Barack the new President and now for the range of t-shirts

I maybe jumping the gun but we all know what’s going to happen this November, Barack Obama is going to be crowned the next President of the United States. Yes, it’s easy to be confident especially when you look at what he’s up against. The other thing is people are screaming out for change, American’s is ready for change!

The thing I’m looking forward to is the new president t-shirt range. We’re all familiar with President Bush’s range of t-shirts. There are some classic quotes including ‘anti-bush’ to ‘stop bush’ and a great one ‘Dumb and Dumber’ there’s plenty more. But what slogans are they going to come up with for Barack. So far in the campaign the only t-shirts I’ve seen on the streets of New York have been about change and images of him with Martin Luther King.

There has been a real lack of jokes directed towards Obama during this campaign compared to McCain. Are all the comedians and pranksters’ must be scared of being labeled a racist if they make jokes about him? But the last time I checked, you can still be funny and not have to mention a person’s skin color. Personally, I hope we don’t get stuck with a whole lot of t-shirts focusing on his big ears, let’s hope something sticks and we can have some fun with our new President just like we did with George.

From Start-Up to Fashion

A cashed up tech geek decided to try his hand in the fashion industry. A weird change you may say but Rob Meadows a computer entrepreneur from California decided it was time for a change and thought the clothing industry would be his next challenge. He quickly learned that making a profit in the fashion industry could take years due to the profit margins being so small, unlike with start-ups which can turn a profit relatively quickly. He found that many company’s failed when they made the jump from start-up to being a real company. He also discovered that many big names with deep pockets controlled the fashion industry.

So what was the outcome for Rob, well he survived and he now sells his range to a few boutique stores and Nordstrom. I’m wondering why Rob decided to change careers. Maybe he felt designing a t-shirt would be more fun than a website. Probably not, I think in life people sometimes need a change or new challenges. I know a relative who changed careers late into his working life he went from an office job to owning a restaurant. It was his dream for many years to open a restaurant.

I’m not sure if Rob had a lifelong dream of getting into fashion industry or just an interest but he did report that the industry is less glamorous than he expected. Going forward he see’s technology playing a bigger role in the fashion industry. So the next time you pass a t-shirt which grabs your attention don’t be surprised if it was designed by a tech geek. To check-out non geek designed t-shirts check-out R.A.G.

Don't Pack a Gun on Your T-Shirt!

Do you remember when traveling by plane use to be fun? Not anymore. These days a trip to the airport can be a stressful experience, thanks to all the extra security hassles we have to encounter. Well there’s another thing we need to consider before rushing to the airport and it involves our clothes. Yes, our clothes, a British man has been refused boarding at Heathrow airport due to the t-shirt he was wearing was deemed a security risk. The t-shirt design included a cartoon picture of a gun. The man involved had to remove his 'Transformers' t-shirt before he was allowed to board the flight. Now, I’m wondering if this happened at a UK airport it must have happened here? So the next time you’re rushing to the airport make sure you double check the graphic t-shirt you’re wearing, to make sure it’s not deemed a security risk!

Men’s Tights are Popular Again!

Men’s tights are back after 500 year hiatus, they’re back bigger and bolder than ever. The tight wearing fashion is very much entrenched in Europe with up to 50 percent of males in Germany wearing them last winter. Will the tights jump the Atlantic and be a hit this winter? Let’s hope not, as we already have our own tight wearing superheroes in NYC with Batman, Spiderman and Superman! Stop the tight wearing trend of Europe and buy NYC fashion!

Men buying more clothes than Women

Yes, it’s hard to believe but it’s true, men’s clothing sales rose for the year ending in May by 0.8 percent while women’s sales fell by 3.5 percent. Associated Press reported the trend has actually accelerated in the last three months to May with men’s clothing sales rising 2.3 percent. What an amazing feat for mankind! For all the bad press men receive for not doing enough clothes shopping, we’re finally getting the respect! You can see the fashion sense of males is changing on the streets of New York and LA with the growth of the ‘metrosexual’ male. Marketers have caught on and they’re targeting men’s wallet with more and more fashion and beauty product advertising. One good thing about the slowing of the economy has meant buying fashion doesn’t have to cost the earth with retailers discounting clothes to entice you in.

Can you wear a graphic T and not be Hipster?

That’s the question I post to you. And, it’s a question I ask myself whenever I wear a graphic T. I don’t want to be labeled a ‘Hipster’. So who is a Hipster? The Hipster handbook defines hipsters as:

"One who possesses tastes, social attitudes, and opinions deemed cool by the cool. (Note: it is no longer recommended that one use the term "cool"; a Hipster would instead say "deck.") The Hipster walks among the masses in daily life but is not a part of them and shuns or reduces to kitsch anything held dear by the mainstream. A Hipster ideally possesses no more than 2% body fat."

Another take on it, a Hipster is someone who is fashion conscious and a connoisseur of music, art, and fine cuisine. That nearly counts everyone except for the fine cuisine. In attempt to become Bohemian Hipster’s turn to Thrift stores to buy up old t-shirts and woman’s jeans. In New York City, the Hipsters levitate to the Brooklyn neighborhood of Williamsburg. Traditionally, Williamsburg was home to a large a Puerto Rican and Jewish community until the graphic t-shirt wearing Hipsters rolled in around 5 years ago. Overtime they pushed everyone out that didn’t wear graphic T’s with ridiculously tight jeans, while carrying a skateboard. The result is a neighborhood that is soulless, where people think they’re cool but in reality there not.

So, can you wear a graphic-t and not be a hipster, my answer is yes. My tip is to stay away from the over trendy gear, buy something that fits well not something that should fit your sister and respect your neighborhoods.

Sopranos clothing sells for $187,750

Tough North Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano from hit TV series The Sopranos whacked buyers' bank accounts at Christie's on Wednesday when his wardrobe sold for $187,750 US -- four times the auction house's forecast.
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