Tuesday 11 August 2009

Sartorial crisis

Here's a little task for you.

I looked at my clothes yesterday, and realised that I'm in a bind. Most of my clothes would suit an accountant in his forties, apart from a smattering of t-shirts which announce my love of various obscure defunct bands, or fencing competitions I've competed in or refereed. I need casual clothes, avoiding both Alan Partridge and the billboard look, appropriate to a 34-year old lecturer about town.

I went out in search of clothing yesterday and came back angry and empty-handed. The shirts I have with text on them usually relate to an activity or group with which I have some connection. What happened to our culture? All the shops aren't just selling clothes festooned with the maker's names: most of them 'advertise' imaginary products or companies, as though being a walking billboard is the absolute pinnacle of style. I remove identifying marks from clothes - why on earth is it cool to proclaim labels, real or fictional?

So tell me - where the hell can I find some relaxed t-shirts lacking such things? Abstract designs, if muted, are fine.

14 comments:

Zoot Horn said...

Sympathy.
In this here town, TK Max and TJ Hughes are purveyors of inoffensive threads - and cheaper than your average fascion (sic) outlet. I used to be able to swear by Levis, mainly because they used to make sizes to fit my once freakishly gangly frame (26 waist, 34 leg) and still do now gravity has won (34-34) and last for years and years. But mainly, I liked them because because it means I didn't have to think about bloody clothes - but since Levis have become so expensive I'm forced to consider my options more, and I resent that. Up top, I avoid logos completely, and tend to wear shirts - long sleeves and a pocket for my glasses is all I ask, but even this is hard to find in a decent, non-nauseous cotton item nowadays. I share your frustration.

Zoot Horn said...

PS
And avoid trousers that show off too much of your small change. Ahem.

Unknown said...

http://store.americanapparel.co.uk/
Made in non-sweat shop factories in LA. Their t-shirts have no logos on at all. I'd avoid the bodies or spandex leggings though. You are not starring in a retro musical.

Benjamin. said...

I feel you both have a suitable attire for the University and even I agree that the t-shirts of bland or attempted offensiveness particularly those with an arrow pointing downwards 'Feel the goods' are to be avoided. Amusing at first, though.

I'd recommend Reiss or Zara in the Birmingham Bullring, very classy yet affordable.

The Plashing Vole said...

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm aware of American Apparel - but I'm not keen on the florescence of most of their products. I'll have a look in Reiss/Zara next time I'm around Brummingham.

Dan said...

Charity shops! Although, TK Maxx is hard to beat. Weather permitting, I should be having a little trip there myself tomorrow. Shout if you want anything.

Also, if you're in a particularly brave mood, you could venture into the fashionista hub of West Bromwich and peruse Next Clearance. They don't trust us with a real Next.I found a t-shirt related to the band The Who in there once and bought it. Particularly mental seeing as I don't rate them that much.

The Plashing Vole said...

Charity shops in posh towns (e.g. Chester) for vintage suits perhaps. I'll try Germany at the weekend!

Benjamin Judge said...

Well well well. Looking for clothes eh? I can see how you don't want random adverts on your chest but cannot agree with your 'what happened to our culture bit?' Fashion has only become eclectic in the last twenty years or so. Previously only one length of skirt, one type of collar, one cut of trouser etc etc was fashionable. Punk was a fashion rebellion even more so than a musical one but one that took longer to filter into the mainstream.

You cannot just expect to go out and find perfect clothes without doing your research. I am pleased you are asking for help here. Go to Birmingham (or better yet come to Manchester and I'll take you clothes shopping - we can have lunch at Cup and cocktails at Harvey Nics - it will be fabulous!!) go to the department stores (particularly Debenhams which is that bit cheaper and less flashy) Try things on.

Don't fear labels so. You don't cut the labels off your doc martins or scratch the names off your records or books. If you like a designer's trousers you might like his shirts. I agree that a plain white T-Shirt with Calvin Klein or Bench in big letters is vulgar (I particularly hate North Face for doing this and won't buy anything they make on principle) but a subtle label is fine and does not need to be destroyed.

If you want more quirky stuff then go to a quirky town. You wouldn't go to Wolverhampton for second-hand bookshops or fine cheeses so don't expect them to fill your clothes needs either.

Lastly, don't obsessive with what your clothes say but how they make you look. How they make you feel.It's all a lot less complicated than you think.

The Plashing Vole said...

Well Benjamin, fashion was much more changeable before that - though cuts, as you say, tended to be stable for each generation.

Labels: DMs don't have labels. The shoe is itself a marker. I don't mean that I cut off the little tag inside a shirt - I mean that I remove branding because I value the article rather than the adherence to a brand which seems to be all over the place.

I'll take you up on the offer of a metrosexual day in Manchester.

Finally, everything is always more complicated than it seems. Perhaps that's why I live in a permanent stasis…

Some Chilean Woman said...

Wow! I would definitely pay attention during lecture if those shorts were sported.

The Plashing Vole said...

SCW - Alan was a bit of a style icon. He was a spoof sports commentator turned incompetent and insecure chat show host of a distinctly conservative turn - there's plenty on YouTube. He specialised in 'smart casual' with the occasional foray into ill-advised sportswear.

Lauren said...

There is a vintage shop in Digbeth called Cow, it sells an array of wierd/ mostly nice vintage clothing for men and women.
Although once, a trip there resulted in me coming out with a royal blue sequined top with shoulder pads. NOT GOOD!! I wore it three times before I realised I looked like something out of Dallas.
All the sequins fell off every time I brushed past something, so it ended up in the bin. The shop does sell nice jeans, cords and belts though.

The Plashing Vole said...

Thanks, Natural - I'll get down there.

John Callaghan said...

or invent your own T-shirts at www.combotique.com