Tee Party!

Forgive the fashion magazine-y play on words.  I couldn't resist.  I'm genuinely excited about styling tee shirts and finding the perfect screenprint is something to celebrate.  And unlike, say, certain statement bags or statement shoes, a statement tee shirt is relatively affordable.

The very first Vintage Adoption Agency collection was about my love of random souvenir tees from places I'd never been and the sometimes ironic disconnect when statements made by t-shirts have no significance or meaning for their wearer.   

I had written, 'when you wear a screenprinted shirt, you're literally wearing that image (or text or logo) across your chest and your heart...in a sense, every shirt you wear could (should?) be interpreted as something you 'heart' or love.''  And I also shared an experience where I got called out for not being terribly familiar with the athlete referenced on my vintage tee:

My most memorable t-shirt-instigated interrogation happened when I was wearing a shirt featuring a NFL player as a kitchen appliance (refrigerator) while pumping gas.  I heard a guy's voice bellow from the adjacent gas pump: "Whoa, whoa!  That shirt is OLD SCHOOL!  Whatchu know 'bout that, honey?" (Answer: Nothing.)  Apparently, William 'the Fridge' Perry was quite the football star.  He even has this jam dedicated to him and his own brand of barbecue sauce.

I like my Fridge shirt because it's my favorite color (navy blue), insanely soft, and even reversible! I don't like football.

I still wear that shirt, just not as often during football season... It's not unlike how everyone had (or wanted) a Starter jacket just because they were colorful and made of that shiny windbreaker material.  (Loved those purple and teal Charlotte Hornets.  Basketball, yes?  Who cares.)  Similarly, I appreciate these sporty tops only for their artwork:

Gooo teams! Go check them out in the etsy shop!

The vintage Miami Hurricanes sweatshirt is insanely soft and I love the fading on the felt print.  The Lakers tee was made with that signature eighties puffy paint on the yellow and the Honolulu Marathon Clinic jersey made me think of the awesome Étoile Isabel Marant Rosa tank...  Fashionable wearers can style these tops to look cozy and cool (check out these tips, too) and it'll probably (reasonably?) be assumed that they're fans of the team (or clinic) they're representing.

Naturally, I loved how the Man Repeller much more eloquently reflected on this graphic tee conundrum (plight? dilemma? hyperbole?) and compared fashion to temporary tattoos:  'A graphic t-shirt that includes words or a clear sentiment should probably crystallize the makeshift, fleeting tattoo which is why I’ve been wondering how often people actually believe in the graphics they’re wearing.'  THIS!  And then, 'While it seems important to remain true to your tattoo and the story you’re using your clothing to tell, what happens when irony gets lost on your audience?'  THAT, TOO!  Excellent question.  Now readers, reflect on the meaning of dress in the context of what our t-shirts communicate.  Plan your response and then write an essay...  Homework: just in time for the back-to-school season.

Choosing a t-shirt is potentially complicated and fraught with all kinds of social implications.  But probably not.  My criteria still comes down to favorite colors, good designs, and the perfect drape-y fit and feel.  And thank goodness t-shirts are temporary!  Similar to how I credited PacSun for helping me look like a landlocked surfer girl in middle school, Hot Topic is responsible for helping me pay homage to every eighties and early nineties cartoon show I only vaguely remembered with dozens of colorful ringer tees (and their coordinating shoelaces, wallets, sweatbands, and patches) in high school:

Sweet youth.

Just as I've realized I can go on a vacation without buying a t-shirt as a souvenir, I've also realized I can be nostalgic about the animated shows from my childhood without owning their commemorative tees.

That's what I tell myself.  (This was tempting.)  In reality, I don't think I've evolved that much; I've just gotten more selective and prefer subtler references in my graphic tees.  These days I'm less likely to reveal my allegiances with a particular tv show, or band, or logo.  It's less of a statement and more of...a whisper.  A nod that only speaks to super-fans.  Except, when it's not. 

I finally saw Rocky.  Better late than never but a bit surprising if you consider that I've had the theme song "Gonna Fly Now" in constant rotation for years and wasn't familiar with any of the (six? seven?) Rocky movies.  I was mostly in it for the famous training montages set to the theme song.  (Also, conveniently, compiled in a YouTube video.)  

Now, full disclosure: boxing and boxing movies* are not my jam.  But I love cheering for the underdog and found myself rooting for Rocky and was genuinely surprised—shocked, I tell you, shocked!—that he didn't win the fight.  No spoiler alert there because everyone else has seen it, right?  Rocky not winning the fight (yeah, yeah, yeah, so he got the girl) would be like E.T. not getting away from the cops.  (Not sure how well that comparison works, but I was expecting a Cinderella Man-like victory...but it was also much less traumatic than how Million Dollar Baby ended.)  

So I had to watch Rocky II.  And in this second installment I noticed Rocky wearing a lovely 'Win Rocky Win' muscle tee while training and naturally, logically, I found a similar design for cheap on eBay:  

Winning.  With style.  Loving how the vintage brocade blazer contrasts with the red font and the touch of black leather channels Rocky a little more with a bomber from Madewell.

While searching the interwebs for a movie still of Rocky wearing said tee, I discovered that it was actually gifted to him in the first movie by his girlfriend...but the scene got cut!  Same design except it was light blue with red lettering and in the second film, he's wearing a light gray version sans sleeves.  

I preferred to get mine in a charcoal gray and I love how this tee looks layered underneath different jackets!  I feel ready to pass my next t-shirt-instigated interrogation!  Once my bit of accidentally-discovered scene trivia is shared and the rest of my Rocky-related movie knowledge exhausted, I can confidently throw some air punches and hum "Gonna Fly Now" as I jog away from the conversation, victorious.

*A few days ago I was trying to think of some movies about horses that aren't super dramatic and/or full of clichés.  It's damn near impossible.  Movies about boxing are the same way!

       

Plaid Shirts. Revisited.

Last year, we had the Autumn Shirt Collection.  I parted with a lot of plaid shirts with color schemes that reminded me of fall foilage.  (And also, my elementary school bus driver and the Brawny paper towel man but only in the best, most authentic and fashionable way possible...)  This time around I've got a set of plaid shirts dominated by bright, saturated colors:

Looking at all the blocks of colors and pattern lines makes me think of digital color grids...or a kaleidoscope!  Interestingly, two of the shirts (and one plaid skirt) are vintage Liz Claiborne!  Oh, yeah, and I threw in a colorful patchwork shirt, too...

Back in March, I saw a post on Tomboy Style about pairing winter-y tartan plaids and white jeans together for a fool-proof spring outfit.  I think it's a great look, and, by that logic (light-colored jeans + winter plaid = ideal spring outfit), I think the inverse also works: summer plaid + dark-wash denim = ideal fall outfit.  These plaids'll look great with denim shorts now and later they'll brighten up high-rise skinny jeans and even look preppy-chic underneath a blazer.  Never mind that these aren't summer plaids, per se, it's the rest of your outfit that makes them work in any season.  Alexa gets it:

Alexa Chung forever.  Now and Later candy...not so much.  Photos from RDujour.com

Of course, some of these plaids aren't as transitional and are probably better suited for summer.  This sleeveless number from Liz Claiborne (below, left) has an over-sized madras-like pattern and is a gauzy material.  I'd describe it as 'eighties mom-style goes on a long car ride' ...I can't really pinpoint my reference for this, it's not exactly Ellen from National Lampoon's Vacation but, as always, I do mean my references in the best possible way because these are all items I've personally chosen and love!  Does it remind you of anything, or anyone?  The short-sleeve plaid on the right is presently in my personal collection and it feels strictly summer, too, and reminds me of the eighties.  And also, summer getaways, especially when knotted in the front Dirty Dancing-style: just add denim shorts (double-cuffed) and Keds:

And here's another still of Baby from the same blog post where I got the above image, wearing a plaid shirt.

Related sidenote: Has anyone seen Sleepaway Camp?!  It's an eighties horror movie I'd never heard of until I caught the (surprising!) ending of it on television a few weeks ago.  Normally, I hate watching a movie mid-way but I couldn't resist this one.  All I have to say is: Wow.  And, despite how it turned out, I still feel like I missed out by never getting to go to sleepaway camp.  Probably because of all the other, non-scary movies that made sleepaway camp seem AMAZING.  Like, what if I somehow had a long-lost twin I never knew about?!

This next plaid feature isn't as bright as the previous ones, but it's an all-time favorite in my personal collection.  It is from the eighties (1980 to be exact) and was part of a special collaboration between Levi's and the Olympics.  It's paper-thin perfection and it's over-sized, almost tunic length on me.  I've replaced buttons on it and mended a few tears.  And it's still going strong.  It reminds me of art class in elementary school where students would wear random, donated, (mostly men's) button-down shirts as smocks when painting or otherwise getting messy.  To think I was exposed to hobo-chic and thriftiness in elementary school!  Who knew?!  Are schoolchildren still doing this?!

Going for the Olympic Gold...in this beautifully worn-in 33 year-old plaid shirt.

Earlier in this post I suggested wearing plaid shirts underneath a blazer, but what about wearing a plaid blazer?  Can it be done?  Without looking liking a used car salesman or taking hobo-chic too literally?  And not looking too preppy or too punk-y?  I haven't found the right plaid blazer that balances that.  Last year, Zara had this blackwatch plaid suit that looked amazing and I have a plaid skirt suit I bought for the skirt.  I love the skirt with a plain tee or a chambray and ballet flats or sandals.  The brand is Country Suburbans and I like to keep it from looking country-club-casual... I would never wear it with the matching blazer:

I haven't quite figured out a look that I love involving this blazer.  It has a great fit but I don't feel like myself in it because it hasn't been easy to style to my taste.  How would you style it?  It may be headed to the shop!  Also coming to the etsy shop: a plaid dress and a pair of plaid shorts!  Plaid everywhere! Cue dramatic cliffhanger: Could plaids be the new florals?!  Hmmm... 

Woo! Progress!

The rest of the autumn shirt collection has finally arrived in the Etsy shop and with plenty of days to spare before it's officially winter. [Clap slowly.] A few introductions...

Autumn Shirt #5: Geek-chic from Matt Andrews, estimated Medium, $12

This guy would win the award for Most Autumnal shirt in this collection...if there was one. This plaid is sharp and graphic and means business. I'd tuck it into slim black cropped trousers with patent oxfords and break out my thick-rimmed geek-chic glasses.

Autumn Shirt #6: Farmer-chic from Koman, estimated Medium, $14

 

This shirt is perfectly soft and tissue-thin and slightly sheer (sex-ay...) and I'd style it the exact same way as this autumn shirt from earlier, tucked into a high rise jean...and maybe swap out the blazer for some kind of vest; a tailored, suit-y one or one of the puffy/outdoorsy variety. Yet, as with autumn shirt #4 that reminded me of my school bus driver, it's easy for me to imagine the slightly less fashionable beginnings here: this is the plaid shirt your grandpa wore all the time for years and years and years...possibly with overalls; it's familiar and comforting and cozy and makes me nostalgic for general stores and farmers.

Autumn Shirt #7: 70s Office-wear-chic, estimated Medium, $10

I was trying to keep up the 'chic' suffix that I used to describe the previous two shirts but this one kind of stumped me. I could see a seventies bank teller wearing it under a polyester suit for work and on the weekends with brown corduroy bell-bottoms. So versatile. Present day, I'd pair this one (which is tunic length) over skinny corduroys. and wooden platforms sandals (or clogs!) worn with thick socks.

I'm excited about the next collection that will be coming up soon! (Really. Tomorrow. Not like seven days from now...) In the meantime, check out the tumblr for a hint about what the theme could be!

Autumn Shirt #4: Bob the Bus Driver

Autumn Shirt #4: Bob the Bus Driver, estimated Medium, $12 

For me, a huge part of the fun with vintage clothing, or secondhand clothing (or anything pre-owned, really), is imagining who may have worn it before...and how, and where, and why.  This doesn't necessarily mean that I'm inspired by any of those possibilities and sometimes I don't even want to go there, but, for the most part, I enjoy filling in unknown variables with fantastical back-stories and random associations the item brings to mind.  

This shirt.  I love the colors.  The exaggerated collar works perfectly for wearing it under a crew-neck sweatshirt and with bell-bottom jeans it's very original-Charlie's-Angels-esque in a girl-power meets tomboy-style way...  Can you see what I mean?

Sidenote: This isn't what I meant, but I like the idea... 

While I'd rock this shirt like a long lost, time-travelling Charlie's Angel, it reminds me of something my elementary school bus driver would have worn, sans any vintage irony or sense of nostalgia.  We assumed his name was Bob* because that's what his brass, nameplate belt buckle said (probably vintage). He was short and kind of stocky and had a beer belly. He had these crazy-exaggerated sideburns and a comb-over. And we'd never seen him without his (definitely vintage) aviators. And he always wore slightly too-tight seventies shirts like this with pointed collars unbuttoned just enough to see his chest hair.  

If I could time travel, I would love to hang out with him in the seventies, when he was a lowercase g. And, since I'm time-travelling anyway, I'd definitely want to sit in the front seat of the school bus and interview him about his style. As it was, I was way too preoccupied with various elementary school affairs: the pog trade (apparently, a form of gambling), tending to my Tamagotchi, predicting the future, and, on Fridays, studying for spelling tests and memorizing the multiplication table to ever really chat with him at length. The more I think about my school bus drivers, the more it's dawning on me that they were a pretty eccentric bunch.  But this is a special thanks to Bob, for making seventies fashions a part of his everyday wardrobe three decades later...and for stalling the bus on those days I nearly missed it and had to run down the street to catch it.

This shirt measures 23.25 inches across the chest/bust, and 23.25 inches across the bottom.  It is 31.5 inches long and shoulders are 17.5 inches between shoulder seams.  Tag size says 15 1/2.  Fiber content is 65% dacron polyester and 35% combed cotton.  There's a faint spot on the right cuff and faint grey marks in the bottom corner of the front patch pocket, probably from holding a pen, but not noticeable when worn.  Numbers printed near bottom front of the shirt-tail hem.  Brand is Newport Shirtmakers.

All of the plaid (and striped!) men's button-down shirts  featured on the blog (plus a few that aren't) can also be found in the Vintage Adoption Agency Etsy shop!  This shirt is part of my collection of plaid shirts. I wrote about them here.

*Bob.  I hate this name.  It just sounds...dorky.  And seriously why is it a nickname for William and Robert and why isn't anyone named Bobert?  Another one that bothers me? Gus.  Because of this.  (Cinderella says it's short for Octavius...which doesn't make sense either. And, on another sidenote, Patrick from Spongebob Squarepants reminds me of Gus. But the name Patrick isn't bad.)

Autumn Shirt #3: Father's Day Fail

Autumn Shirt #3: Father's Day Fail, estimated L or XL, $15

I love the colors on this windowpane plaid shirt from Arrow.  It came with the card stock tag (only $8.00!) still hooked to one of the buttons and the material feels crisp.  It was probably never worn.  I imagine this shirt was some well-intentioned Father's Day gift.  While we all know/pretend it's really the thought that counts, it's so annoying to get a gift that's prefaced with an explanation along the lines of 'I noticed you never wear/didn't have [gift]...so I got you that!'  This is not a fail-safe method of gift-shopping.  There are legit reasons why the recipient might never wear/not want said gift.  Maybe this guy hated plaid (deal breaker!), or yellow, or button-down shirts, or shirts altogether.  

I love different designs on old labels. This label says 'Arrow Weekenders' and just look how there is an arrow, literally going through the word 'Arrow' and just look at the casual and fun sunshine-y block lettering used for the word 'Weekenders,' with the letters literally skipping up and down.  Clever, right?  Corny, you say?  What?  Too literal?  Naw, it's cuuute...  As the card stock tag suggests, it's casual wear!  Or at least it's casual wear for people who don't normally wear casual wear...  

Lastly, another label tells us the shirt is 65% polyester and 35% cotton and and decton perma-iron (basically, it's permanent press...being 'casual' doesn't mean wrinkles!), the size says 17-17 1/2.  The measurements are 26.75 inches across the chest, measured beneath the arms, 27 inches across the bottom, 29.76 inches in length with shoulders 20.5 inches.  Double measurements where necessary.  

As I said, this shirt still had a hang tag on one of the buttons and it doesn't appear to have been worn.  However, there is one faint smudge/mark between the 4th and 5th button from the top.  It may come out in the wash but it may not.  I didn't attempt to remove it.  Priced accordingly.

All of the plaid (and striped!) men's button-down shirts  featured on the blog (plus a few that aren't) can also be found in the Vintage Adoption Agency Etsy shop!  This shirt is part of my collection of plaid shirts. I wrote about them here.

Too Soon.

Autumn Shirt #2: Yellow Striped Perfection, NOT FOR SALE

The one that almost got away...

I was planning to sell this shirt, I really was.  And then, I just couldn't. Not yet, anyway.  I love everything I'm selling, but I love this one too much to sell it and will put her back in my closet where she belongs.  This unassuming little shirt.  Obviously, I'm too young to be the original owner but I've had it for almost a decade.  It was my go-to shirt in the summertime.  (So this one isn't exclusively for autumn as it can clearly be worn year round.)  It always made my vacation packing list because it looks great over a swim suit at the beach, and with a pair of denim shorts, and then tucked into white jeans with a brown leather belt and flat sandals.

Now, as it's autumn and it's not for sale, I'm going to wear it with high-rise skinny jeans and ankle boots, underneath a fitted blazer.  Welcome back, old friend!

Sometimes I wish my dressform had legs.  Trade-off: I  WILL be selling the vintage brown leather ankle boots pictured as they're comically too big for my feet.

While I've never been in love with the slightly exaggerated seventies-style collar, I can overlook that minor detail because everything else about it is perfection: the fit, the length, the super softness, the color... every time I wear it I get a compliment on the color!  Sorry, I don't know what I was thinking.  Moving right along to the next shirt that will actually be available for adoption...

Always and forever.

Autumn Shirt #1: Western Wrangler

Autumn Shirt #1: Western Wrangler, estimated L or XL, $20

This eighties shirt from Wrangler reminds me of something the old Brawny Paper Towels guy (the one with the Tom Selleck mustache thing going on) might wear.

When I found this image I came across this SNL clip, too.

I can totally imagine a tidy lumberjack chopping trees and hunting bears and gutting fish and doing other miscellaneous tasks in the pine forest while wearing this shirt and then using paper towels to wipe the sweat off his forehead and clean up his little work area in the woods at the end of the day.  I know this is a western shirt so it could also be suited to an imaginary cowboy, too.

What's that?  You don't want to feel like a mustachioed lumberjack in your vintage plaid?  Well.  I think it also looks just swell underneath a chunky cardigan with black skinny jeans and rugged ankle boots.  This shirt is a bit longer and could also work as a shirtdress with some ribbed tights and possibly a belt!  In fact, it reminds me of this lovely plaid shirtdress from Étoile Isabel Marant, as seen on the right:

Brothers from another mother...

LOLZ: the Marant shirt retailed for $370, mine wuz mo' like $3.70! #thatshitcray But to be fair, this one is only $298... *sighs* I love Isabel Marant.  Get the look for less!  (And, on a tangent of a tangent, does anyone remember when Elisabeth Hasselbeck was Elisabeth Filarski on the Look for Less?  And there was that one episode, where she went to, like, a yard sale with Cynthia Rowley... Ahh, I loved that show!)

And now, the boring stuff: I didn't find any flaws with this shirt.  It is a cotton-poly blend with a serged shirttail hem and pearl snaps down the front, on the pockets, and at the cuffs.  The tag size says XL/XG/TG.  The bust/chest, measured across the armpits is 27 inches, the bottom hem measures 26.5 inches across, and the length is 31 inches (see, totally appropriate as a shirtdress!), and shoulders are 21.5 inches across.  This shirt is available to buy here.

All of the plaid (and striped!) men's button-down shirts  featured on the blog (plus a few that aren't) can also be found in the Vintage Adoption Agency Etsy shop!  This shirt is part of my collection of plaid shirts. I wrote about them here.

[Clever title involving wordplay on 'plaid' here]

Mad for Plaid!
You're Invited to the Plaid Party!

I love men's button-down shirts.  Preferably vintage* (super soft and worn-in) and almost always in a plaid...although I don't mind the occasional stripe.  My go-to outfit consists of a slightly over-sized version of the aforementioned half-tucked into ankle-length skinny jeans with a variety of accessories, shoes, and layers depending on the season and what I'm doing.  If I were petite and blonde, I might pass for an Olsen twin circa 2008.

Luckily for me (and you!), there's no shortage of vintage button-down shirts out there.  The hard part (for me, anyways) is finding a decent plaid in a color scheme that's juuuuust right.  Easier said than done but I know it when I see it.  I recently sorted through my huge (seriously, folks: I think a million is a conservative estimate) collection and realized some of them just aren't in my regular rotation.  My favorite color is navy and the button-downs I wear most often are dominated by blues.  Coincidentally, the ones I wear least have mostly yellow, orange, brown, and red hues in them, not unlike the fall foliage, so I'm calling this an Autumn shirt collection!

Here's the story of some very lovely shirts...

They're perfect, Amber-approved plaids (and stripes) in great colors...I'm guessing I'm attracted to these shirts because autumn is my favorite season...but not necessarily my most-flattering-colors-to-wear season season.  Not that I know what my 'season' is...because I don't.

Survey: Do you know what your 'season' is? Do you believe in that idea?  It was kind of a big deal back in the eighties...see the awesome video about Color Me Beautiful that spawned this.  Or just listen to it while you continue surfing the internets.  2 highlights: at 38:20 she identifies the different 'clothing personalities' with very specific, er, suggestions, for your style, plus hilarious sweeping generalizations about your personality, based on your body shape...aaaand it starts with a great theme song, played again at 57:39, and also heard at 21:40.  Oh, and the host is sitting in the most awesomely random wicker/bamboo throne chair.  This video is gold, guys.  Trust me.

Once you know your season you can figure out your clothing personality.

Seriously, what's not to love about fall autumn?  (And doesn't 'autumn' sound so much chicer than 'fall'?)  Pumpkin spice flavored everything... Wearing layers...  The sunlight, and the weather are perfection right now and the leaves are beautiful.  The weather has been unusually mild (woo! global warming!) and I always feel like the leaves change colors suddenly, and more dramatically than the cherry blossom thing in the spring. (This is overrated.)  My favorite part of fall autumn was jumping in the huge pile of leaves my dad would rake in the backyard.  Now, the thought of doing that grosses me out in the same way I can't believe I loved playing in the ball pit at Chuck E. Cheese.

Leaf Pile vs. Ball Pit. Childhood pastimes revisited. 

Of course, each of these shirts has a special place in my heart and I'll be telling you more about them soon.  Hopefully, you'll have room in your heart and your closet for one of them!

The autumn shirt collection, beautifully folded but not to retail standards: those edges aren't lined up! And the buttons are all over the place!

*Obviously, the emphasis here is on vInTaGe but I've scored some great, vintage-y plaids in the men's section at J.Crew and even former cool-kid, Gap.