, you don't need to rely on the selection of cheesy graphics available at your local craft store. But if you don't want to design your own iron-on transfer, take a look at Mike Perry's work:

Mike Perry is an artist who has done work for the New York Times Magazine, Urban Outfitters, Zoo York, and more. He's created 30 illustrations for a collection of fabric transfers called "Iron Me On: 50 Awesome Fabric Transfers". Here are some more:

I'm sure you'd be much cooler with these than my puff-paint tiger shirt. Though I'm sure that if I could find it I'd be able to rock it ironically. . .

[$14, Fred Flare]

[Via Cool Hunting]

Trend Watch: That's How I Roll

Steph Auteri — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 16:20:00 GMT

[$20, Busted Tees]

The first time I saw a "how I roll" tee, I couldn't help but snicker at the cleverness. Not it seems I can't stumble around the Internet without seeing 10 new iterations.

I have to admit, though. They still make me giggle. After the jump, my favorite interpretations:

[$14.95, Buy Olympia]

[$16.95, NoiseBot and $24.99, KA Designs]

(I actually bought the one on the left for both my father and my brother, who bowl on a league together.)

[$22.15, Zazzle]

[$24.99, Gone Blue]

[$16.02, Manchester Co.]

Which clever versions would you create if you could?

Tools of Seduction: Working the South Asian Circuit

Shaun Seneviratne — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 17:06:00 GMT

[photo via Freida's photoshoot for Complex]

Okay, it's been an upward battle for awhile, but I think it's finally safe to say that South Asians are officially the new "It" minority. We've got Freida Pinto, Padma Lakshmi, Dev Patel, Aziz Ansari, ~~Bobby Jindal~~ (whoops), Kal Penn, Anoop Desai from "American Idol", Dave from "Flight of the Conchords", M.I.A., Natasha Khan (Bat for Lashes), and more.

I'm sure that everyone's desire to have a South Asian boyfriend or girlfriend is at a fever pitch right now. Well, if Slumdog Millionaire and "Jai Ho" are your only conversation starters when you meet these brown beauties, you may want to pick up some of these shirts from Chor Bazaar, an indie-Indian t-shirt label out of Brooklyn:

Aviators, mustache, and wavy hair. The epitome of Indian cool.

Just like in Bollywood films, where there are desis, there is drama (any South Asian will back this claim).

If you aren't familiar with Thums Up, run to your closest Indian grocery store and pick one up. It is much better than your average Coca-Cola or Pepsi.

How this will get you laid: By wearing any of these shirts, you display a tacit knowledge of South Asian culture. South Asian boys/girls will appreciate this and then you proceed from there. Sprinkle the conversation with a reference to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Arundhati Roy and you'll be down with brown in no time.

[$20, Chor Bazaar]

The Anti-Princess T-Shirt

Diana Vilibert — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 21:26:00 GMT

We're all in agreement that shirts like these are awful and lame, right? Great. ThinkGeek agrees too:

[$18.99, ThinkGeek]

Shirt Of The Day: Girlfight

Alex Zalben — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 20:02:00 GMT

But... That girl isn't even wearing a shirt!!! I guess she didn't see this was available:

This design is by the enormously talented Koren Shadmi, author of the excellent graphic anthology In The Flesh. So buy the shirt, read the book!

[$25, Select]

[Via Rumplo]

T-Shirt of the Day: I'm Loaded

Diana Vilibert — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 21:10:00 GMT

I don't want to brag, but...

[$20, Someecards]

Shirt of the Day: Who You Gonna Call?

Steph Auteri — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 14:19:00 GMT

These guys are pros. They've handled Slimer, the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, Terror Dogs, Vigo the Carpathian...perhaps they can handle your ghosts as well...

[$19.95, Glennz Tees]

[Via Uncrate]

See Exclusive Natalie Dee Content

Steph Auteri — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 20:27:00 GMT

I've already mentioned Natalie Dee in the past (I own her cupcake + multivitamin T-Shirt). Since she continues to be awesome, I thought I'd mention that there is now a way to access exclusive content not available on her main site.

The new Sharing Machine Premium Content area of the site is a subscription-only service featuring never-before-seen comics, videos, MP3s, side projects, and b-sides, updated numerous times daily. The service is $2.99 a month.

Or, you can just buy a shirt and be cool like me.

(Worst) Shirt of the Day: Ex-Masturbator

Diana Vilibert — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 18:42:00 GMT

I scoured the site that sells these for any sign they might be a joke, but it seems that either I'm really dense, or they're serious. What else you'll find at the Passion for Christ Movement t-shirt store!:

If you'll excuse me, I have to go roll my eyes and sigh with exasperation.

[$10, PC4M]

Bacon or Brains?

Diana Vilibert — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 22:35:00 GMT

The only time a zombie would pass up on a plate of fresh brains? When there's bacon.

Personally, I would go for the bacon, but it was close!

[$24, Red Bubble]

Literal Clothing Designs

Shaun Seneviratne — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 22:01:00 GMT

Smokers lung?

Wild night?

Designer Sancho Hemelsoen takes fashion design to near-literal heights:

Note to self: keep pooch on a short leash.

Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives.

[Via Fashionably Geek]

Shirt(s) of the Day: Carry a Song on Your Chest

Steph Auteri — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 19:51:00 GMT

[$32, Every Little Counts]

I've always loved Every Little Counts' romantic and sexy shirts, and their latest collection is no different. For their Winter 2009 collection, they've let themselves be inspired by love songs:

[$32, Every Little Counts]

[$35, Every Little Counts]

[Via Modish]

Shirt Of The Day Xtra: World's Most Expensive Shirt

Alex Zalben — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 20:03:00 GMT

And now, a Shirt of the Day special report: pictured above is what is probably the world's most expensive T-shirt, and guess what? It has no Swarovski crystals on it. In fact, can you guess why this shirt is so expensive?

There's no reason, it just is. And not only that, it's $630 more to get it in black. Hilarious?

[$2695, Zazzle]

[Via CoolBuzz]

Shirt(s) of The Day: Huge Tracts of Land

Alex Zalben — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 14:04:00 GMT

Hey, off topic, but did you guys know that DVD sales for Monty Python rose 23,000% in the past week? No joke. On topic, Think Geek has got our shirt of the day above, featuring a classic quote from Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Luckily, MM reader Jen Adams has an alternative for those that the above is not appropriate:

[$18, Zazzle]

Love It or Leave It: Zombie T-Shirt

Diana Vilibert — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 21:42:00 GMT

My ex-boyfriend owned and wore this t-shirt all the freakin' time, and until he told me it's supposed to look like blood splatter from dead(er) zombies, I was just horrified that he kept wear the same paint-stained t-shirt to dinner. Just sayin'.

[$24, Seibei]

Shirt of the Day: Batman & Robin and Bert & Ernie Enlist in Witness Protection Program

Shaun Seneviratne — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 14:28:00 GMT

Holy poor phrasing, Batman! He has since cleared his name, but the citizens of Gotham City still don't trust Batman around their teenage sons. Batman and Robin had to start fresh elsewhere:

Batman and Robin Witness Protection Program t-shirt.

[£25 (Approx. $35), Ark Clothing]

In other news, Bert and Ernie of Sesame Street were recently issued a summons for breaking noise ordinances on Sesame Street:

Big Bird could never look at them the same again. They have since moved to Florida to take part in the grindcore scene out there.

Bert and Ernie Witness Protection Program t-shirt.

[£25 (Approx. $35), Ark Clothing]

[Via Holycool]

Related: Who Would You Rather?

See Your Haiku On a T-Shirt, Win $500

Alex Zalben — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:39:00 GMT

Our friends over at YesNoMaybe, the creators of many excellent products, are holding a Haiku contest, and you're invited to enter:

All you have to do is pen a Haiku, and send it in; that's it! The winning haiku will get £250, and their poem printed on a T-shirt. Pretty rad, and you can check out more details here.

Shirt of the Day: Do the Moonwalk

Steph Auteri — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 19:51:00 GMT

I have an unabashed love for E.T.-related merchandise, getting retardedly excited over items like this switchplate cover, and this necklace (pictured above), which I picked up at Garment District back in my college days.

The latest item I just have to have?

[$24, 80stees]

Round Up: You're Making Me Sexist

Laureen Mahler — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:28:00 GMT

Ah, Bret and Jemaine: you've returned to us, and I couldn't be happier, what with my hardcore FOTC habit that causes frequent Season One benders and more than a few unnecessary run-ins with fruit vendors. So, in honor of Season Two of the beloved Conchords, here are a few products essential for any true fan. And the best part? They're all made by fans as geeky as I am, but with way more spare time on their hands:

[$5.50, Etsy]

The "Most Beautiful Girl in the Room" compact mirror is the perfect way to say that you are indeed hotter than any other female in the immediate vicinity. Plus imagine the convenient conversation starter if you run into another Cutest Person in the Room who is also a Conchords fan.

[$20, Nerdy Shirts]

Business time is everyone's favorite time, right? So whether it's Wednesday night or Monday morning, pants on or socks off, show 'em that business time is anytime.

[$20, Cafe Press]

Who's the boom king? You are, baby -- in the kitchen at least -- with this simple but effective design. Strap it on, make a sandwich or two, and you've got a serious boom sale happening.

[$14, Zazzle]

I often dream of turning my little home office into a replica of Murray's consular abode, and now the dream can be a reality. I just need a "New Zealand... Cool" poster, a band agenda and a leggy blonde, and I'm all set.

Now does anybody out there know how to score a free HBO subscription?

Shirt of the Day: (Mostly) Vegetarian

Steph Auteri — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 13:58:00 GMT

The Things That Keep Me From Going Vegetarian:

maple bacon
Meat Lovers' pizza from Pizza Hut
Big Macs

Now this is a form of vegetarianism I can get behind!

[$12.99, The Cotton Factory]

[Via Fashionably Geek]

Shirt of the Day: Yesterday's Lunch

Steph Auteri — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 16:06:00 GMT

Yesterday was the most disgusting day ever. I spent at least eight hours of it on the couch, watching the Game Show Network*, picking at Doritos, cheddar-flavored Chex Mix, cookies, and doughnuts. This made me feel ill, yet I still followed it up with a mudslide and cheddar bacon sliders at TGIFridays. By the end of the day, I expected to vomit all over myself at any moment.

You feeling just as proud of your day of gluttony?

[$16, Burger King Studio]

Wear your stomach on your sleeve! (Or...um...on your stomach...)

*The Game Show Network was like a revelation...especially Bingo America, during which you can win $50 merely for sitting on your fat ass and watching. I'm hooked.

[Via The Awesomer]

Shirt of the Day: I Pull Out

Steph Auteri — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 14:52:00 GMT

Condoms!? I don't touch 'em. Besides, my husband and I rely on the rhythm method.

[$13.95, Snorg Tees]

[Via Fashionably Geek]

Related: Seal of Sexual Approval

Shirt of the Day: The Sound of Music

Laureen Mahler — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:19:00 GMT

The new year is a time for reflection and self-assessment, a time to ponder the crucial question: how can I be cooler than everyone else?

The answer: your own personal soundtrack in t-shirt form. Whether you decide to record the Rocky theme and play it during your morning jog (most definitely not based on personal experience), or use the included presets ("Western Showdown," "Super Hero Rescue," "True Love," etc.), the dream of personal soundtrackdom has become a reality. It even comes with a handy pocket remote.

And remember, you don't get a second chance to make a first impression.

[$39.99, ThinkGeek]

Related: Things I Wasn't Cool Enough to Pull off in Junior High, Terrorize the Neighborhood With Your Guilty-Pleasure Song