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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Get New York Clothing here.

NYC babydoll t-shirts at RagNewYork.com

NYC babydoll t-shirts at RagNewYork.com

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News of the Day: Talbots Shareholder Agrees To Provide $50M Credit

Talbots Inc. has secured an additional $50 million in credit, two months after a pair of banks decided to stop lending to the women's clothing retailer.

When wearing a graphic t-shirt lands you in jail

I read this a couple of weeks ago in a clip from a free newspaper in Terre Haute, Indiana. It blew my mind that there are still people like this out there. Here is the story, which I could not find anywhere – unless it’s on a subscription-only basis:

A man wearing a graphic t-shirt deemed unsuitable for a Church group picnic at Terre Haute’s Deming Park was arrested Sunday late afternoon. Police said the man in custody had refused to destroy his t-shirt after those attending the picnic forcefully removed it from his back…

The story is that this guy shows up to the picnic wearing what the paper calls a graphic t-shirt that depicted a gambling as acceptable thing to do. The paper says that the t-shirt has dice and cards on it, and reads “High Roller”.

Here is a quote from the police official: “We found the man being held down by the picnic-goers who said that he had been acting wild since they had asked him to remove his t-shirt. He refused and they took his t-shirt right off and told him to destroy it.” Then they went about chasing him around and called the cops. The cops show up and believe these 20 – or so – Church group members – I mean, who wouldn’t, right? And take him in the car without a shirt and his graphic t-shirt all in ruins after being stepped on by all those people.

Meantime, there is major flooding going on in Indiana! And people are worried about some graphic t-shirt with something about gambling on it. And plus, I remember seeing the photo of the group and there were some guys there wearing those skull t-shirts. Those are offensive t-shirts. Think about all that is out there: skull and cross, skull and bones, snakes and skulls, swords and skulls, etc. the list goes on and graphic t-shirts are often times offensive. But for a Church group to get offended by a gambling t-shirt while people in their own picnic party are wearing t-shirts depicting death with skulls and swords and snakes on them is just ridiculous.

The funny part, and the reason I am writing about this, is that the guy is from New York. He was in Terre Haute to visit his grandparents, who were having problems with their back yard slowly flooding from a nearby ditch. He was there to do a favor to the community, not gamble all night long. Who cares what t-shirt he had on?

Unfortunately the paper did not provide a photo of the graphic t-shirt that said High Roller on it. The man did describe it in his own words however: “It’s this t-shirt I got in New York. I had worn it for about 2 years and no one has ever said anything about it. Of course, you can wear anything you want in New York, so this stupid graphic t-shirt didn’t really get me any unwanted attention.” He described the t-shirt as having large playing cards – 4 aces – and two large dice alongside some playing chips with “High Roller” written out on what looked like a long pill or something. Pretty basic High Roller t-shirt I guess.

Babydoll shirts gone wild at RAG New York

Babydoll shirts gone wild at RAG New York

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J. Crew Group having troubles it appears

J. Crew Group Inc. (JCG) posted a 24% rise in fiscal first-quarter profit, but shares of the retailer plunged after hours as it issued second-quarter guidance well below Wall Street's expectations and reduced its full-year forecast as it struggles with the slowdown in consumer spending that is hurting other retailers.

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Here is someone definitely not having problems: RAG New York Clothing.

Graphic Polo Shirts: How to wear a polo and not look preppy

Graphic Polo Shirts: How to wear a polo and not look preppy

Trends in New York Fashion from the '50s until today

I found this blog post today from RAG New York. Not the most in-depth piece, but worthy of mention.

The meaning of what being in-style meant has changed over the years, continually breaking barriers and crossing new lines. Or taking a step or two back. Styles are re-visited, remixed and recycled to create new ones. Every time, a movement is born and another is phased out. (read the rest about New York Clothing)

Sex and the City - they're back... and in metal?

From the Second City Style Fashion Blog:

Just like we saw at Cannes, metallics were embraced by the stars of Sex & The City at the film's New York City premiere, last night at the Radio City Music Hall.

Great.

Big story of the day: Polo shares jump

So yeah, here it is, my first blog post, and first "big story of the day" in New York Clothing. Ralph Lauren saw it shares go up after profits were higher than expected in their first quarter. So now, we see a happy Ralph Lauren (who by the way has a nice house on Nantucket. I saw it when I was there. I see where he got his style.)
Why is it that RL is doing well? My guess is that it may be the plaid shorts that have been selling quite well lately.



These shorts are $75! Okay, they are nice, but you can also get similar plaid shorts for $15 from RAG...