Vacations & T Shirts

As a mom raising a large family of 6 boys, I spent a large portion of my thirties and forties tending to fights and spills. Gone were the days of Dior and Hermes, in were the days of car pooling and LL Bean. My fashion motto for my kids was comfort and durable, subsequently that became my fashion look for myself as well. And who could blame me? I had a bunch of wild boys tearing up the walls of my house.

Nowadays, and more importantly, thankfully, my kids are all grown up and out of my hair and I can finally enjoy some peace and quiet alone with my husband. In the winter time, during most evenings, you can find me curled up by our roaring fireplace sipping a nice tall glass of wine or two dressed in a cute girly t shirt with my ugg slippers nearby. Yes, a middle aged woman can wear cute t's and uggs. Maybe my boys wore me down, but now I find that t-shirts are my apparel of choice.

And come summer time, my husband and I can finally take peaceful vacations alone. Don’t get me wrong, I love my kids but after raising 6 unruly boys, a girl is entitled to some vacation time.

Last year we vacationed in North Carolina's Outer Banks and I spent the majority of my time on the beach. Now I know warning bells are probably going off in your heads: with all the skin care warnings out there how dare I be hanging out on the beach. Aren’t I concerned about age spots and wrinkles? My answer to that is you have to know how to equip yourself properly. If you have the right tools, you can still get your Vitamin D the natural way, instead of popping a pill.

Allow me to paint a picture for myself on the beach. I lay out in a lawn chair under a huge umbrella. My head gear consisted of a large brimmed straw hat, oversized sunglasses, and lots of sunscreen slabbed onto my face and neck. Can anyone say Katherine Hepburn in African Queen? The only thing missing was the netting over my face. But my husband and I are thinking of taking our next vacation to Bora Bora, so I may give it a try there. My apparel of choice was a loose fitting t shirt and long sarong to cover up my bathing suit. You can go with a short sleeved t shirt or a long sleeved t shirt depending on how much coverage you want to get. And a girl must never forget her tote bag. Mine was of the super sized kind big enough to hold all the essentials: including a large bottle of sunscreen (spf of 50 is the minimum requirement,) change of t shirt in case I took a dip in the ocean, (yes, even in the ocean the sun is still shining), an ipod, chap stick with spf for my lips, and of course the requisite Danielle Steel steamy romance novel. Whoever said you can’t be a hip middle aged woman obviously has never had the pleasure of meeting me.

Corporate Tees: SAD EXCUSE for Workout Gear (Part 2)

Well, now that I’ve had a chance to ponder this whole corporate t shirt at the gym phenomenon, I have come up with a couple theories.

First a disclaimer: My friend works for MTV, and I sometimes wear a t shirt I get from the swag supply, so I'm as guilty as the next person. But I suspect people at my gym (NYHRC) have more nefarious motives. They're preening their feathers for the opposite sex by wearing their tax return plastered to their chest. They’re basically saying I make X amount at such and such prestigious firm, so get in line to date me! Single file by the water fountain!

Incidentally, isn't it the guys who do this more than the women? Women's gym attire is generally more of the fun or functional variety, mainly lots of stuff from American Apparel and Lululemon; no surprise there, as the guys are still stuck in that "Bring home the bacon, drag the lady to the cave" mentality, while girls just wanna have fun! Come to think of it, I taught in the public school and have never worn my school spirit tees to the gym; guess I wasn't overeager to advertise my pathetically underpaid status! ;) (Though public school pay in New York is much better than reputed, especially when you consider the perks: July and August, baby!)

Or else maybe this whole trend has to do with the recession. People are cutting back on their expenses, and they're committed to wearing that free t shirt till it's got holes under the armpits. News flash: No, it doesn’t qualify as a tank top, those are actual rips! Well, that’s all the speculation I’m going to do for now… what are your theories?

Mad Men and Me

I was a baby boomer and growing up in the Midwest, involved wearing a lot of girdles, garter belts and panty hose. Mad Men anyone? I have to hand it to AMC for doing a really great job stylistically speaking, but imagine dressing like those career girls every day? Imagine sitting at your desk typing on your typewriter day in day out wearing a girdle, tight skirt and high heels. To top it off you also have your hair in a beehive hairdo making it quite hard to swivel your head fast. Now dressing up like Joanie on Halloween may be fun for a night on the town, but doing it day after day can get pretty tiresome. Plus you have to give yourself a minimum of 2 hours to prepare and 6 am wake calls are not fun, let me tell you.

But back then we didn’t have much of a choice. It was the socially acceptable thing to do too. I have to admit though it wasn't all bad. It made for some really great pics, plus I do have some really great pieces from the time period which my daughter has decided to appropriate. One for example, is a pair of oversized sunglasses that she brags about to her friends “they’re vintage, ya know.” And suddenly I’ve become a cool mom.

Maybe it’s some kind of backlash to the time period, but nowadays, I like hanging around the house in the softest most comfortable and yet girly t shirts I can find. When people come over to my house, they remark on my huge array of unique t-shirts I have hanging up in my closet. Yes, that’s right, who said you can’t hang your t-shirts up? I like to put them on display and I have Women’s Lib’s efforts to thank for that. Plus because of them I can leave my house in a vintage t-shirt, jeans and hiking boots.

If it’s one thing I know for sure and this is me speaking as a middle aged woman, it’s that we’ve come a long way baby.

Corporate Tees: SAD EXCUSE for Workout Gear

So I’ve been following up on my own advice from a few posts back and doing my t shirt watching at the gym this winter. Lately, I've been seeing a new t shirt trend.

This year it just seems like there's been a massive increase in the amount of people wearing corporate tees as workout gear. Probably this is because I work out at New York Health and Racquet Club, which is a yuppie haven. For example, would this be happening as much at a Dolphin or a Crunch? (No offense if you work out there! I've attended both, and built some good muscle in the process!!! I should mention I am something of a gym fanatic, and have been to every single gym you can imagine, from Equinox to New York Sports Club, where I was a V.I.P. member, meaning I attended for half a year on their free passes ;) and also to L.A. Fitness on the West Coast, which kicked butt).

But I've been working out at NYHRC for over a year now, and I have only been noticing this trend lately? People are turning the gym into one huge networking event. Don't you want to unwind from work? Do you think we really care that you work for Goldman Sachs, or participated in a weekend of corporate apple picking with Skadden? You'd think if you made all that Christmas bonus money you might actually have the dough to splurge on buying something creative to wear from a fun t shirt site. Why would anybody want to wear tee shirt for your law firm’s weekend retreat you complained about attending? And the phony work tees are just as bad, almost as bad as the gas station workshirts some kids at my high school used to wear to get under the principal's skin. Do you actually work for Dunder Mifflin? Nobody does! Get over it, "The Office" is just a show!

Black or White T Shirt Person?

Dunkin’ Donuts or Starbucks? Rachel or Monica? Paper or plastic? These are some of our generation’s important questions. Now here's another, white t shirt or black t shirt person?

We all know what Marlon Brando was. James Dean too. They put the white t shirt on the map and invested them with a macho status and allure that has not rubbed off to this day. But has an actor ever defined the black t shirt the way Brando & Dean did white?

And, who are the black t shirt people?

We can all assume what Batman would probably prefer wearing. In Wayne's World, Wayne and Garth did a split, with Mike Meyers taking black and Dana Carvey throwing on white (and sometimes black) under an unbuttoned plaid shirt. Look, the 90’s were all about grunge.

Steven Seagal and Keanu Reeves certainly did a lot for black, but not necessarily the t shirt. I’m not sure if this means that the white t shirt has a deeper place in our psyche, or is simply a comment on how deficient our actors are as status symbols compared to the actors of yesteryear.

I personally am addicted to wearing a black t shirt with blue jeans outdoors. This is often also my outfit for a casual afternoon date. It's classic, shows you're not trying hard to impress, and makes you feel like "you". At home, though, I usually like to hang out in a pair of comfortable shorts and a plain white cotton t shirt. That’s what I’m wearing as I write this blog.

.. and maybe you don't have to be one or the other. Hey, nobody is all angel or devil, unless you are Satan or Gabriel. But no question, it’ll be a hot day in Alaska when we see the Hell’s Angels Biker gang tearing up the asphalt wearing white leather jackets. And overall, the white t shirt just seems more All-American.

For my money, even with graphic t-shirts, I’ll bet you know who you are. We can all agree that a black and white cookie is delicious, but at the end of the day you know which icing you’ll be licking first.

Toddler T-shirts: Makeup Party from Big Concept Designs

Toddlers are oh so cute, scrumptious and deliciously curious, moving out and about wide-eyed as they first experience the world. Big Concept Designs is releasing its toddler tee shirt, Makeup Party, which features a big little girl having a blast with her toddler sister at mom's makeup boudoir. Even the cat has makeup on in this lovable, funny toddler t-shirt with a humorous sketch of the big day that every little girl waits for. Your sweet little toddler girl may not be ready for makeup, but she is ready for wearing a makeup t-shirt.

The Makeup Party Toddler T-shirt is also available in long-sleeve and sweatshirt styles and for girls youth sizes.

You can browse and buy the full selection of Toddler T-shirts online.

"The colors are absolutely lovable and vibrant," says Geenie S., a customer who bought two for her daughter the moment the t-shirt was released. "I love the Big Concept Designs line of clothing. It's really unique and fun. I have a toddler and the make-up party tee shirt really fits her spirit. She reaches for my necklace every time I hold her. So she is just the perfect fit for this t-shirt design. And guess what, my older daughter wanted one for herself too, though she wanted to be different, so I bought them in two different colors!"

Big Concept Designs offers its designs in many color and size combinations. The shirts are even available in as organic toddler t-shirts. Creating toddler t-shirts for the Big Concept Designs line involves the process of creating unique storybook like drawings that articulate the theme of happiness and glow of the ideal family cocoon.

You can browse the entire catalog of Big Concept T-shirt Designs online.

The company encourages customers to check out its toddler t-shirts and baby clothing, as well as a full range of t-shirts for Men, Women, Toddlers, and all Kids, and a wide array of styles, sizes and colors.

A Feminine Fun T-Shirt that says "It's Me Time", literally!

The clock is ticking, time passing, you've done a lot of work and need a break. You are a humanitarian, thinking about others, the world should know it and reward you for your contributions, and that's why Big Concept Designs is offering you the "It's Me Time" shirt!

This shirt humorously makes your case for space, and also for time to be adored by your special someone. "It's Me Time," features a clock in the center, with a dial pointing exclusively at the t-shirt wearer, and is a perfectly pink, fun t-shirt for women and girls. Men need not be left out, after all it makes a fun Valentine's Day gift for someone you want to spoil.

The It's Me Time shirt is one of many feminine shirts from Big Concept Designs, which are all geared to consumers who want t-shirt designs that offer eye-catching aspects. "Think about what you wear," the Big Concept Designs web site mantra is a slogan regarding clothing and apparel as an evolutionary item. No longer just worn for protection and shelter, clothing and particularly fashion has become a staple of our everyday diet. Big Concept Designs is pushing this trend, by offering fun t-shirts that can stop you in your tracks and make you think.

The apparel line from Big Concept Designs features graphic tees that are fun and guaranteed to get attention without attention seeking. All t-shirts can be bought in multiple styles and sizes and colors, so the customer is given great control over the type of shirt they will receive. "The t-shirts are fun, funny and fabulous," says Gene, a repeat Big Concept Designs customer. "Three f's, I'm like Mike Myers, getting all fahklempt about t-shirts. But what can I say, I am satisfied, a heck of a satisfied customer."

For more feminine t-shirts that combine a sense of you-go-girl playfulness, browse and buy fun t-shirts at Big Concept Designs.

Wintertime People Watching & T Shirt Watching!!!!

Everybody knows that during wintertime, the place to debut your cool new t shirts is at the gym. That is especially true in a cold climate like New York City, where I've spent most of my life. From December through March everybody is bundled up with a thousand layers and the subway looks like a refugee waystation, or a North Korean bomb shelter. The people you see may have the most fun t shirt in the world with the catchiest slogan underneath their North Face coat, but you'll never know it unless you have X-ray vision.

So the place to see what's going on in the t shirt world (other than the internet, of course) is at the gym, where the cosmopolitan Eskimos finally shed some layers... and a little blubber in the process. I like to see what fun and cool t shirts people are wearing, as it's like a living, breathing art form, and seeing fun shirts spurs my own ideas for t shirt designs. Whether you choose to wear a subtle message t shirt like one I saw recently with a pic of the recycling logo (guess you don't want to be thrown out in the trash?), or t shirts with sayings like the one proclaiming "I'm All Natural"-- that one really suffers from a lack of imagination. Yay, you don't take steroids and have no breast implants, Mr.!-- it really says a lot about who you are. If you want people staring at your chest, and don’t feel like running outside in the bitter cold to go shopping, you probably should check out some fun t shirts online at Big Concept Designs.

Fun T-Shirts and Cool Shirts With Big Concept Designs For the Trendy and Evolved Modern Mindset

Trends in fashion have grown rapidly apace with Western fashion influence since the fourteenth century, where people had begun to view clothes more as a means of conveying identity than simply as clothes. This conceptual framework for understanding clothing as products that were hip, cool or even hip-hop cool is something that has also found it's way into all commercial product lines and into the fabric of modern culture itself.

Conceptualism that dares us to be different, to look for the Big Concept Designs whether we're creating fashionable, cool, funny t-shirts or scores of other products integral to our modern day marketplace. Often when people embark on a conceptual marketable project they like to tackle it from a vantage point, an angle that communicates to them. This natural means of expression is something integral to the human perspective. It's what creates diversity in our lives, the ability to think fresh or different. It is differentiation, the drive to be different, to stand out from the pack, our very psychology melding with the idea of a world of divine design that dares us to grow, to mentally evolve and to take our cross cultural commercial marketplace with it.

It is this very distinctiveness that paints an ethos for differentiation in design in the fashion world, and in looking for the Big Concept when creating trends in fashion architecture, that apply to something as seemingly casual as a t-shirt. But t-shirts themselves make the argument for this powerful trend, for even something once regarded as the undergarment has become the forerunner in expression for people all over the world, from models to moms, choosing from the spectrum of possibilities, from humorous and funny tee shirts to cutting edge fashion designer tees. The abundance of possibilities of available t-shirts for men, women, toddlers, children of all ages, boys and girls to wear is just staggering. The appeal of the t-shirt is found most significantly graphic tees which continue to evolve as digital t-shirt printing enters a new age. Simply put the t-shirt has come a long way. From lounging about wear to lounge wear! From sleeve-tuck cigarette cool shirts to hilariously funny t-shirts that elicit laughs, a person of evolved mindset has the choice of a wide array of individualistic and fun t-shirt designs.

T-shirts as a Fashion Scene Newcomer

T-shirts are a pretty recent newcomer on the fashion scene; we've only had them for a couple of centuries now. They've come a long way from their evolution from a one piece long undergarment to become a garment that offers a take on social mores and culture, including being seen as funny, comic, stylish, trendy, cute and cool. Nowadays, you can get yours in a variety of garments, thicknesses and sizes, from the quite sheer to a beefy heavyweight tee.

A t-shirt has a straight torso with two sleeves at the top which form the letter t, and this is how it got its catchy name. After the cotton undershirt became a distinctive product, no longer attached to pants, it became a work garment and something worn under clothing. In fact, the United States Navy commissioned t-shirts specifically in 1913 because they would be worn underneath the sailors' jumpers and cover the sailors' chest hair. But these were primarily sleeveless varieties.

It was Sears in 1938 that began to offer the "gob" shirt, a sailor shirt advertised to be worn on top of clothing that lead to our modern day understanding of the utility and attractiveness and fashion possibilities of t-shirts. And then the oft-mentioned Marlon Brando t-shirt wearing scenes in Streetcar were a unique marketing vehicle to this end, making t-shirts a fashion statement.

But graphic tees, which are the modern day standard for t-shirt fashion, came into their own in the 1950s when companies like Tropix Togs began to license Disney characters and screenprint them onto t-shirts.

Since 1959, with the invention of plastisol inks, the graphic slogan t-shirt has flourished, enabling cute, cool t-shirts and funny t-shirts to be printed. The t-shirt has become a garment that transcends age and identity, a staple of every person's wardrobe, men, women, boys, girls, kids of all ages, even toddlers and babies.

You can find a range of Fun T Shirts at Big Concept Designs.

T shirts: How to find that perfect someone

Ever walk past a cute guy or girl on the street wearing a funny t-shirt? Ever have the urge to comment on it just for the sake of starting up a conversation? Well, why not go for it? Creative t-shirts are awesome conversation starters.

Now there is obviously a fine line that you need to walk here. If you’re a guy it may come off as a little sleazy if you say something like “hey baby, that’s a cute t-shirt you have on. Where can I get one to match yours?” Every girl will know that that’s just an obvious pick up line, and 9 times out of ten they’ll just roll their eyes and keep on walking.

But how about giving it a try in a more relaxed atmosphere like at a party you’re at. Say you’re hanging with your friends at this really chill party. You’re just drinking a can of beer. You’ve been eyeing this really cute guy for a while now but you’ve already flipped your hair 5 times, and laughed really loudly 10 times to absolutely no avail. But he looks so dreamy, kind of like a younger Brad Pitt.

How about trying a more direct approach? You see he has a funny t-shirt on. Take a big gulp of your beer and walk right up to him and comment on his hot t-shirt. (More likely than not you want to comment on his hot bod, but please refrain from doing so at this stage in the game)

You could say something witty or snappy in response to the t-shirt design. Or you can take a more direct approach “that’s a crazy t shirt you’ve got." Or, how about: "that’s a really unique t shirt. Where's it from?" Trust me, you have nothing to lose. The atmosphere is perfect for it.

The next thing you know you’ll be snuggling on the couch and who knows, where it will lead.  Make your own t-shirt on date number 5? Matching t-shirts on date number 7? A marriage proposal with a t-shirt saying “will you marry me?" 6 months down the line? Cute baby t-shirts for your babies you’re bound to have? Disney t-shirts to follow? Rocker t-shirts once your son grows to be a cool edgy teenager? Girly t’s for your daughters? The possibilities are endless at Big Concept Designs