In My Closet: "De-Revolutionizing the Screen Tee"

by B Condon 7:30 PM

One of the most common pieces in campus fashion around Iowa City and beyond is the screen tee, but to me the biggest problem about screen tees is that a lot of the slogans are downright stupid. Even my mother showed me the light (admitting is the first step...) after a few years of resisting this rule: a lot tees have the most immature phrases ranging from allusions to beer and boyfriends. I admit to being a little rigid about that sort of topic anyway. But de-revolutionizing proves one thing: will you be saving these t-shirts for the next five years? will you still be loving them?

Let's just say that screen tees are not the best "in the moment" buys think very slowly but maybe for the aging 20something looking for good taste, I hope I can shed a little subjective light to this subject.

On Sayings/Phrases

If you want to go with phrases, I think it's best to go with simple phrases if not pictures that delve slightly in with politicalness, a necessity in a liberal college town, or really, anywhere. But the trick is, for any tee shirt, is to go into the kitschy and slightly obscure. Especially decorated in images since images leave a larger impression on a t-shirt than just words. If there's a lighter shade of politicalness available, I would go with nature or charity themes. More contemporary styling such as "To Write on Her Arms" or "American Cancer Society" are a lesser evil compared to "My boyfriend is better than your boyfriend" with a diagonal lip stain. You won't be wearing that t-shirt when you're thirty.

Pout: Victoria's Secret, Revival $6

It wasn't until right now I realized the tank top of reference for this point is from Victoria's Secret of all places! Never been able to fit into a single thing there. But by the power of Revival, I found "Pout" 's "Do the Green Thing" simple, powerful, and yet feminine and quirky.

Most often it can be awkward in the warmer weather to not use the power of layering, but any image that brings across a punkish attitude with the right accessories (with this tank top I immediately think, studded cuff, a floral feminine slightly above the knee skirt and maybe a light solid color scarf). That's another great thing about screen tees is that you can take the smallest color from the shirt and embellish it in other areas.

On Image

Peace Generation Glittery Penguin T-Shirt Ragstock $12.98

I have this kind of love for my Penguin t-shirt from "Peace Generation" a brand that is common within the narrow walls known as Ragstock. I don't see myself ever tossing it out because this is the t-shirt that makes me, what people expect. And maybe it was also the only one and the medium fits me (the shock never dulls). Lately the animal craze is out anyways, from the thin light t-shirts of tigers and pandas (ooo... I want a panda t-shirt!) and while some people can do the actual animal print, this is definitely the lesser of the two evils. 

Maurice's Clearance $12.00

Emerge World Wear from Gordman's $8.00

While still on the subject of the thin lighter tunic t-shirts, which land perfectly mid to low thigh, these more collage-styled images bring out a more vintage look, and this is what I see the most especially on a day like today either tied up slightly with those tiny denim shorts *shudders* or hung loose with half or full length leggings and the T-shaped sandals. With images that are in a blurry Monet design, this is a perfect chance to delve into the obscure, primarily I count on the key print above for this point. It goes into my slight fascination with a girly steam punk as well as green looks great with my chameleonic multiple shades of red hair. And what's quirky about this wonderful t-shirt from Gordman's is the fact that texture is also involved. While most often this type of tee shirts are built up really fine thin fabric, texture seems to add both a dimension and something almost better than an image. It's not showed in the picture (again I hope to have a camera soon to take better pictures so I apologize for the quality) but along the scoop neck there is a lace overlay from shoulder to shoulder and to layer above that, a darker shade of brown decorates the right side that punctuates another layer of image and texture.

Color

Zooey Greene's "Love" Revival $ 6.00

This is a singular rule, NEVER be afraid of color. especially the feel-good's: yellow in itself is known to be a therapeutic experience to wear, chemical balances both in yourself and others who see yellow are immediately relieved. I don't know why, I just read it once. So it would be sensical to have at least one tee shirt that is both flattering to your skin tone yet fluorescent enough to feel those happy rays of sunshine. I have a friend who is obsessed with orange and her attitude changes from crazy to... well... crazy by way of color alone. It wouldn't matter the content of the colorful t-shirt, but they should be simple, at best, and with large scale image or fonts to exude that feel good energy. (Why God, oh why, am I starting to sound like Richard Simmons?)

I'm relating to my Zooey Green's "Love" t-shirt, found proudly at Revival. Simple, with an interesting minimal font but with a little punctuation of a butterfly, I would pair this right away with a polka dot skirt, my bumble bee necklace and maybe a studded cuff. The t-shirt is always the focal point for designing a cohesive outfit. Go crazy! It's fun. It's good for the soul.