T-time

For a very long time — seven years at least, if not longer — I haven’t worn t-shirts except for when sleeping. I tried a couple times but felt that t-shirts just weren’t me.

I was wrong. Sort of.

Those t-shirts weren’t me. But today at WordCamp Utah I got a nice American Apparel t-shirt with WordCamp on the front, and holy cow, it fits! And it feels so good. I’d forgotten that t-shirts can feel this way.

So it wasn’t that t-shirts and I weren’t meant to go together; it’s just that the few t-shirts that I tried didn’t fit, that’s all. They were always too big, making me feel frumpy and skinny, and I must have subconsciously gotten the idea that all t-shirts were the same. I’m glad to learn I was wrong. :)

Now, why’d I have to figure this out just before winter sets in and it gets too cold to wear t-shirts? Seriously. :) Last year I finally bought shorts and flip-flops and felt comfortable wearing them…and then it snowed. Talk about luck. Anyway, there’s always next summer…

So are you now going to be called T-shirt Ben? :)

Judging by the tenor of many of your previous posts, I’m a little bit surprised that you would consider being a patron of American Apparel, considering the content in their advertisements/website/catalog.

I must agree that American Apparel shirts are the only ones that fit (and they do fit excellently, I must say), and I personally have no problem wearing them as plain old basic shirts…I was just surprised that the image of their company hadn’t come up in your decision to wear them. Of all the shirt companies to endorse, I mean…

Stephen: Haha, over my dead body. :P

wynnston: To be honest, the words “American Apparel” had no associations whatsoever until I read your comment. I’d seen the ads on Facebook but somehow had never actually associated them with American Apparel, and so I had no idea. But now I do, and egads, yeah, not only are their ads blechy, but they’re unaesthetic to boot. I plead ignorance. :)

So is there another company that produces good t-shirts that I can endorse instead?

Hanes Tagless Tees fit very similar to AAs, as well as some models of Anvil Tees (I have a friend that does shirt printing, so I’ve been able to test different shirts in the past…)

Although, I must say, none of them have fit quite like AA’s shirts, but those are some good alternatives, I think.

I personally do like the look and feel of the American Apparel brand and their typographic aesthetic, although I don’t approve of much of their photography. I think they could keep the same brand image and still be a little more tasteful in their imagery.

I just realized that I haven’t worn that t-shirt since that first time, and considering that winter’s on the wing, I probably won’t be for a while. I really need a front pocket anyway (for my Field Notes notebook and pen). Hurray for front-pocket shirts. (And for being a nerd. :P)